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Saturday

Favorite Things Birthday Party


...these are a few of my favorite things.
It's a Favorite Things Birthday Party.
My daughter recently turned 14 and we decided to have a little Favorite Things Party with a few of her 'favorite' friends. 

Have you ever heard of a Favorite Things Party?
Instead of bringing a present for the birthday person, all the guests bring multiples of their favorite things to give to each other.
We kept the party small with 3 friends. (Perfect size for no feelings to get hurt!)Each friend brought 2 of their favorite things in multiples of 3.  We asked that the gifts stay under $5. a piece.  The gifts could be wrapped or not.  Each party guest handed out their gift explaining why it was one of their favorite things.
(You can do this on a bigger scale with many friends, by drawing names to see who gets each gift.)

The girls oohed and ahhed and were so excited to receive their friends' favorite things.  And in case you were wondering, here's what 14 year olds like in the $5. or less category:  fuzzy socks, hand lotion, lip gloss, eos, necklaces, Bath & Bodyworks hand sanitizer, scarves and stretchy gloves.

I kept the décor of the party simple with golds, whites, brown paper, burlap and sparkle.  These wrapping paper cones are simple to make. 


      
Use styrofoam cones of various heights and roll wrapping paper diagonally onto the cones, securing with straight pins.
The table was decorated with a white tablecloth covered with a runner...which was just a sheet of brown wrapping paper with gold polka dots.  White tulle and gold ribbon ran down the center of the table.

Having a December birthday means the Christmas tree must match the birthday décor, right?  Of course!  White lights, burlap and a star garland made out of old sheet music helped to decorate the tree.  Many gold and white ornaments along with a few rustic balls and metals cones completed the look.  I also just happen to have a huge amount of angel ornaments that have been gifted to me over the years.





Mini trees decorated with white and gold ribbons flanked the buffet table.  Gold tablecloths covered every surface including the wall.  Sheet music star garland was hung as well.




For dinner we served my daughter's favorite meal.  Lasagna, salad and garlic bread.  My daughter's favorite cake is yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  I baked up mini sizes for each guest and displayed them in these beautiful Christmas bowls.


Each cake was sprinkled with the 'snow' effect...aka powdered sugar.  The guests were thrilled to have their own little cake to themselves.



Snow pails filled with white stretchy gloves were put at each place setting as well.



At a Favorite Things Party you must do the guest of honor's 'favorite things'.  My daughter made a list of every activity she wanted to do with her friends.  One by one they tackled the list.
Creating gingerbread houses was #1 on the list!



Other activities included:

-ornament making (The girls painted glass ornaments with their own designs.)
-ping pong tournament
-making s'mores
-making hot chocolate
-board games
-making marshmallow stirrers-- click here.
-flashlight walk around the neighborhood
-movie watching with popcorn
-and Christmas karaoke!

                        


In case you were wondering, it was a sleepover...hence the reason for so many activities!


In the morning we served breakfast with my daughter's favorite...pancakes.


and a donut hole tree!

(Make these easily by sticking toothpicks into a Styrofoam cone and attaching donuts to the toothpicks.)





The Favorite Things Party was a hit! 
(I'm thinking I want a Favorite Things Party for myself!)















To see more of my daughter's birthday parties:

10th Movie Party-- Still searching for these pics!

Click here to see my daughter's 11th Blinged Out Bowling Party


Click here to see my daughter's 12th Candy Cane Party


Click here to see my daughter's 13th Oh Deer! Party




Linking up to: Rustic&Refined Table Link It Party,

5 comments :

  1. Fun! I love the favorite things party idea, I was invited to one once but couldn't make it. The donut hole tree is great, and I am so partial to the gold decorations. :)

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  2. So lovely!! You can feel the love in this party. Happy birthday to Jessica!

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  3. Your creativity is inspiring! What a great teen girl party!!!

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  4. What a fun way to celebrate a birthday! The table is gorgeous.
    Merry Christmas!

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  5. Sorry if this is a duplicate comment but wow your tree is gorgeous and I love the theme idea for a birthday party. Brillant; now everyone feels included and excited and not just the bday person. Fab job and I love the color scheme!

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