Swappin' Stuff

I have the most awesome women in my family. They plan things like Broadway Skits, Birthday Carnivals, and most recently, a Stuff Swap. Have you heard of these before? The idea is for each guest (in our case: ladies only, friends and family) to bring 10 items, more or less, they want to get rid of. Nice things like books, sweaters, paintings, shelves. Shampoo, wine glasses, towels, picture frames.

Then, each guest draws a number and takes a turn picking out one item from the pile of offerings to take home again. Stuff...being swapped.

When your number is up, you get to peruse the stuff and take the coolest thing you can find. It's like going shopping, but for free. We went through the list of 15 numbers six or eight times (who can remember?!) before deciding the rest should be donated away. There was haggling, name calling, and bargaining scattered all over the evening; it was terrific. Add some of this:

And you might end up with a little bit of this:

Scores were celebrated:

Competition was trash-talked:

Amazing discoveries were made:

Yes, those are my shy little tootsies sporting some new red stretch faux-snakeskin knee-high boots. I think the boots need a name. Suggestions?

More importantly, I need to now come up with an occasion on which to actually wear them. You know, without my face turning a matching shade of mortified. They are super cute...but...

You all know my boot difficulties.