Christmas Gift Exchange Party

Earlier this week my friend McKinsey hosted a gift exchange party for 14 girls in her home. Out of all of the gift exchanges I've ever been to this was the dirtiest and most aggressive one yet, which meant it was a blast! The gift limit was $35 and some girls definitely went above it or brought items you normally wouldn't splurge on for yourself without a special occasion...these gifts were the hottest items at the exchange.

I brought a gift card for a pedicure at Polished Nail Bar and walked away with my favorite  Rewined Candle and a $10 Starbucks gift card!

There were tons of great presents under the tree, but the gifts below each hit their limit of THREE steals max as soon as they were opened! So if you ever need a gift idea for an exchange party...

pedicure gift certificate // max & chloe bib necklace // volcano candle // rewined candle // OPI Christmas collection // starbucks gift card // target gift card // tory burch umbrella

After the exchange was finished everyone hung around drinking wine and snacking on appetizers to rekindle friendships that were at stake during the exchange war. Kidding, well kind of.   What are some of the best gifts you've fought over at gift exchanges this year?

Custom Lucite Tray {Winner}

Thank you to everyone to entered the Custom Lucite Tray Giveaway! And a huge thank you to Laura from Laura Dro Designs for hosting such an amazing giveaway!

  Congratulations to #149, Amy R. Norris on winning an 8.5x11 Custom Lucite Tray from Laura Dro Designs! Check your email, Amy!

{winner selected via random.org}

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Last weekend my friend Mel hosted a Second Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange! It was so much fun and everyone walked away with full bellies, sugar highs, new recipes and buckets {literally} of cookies!

The beverage station was quite impressive this year. Mel really outdid herself with chocolate milk, her famous Ho Ho Punch, a coffee station, hot chocolate, apple cider and custom bottled waters!

Before we scarfed down too many cookies we played some games, mingled and nibbled on lots of delicious appetizers. How cute are those Grinch Fruit Sticks?!

Mel's dining room turned bake shop was so festive!!

The cookies in attendance (L - R): moose balls // chocolate chip cookies with Andes mints // melted snowmen // cowboy cookies // ricotta cookies // mississippi mud cookies // reindeer cookies // monster cookies // oreo snowman pops

Of course, we had to try each cookie to vote on our favorite.

Group shot from the swap!

Winners! Mel's mom's Ricotta Cookies won "best cookie," I won "best recipe card" {for the second year in a row} and McKinsey's Mississippi Mud Cookies won "best cookie runner up!"

{the winning recipe card}

{Oreo Snowman Pops}

Each guest received a massive bucket to shovel cookies into. And a quick tip - throwing a slice of bread into your container will keep your cookies moist longer, so Mel had a loaf available too!

Adorable cookie cutter party favors!

 

You can find details from the 1st Annual Cookie Exchange {here}!