Favorite Things Gift Exchange

Last week I hosted our 5th annual Favorite Things Gift Exchange for Community Group and it was the best night!

This year’s theme was “Champagne Problems,” and it was a total hit. We had so much fun dressing up in sequins, sipping sparkling pear cocktails, and exchanging gifts! If you’ve been following my past gift favorite things exchange parties, you know this tradition is always a night our girls look forward to!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange Signature Cocktail

For my signature cocktail this year, I knew we needed something bubbly, so I whipped up a “Pear-secco Spritz” — super crisp, refreshing, and honestly, so tasty. It’s a breeze to make with just three ingredients: prosecco, a splash of pear juice, and topped off with a little ginger beer. To make our glasses look extra festive, I added red velvet bows to the flutes and they looked so cute!

See my Favorite Things Party Reel HERE!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange Dinner

One of my favorite holiday hosting hacks is re-using my Thanksgiving tablescape for other events throughout the season, and this year, I brought it out again for our Favorite Things Party dinner. I love how using the same set-up takes the stress out of creating a beautiful tablescape, and it still feels fresh and festive with a simple flower swap. You can check out the full details of my Green & Blue Thanksgiving Tablescape in this blog post, but basically, I kept the light blue, white, and green color palette, swapped out the flowers, and added a few new touches.

You can find all my tablescape sources and links in this post, and you can see the close-up details on my Tablescape Reel HERE!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange Tablescape

I wanted to make sure we kicked off the night with a solid dinner, but in full transparency — I knew I’d still be decorating my Christmas tree as the girls were walking in, so I outsourced most of the cooking. I went with Table & Twine for the main meal (my go-to for fancier dinners). I ordered the Pork Chops with Roasted Apple Chutney, which I had already served earlier this year at my Supper Club dinner, so I knew they were delicious. These apple cider-brined pork chops are flame-grilled and served with this sweet apple chutney that’s chef’s kiss. I also grabbed my absolute favorite side from them: Balsamic Glazed Carrots with Goat Cheese. They’re roasted, drizzled with balsamic, and come in an oven-ready pan, so easy. And both of those items are gluten-free, which is a win. To round it out, I added some Bob Evan’s mashed potatoes (because let’s be real, no one does them better) and a fresh loaf of homemade sourdough bread. It was all so good… even though I may or may not have overcooked the pork chops while we were taking our group photo!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange GIFTS

Now for the most exciting part — the gifts! After dinner, we dove into sharing our favorite things, and let me tell you, it was so much fun. The gifts this year were on point, but honestly, the best part is always how everyone presents their favorite thing! There’s something so fun about seeing each person’s excitement as they explain why they love their item — especially the more “unique” items. And also, everyone always gets extra extra excited when the gift comes from a Black Friday deal! Spoiling the group even more with a great deal that lets the gifter go bigger (or give multiple gifts) while still coming in under the price point is always a huge win!

Each girl brought 5 copies of her favorite $30 item and left with 5 brand new gifts — the perfect way to swap and score some great finds! If you want to know how we structure the exchange, get a peek at how I set up the party, and check out all our past gift exchanges, be sure to read my post: 7 Tips for Hosting a Girls Christmas Gift Exchange!

And now, let’s get to the good stuff… here was the gift line-up!

Bumble & Bumble Hair Thickening Spray + Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask

First up, I’m sharing the beauty duo I brought to the party! The Bumble & Bumble Hair Thickening Spray is SO GOOD — it adds volume and texture without weighing hair down, and it’s perfect for a salon-worthy blowout. I scored it on Black Friday for $18 (normally $35), making it even more of a steal!

I also gifted the viral Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask. This overnight mask hydrates, improves elasticity, and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed by morning. It’s like a mini spa treatment while you sleep, and the set comes with four masks — normally $20, but I scored these on Black Friday sale for $12!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange - Collagen Mask + Hair Thickening Spray

Eras Tour Themed Gift

Next up, Michelle nailed it with the ultimate Eras Tour themed gift! Inspired by her fave moment this year — seeing Taylor Swift — she gifted us a gorgeous Love and Luck Charm Bracelet by Erin McDermott. It has a cute heart charm on a beautiful chain. Normally $48, but Michelle scored a BOGO deal on Black Friday! She also added some fun “Swifty” extras: a mini bottle of prosecco, a beaded friendship bracelet, an ornament, and some Taylor Swift stickers. Such a fun gift!

Favorite Things Gift Exchange Eras Tour Gift

Ultimate Sleep Kit

Laura’s sleep-themed gift was all about creating the perfect evening sleep routine! First up, the Weighted Sleep Mask— it combines gentle pressure with a 3D contoured design to help you unwind and block out light for a deeper sleep. It’s soft, adjustable, and super comfy for a restful night. She also included a Tongue Scraper for fresh breath, a Mini Sound Machine with 15 non-looping sounds, perfect for on-the-go relaxation and a Collagen Face Mask (the same mask I brought this year)! Out of five years of gift exchanges, this is the closest we’ve come to bringing the same item! Together, these items make the ultimate sleep kit!

Motion Sensor Trash Can

I am still giggling over the gift April brought this year — a trash can! This Motion Sensor Trash Can is pretty with its sleek white and gold trim AND practical. It’s perfect for the bathroom or even the laundry room (because who knew dryer lint needed such a fancy home?). The motion sensor lid opens automatically, so you don’t even have to touch it. It’s one of those gifts that’s so unexpectedly useful.

Earlybird Gummies

It came as no surprise that Stephanie brought her favorite Earlybird Full Spectrum CBD Gummies — she’s been raving about these for a while! The flavor trio (strawberry, watermelon, and lemon) is delicious, and each gummy delivers a perfect balance of relaxation without feeling overwhelmed. They’re a great pick for stress relief, winding down, and great sleep!!

The Best Makeup Setting Spray

Mary Shadler couldn’t make it to the party, but she sent her gift with some notes, and it was so thoughtful! She gifted us the On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray by Patrick Starr, and I can confirm it’s just as amazing as she promised. I used it over the weekend for Matt’s holiday party, and it really works wonders and is perfect for events. It’s like hairspray for your face — keeps makeup in place all day (or night!). It gives a matte finish, tightens pores, and is totally waterproof.