Christmas Cookie Exchange

You can find last year's post about our cookie swap here and 2010's here.

This year was just as special. It is quite the tradition and I highly recommend cookie swaps to you and your family and friends.

First, we sent out invitations:

I wrote the poem and we printed/stamped/embossed the invitations so they had a little more sparkle.

The house was decorated, including the chairs.

We had a hot chocolate station and a cheese station. We also had mini grilled cheese sandwiches but I don't have a picture.

When people arrived they wrote their cookie's name on tent cards (which were also stamped and embossed).

And once everyone was present, and mingling, and admiring the cookie displays...

...they were reminded to take 5 of each kind of cookie!

Lastly, they packaged their cookies up with a variety of ribbon, tulle, and ornaments. We also had stickers (stamped and embossed) so people could write their name on their cookie packages that way they didn't get mixed up when they put them down.

And, of course, everyone went home with a recipe book of all the cookies from the party!

Very neat!

Show me Christmas: week 3!

Today, I'm linking up with Becky: From Mrs. to Mama for Show me Christmas: week 3.

Last week I showed off "my" decorations!

And now, we're talking Christmas Traditions: past, present and future.

I've been talking to my mom the last few days about how things are changing now that I'm married. It seems like Sean and I haven't really started "traditions". We're still working things out and I think that once we have a house of our own it'll be easier and more concrete to start some of our own rituals. But for now -- we sort of shuffle around Christmas day to make sure we get to see everyone. 

But since I don't have pictures to show of us shuffling... I thought I'd show off a tradition (that doesn't involve Christmas Day) that was just started last year!

Our annual Cookie Swap! (Last year's is here)

Sunday was the second annual cookie swap and it's so much fun that I see it as something that I would like to continue for a long time. :)

We make sure to have everyone email their recipes ahead of time and put a little recipe book together! And we have a cookie tin decorating station because who doesn't like glittery stickers and shiny ribbon?

This year we had 14 different kinds of cookies which meant that everyone could take 5 of each kind of cookie.

This year we had a silver/white/snowflake theme and even the chairs were decorated with silver sequins!

After the cookies are swapped and packaged they look BEAUTIFUL! :)

 

I'm sure you, too, have traditions! Be sure to go link up with From Mrs. to Mama!

Ins & Outs of our swap

Along with the invite that we sent out, we sent out "the rules of the swap". Sadly, I don't have a picture of it... but I'll try to remember.

I asked that each person coming bring 7 dozen of the same kind of cookie. This allowed us to have 1 dozen of each cookie available to try at the party which left 6 dozen to swap. In total there were seventeen kinds of cookies at the party and each person was able to take 5 of each kind of cookie leaving the party with a total of 6 dozen assorted cookies. Let me tell you, it's a lot of cookies!

I asked that everyone email me at least 10 days before the party to let me know the type of cookie they'd be bringing - I didn't want to end up with all chocolate chip cookies, for example. I also requested recipes for each cookie because I wanted to put together a recipe book, full of the cookies from our swap of 2010. This recipe book could have been a lot cuter... so I didn't take a picture, but next year it'll be great. I already have ideas!

At the party, as people started to arrive I took their trays and put out their cookies on our trays we had waiting for them. We had note cards, that had the same reindeer image from our invitation, so that the name of the cookie & the baker could be displayed where everyone could see. We had festive music, and food & drinks that everyone could enjoy. About an hour & a half into the party I began going up to people and letting them know how this would work...

There were boxes ready. Enough boxes for everyone to take 2 or 3. There were also enough zip-loc bags for everyone to separate all the cookies out before placing them in their box(es). This was good for multiple reasons...

1. it keeps the cookies fresher
2. it keeps the cookies that contain nuts away from the ones that don't -- just in case, you have people with allergies.
3. not all cookies go well together...

I did the math and taking 5 of each cookie worked out perfectly.

After the guests, mingled & ate & drank, they started taking their cookies. Taking the cookies right before they left worked out nicely because then we didn't have to worry about stacking/storing/keeping their boxes full of cookies somewhere safe while they went back the party.

I had tape and ribbon at hand to help seal the boxes tightly.

And the best part is that it's a week later, and I still have some yummy cookies that are still fresh and enjoyable!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Cookie Swap

Never having been to a cookie exchange... but being really interested in them -- I, along with my mom and Barb ventured into the land of hosting a cookie swap.

We read up on hosting them and this is what we ended up with:


We sent out our invites, home-made. Do you love'em? Because I do.

Did you notice the reindeer's embellished nose? And we used red envelopes from, where else? Paper Source.

This is the transcript, just in case:

The bright red nose of this festive reindeer

Has sniffed out a cookie swap in the air.

So dust off the recipes and fire up the range

And come to our first Christmas Cookie exchange.



Fancy or simple, frosted or rolled,

Sugary stars all buttery gold,

Bon bons and brownies, snickerdoodles and more

You'll have armloads of cookies when you go out the door.



Bring 7 dozen cookies - yes, it seems like a lot

Too many you say? Oh no, we think not.

Use them as gifts, eat them yourself

Put out a few for the Jolly Old Elf.

Or when family is together on Christmas day

You'll have a wonderfully yummy dessert buffet!



The air will be festive, the food a plenty

With holiday cheer for our group of twenty.

Please find the time, we hope you can make it

No store bought treats, we'll know if you fake it!

Cute right? I know!

First, "we" [and I clearly, say that loosely because I had nothing to do with this part] got the house ready for Christmas!



This next part, though - that's what I contributed, too. This is my village: the North Pole.


When everyone started arriving, I took their cookies and set them up on the plates and trays and everything else we had waiting for them...


Here's another angle:


For the actual swap part of the party, we had these boxes ready, lined with festive tissue paper on the inside.


Throughout the house we had bowls, trays and plates of each kind of cookie so that everyone could try each cookie.


We didn't have many other sweets, just hor d'ourves -- however, the pretzelies made an appearance!



It was really successful and everyone went home with 6 dozen cookies! I can't wait to have one next year!