Favorite Things Exchange

[Backtracking 07-16-09]

I was lucky enough to be invited to the favorite things exchange for the second time. If you haven’t heard of this, we all bring a grouping of gifts that represent some of our favorite things (with a $30 limit), and then we draw a number to see what gift we get. As we open the gift, the person who brought it explains about each item. I was so excited to go.  Grant was in class, so I had my mom watch the kids. I had to scurry home from Eleanor’s swim lesson, give instructions to my mother, and put Phaedra down for a nap as quickly as I could so I could get there, and I was still a little late.

I took a bunch of pictures. My friends, Carolyn, Kari, and Alicia, put so much work into these parties (or at least it looks like it). I know that when I put effort into hosting an event, I’d rather try to enjoy it than take photos, but I always want photos. So I hoped I might get something I could share with them. The theme was red and white, so everyone tried to dress in red and white.

First, some pictures of the guests:

The gifts.

I received the basket on the far left. It was filled with good chocolates and all other sorts of good stuff.

I brought one of the reusable Target bags. I’ve been “going green” this year, trying to use reusable bags at the store more often. I should have taken a picture of the things I put in my gift, but the time crunch kept me from doing that this year. When thinking about my favorite things, my mind kept going back to food over and over again, so I decided not to fight it. My entire gift was centered around food. Let’s see if I can remember all that I put in there:

• A large container of Chicken Tortilla Soup with the recipe included. I love soup, and that soup has been my favorite for a while.
• Here’s my sad story about the soup: I worked so hard, cooking with a fussy baby while Grant was at class, and made a huge pot of it the night before. We ate it for dinner. I filled the container for the gift and put it in the fridge. I left the huge pot of soup on the stove overnight. All of our delicious leftovers were ruined. I cried. Literally. At least my gift for the party was still okay.
• Bite sized brownies made with my Demarle pan.
• Essence of Jamaica spice –a spicy blend that’s meant for meat, but we use it most on popcorn. It is SO good!
• Ken’s Steakhouse Creamy Caesar Dressing –I had never found a Caesar dressing I liked as much as the ones they have at restaurants until this one. I love a good Caesar salad, and I use this all the time.
• World Market chocolate bar –72% cacao, the smoothest dark chocolate I have found.
• I’m pretty sure I included some gum, because after eating good food, you have to make sure your breath smells okay.
• Relaxing Mint lotion from Bath and Body Works –this was the one exception to all the food. You have to have something to pamper yourself. This lotion is so nice. Grant and I give each other foot rubs with it.

We had little box lunches with pretty labels on all the food, and there was a whole table of desserts:

After eating and exchanging gifts, we all posed for pictures. We took a group photo, but I still hadn’t figured out how to use the timer on my camera. So I didn’t get a group shot with my own camera. Lame, I know.

Sisters/sisters-in-law, Alicia, Katie, Celinda

Kari with beautiful baby Gena

Our hostesses: Carolyn, Kari, and Alicia