Cookie time and a home tour!

Warning - really long post ahead!

This past weekend, I hosted a cookie exchange party at my house for close family and friends. It was fabulous! We had over 20 people and about 25 different types of cookies. I couldn't have pulled it off without my great mom and sister Caroline. But I do have to say that Derek was especially helpful in getting the whole house cleaned! Thanks D! We worked all day on Friday baking and preparing. And we snuck a few projects in there too! As if I didn't have enough to do! Christmas just isn't the same without a few crafts!

Enjoy the many pictures from the party as well as a little Christmas tour of the Stephens home.

Mom and me preparing for the party.

The tablescape. We added cute little snowflake ornaments to the tablecloth to spice it up a bit!

This was a Martha Stewart craft that Caroline did. Trees are made out of paper and glitter.
This is my ribbon tree I made. It really is simple and turns out just adorable! I bought a foam cone from the craft store and many assorted ribbons. Then I cut the ribbons all the same size and folded each in half and glued the ends together. After that I hot glued each ribbon to the cone. Add a dazzling ornament at the top and you have a super fun whimsical tree!

Caroline made these cute little stirrers we used for the apple cider and coffee.



Plates for the yummy food
These are my whimsical snow women. They sure are tall compared to my swedish santa.


The Living room
Our mantle
Village display - no I did not make the church, only the houses on either side.
This is a great way to add some life to a wreath. Tie ornaments to the ends of ribbons and attach to a wreath.

We have two trees. This one is in our dinning room.
This is our dinning room where we were displaying all the cookies. But we had so many cookies that I had to start placing platters on the chairs!

I made this cute little frame and it sits on our hutch.
My hutch display.
Our tree in the living room.

Sisters Mom, me, Andrea and Jan
Mom, Aunt Melissa, Caroline Derek's mom - Linda, Emily, Heather - Derek's sister
My lovely co-workers, Jodi and Paige.
Me and Janet
Lauren and Britt
Once we plated the cookies we displayed them on the table and the chairs since we ran out of room. Everyone got to take home 2 huge plates of cookies. What a great turn out!

Miss Piper was such a sweet little guest!
Melissa won the best cookie prize - a cookie jar.

Sweet Caroline

Matt stopped by to show off little Mckenzie...what a doll!

Thanks to everyone that came to my party and brought cookies! I had so much fun seeing all of you and tasting your delicious cookies! Merry Christmas!!