One Lady's Old Sweater is Another's Treasured Statement Piece

The nest hosted a clothing swap over a Saturday morning fireside potluck brunch. The idea was this: bring all the clothes you love but don't wear anymore, one dish for brunch and as many bags as you wanted to donate to a charitable cause. The results: full tummies, fun and fabulous additions to all attendees' wardrobes. It's safe to say the event was a success! In fact, I was so excited about my treasured pieces I wore one Saturday night, Sunday and to work today!

Clothing swaps are AwEsOmE because they give you the opportunity to feel like you went on a shopping spree but you don't pay a dime and you get the added satisfaction of giving back to those less fortunate. Nest neighbor Dana offered to take all items donated to her mama bird's center for disadvantaged youth. (Thanks again, Dana!) Actually, a lot of the girls thought that no one would want the items they offered the swap but after a couple rounds of picks they found themselves surprised that their items were chosen among the most coveted (and Beans and I were like, "SEEEE?")

The girls that participated can't wait to come to another swap during the next season and the girls that came just for brunch are chomping at the bit for a piece of the action. There were a couple keys to success that I would like to share:

1. Set up the area for the swap items as professionally as possible: we used a rolling rack and hung the dresses/jackets and skirts. Sweaters, shoes and jewelry were laid out in neat rows so they could be easily browsed.

2. Draw numbers out of a hat for the order of picking. after everyone has had the chance to choose during a round, return the numbers and select at random again so everyone has a chance to choose first, last and somewhere in the middle.

3. Open up the floor after a few rounds. (you really had to be there to hear the howl of excitement when we decided all bets were off and we could go for whatever was left. It was straight from a movie script!)

4. Make sure guests have something to do while they're waiting for their turn at the loot. I think it would have been pretty boring in the meantime if we didn't have the brunch, fireplace and movies to keep us preoccupied.

Speaking of brunch I gave this recipe a try for the very first time and it was a very very very easy and a very very very yummy addition:

1 can of premade buttermilk biscuits

shredded cheddar cheese

eggs, beat with milk

cooked turkey bacon, chopped

• preheat oven to 350, grease cupcake pan


• remove biscuits from can one at a time and separate in half. place one half of biscuit in the place for one cupcake spreading the sides around forming a small bowl. repeat for each cupcake place


• beat approx 4 eggs with milk and pour into biscuit bowls until the egg just reaches the brim of the biscuit.


• fill with cheddar cheese and cooked turkey bacon to taste


• bake for 15 minutes or until edges of the biscuits turn golden brown and your egg center resembles a souflee.

serve warm and get 'em while ya can!