What is a “Favorite Things” party? For the Women’s Club of Mt. Lebanon, it is a holiday get-together where we share desserts and wine. Each participant brings a gift to exchange with the caveat that it needs to be one of your favorite things under $25. We love this option instead of the traditional White Elephant exchange, where many times you leave with something silly like a Chia Pet or a shake weight. Instead, you leave with not only the favorite thing of one of your friend’s but also ideas for other items that you just have to purchase. A typical gift swap is driven by competition, but a Favorite Things gift exchange is all about sharing.

In that spirit, we would like to share a few of our favorite things:

Bethany – Charlotte Tilbury’s lipstick line of the celebrities, Pillow Talk. This can be found at Sephora or online.

Corinna – Faux fur scarf and hat (T.J. Maxx)

Katie – Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen and Living Proof Dry Shampoo: Both items can be found at Sephora and online.

Leandra – A cozy spa robe from Jenny Boston.

Marcia – Epsom salts and Bath whip: “These are plant-based products with amazing scents to make bath time the best part of your day.”

Nadeana – Lanier Lip Mask. Available at Sephora.

Robin – Mini spatulas and a garlic peeler. “The mini spatulas are one of my most used tools in the kitchen for dips, mayo, and pretty much anything spoon-worthy. The garlic peeler was something my mother-in-law gifted me years back, and it helps ease the painstaking task of peeling garlic.”

Ria – Vanilla glacé perfume from Altar’d State. “I love the light scent of this perfume and the beautiful bottle that looks great on my dresser.”

Sara – Williams Sonoma Skinny Margarita Mix. “It is delicious, light on calories, and a refreshing drink that mixes well with fresh fruit. Just add tequila. Great for entertaining!”

Stacey – A funky citrus candle from Anthropologie. “The colorful glass container is an art piece and the candle scent is refreshing!”

I hope that you will take the spirit of sharing into your next holiday exchange or even a fun summer party with your girlfriends. Just remember that for this type of gift swap, you should never bring gag gift items that don’t have any real value nor will you receive these. It is all about sharing a few of your favorite things with your friends. So … what is YOUR favorite thing?