a few of my favorite things...

I've wanted to have this "favorite things" party for many years now at my house with girlfriends - i've always imagined having a holiday party with a 20 dollar gift exchange of your absolute favorite thing (that's in that price range of course, ) hoping that others will discover this secret perfect gift that only you know about - like the perfect hand soap or lotion, you know? So because with my three little ones requiring my every moment of time, this year, i am not imagining having that party as i am lucky to be showered and fed each day. i  am therefore going to join melissa over at 320 sycamore at her blog's "my favorite things" party. and you know what? i don't even have to shower for this and get all dolled up --- but i sure would like to be surrounding a table full of tasty holiday appetizers. to get in the giving holiday spirit melissa asks that you "share a list of 5-10 of your favorite finds that you would send to your best friends if you could"
so here goes my favorite thing gift list to my best friends ... and warning - i am going on the practical side here, not the fantasy land side that we'd all love to be in, but let's just be realistic for a moment...

the "would if i could"

holiday favorite things gift list...

1.  Philosophy brand lipgloss -the best! these scrumptious flavors come complete in it's own little ornament case. i bought this last year for my sister -- it never made it to her. i had it opened in the car before it even made it to my house! and these are not supposed to be but i've found that they are very edible - maybe a dieter's answer to laying off the cookies this year. price: $28

2. giving a box of only 4 of these is a bit of a tease as you really need a lifetime supply of these magical miracles. if your BFF has kids, these are a must! and if she has a husband, these are a must. a pet - a must. just get them! price:$7.99

3.the gift that keeps on giving - doesn't that apply to magazine subscriptions? this is what i asked for christmas from my mom - just to renew all of my magazine subscriptions. reading an entire book seems to not fit into my schedule, or my kids' schedule rather, so i am a big fan of the magazines -- and for this one, i'd pick my favorites for my friends and hope that they'd find some time to relax and read. price: $5-$25

(photo - the quiet owl on etsy)

4.  i am easily calmed by using drink cozies -- silly, yes, but there is something about when i finally get to make my own drink in the day -  whether it's an ice water, or an end of the day beer, i love using one of the many cozies i own - it's kind of a "you deserve this cuteness" for the moment while i enjoy my drink. price $7.00

5.i'm not a shoe girl, but i am a bag girl. the one thing i've recieved more compliments on in my life are my various betsy johnson bags and jewelry. she is just FUN! they won't match your outfit and they certainly aren't subtle, but they make you smile!

price: $50 and up

   for the last one, i am leaving the practical list for a moment and entering fantasy land...

6.

if i could, i would...send all my best friends a plane ticket to come visit me. oh, what i wouldn't do to see their faces, to sit down and share a cup of coffee with them, to catch up on our lives, to go Christmas shopping for our little ones together, to take a walk on the beach before beginning the day's routine...i am so fortunate to have made such wonderful friends during this transition to California over the last few years, but the childhood friends, wow, do i miss them.  price:$400 and up 

lipgloss, magic erasers, magazines, beer cozies, betsy johnson bags, and a plane ticket --just a few of my favorite things! and adding up my approximate prices, i am averaging over $500 per friend. every one of them would be worth it ...if i could, i would!