Hi Robin,

This year I had 13 participants. Boy, was it tough to just pick 5 photos. :-)  2008 was my 4th cookie exchange.

I have become obsessed with hosting this. Everyone looks forward to coming and we have a blast.

Around September I send out a "Save the Date" email to let everyone know. I have to say, I received a text back from one of the girls laughing saying "you've got to be kidding!"

This was the first year we tried the packaging individually. We discussed it and decided the plate of cookies was favored. Every year the cookies are more creative.

• Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and Holiday Punch were served.

• Meatballs in the crockpot with Jellied-Salsa sauce

• A variety of Cheeses and crackers

• Mini Artichoke and spinach quiches

• Plus all the cookies for sampling. I type up cards with the name of the cookies, so everyone will know what type of cookie they are sampling.

• My Christmas punch is always a big hit.

• Cranberry Champagne Punch

We have contests every year:

• most festive Christmas outfit

• most creative cookie

• most creative packaging of cookies (or display of cookies)

• best liked tasting cookie

For the contest prizes this year:

I made up baskets with supplies for wrapping gifts. Tissue paper, scotch tape, tags, ribbon, wine bag, bows, wrapping paper, and I included chocolate kisses for nibbling while wrapping.

My judges are my husband, my 2 sons and a friend of my husband's who has been part of the exchange since the first year. They just judge, and then announce the results when they have finished. They love participating, I even have name tags for them that say "Judge". My youngest son (9) really looks forward to the judging part.

We played a game this year which was "What's in your Purse".

It had to be Christmas items that I read off from a list, the woman with the most items was the winner. Everyone loved it! I gave a bottle of wine as the prize, in a cloth wine bag with a Santa wine stopper. The stopper was santa's feet sticking out of the bottle. :-)

Every year I try to come up with an idea to give as a gift to my guests. This year I downloaded the Christmas CD that Oprah was giving her viewing audience. I printed out the artwork, labels and created the discs for everyone. I place the CD's by the front door in a small basket.

Thank you to all my guests for helping me kick off the start of the Christmas season.

Maureen Hayles
Bartlett, IL