Monday, January 9, 2017

Favorites - A Party



       I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today. It's always a pleasure to read what everyone writes about their lives.

Happy New Year


       I went to a new thing last Saturday night. It was nice to be invited by a friend and former colleague. I met some great new people and reunited with some colleagues I hadn't seen in a while and it was a happy start to this year. This is not the first time this has happened, but now for the whole rest of the year I'll be deciding what I think would make a good, no great, choice for this "Favorites" party: all women, all ready to have the holidays over, to relax, talk, eat together and be happy. 
        We were invited to bring five favorite things. What had happened in past years was that everyone brought the "same" favorite things, but the invitation did not say that, so some of us new to the party brought five different things. Then we put five slips of paper in a large jar, and one by one the names were drawn. Each person got up to explain "why" what they brought was a favorite, and those whose names were drawn got that favorite gift. 
        What would you bring? As I watched I was reminded of other things that were also favorites: candles, chocolate, book certificates, rolling pins, special rocks--quite an eclectic mix.


          What would you bring? And why?

I brought:
  1. socks, because I love socks and warm feet!
  2. a travel journal, because I write and love traveling
  3. a fun bottle filled with lemon drops, because I always had some kind of container on my desk           at school, and think everyone should have some small container of candy to share. 
  4. a bar of pure soap, because that's what I love to use, too
  5. a Starbucks coffee cup, because I like Starbucks and coffee



I received:
  1. a pair of "zoom" glasses because she loves silly gadgets
  2. a grouping of different oils and ground powder to mix for a special facial, because it's a favorite mix 
  3. a huge double bar of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, because, well, you know
  4. a big plastic straw cup, because she believes that using a straw cup rather than a water bottle helps you hydrate better
  5. a homemade pencil case with special fabric because she likes to learn new things, and wanted to figure out how to add this kind of zipper
       You can imagine how fun this was, but it was more than that too. It was instant camaraderie because of the excitement of what lay on the "favorites" table. We ate dinner, visited around the room, and then it was time! There was laughter by getting to know one another through choices made. It was lovely to see a group of women laugh till they cried, joke with each other, and shout praise for a gift. One woman sent a video and another of her friends brought her gifts. She didn't want to miss this party! It was great to be there!
       
What would you bring?


photo credit: bark 40+51 Wool Socks via photopin (license)
                       

17 comments:

  1. Oh this is such a wonderful idea. I may have to borrow it! As for what U would bring: your #2 and #5 would be on my list for the same reasons and I'd round it out with #3 a scented candle with a a gift card - a card because I would not want to presume my favorite scent is theirs, but I'd sincerely want them to have that pleasure to purchase a scent pleasing to them. #4 a framed print of a poem of mine (http://wp.me/pPury-8F) for how I wish each day to start for all, and #5 something random that would display my geek side - Tardis cookie jar, Firefly coffee mug, a Star Trek pin etc.

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    1. This is going to be fun to hear all the ideas of what to bring. Love your "favorites", Raivenne! Thanks for sharing.

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  2. What a fun idea! I am with you on the socks and the travel journal. I am going to have to think about the rest :)

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    1. Thanks, Deb, love hearing your ideas are like mine!

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  3. This says a lot about a person. I love it! I have to say, your favorite things could very well be my favorite things-- #2, #3 (I have my jar hidden for after school kiddos they'd be gone if I had it out all day) and #5 would make the list. This time of year I'd have a scarf and I'm still thinking about the fifth thing. Love Raivenne's idea of a poem.

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    1. Fun to hear about the jar! It is important! There are many things that will make a "favorite" thing. Thanks, Julieanne.

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  4. This is really a neat idea, Linda. Two things that would definitely be on my list would be books and chocolate.I am meeting some friends for lunch later this week. I will have to tell them about this and ask them what they would bring. As Julieanne said, this can reveal so much about a person.

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    1. How great that you will share with friends! Have fun with it!

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  5. Sounds like a wonderful evening! I'm a bit stumped as to what would be some favorite things to bring.

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  6. What a fabulous idea for a get together, Linda - sounds like a happy evening with surprises for all. Now you have me thinking about what I would bring ...

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  7. I've never heard of a favorite things party, but I LOVE the idea! What would I bring? Maybe a Moleskine dot grid journal or some Le Pen pens for a bullet journal. They are definitely my favorites.

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  8. This idea for a party is new to me, Linda. It sounds so much fun and I must admit that I would have to sit for awhile to think about what I would bring.

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  9. What a fun twist to a party. My high school friends get together once every couple of years. This would be a great thing to add to our get together. (I don't know if it would top recreating our prom picture from last year though!) :) I am saving my five things because this will be a great slice for March! Thanks for the idea.

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  10. Fun! I'm surprised you didn't bring books! (Too expensive, maybe?) I have no idea what I would bring... maybe craft supplies, if not books?

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  11. Thanks Everyone, may you discover your favorite things as you move along through the year. That prom night redux sounds amazing, Leigh Anne. And Jennifer, I could have found a used book, but our spending limit was to be about $5.00 & I wasn't sure what book to choose that covered everyone. Otherwise, it would be a great one. There could be a favorites "book" party. . .

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  12. This sounds like such a delightful evening. I would have to include chocolate and a pic of a sunset at Slater Park, a pic of Teddy, a bookmark and a mug. Sometimes I just use them for pencil holders on my desk, but I do love mugs. I'm thinking quite a few of us may be borrowing this idea. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Ramona, glad to see you're finding your own favorite things!

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