Hello Robin,

What a great website you have, it helped me with everything I needed for my 1st Annual Cookie Exchange, couldn't have done it without you.

The cookie exchange was a blast! Everyone was so excited to come that I got a little nervous, but that quickly went away once everyone arrived. There were 16 of us which made it so much fun and lively. I decorated the house with a festive tree and a beautiful centerpiece for the awesome cookie display table; and Charlie Brown's Christmas playing in the background. Each guest baked or brought 4 dozen cookies to exchange.

There were:

Magic Cookie Bars, Cream Cheese Cookies, Bourbon Balls, Spritz, and plenty of very fancy bakery cookies (walnut crescents, cannoli, biscotti, petit fours, almond) most of which I can't name. I bought festive Christmas cookie tins for each guest to fill with her cookies.

I served buffet style: Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Buffalo Wings w/Bleu Cheese dressing, Pasta Salad w/Feta Cheese, Curried Deviled Eggs, Corn Souffle, Spinach dip w/bread & crackers, Vegetable Platter w/dip, Assorted Cheeses Platter, Fruit Platter, and Sweet Potato Pie. We drank Christmas Punch (spiked white sangria), White Zinfandel, Soda & Water. I bought apple cider and spices to make the hot spiced cider, but forgot to serve it.

We played the memory game (remember which guest brought which cookies), and Lucky 13. The two winners each won a beautiful, large full jar of miniature candy-canes.

All the ladies were really happy to be there, they're encouraging me to do this every year. The party was supposed to end at 8, we went until 10 - We were all in the Christmas spirit and everyone was able to meet someone new. I even received a few handwritten notes thanking me for the wonderful time. I had the best time, so good that I totally forgot to take 1 picture. I can't wait for my next exchange, it makes for such a nice and festive start to the Holiday season!

Robin, thanks again,

Gloria
Hightstown, NJ