Holiday Cookie Exchange/Ornament Auction...In Six Simple Steps

lIt was a long time tradition

for the gals in the San Diego hood to have
our long time standing,
Annual
Christmas Cookie Exchange/
Ornament Auction.

Well, I wasn't in my San Diego hood anymore.

What's a girl to do?

Bring it to the East Coast, of course.

So I had to get to work...

Step 1:

I opened my calendar,
picked a morning when the kiddos were still at school
and set the date.

Headed to the invitation department at
evite.com

Here is one evite I could have used.
There are plenty of options to chose from.

I couldn't forget to let my peeps know their duties:

"Come with 5 dozen holiday cookies,
as well as one wrapped Christmas ornament"

Perfect.
Send.

Now ready for
Step 2:

I decked out my dining room table.
See this post...

Step 3:
Get my cookies ready.

Yes, that's 5 dozen.
These are my fave cookies.
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Recipe found here...

This is what the table looked like when all the
yummy cookies where ready to exchange.

This is us in full cookie "exchange" mode

Step 4:
Prep a simple menu
(remember we set our date mid-day sans kids)

Here was the brunchy menu

Blackberry French Toast Casserole
(thanks, Kristy!)

Sausage Egg Casserole
(thanks, Lynne!)

Fresh fruit

Sparkling Cider
Orange Juice
Cucumber Water
Coffee

Simple
Yummy

Step 5:
Set a place for those
Chinese Auction Ornaments

Simple Chinese Auction Rules:
3 possesions
then FROZEN!

Possession 1: Open gift
Possession 2: Stolen
Possession 3: Stolen, now Frozen!
Done.

Step 6:
Open up your home and your heart...
let the festivities begin.







Great friends.
Great fun.

Tell me how YOU celebrate friends each holiday season.
Any yearly traditions?

As always,


for visiting.