This was my first cookie exchange party. My girlfriend, Terry Johns, showed me your web site and that was how it all came about. I ordered your book and reviewed all your links to get me going.

I invited 8 people to keep it a small group to accommodate my home. Instructions on what they needed to do were included with the invitation and mailed out several weeks before the party was scheduled. Seven people showed up and the eighth person had dropped off her cookies because she had to work late.

We had a sit down Mexican dinner which included, Taco soup, 7 layer dip with chips, Pampered Chief's Taco Ring, ice tea and of course Wassail. Dessert consisted of a choice of Chocolate, Carmel Pecan and Apple pie.

Each person had a designated seat with their name displayed above their plate attached to a red Christmas ball.

Each person brought 14 bags [seven bags of one kind of cookies and seven bags of another kind of cookie] with 5 cookies in each and a sample of each cookie they made [which was two]. They were told about winning a prize for the best presentation. Our theme was the traditional red and green Christmas.

When each guest arrived I had a pin for them to put on [the pin said Jingle for Jesus and had three bells attached] and told them how to play the "Cookie" game where you can not say the word "Cookie". The one with the most pins at the end of the night got a prize.

Also used the name tags that were used at the dinner table and drew a person's name to win a prize. A third prize was given to the most creative/festive packaging of the cookies they brought. The person that won was the girl that had to work over and was not able to attend [pretty cool].

The party was scheduled on Dec. 4th and started at 6:00pm and ended at 8:00pm and it was timed exactly right. This worked for everyone since all of us were working women and had to go to work the next day. Each person had brought a wrapped ornament and we played the "Right" "Left" game in which we all ended up with our on gift so had to improvise an ending so as not to have our own. Not sure what we did wrong but must of got mixed up with having an extra gift for the person that was not in attendance. Oh well, it was still a lot of fun.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a first for all of us to get acquainted with a Cookie Exchange Party. We were all discussing and planning the one for next year!!!

Oh I forgot to tell you I gathered all their recipes ahead of time and a recipe book [used a Photograph book] was given to each person as they left the party along with a picture of us all that I took during the evening [printed out 8; to put one in each recipe book].

Thanks again for all your information on putting together a Cookie Exchange Party on your web site!!! I pray you have a Merry christmas and Blessed New Year!

Doretta Davis
Shreveport, Louisiana