2011 Sweet and Savory Holiday Edible Gift Exchange

On December 10, 2011, I hosted the first annual Sweet and Savory Holiday Edible Gift Exchange to include some wonderful friends. It was a spin off to the traditional cookie exchange with a balance of sweet and savory gifts. This year I really wanted to focus on frugal but amazing gift giving ideas so this party was dedicated to that purpose and of course, just a reason to celebrate every day life. The twist was in the attire-Ugly Christmas Sweater:)

The soiree was a success and guests are anticipating an annual event. Here's how I did it:

Planning the event:

• Send out Save the Date notifications one month in advance
• Indicate the details of the party to include date, time, place, theme and guidelines for the edible gifts guests will bring.
• Guests were asked to specify what their edible gift idea was to avoid duplications-no one wants 10 dozen chocolate cupcakes right? This is a very important detail.
• Ask guests to package their goods as if they were giving it as a gift. Let them know that prizes will be awarded for various categories such as presentation, creativity and taste.
• Create an online group through Evite or Facebook group email to stay in touch with all invitees for updates.
• Ask guests to bring enough individually packaged gift for the number of guests in attendance and extra for the sample table.
• The host can decide on a pot luck or catered meal. We prepared all the foods for the guests but kept the menu simple with finger foods.

Be sure to scroll down and check out the whole blog with photos and more inpirational ideas.

These were my hostess gifts. Chocolate covered prestzels, spiced tea, rolling pin ornament with a tag that read "This is how we roll" and a mini whisk with a kiss and tag that read "We whisk you a Merry Christmas".

Part of the dessert/sample table.

"From the Kitchen" inpired handmade tree ornaments with help from my Cricut Expression of course.

The Ugly Sweater wearing ladies. Monica won but Laurie still feels that she should have won.

The whole gang missing a few.
This is the set up of all the edible gifts everyone brought. So beautiful.
These are my spiced tea packaged in a jar accompanied with a cute little teaspoon.
Louise's pumpkin rolls, Mary's Godiva chocolates and Monica's special bisquits.
Audrey's famous sandies-thee best in the west, east, south and north:)
Michelle's chocolate covered pretzel rods.
Mary's Godiva Chocolates...I bet this one was hard to make;)
Party favors-rolling pin. This is how we roll.
Mini whisk with a kiss. We wish you a Merry Kissmas!
Laurie's peppermint mallows and hot chocolate kit.
Close up of the spiced tea.
Darlene's Grog-yumminess for your coffee.
Party favors.
Debbie's strawberry shortcake.
Laurie's Mallows.
Ed's delicious cheese, meat and fruit platter.
My cranberry turkey pin wheels, Thanksgiving in a wrap.
deviled eggs-you can never go wrong.
A glance at the buffet table.
My Chicken apple salad bites.
another look at the edible gifts.
Coffee is served. I used snowmen peeps for drink garnish...how adorable.
Michelle's special house punch.
What's the Holidays without eggnog?

Pasta Salad with feta cheese.

Beautiful, I must say.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels Gift Bags

These pretzel treats make a delicious and simple to make holiday gift.

I bought these 9 inch pretzel sticks at K-Mart for about $5.99. You can find this in the chip/snack section. What a steal of a deal for the price. These make the best dipped pretzels.

You also need candy melts in whatever color you like. Melting chocolate will do just fine. You can find the candy melts at Moylan's Party World and Shop for Less for under $6.00 a bag.

• Line a cookie sheet with wax paper
• Prepare all your candy sprinkles-set up in small bowls
• Place candy chips in a deep microwavable bowl or mug-makes it easier to dip pretzels
• Melt the candy chips in the microwave at 30 second intervals and stir. Be careful not to over do the heating as the chocolate will melt.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract-any extract will do depending on taste preference
• Dip a quarter or half of the stick in the melted chocolate, use spoon to help coat.
• Shake off excess chocolate over the container
• Sprinkle with your candy bits or other decor
• Set on wax paper and place in fridge for 15 minutes to harden.
• Enjoy:)

I sprinkled crush candy cane over the wet chocolate.

You can serve these treats in a nice Christmas platter and it will surely catch some admiration.

I packaged these in cello bags so it could be easier to give as gifts or stuff in stockings and baskets.

Packaging your pretzels

• I used a 9.5 x 5.5 sized cello bag with a self adhesive seal on the back. (You can pick these up at Sunny Wholesale or Dungeon's)
• Cut decorative paper to 9 x 5 and insert in cello bag.
• Line up 6 pretzels carefully.
• Seal bag.
• Cut another decorative paper for top of bag. (Size 5.5 width and 4.5 length)
• Fold paper in half to crease.
• Adhere double stick tape to inner flaps and align crease with tip of bag then secure both sides of paper to cello bag.
• cut ribbon to 1o.5 inches-insert ribbon in between bag and decorative paper flap and tie a bow.
• Add a tag and gift away.

I hope I made this as simple as it truly is. Let me know how it works out for you. Merry Days and Bright Nights Everyone:)

2011 Christmas Craft Workshop and Fellowship

I get extremely giddy with excitement when I hear of opportunities to attend a craft workshop. On December 03, my church hosted a fabulous ladies crafting event. The only downfall was that the 2 hours allotted for the event stretched to 4 hours and then some-which was perfectly fine. Next workshop, we will be sure to reserve the full day for creative junkies such as myself.

It was a nice intimate afternoon affair with amazing and loving lad

ies who had so many creative ideas and encouragement to offer.

The worst part was that I received my Canon Rebel T3 camera on time and was so elated to capture these beautiful moments that when I retrieved it form its bag, turned it on and snapped away...the display read, card not inserted or something to that effect. I left

my SD memory card in my laptop which was at home. Bah humbug!!!! Nonetheless, I've beendependent on my iPhone for the past 5 months since I've seemed to misplace my, not one but two camera chargers. So these photos were what I took.

When you embellish regular candles they can be beautiful gifts. I made these candles for my mom and Ms. Jan.

This is the station I was responsible for-ornament and card making. The ladies loved making cards and managed to make several for family and friends.

Christmas candle station.

I made a gift set for Ms. Jan who was not able to join us as she worked hard to prepare the scenes of Bethlehem Live. The set included a journal book with pieces of old hymn pages, tree ornaments, a candle and a set of Christmas cards.

The card set made by one of the ladies. So beautiful.

My mom discovered her love for making handmade cards. She made about 7 cards in 4 hours...not bad mom:)

Paper ornaments, so simple but yet so elegant on a tree.

I am not sure if I could bring myself to buy ornaments ever again.

This is one of my favorite ornaments I made.

Another pretty card set.