My Favorite Things Party 2017

I always look forward to Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things party each year. If you're looking for a different party theme than the traditional "Secret Santa" or "White Elephant," check out last year's post to get more details on how this works.

I was especially glad that Keely joined me this year. Check out her beautiful and delicious Nutella braided wreath . . . only two ingredients! (Recipe adapted from Fit Mitten Kitchen.) I made traditional red velvet cookies to share.

Keely's Nutella braided wreath

Now, back to the party. The rule is that your favorite thing must not cost more than $11. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

• Flylady's rubba scrubba
• A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
• A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka

One of my favorite things in general is a simple tea towel. I started collecting them years ago as travel souvenirs. I'd much rather have something I can use instead of a dust-collecting trinket of some kind. It doesn't bother me a bit that my tea towels with Rome, London, Wimbledon, Eiffel Tower, etc. may have a stain or two on them. Each tea towel is well loved, and the memories each bring are well loved. So, my favorite thing that I brought to this year's party is a Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops) at the end of last season for 50% off. Keely still teases me that I'm thinking about what to bring a year in advance. But hey, this time the planning paid off!

As in previous years, I'm not able to capture everything. But here are at least some of the other favorite things from last night (in no particular order):

• Rapid egg cooker (won prize for "best overall")
• Stainless steel drinking straws for a Yeti tumbler
• Lancome mascara
• Glitter clutch from Old Navy
• Beauty Counter's Plumping + Jasmine facial oil
• Earring posts from Madewell
• Evian water facial spray
• Tassel necklace from Nordstrom
• SWiG wine tumbler (great for coffee, too)
• Layered necklace
• Genmine hair remover electric pen
• Snowflake ornament
• Chicken poop lip balm (yes, seriously that's the name)
• Wine wipes
• Emily McDowell greeting cards
• Lavender spray
• iPhone charging cable
• Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm
• Drinking Buddies wine glass markers
• Cookie butter from Trader Joe's with a honey crisp apple
• Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend from Trader Joe's
• Smashing S'mores from Trader Joe's
• Gift card to the Urban Juicer
• Sanders dark chocolate mini bites
• J Crew wool trouser socks
• Blue Chair Bay coconut rum (or key lime pie rum) mixed with Bai coconut drink or Vitamin Water zero pineapple-coconut (Yes, Nancy loves coconut!)
• Mud Pie inspirational card deck of quotes
• Tervis tumbler
• Ulta Beauty hair care sampler
• Key chain
• Nativity canvas art print from Kirklands
• Bootie slippers by Xhilaration
• Prosecco with homemade ginger cookies
• Faux-fur pom-pom beanie from Old Navy
• Mexican spiced chocolate

Hopefully, this list will give you lots of great ideas for stocking stuffers. Merry Christmas!

Nancy and Margaret Ann, our (ahem) VIPs for the night ;)

So much fun! I wish I had taken more pictures of the crowd!