"Bag" Lady Party

by Michele Pappagallo
(Hot Springs, AR)

"Bag" Lady Party: With the economy the way it is right now, it is sometimes hard to justify spending a lot of money for shopping, entertainment, etc.

....so, this idea solves that problem. Invite all your best girlfriends to fill a shopping bag with any lightly used clothing, accessories, costume jewelry, etc. they do not wear anymore.

Also, have them choose one good, used handbag from their collection that they are willing to give up. Tell them to wrap the handbag in some sort of package so it cannot be seen until it is unwrapped.

The host should provide some sort of light snacks...and beverages that are appropriate for the crowd. For the "Bag" Lady Party, "Bags" of popcorn, candy, etc. are cute and also fit the theme.

When everyone has arrived, have them place their wrapped handbags into a pile in the middle of the room.

Invite everyone to show the various articles of clothing they have brought, and encourage guests to swap objects as they wish.

After everyone has finished swapping clothing items...tell them you are going to play the handbag game.

Place numbered pieces of paper in a bowl (Start with number 1 and make a number for each guest). Go around the room and let each guest pull a number from the bowl.

Guest number 1 then gets to choose a wrapped handbag from the pile and open it. Guest number 2 gets to either take the handbag from Guest number 1 or choose a new one to unwrap.

If any guest chooses to take an unwrapped bag from a previous guest, that guest has the option to take a bag from someone else...or choose a new one from the pile.

It is fun to watch some of the more popular handbags change hands several times. The game ends when each guest has a handbag.

Each guest goes home with a couple of new pieces for their wardrobe and also a new handbag....all without spending any money!