Cookie Exchange 2011: Cookies for Santa

It was time once again for my annual cookie exchange.
So, a theme was chosen (Cookies for Santa), the invites went out,
an apron was made, and eleven awesome ladies converged on my home.


The contestants were . . .






Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies
Reindeer Cookies, Spritz Cookies,
Chocolate Cake Reese's Peanut Butter Chunk Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies,
Gingerbread Cookies, Apple Chip Cookies,
Alfajores and Cinnamon Roll Cookies.

Of course there were treats and snacks served -
including a hot chocolate and hot cider bar, complete with Cinnamon Dolce Syrup.
My favorite snack was the Santa Hat Party Mix.


The little Santa hats were just so dang cute!


After some snack eating and waiting for the last
two guests to arrive, we had a little handmade gift exchange.
We all unwrapped a gift and then for two minutes
two sets of dice went around the circle.
Every time you rolled a seven or doubles you had
to trade/steal another gift.
It was CRAZY!
I lucked out and got these yummy
and darling cupcakes from my friend Vicki.


Next year I will take pictures of all the fabulous handmade gifts.
Angry Julie brought a pennant that was fiercely fought for,
Kara-Noel made a cute bow tie & bow tie headband set,
Jaime sewed up some HO HO hot pads,
Syl made a fab sugar scrub,
Sam made a darling purple monster friend
that she stole back FROM ME so she only had to make
one for Christmas - smart lady!
There were other fabulous gifts that I don't remember,
but they were all awesome.

Then it was onto the official vote!
I got really fancy this year and made cute voting sheets.

And of course there were prizes!


Vicki took Most Festively Dressed!
And added more hair accessories to her coif.


Jen took the tastiest cookie and won the coveted apron.
(Double Mint Yummies)


Kara-Noel claimed the Best Looking Cookie
and won cute cookie cutters.
(Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies)


Jaime was shocked to take The Most Creative Cookie
and got some serious Ghiradelli hot cocoa with mugs.
(Reindeer Cookies)


Marianne definitely had the Prettiest Cookie Display
and took home a rad cheese cutting board.
(Cinnamon Roll Cookies - lighted tower)


And no Cookie Exchange Party would be complete
without a little gift to take home.
Keeping with the "Cookies for Santa" theme,
I made these!


The haul was quite lovely!


And I had to fight my kids and husband from
eating them the minute the last guest left.


I made Alfajores this year and I'm sharing the
recipe card I made with you.

Check Me Out: {GUEST}ing at I Heart Naptime

Hey all!

I'm over at I Heart Naptime today
for her Crazy Christmas Crafters series.



Come and check out my tips for hosting
a holiday cookie exchange party!

2nd Annual Cookie Exchange - 2010

So, this was my second time hosting a cookie exchange

and it is so much fun.
I love seeing all the different cookies that everyone comes up with.
However, you know what's not fun???
Making 9 dozen sugar cookies from rolled dough
that have to be frosted :)

This was my kitchen after they were all done.
When I was done, I felt like throwing my hands up
Top Chef style :)

Here is the invitation I made for the party.
I've had strict rules as as to what counts as a "cookie"
for both last year and this year.
It causes some of the ladies distress, but I think it's fun.
Maybe I'll ease up next year . . .

I have a group of friends from my Wtown years that
still try to get together once a month and do something.
The group has grown as friends and family members of the originals
add in, so it's a fun, eclectic group.
I also invited a few non-Wtown friends
and I was so excited when Kara-Noel said she'd come.
She's so fun!

This was the spread!

My high maintenance sparkly snowflake sugar cookies.

Yummy molasses cookies

Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies (one of my faves!)

Jell-O Cookies
aka Rudolph Noses

JT sporting a rudolph nose :)
He was supposed to be in bed, but kept sneaking out.

This is RAD group of ladies that came this eyar.

We voted this year on:
1. The Prettiest Cookie
2. The Most Awesome Display
3. Fan Favorite

I actually won prettiest cookie and fan favorite,
but that's lame to win my own prizes.
I should've excluded myself,
but it's also nice to hear others liked my cookie.

So, the first runner up for prettiest cookie
were Kara-Noel's Caramel Thumbprints
(another one I adored!)
and she won an ABC Cookie Recipe Book made by me.

The first runner up for Fan Favorite was a
three way tie - and after picking a number 1-10
Cory's Mint Chip Cookies won, so she claimed the apron this year!
(Umm, one year I won't wait until the day of the exchange to make the apron
and my cookies and all three winners will get an apron!)

And the winner of the Most Awesome Display
was Marianne with the darling sleigh!
She won a candy can dip bowl.
I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture
of Marianne and Kara-Noel with their prizes.

We also vote for the most festively dressed.
Jaime won AGAIN with her Christmas tree outfit.
She even lights up!

And she won a pair of Love Stitched earrings.

A new addition this year along with the cookie exchange,
was a handmade gift exchange.
But we made it into a game and it was hilarious
to see everyone stealing all the awesome handmade gifts.

Here are my spoils!

I can't wait for next year!!!!!

Oh! And the winner of the CSN Stores giveaway is
.
.
.
.
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CORY!!!!!!
You have 48 hours to respond to the email!!!

Coming up . . . my Christmas tree and Nativities . . .

And don't forget to enter the Eclectic Whatnot giveaway!

ETA:
I forgot to attach my recipe cards!