Brown Paper Packages ...

Every now and then a few girlfriends and I will get together for a Pinterest party.  They are full of great ideas, some flops, lots of laughing and of course, food!   This time around I hosted a Favorite Things party.  Oh my!  There are such great ideas out there on Pinterest!  Here's how it went down:

I invited the girls over for coffee and a 'favorite things exchange'.  I stuck with the 'brown paper packages' theme, adding pops of color in the plates, utensils and flowers.

The Invitations

These were fun to make, especially now that we have a Hobby Lobby!  I found the plain brown cards and address labels there.  I hand wrote on the front of the card and printed the details on a Martha Stewart label I bought at Staples.  I finished it off with string I already had around the house.  So simple.  So easy.  My kind of thing! 

The instructions were to bring a favorite thing, $5 or less for each person.  Suggestions were something homemade, lotions, soaps, candles, gift cards, etc.  We kept this gathering small to keep the cost from getting out of hand!

The Decorating

This was my favorite part.  My living room has one couch only, so I brought in pieces of furniture from other rooms to accommodate the seating of more than just 3 bottoms.  I loved the transformation!  I'd keep it this way if it didn't mean empty rooms in other parts of the house!

 

 

 The Food

My next favorite thing is NOT cooking.  I kept the menu very simple.  Probably for most, the food would be the main attraction.  You might enjoy preparing a meal for your friends.  SO NOT ME!  Although I would love to eat anything you make!  It may seem unfair, I know, but it's a public service, really.  The only thing I used the oven for was Pillsbury orange-glazed cinnamon rolls.  I managed to burn the second batch.  THIS IS WHY I WOULD RATHER NOT!  

We had cinnamon rolls that weren't burnt, yogurt with berries and granola, coffee mocha almonds, strawberry almonds, coffee and biscotti and strawberry lemonade.

Yum!

I'm hoping the cute wooden spoons (Hobby Lobby) and french-pressed coffee made up for the lack of culinary creativity!

The Friends 

This was my absolute favorite part!  These girls just laughed with me over the burnt cinnamon rolls and loved me anyway.  We ate.  We cooed over our baby guest.  We caught up on what's been going on in our worlds because no matter how often we try to get together, it's never enough!

The Gifts

Each lady shared what her favorite books, quotes, music, hobbies, etc. are.  A common favorite was the author, Francine Rivers and her Mark of the Lion series and Redeeming Love.  If you haven't read these - YOU MUST!  Of course coffee, chocolate and family were among other common favorites. 

Then we each passed out our gifts.  Here are some of the goodies:

I gave a Dayspring mug because COFFEE and because I love that Dayspring carries (in)courage items
A journal and something pretty to hang on the wall
Fuzzy socks and a Bath and Body Works candle
Melalueca lip balm, a great pen and chocolate
Bath salts and a candy bar that was gone before I could take a picture
An adorable 31 nail file (love their bags!) and lotion
A Pinterest craft: Flip flops that we slip-knotted cording around.  Such a fun activity to end our morning!

Everyone went home with a box full of favorite things!  We had a great time!  I'm not a cook and my home is not perfect, but I can always offer a cup of coffee and a place to sit down together.   I do love brown paper packages tied up with string, but friends are one of my most favorite things!

Have you ever hosted or been to a Pinterest party or a Favorite Things party?  I'd love to hear about it!  Or post a link in the comments if you've blogged about it!

- Liv

Check out this cover of "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music!