Cookie Swap Fun!

Every year the weekend before Christmas my girlfriend Heather hosts a cookie swap. Over the years it's kind of turned into a sweet swap because there are so many different options aside from cookies that people want to make. The first year I did it I made magic cookie bars. I don't remember what I did the year after the magic cookie bars, but the year after that I made mint chocolate chip cookies. Last year I made traditional Italian anisette cookies and this year I making some type of chocolate cookie bar with white chocolate and crushed peppermint. I'll review exactly what they are after I've swapped them, I don't want to give away some secrets!

 

The swap is very serious. You have to commit to her a few months out and once she gets her final list, everyone gets a special invitation and that you have to tell her what cookie you're making. She holds it about 3-5 days before Christmas Eve so that you have tons of cookies for your families. This has been such a big hit in years past!

It's so much fun, she has lots of  "reindeer" games prizes tons of food to eat we all get to sample the cookies, and decide who made the best one, who's took the longest to make, who has the nicest packaging etc. I won best tasting for the magic cookie bars, I was pretty excited about that AND longest to make, when in fact they are super easy and quick!

 

Here are some pictures from swaps past....

 

2011 - playing charades with clay!

Timed word scramble

More Reindeer Games in 2012!

Our spread from 2012

A few of my un iced anisette cookies

Not even half!

My packaging last year before the wrapping

All wrapped up - I didn't' win though :(

These girls are pro's! We are so competitive with this swap that it's quite funny.

 

Making the best reindeer out of balloons.....

So much fun!

My balloon antlers!

One funny lookin' Rudolph!

Yeah.... I won.... Hahaha

Our spread from 2013

Sampling the goods!

 

It is the best time! Seriously!

I truly look forward to it every year.
Tomorrow I'm going to share the detailed recipes from cookies past...

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Magic Cookie Bars

Anisette Cookies

 

 

In other news........ Can I tell you how darn much I LOVE my new blanket scarf?!

Andrea had one on the other day and I fell in love with it.

It's from Tara Lynn's Boutique and it is FABULOUS!

 

 

It's total huge and takes over my entire front when I put my coat on, but it's the best thing I've bought all year! I'm going to get one for my mom for Christmas.

Love Love Love!!! 

 

Have a great day!  

 

 

~Tiffany~

 

 

 

 

My Sunday Craft!

Happy Monday!

 

Last week I was reading everyone's blogs and came across this amazingly cute "Christmas Caddy" on I Heart Organizing's blog which was a guest piece by  Megan at Honey We're Home and thought to my self, "I can do that!" So here we have my awesome Christmas Caddy! My pictures aren't as glamorous and I have different "things" in mine... 

But never the less...I love it! It was super easy and fun to make and came out so cute! 

 

Here's what I used:

One Bamboo utensil organizer 

(Homegoods - $9.99)

 

Red duct tape & other fun tapes

(Anywhere duct tape is sold)
 

2 cabinet handles 

(Lowes - $2.39 each)
 

A little Christmas sign for the front

Christmas stickers

Cute bow for inside

(All from Michael's)
 

 

Lots of fun stuff to fill it up like tags, pens, markers & whatever else your heart desires. 

 

All I did was apply the red duct tape to the long sides of the organizer. And with a hot glue gun I stuck on the Merry Christmas tag and stickers. I used a dot of glue to reinforce the stickers. Then I used gorilla glue to attach the handles. The screws would have been to hard on the bamboo and hot glue didn't work for me. Gorilla glue doesn't freakin budge once it sets. For reals. My finger tip can tell you! After that was the fun part of filling it up! I'm going to use it for my Christmas card decorating so it will have stamps and ink along with mailing stamps and Christmas stickers and so on. I also plan to keep my accessories organized for gift wrapping as well such as ribbons and tags and tape etc. 

And what you are finished with is this:
 

 

 

The one pictured is for my mom - I'm gave it to her last night as a little pre-Christmas gift. She absolutely loved it! 

 I have all the stuff to make mine ready to go.
I put the peppermint squares in there because they are her favorite ❤️

 

Tomorrow I will be talking about the annual Cookie Swap I attend and the best cookies from past swaps....

 

~Tiffany~

Friday Favorites ~ Kitchen "Stuff"

 

Kitchen "Stuff"

Let's take a moment to drool over this kitchen....

 

 

Let me start by saying this is totally a dream kitchen... in looking for new homes, and considering new construction, I definitely want an amazing kitchen.

What I have now is nice, but kind of small.

I need more space to work!!

Now, on to my favorites... There are several kitchen "staples" that I cannot live without...

 

ONE

 

 

 

My absolute, hands down, FAVORITE kitchen “gadget” is my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer!
Ted got it for me last year for Christmas. I had hinted about it a tiny bit (honestly) but with planning a wedding and all, and it being a big expense, I didn’t think he would get it for me.  It is seriously my favorite thing ever. AND it's red.... My kitchen is all white with red accents so it's absolutely perfect.

I participate in an amazing cookie/treat swap every Christmas. It’s hard-core. Like, sign up and commit by the beginning of October. Decide on a cookie and tell the coordinator a.s.a.p. so there are no duplicates etc. It’s usually about 14-18 women. We usually do a dozen per person to swap so sometimes it’s been A LOT of cookies, like almost overwhelming but not because I love every second of it. So this is super super amazing to have for the swap this year. Last year my left hand may or may not have gotten caught in the hand mixer whilst trying to mix a triple batch of anisette cookies…

I'll blog details of the swap and the cookies I've done next week, including an overall winner I made that people couldn't get enough of (super easy too)  ;)

 

TWO

I absolutely love my Pampered Chef Chopper

 

 I use it quite often. It's the best for when you need to chop peppers, onions, garlic etc.

I used it to make my awesome creamy chicken & rice soup

(I like the veggies really chopped up)

If you are ever at a party where someone sells pampered chef, buy this! You will love it!

It cuts the chopping time in half and is super easy.

Clean up is a bit funky because of the blades, but still easy.

 

THREE

 

I have these awesome Bamboo Cutting Boards that make me want to never use any other type of cutting board again.

 

 

They clean so nicely and don't get all yucky with knife marks.

I highly recommend these.

 

FOUR

 

 

 

Food Network Dutch Oven

 

I used this wonderful Dutch Oven to make soups, stews, and my delicious

 Shredded Beef Tacos

 

It is awesome. And very similar to the much more expensive Le Creuset

 

And sticking to my red theme.....I have this in red as well!

 

 

FIVE

And the last thing I'll mention today is the Chefmate Cupcake Carrier

 

 

I use this often. I send cupcakes in to work with Ted or I bring them to a party or to work for the kids.
This thing is great. Holds 24 cupcakes double decker style and clips together really tight.

That's it for me today.
I have a busy weekend of getting the house ready to "show"

It's supposed to be chilly, I'm excited about that.

 

Have a great weekend!

~Tiffany~