You know, I thought I would be the type to buy something at one of those tupperware parties to hook up a friend, but turns out that I just couldn't do it.

My husband wanted to go to his (male) co-worker's party that he got an actual pastel-colored invitation for. As is the usual, all of the workers at his small but generally close company were invited, including spouses. I took a second look at that invitation and groaned when I saw the second-to-bottom line, hidden in prose, which announced its true meaning:

It was a Pampered Chef party.

We went, we walked through a crowded and very nice house (a little too "catalog" for me, though), and I barely stopped when we went through the living room, were a middle-aged woman was holding up some type of strange contraption, while the women were watching; some with rapt attention, others who had the most glazed-over look one could imagine. I faltered. I couldn't sit there, listening to this crap for an hour! I gripped my husband's hand and we made it out to the patio, where all of the men (and, coincidentally, pretty much the entire staff of my husband's office) were.

Our friend "rescued" his girlfriend/co-worker from the room, who wanted to leave but was too polite to. When they made it back out, she burst out and told us how the lady would ring a bell and tell people to be quiet, like it was kindergarten or something.

I'm so glad that I chose not to sit in that room, I would have burst out laughing at the sound of the bell.

GAWD - do you just hate yourself for this sometimes? I confess; almost from the very moment I opened a bank account I have allowed myself to fall victim to this creative con aimed, I am convinced, solely at the female population. Yes, I have purchased many things I knew I didn't really want and would probably never have bought otherwise simply because I received an invitation from a family member or a friend. And, as much as I try to swear off and do the smart thing, I will invariably find myself once again sitting on a little chair in someones living room, listening to some schpeel about anything from skin care to inferior decoration to some kind of miracle diet or food product I surely cannot live another day without. Sure, those of us who have experienced this kind of party all go of our own free will so we only have ourselves to blame. Still, you have to wonder why we dont all rise up against this sappy (and successful) attempt by corporate America to take advantage of the female tendency to help someone out. Especially when we all know darn good and well the only one actually profiting is the mega-industry involved.

Yeah~ i have bought items such as tupperware and candles to help out a friend who has hosted one of these parties. i suppose it did not hurt me to buy it but i do feel a bit of resistance to buying this stuff since they are always overpriced. and I know I can get any of them cheaper by getting a product with a different name but just as good at a store. I have to admit that i have even let some of my friends talk me into hosting parties to help them further{ i hated it too} Not my favorite way to buy some silly product.