On November 28th, I held my 5th Annual Cringan Castle Cookie Exchange and thanks to all the input from your website, the ladies that attended voted it my best ever. It all started last spring when I started designing the 3D Gingerbread House Invites. Then over the summer it was planning the banners, games, recipes etc. I couldn’t wait for September to come to send out the Save the Date.

There were 16 ladies joining in this year and all had to make a different recipe than last year. This year we did a traditional swap (non pre-packaged cookies) and I provided everyone with a custom cookie tin to take their treats home in. It was a lot of work to prep all the goodies for the luncheon and get the room set up but I had great help from my sister in law Leslie.

The best part of this year's exchange had to be the games! I laughed so hard I cried. Santa (in full suit) joined and the ladies played: "Ho Ho Carols", Left/Right (it was amazing how many couldn't do it after a few glasses of wine), Christmas Feud (aka Family Feud with a twist) and best of all the Reindeer Antler Game.

4 Cookie Prize Ribbons were awarded by Santa for Best Decorated Cookie, Yummiest Cookie, All Around Cookie and Favourite Cookie. Santa didn't realize he had to taste them all so it took a couple of rum and cokes to get through all the cookies.

After the Exchange, we headed off to our Town's Old Fashioned Santa Claus Parade. Post Parade it was back to our house with the men folk, dogs and kids. In total we had 60 for dinner! Thanks and love to my husband who helps me immensely and puts up with all the craziness. And to my friends to followed the “plan” to get food on the table while I was at the parade. 2 smoked turkeys, 1 ham and 1 large prime rib and 14 desserts and my guests were full, full, full. Santa paid us another visit and all the kids eyes just lit up when he came down from our loft. It was my most favourite moment of the whole event.

I just love this time of year and love spending it with family and friends. Now that's its been a week and I am working on the recipe books, one for each lady, it's time to plan next years event! Already have the theme - pink!

It was hard to pick just five pictures but here they are.

Thanks again for such an inspirational website and all your efforts!

Anne Turner
Port Perry, Ontario, Canada