Dear Robin,

I am Toni-Jean Glover of Columbus, Ohio, and I have been having a cookie party for 10 years. This year, for our 10th anniversary, I created a themed party. It was all about Joy, and everyone went home with pieces of Joy to remember our 10th Anniversary. There was a Joy towel, Joy decorations, ornaments, and even Joy dish wash liquid.

There are seven ladies that attend the party which has become one of my favorite traditions during the Christmas season. I start preparing for the cookie party the first week in March every year, thinking about my friends and how to make the party exciting and different each year.

The tradition is for everyone to bake the cookies in my kitchen. All cookies are home made and most of us make two different kinds. We start baking in the morning and end our party in the evening. The cookie aroma and holiday music sets the atmosphere for our day.

I prepare a nice delicious lunch, usually a hot soup and two entree's. We enjoy talking, laughing, eating and sipping on margaritas and wine while we bake. The ladies look forward to seeing each other every year, and finding out what special surprises await them. These ladies are all my lifelong friends.

They are Suzanne, Deborah, Jackie, Linda, Marcia. Linda monograms a keepsake Christmas towel each year for everyone. I do my best to roll out the red carpet and to make each year's party a memorable occasion for everyone. I am so looking forward to the 2011 party.

I am including photo's of our 10th Anniversary Celebration. The ladies in the group photo from left to right; Suzanne, myself (Toni), Deborah, Jackie, Linda and Marcia.

Toni