Have you ever heard of a "Swap Party"?
Not a swinger party, a SWAP party!
I first heard about this idea on TV somewhere but to be honest, I wasn't quite convinced it would really work the way they described.
When I got an invitation to one, I was looking forward to checking it out for myself.
Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint!
The swap party I went to was a "clothing and accessories" swap. There were approximately 20 women who attended. We were all different; different styles, body types and ages. You might wonder how this diverse of a group could have a successful swap but it WAS a success!
Here's the gist of how it worked:
Every woman who attended the swap was instructed (well in advance) to bring her gently used, clean and in good condition clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories to the party. (Consistency in quality of and type of items to bring is KEY.)
The hostess had prepared areas in her home for each type of item; jewelry display table, shoes area, handbag hooks, clothing racks and tables for folded items.The hostess also provided some delicious food, full length mirrors and a few changing areas to try things on.
I was amazed by the quantity of items we had to choose from!
Once we all arrived and placed our items in the designated areas, we had a chance to browse, chat and eat. Then the "swapping" began!
There are several different ways to "organize" a swap. This one was more informal and that made it relaxed and fun. I think, no matter how you choose to organize a swap, it would be fun!
Having never been to one, I didn't know what to expect - I entered the party not expecting to take anything home and would have been happy to find just ONE thing I liked!
After a few hours trying on clothes and matching accessories with my girlfriends, we all went home happy! I came home with a necklace, a pair of shoes, a dress, and 2 "new" tops!
More than the fun of getting to bring home something "new" for my wardrobe was the creativity and inspiration I came away with! I got a few things I might not have normally purchased in a store but since it was a "swap" I was willing to step out of my comfort zone and try something different.
After the swap, anything that was left, was happily donated to a local charity. It felt good knowing that we had fun AND were able to help others!
If you are considering doing a swap, DO IT!!!
The possibilities are endless.
What other swap party ideas do you have?
home decor
kids toys
kids clothes
work-out gear
movies or DVD's
* Keepin' it REAL in Rofo * - Check out my full blog at ReallifeinRofo.com
