I know Thanksgiving is upon us and tends to get overlooked, but knowing how busy we become during this season, I want to share a Christmas tradition with you early in hopes that you will have plenty of time to plan and make this a new tradition...a Cookie Swap!
Truly, this is one of the easiest and most financially feasible Holiday parties to host! Let me show you how...
My dear friend, Shelley, and I have hosted a Mother/Daughter Cookie Swap the Sunday after school is out each Christmas break. This has proved to be a terrific time, because most families are still in town before Christmas travel.
These are a couple of examples of the invitations we have sent...very simple. Purchased Christmas paper from Hobby Lobby when it was 50% off and printed them at home.
I'm sure there are no crazies out there reading about cookie swaps, but just in case...half of it's whited out, sorry!
These pictures are simply to give you a starting point, and you can see that we changed the number of cookies from year to year. We will stick to the 4 dozen, and I'll tell you why in a minute.
You will need lots of space at your table for the trays of cookies, so keep that in mind while decorating! We provided a large, red, oval, plastic platter and plastic wrap for each guest. Wal-mart has carried these trays every Christmas for $1. (I just bought mine for this year)
We serve coffee, hot cider, water, and two appetizers...Hot Corn Dip, and one more. Choose at least one kid-friendly option!
For serving, we use inexpensive Christmas paper plates, napkins, and hot beverage cups.
We take a photo of each mom/daughter pair as they arrive! You can print the photo during the party, or mail it to them later.
One year, we even uploaded the photos immediately to a local one-hour photo service, and during the party, the girls made an ornament that holds a photo. My hubby ran to pick up the photos during the party, and by the end of the party, we had photo frame ornaments to send home with the girls as a favor.
Be sure to get a photo of the entire group of girls together, too! We forgot last year, and I am still sad about it!
A simple activity for the girls is a fun addition to your party. We have implemented a few different ones over the years...
Simple foam ornament sets from Hobby Lobby or Michael's that each girl decorates.
Reading of a Christmas book (may be more appropriate for a younger group). Listed below are a few ideas:
Play Christmas carols and let the girls sing along! Our singing was impromptu, but plan ahead and ask a mom who is a pianist to come prepared to play a few tunes!
Assemble and extra platter of cookies and hand-deliver as a group to the closest fire or police station!
Pictured above are a few girls from years ago when we took cookies and a gingerbread house to our fire station! The station was kind enough to give the girls a mini-tour. Again, appropriate for a younger group.
Yet another idea (which we are implementing this year) is to combine your party with a donation drive benefiting a local charity. Call around to local homeless shelters and food banks, and nearly all will gladly send you a list of needed items!
On the day of the party, we will prepare an extra platter of cookies and will deliver the cookies and donated items to Our House, a family shelter for the working homeless.
So to wrap it up for you in a list...
Host your own Cookie Swap:
Secure a date for your party
Invitations, envelopes, stamps (if mailing)
Paper products...small plates, napkins, hot beverage cups
Mulling spices and apple cider (large stock pot and ladle)
Coffee, coffee cream, sugar, artificial sweeteners
Miniature bottled waters/iced container to hold these
2 appetizers
Platters for take-home
Plastic wrap to cover take-home platters
Christmas craft, optional
Christmas Book, optional
Boxes to collect donated items, optional
At your party, greet your guests and offer to take their platter of goodies to the table. If they have brought donated items, show them where to place them. Have one host be responsible for taking mother/daughter photos as soon as they arrive.
Allow enough time for all your expected guests to arrive before starting any extra activity. They can grab an appetizer and a drink and visit with their friends!
We recommend having one or two short, age-appropriate activities planned. Ideas above.
Don't forget to get a large-group photo!
About 30 minutes before the party's end, instruct each daughter to grab a platter and to take cookies from each plate. (Number of cookies to take depends on number of guests/number you ask them to bring). Have plastic wrap nearby and an adult to help cover their platter of goodies to take home!
If you decide to have your guests bring donations for a local charity, you can go directly after the party to deliver or at another pre-determined time.
Have fun!
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10 comments:
Looks fun! I was planning on doing one at work. It wont be as fancy as yours, but should be fun!
Thanks for the tips!
Love it! And your storybook selection is great. With Joy, Carey
What a precious party! Love all the details!! Oh, I cannot wait to do this with MM!!
Making it a mother/daughter one is such an adorable idea. Can't wait for my daughter to get old enough. Until then, I'll just have to make do with fellow moms. Thanks for all the inspiration!
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Fun! We have a mother/daughter cookie swap in a few weeks (I'm not the host). Good idea. Nice fireman ;-).
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What a sweet idea that will teach your little girls many important things and will make lovely memories for them and their mothers! Merry Christmast to you and yours.
Amanda,
What a great idea! I have tried a couple of years to have a cookie swap and everyone is always too busy! Can I ask.....those wonderful cookies at the end of the post? Do you have that recipe????? They look incredible! Sandy
OH! I LOOOOVVVEEEE This!!!!!!! SO SO cute!!!! THANK YOU So much for sharing! AWESOME!!!!! =))
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