Christmas Cookie Swap

Every year I host a Christmas Cookie Swap

 and Gift Exchange party.

 I have been hosting one nearly my entire adult life.

 It's a favorite of mine.

Just this evening thinking of posting about it

 I realized that I haven't posted a cookie party post

 since 2014! Yikes!!!

So just to kinda document it, I am throwing in some of the

 cuter pics from last year's party, too.

Everything is dressed so nicely for Christmas swapping!!!

There is always a few who think outside the "cookie box"

 and bring some other clever yummies.

We had gingerbread, raspberry, mint, cinnamon,

 chocolate, peanut butter, coconut, dates, blackberry -

 so many classic flavors - what a great lineup of treats!!!

One just never knows how a cookie

 will be dressed for swapping!

Anything goes - even fun pom-poms toppers!!

We had a White Elephant gift exchange this year -

 and the winning funniest one was a

 colorful wooden picture frame painted on top saying:

 DECK THE HALLS

(Not Your Family)

Thanks for the big laughs, Debra!

We pack individually (usually a half dozen) for swapping

 and bring a dozen loose for the tasting-

this swap really is an easy self-serving kind of party.

All the hostess has to do is provide invites and a variety of drinks.

My staples are hot and cold tea, decaff coffee, egg nog and ginger ale.

I thought of serving hot cocoa, but I figured we had enough super sweet chocolate things,  killing us so I passed.

The gingerbread cookies had JOY written on them

 and then just J and O and Y are others.

My two beautiful daughters attend every year. 

I would like to thank my wonderful husband

 and my precious 3-year-old grand daughter

 for taking all the pics for this post.

 I was too busy eating cookies, entertaining and providing drinks to get out my camera. 

And the wee one was having such a fun time with the camera-

she decided she wanted to be IN a pic so she struck a pose.

She told her Grandpa that she was "thinking really hard"

when he reminded her to smile-

and the gift box prop and background was all her idea.

(I think she's ready for her close-up, now, Mr, DeMille!)

If you missed my last post - it is all about my

Christmas Afternoon Tea Party I hope you check it out, too.

As always, thank you for your visit! 

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Anything Goes Saturday

An Christmas Afternoon Tea Part 2

OK- as promised, here is Part 2 of one of the very nicest

 Christmas teas I have ever been blessed to attend.

This time I am sharing later in the evening.

 I mentioned in the previous post, our teas are marathons.

Auntie Pam changed out the china

 and then hosted a hearty delicious dinner for us as well.

(I will forever be in awe of this amazing woman!)

She placed a beautiful candle at every setting. 

It was so pretty once the lights were dimmed a bit.

The yummy menu was buffet style,

 and everything was made from scratch.

Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie

Spinach Salad w/ homemade strawberry dressing

Sticky Toffee Pudding
~and assorted sweets left from tea earlier~

This was the very first time I've ever tasted Sticky Toffee Pudding.

It is beyond description. 

It is rich and decadent and truly beyond compare.

IF YOU MISSED THE PICS OF HER BEAUTIFUL

AFTERNOON CHRISTMAS TEA CLICK HERE.

Next time I visit Auntie Pam's
 gorgeous new custom-built home

 I hope to just showcase it for you.
 It's so awesome.

It's the perfect size and so sparkly new, oh it's pretty!

However this post is all about Christmas and the tea,

 dinner and her over-the-top beautiful decor......

I will just let the pictures do the talking.

Some whimsy in her kitchen:

I'm disappointed in my pics - I didn't seem to capture much,
 as EVERY square inch  of her home from porch to bathrooms

 and every room in between was so tastefully  decorated.

 I can't even imagine how she does it!!!!

(Or where she keeps it all stored!)

And she had all sorts of bling!

The candle light, the shimmers and sparkles
 created such a gorgeous mood
as the evening wore on.

And, of course, she had THE brightest bling in all the universe

 displayed in fine and full Glory: Baby Jesus

I hope you've enjoyed Pam's parties

 and home as much as I have sharing it with you.

As always, thanks for your visit.

Hugs and prayers to each of you!

♥

~Michele

A Christmas Afternoon Tea Part 1

Oh, the joy of spending time with my tea society sisters!

I had the delight of being invited for a lovely out of town 

tea-time weekend with my dearest friends this past weekend.

Our amazing hostess, whom we lovingly call Auntie Pam showed us

her gorgeous newly built home for the first time,

 and also hosted for us the most exquisite afternoon tea!

We truly felt as if we were royalty this special day.

I cannot thank dear Pam enough for such a special tea!

She started the party out offering us delicious

 appetizers and champagne with raspberries.

This is a clever way to serve shrimp cocktail;

in individual glass cups on ice with demitasse forks.

Her homemade cocktail sauce was incredible.

She provided a large assortment of sweets

for us to nosh on as we cajoled.

Our teas together are true marathons.

I am glad she kept fuel so close at hand!

This was the most decadent, light, rich and moist cream-filled "coffee" cake

I have ever had in my life. It was very sweet and buttery and nutty - no cinnamon or coffee

crumbs - it was heavenly, and I'd give anything for another piece of it right now!

Her tablescape could win an award, I kid you not.

She has mad decorating skills.

My quick pointing and clicking pics

didn't do any justice to all the beauty around me.

All was completely over-the-top gorgeous.

I just couldn't quite capture the beauty, and truly failed
to capture the MOOD her decorating invoked!

She gave us TWO different gifts!

One was at our table, wrapped so beautifully!

Inside the pretty boxes were two little white
glittery ceramic birdie figurines.

♥

I already have them in use, and have plans to show you soon,

if when I post my Christmas home tour.

Auntie Pam travels the world and has been to England 
several times on extensive tours.

She shared with us 4 different kinds of tea.

My very favorite was her Sally Lunn, which she purchased
in Bath, England while taking tea at the famous tea house.

Here is a bit of history I found online. 

Pam collects interesting tea tins from her travels as well.

♥

Our main course was a super fluffy quiche,
served with mixed fruit.

I wish I had a picture of my mile-high quiche -
it was huge, and so so delicious!!!

She had scones for us too!

This is getting way too long, so part 2 will be the DINNER
she prepared for us as well.

And yes, she changed tablescapes.

We also had a wonderful gift exhange.

And yes, we were there for hours and hours and hours.

I will be sharing her amazing Christmas decor, too.

L to R:  Dawn, Pam D., Mary D., Karen, Marina and Auntie Pam


These are very beautiful, special and dear tea sister-friends.

I am truly blessed to have them to hug and love.

I am so happy to be able to share this fun day
with YOU, my very special blogging friends, too.


PART 2 here:  Afternoon tea turns into dinner and decor.



More coming soon, as time allows during this holiday season!

GOD BLESS YOU AND BRING YOU PEACE.

Hugs and prayers.

~Michele

Linking:

Friends Sharing Tea   *   Tablescape Thursday   *  Pink Saturday

Thankful for Friends Tea Party

It's funny, but I am just noticing how many tea parties

 and extra special occasions

 that I haven't ever shared on my blog.

 One of them includes a 

Thankful for Friends Tea

 I hosted for my very bestie best tea-sister friends last year.

So, yes, it's an old party but it's never been shared on my blog!

(Glad I noticed it.)

I do wish I had noticed earlier in the season. Oh well.

Better late than never, I suppose!

I hand-made my napkin holders from thrift-store

 wooden napkin rings wrapped in burlap

 and hot-glue gunned silk flowers I already had in my stash
from a practically free end of season sale earlier.

The menu graphics matched the name label graphics.

I used my little clay pumpkin card holders too.

The table runner I used, and my teapot cozy match.

I didn't have a pick of the teapot from the party
so I am sharing where I have it stashed this year.

Top shelf to the right is where you will find it.

Add cheese and a sprinkle of pepper or paprika or curry

on your soups for a nice look and extra bit of flavor!

I think this is gruyere I used here.

What autumn salad is complete

without some seasonal apples and pears?

Nature provided the simple centerpiece, 
keeping it low so everyone could see one another well
from across the table.

Everything for this tea was easy
 so dishes could go in the dishwasher after.

When hosting a slumber party weekend
the teas have to be low-maintenance clean up!

At least on weekends when my wonderful hubs
isn't around to help.

Because he is a God-send most tea parties -
invaluable help for me to be able to put them on in style.

I remember last year he had plans, so that's why I used
stoneware and glass dishes!

Most of you know I'd always prefer to use
 my pretty china for tea parties. ♥

I *adore* decorated sugar cubes.

The source I used stopped making them.

I think it's time I learned how to make my own now -

 I spent a small fortune on them for years!

I found a pic of the favors I gave away, but I can't really 
remember what I filled inside of them anymore.

I know there was a cute decoupaged birdie ornament

and some Thanksgiving napkins, and knowing me probably

a Yankee candle and perhaps a sachet.....

These favor gift baskets were so much prettier in person!

Yep, not the best lighting for these last minute pics.
No time, fuss, tripod or special tricks - just fast shots.

Good friends, good food, good fellowship...

(and a calm and happy hostess)

 make for the successful and memorable party!

That, for sure, is what we had that day.

As always, thank you for your visit!

Hugs and prayers!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Friends Sharing Tea   * Inspire Me   *   Tablescape Thursday   *   Foodie Friday