Mai’s 5th Annual Cookie Exchange
December 13, 2008
Elk Grove, California

Welcome to my Cookie Exchange!! 

Wow, finally here after all the preparations!!

Guests started arriving at noon:  Patty, Grace, Lucia, Krissy, Ama, Becky, Angie, Nikki, Leila, Effie, Diane, Carmen, Sally, Julissa, Deanna, Erika, Tina, Karina, Stephanie, Sue, Kate, and Irene.


Lunch was ready for everyone to enjoy.  We had a few appetizers to munch on like:  chips and salsa, jalapeno stuffed olives, etc.   This year, I had a traditional Mexican menu.  We enjoyed pork and chicken homemade tamales with a delicious tomato and green chile sauce.  Also on the menu:  Spanish rice and the ‘ranchero’ beans.  And of course, the traditional ‘hot spiced cinnamon tea’, soft drinks, limeade and wine.

 

The ‘dining’ area was set up pretty for the guests to enjoy their lunch.  I used our ‘Bunco’ tables draped with white linen table cloths and decorated with a red ‘star’ that gave it the festive look!

After everyone was finished with lunch, we went on to the ‘secret’ voting for Prettiest Cookie, Tastiest Cookie and the Prettiest Platter (everyone brings a beautiful platter for exchanging; we first vote for the prettiest and then we draw numbers and the guest gets to keep the platter that has the number corresponding to the # drawn). 


After all the winners were announced, we proceeded with the Left/Right game (we used the new version which everyone enjoyed playing).

And finally, the cookie exchange. 


Before the swap.


Everyone got a hold of their container to start filling it with all the beautiful, delicious cookies of 2008!!!  What a treat!!  This year, the ladies really outdid themselves; if you could just see the beautiful creations that were on my dining table!  OMG!

 
Winners for Cookie Exchange 2008

Prettiest Cookie: 1st:  Carmen Calderon   2nd:  Mai Castaneda    3rd:  Patty Velasquez

Tastiest Cookie:  1st:  Mai Castaneda      2nd:  Patty Velasquez   3rd:  Sally Large

Prettiest Platter:  1st:  Mai Castaneda     2nd:  Tina Macuha       3rd:   Lucia and Krissy Gonzalez

Left/Right Winners:    Ama, Erika, Effie, Becky, and Carmen


We all had lots of fun, took many pictures and started talking about next year’s exchange!!!

Thanks again for the all wonderful and useful information you provide to us in your website! 

Mai Castaneda