Fourth Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange

On Sunday, I participated in our neighborhood's Fourth Annual Cookie Exchange. Although we had a smaller crowd this year, it was a wonderful opportunity to build community by visiting friends, old and new.

This year, we had 11 participants who each brought at least 6 dozen cookies of one kind. Some are ones that I secretly hope are repeats each year.  Others are brand new varieties to the group, which make it fun to add to your own recipe collection. They're all delicious and come with sweet stories.

I made red velvet cookies - my "go-to" recipe for a cookie exchange. They're a tried and true favorite in my house.

Red Velvet Cookies - KK Moore

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order).

Heavenly Cranberry Bars (A Starbucks Copy Cat Recipe) - Jessica Schneller

Creme Brûlée Sugar Cookies - Suzy Mills

Amish Sugar Cookies - Ann Biron

Grinch Cookies - Lara Travis

Chocolate Chip Craisin Cookies - Sadira Ebert

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies - Karen Scott

Apricot Cream Cheese Thumbprints - Heather Brousseau

Peanut Butter Sensations - Shari Lacy

Almond Joy Cookies - Michelle Hanzely

Peppermint Oreo Truffles - Barbara Wetzell

Why do we keep going to a cookie swap each year? Jessica's reasons pretty much sum up what I believe most of us are thinking:

1. Cookies
2. I'm the only person in my house without a nut allergy, so I don't even have to share!
3. I love baking and especially baking for others.
4. I love hearing everyone's stories.
5. I love tradition and hosted a cookie exchange in our last city, so this helps build community in our new (though not so new anymore) home.
6. Because it can't be said enough: Cookies!

Continued thanks to Sadira Ebert for spearheading this event!

Hayden couldn't wait! LOL

My Favorite Things Party 2017

I always look forward to Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things party each year. If you're looking for a different party theme than the traditional "Secret Santa" or "White Elephant," check out last year's post to get more details on how this works.

I was especially glad that Keely joined me this year. Check out her beautiful and delicious Nutella braided wreath . . . only two ingredients! (Recipe adapted from Fit Mitten Kitchen.) I made traditional red velvet cookies to share.

Keely's Nutella braided wreath

Now, back to the party. The rule is that your favorite thing must not cost more than $11. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

• Flylady's rubba scrubba
• A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
• A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka

One of my favorite things in general is a simple tea towel. I started collecting them years ago as travel souvenirs. I'd much rather have something I can use instead of a dust-collecting trinket of some kind. It doesn't bother me a bit that my tea towels with Rome, London, Wimbledon, Eiffel Tower, etc. may have a stain or two on them. Each tea towel is well loved, and the memories each bring are well loved. So, my favorite thing that I brought to this year's party is a Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops) at the end of last season for 50% off. Keely still teases me that I'm thinking about what to bring a year in advance. But hey, this time the planning paid off!

As in previous years, I'm not able to capture everything. But here are at least some of the other favorite things from last night (in no particular order):

• Rapid egg cooker (won prize for "best overall")
• Stainless steel drinking straws for a Yeti tumbler
• Lancome mascara
• Glitter clutch from Old Navy
• Beauty Counter's Plumping + Jasmine facial oil
• Earring posts from Madewell
• Evian water facial spray
• Tassel necklace from Nordstrom
• SWiG wine tumbler (great for coffee, too)
• Layered necklace
• Genmine hair remover electric pen
• Snowflake ornament
• Chicken poop lip balm (yes, seriously that's the name)
• Wine wipes
• Emily McDowell greeting cards
• Lavender spray
• iPhone charging cable
• Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm
• Drinking Buddies wine glass markers
• Cookie butter from Trader Joe's with a honey crisp apple
• Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend from Trader Joe's
• Smashing S'mores from Trader Joe's
• Gift card to the Urban Juicer
• Sanders dark chocolate mini bites
• J Crew wool trouser socks
• Blue Chair Bay coconut rum (or key lime pie rum) mixed with Bai coconut drink or Vitamin Water zero pineapple-coconut (Yes, Nancy loves coconut!)
• Mud Pie inspirational card deck of quotes
• Tervis tumbler
• Ulta Beauty hair care sampler
• Key chain
• Nativity canvas art print from Kirklands
• Bootie slippers by Xhilaration
• Prosecco with homemade ginger cookies
• Faux-fur pom-pom beanie from Old Navy
• Mexican spiced chocolate

Hopefully, this list will give you lots of great ideas for stocking stuffers. Merry Christmas!

Nancy and Margaret Ann, our (ahem) VIPs for the night ;)

So much fun! I wish I had taken more pictures of the crowd!