Monday, December 12, 2011

Holiday Cookie and Ornament Exchange

Yesterday I had my annual holiday cookie and ornament exchange!
With help from my super awesome husband, I think it was a SUCCESS!
I did things a little different this year.
I moved all the food out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
Generally, I have everyone put their cookies in here but I decided to change it up a bit.
You like?
A big thanks to my blogger b/f/f, I Do Declare, for creating my signs!
 The only screw up of the party was that I didn't buy enough Rose' for this cocktail that my other blogger friend, A Liz, suggested.
One word.
YUMMY!
We just didn't have enough of it!
I also provided my Nottoway Punch.
Everyone loved that too.
 My party favors were inspiration of blogger, Miss Janice.
Peppermints with peppermint hand sanitizer from Bath and Body works.
 The menu.
Which, I Do Declare, also helped with by sending me loads of suggestions.
She's so talented.
 Brie, cranberries and nuts in pastry cups.
Anything with brie is good!
 Holiday cheese board.
 Poppy seed ham rolls.
You can never go wrong with these.
People go bonkers over them.
Brad helps out and makes them for me every year.
Such a great husband.
 I always make this cheese ball too.
So easy.
Cream cheese, green onions and corn beef.
Make a day or two in advance and it's better.
 I went fancy this year and made these sweet potato wedges with lemon garlic mayo.
Another hit!
 The usual suspects attended but a few new ones as well.
My friend Karen and hiking partner Kelli.
 Best SIL ever.
 And, blogger friend A Liz!
Yes, internet friends and real life!
My normal crew found it amusing to have a 'blogger friend' in attendance.
My friend Kelli said, 'she's just like you!'
HA!
 It was a good time.
 Fabulous cookies as always.
 And, the ornament exchange was super fun.
 This was the favorite.
It was stolen twice.
I opted to pick my ornament and got to keep it!
The pickle!
My cousin introduced me to the pickle many years ago and I have wanted to start this tradition with our family.
So, this year it will happen!
Such a fun event, as it is every year.
Thanks for everyone who helped and came!
Happy Monday!

18 comments:

Morgan said...

This post just made me sooo hungry! Everything looks amazing.

love jenny xoxo said...

wow you have a beautiful set up!!! And the menu looks amazing too! I just went to a Cookie and Ornament Exchange and my ornament broke, I felt so bad! So I traded back for mine, I'm going to try to return it.

XOXO

Monica said...

Everything looks FABULOUS! The food, the decorations, the cookies! I'm starving now! Glad you had such a fun event. I wish I had the entertaining skills that you have.

donatelli98 said...

I want to come to Charlotte next year and attend! Looks like tons of fun!

Ashley said...

that is so awesome you had a blogger friend at the party!
Someone gave us the pickle the first year we were married. We put it on the tree and then forget about it though. All the food looks great!

Nikki said...

I'm starving! I must make a cheeseball soon.

So much fun, we have a pickle too...but we never play the game. We used to hide a clay baby Jesus, but I have not idea where that is either.

Bonnie said...

Awww, everything is so pretty and Christmasy! I love it. :)

http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88

April of Smidge Of This said...

Dee, I had the best time! Your home was just lovely and the food ... oh the FOOD. I'd love that cheeseball recipe if you wouldn't mind posting it or emailing it to me!

Hopsy said...

It looks FAB Dee!

Unknown said...

wow, that looks like an amazing time :) happy holidays!!hope you can check out my blog for some +vibes and inspiration! i'm also hosting 2 rad giveaways! bracelets worn by kourtney kardashian, courtney cox and vanessa hudgens! check it! xo

Leigh Powell Hines said...

Oh my, what a wonderful spread. Love I do's signs, too. Great, great event, Dee! I love those poppyseed ham rolls, too. I could eat the whole tray.

Anonymous said...

It looks like such a great party! I love how everything is set up, and the cookies look delicious!

Lauren
http://laurensweetnothings.blogspot.com/

I Do Declare said...

Everything looked perfect!!! Wish I could've been there! Thanks for the shout-out, too - hee!

Claire Kiefer said...

This looks so fun! And now I want cheese and cookies, BAD.

Jo said...

It all looks fabulous! The brie tarts are my fav. My cookie exchange is next weekend ~ can't wait.

Jo

Sara said...

Yum- now I want cookies. Everything looked awesome. And it looks like y'all had a really great time. So fun!

By the way - I have the pickle ornament! :) One of my favorites.

DSS said...

I only recently learned of the pickle tradition. LOVE IT! You always host the most amazing get togethers, and I want to eat all of those cookies and drink of those cocktails. Mmmmm....

Unknown said...

What a perfect party! I love the layout and the signage.

Hamwiches are one of my favs, but my recipe gets a good coating of butter in the oven-yummm.

I also made haystacks for the first time this year, they were sooo good!