Cookie & Milk Tasting Party

We threw together a last minute Christmas party over the weekend--and I think it is a keeper--our newest tradition if you will. The idea came from here and I used the cookie exchange tags for the invitation and cookie identification.

The invite was emailed out:

Because it was last minute I had low expectations, but knew there would be competition and the winner would expect a prize. So I used my Silhouette and a plate I picked up on clearance at TJ Maxx to make this trophy:

I used a tag from the cookie exchange and changed the words to make it a Santa's cookie plate. I love how it turned out!

We had milk, chocolate milk and egg nog to drink and five different types of cookies to choose from.

Cookie 1: Easy Shortbread cookies
Cookie 2: Triple Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal cookies
Cookie 3: I don't know the official name, but it was a chocolate cookie with a Rolo inside
Cookie 4: Grandma Mackay's Christmas cookie
Cookie 5: Soft Molasses cookies

Everyone took the job of tasting very seriously, and it was fun to hear the different opinions of the cookies.

My brother-in-law's cookie--his grandma's special Christmas cookie-- won by a point! And chocolate milk came out the clear winner in the milk department.

Do you host a yearly Christmas Party?

Merry & Bright Banner

Time's running out for me to get this banner for Christmas up! Where has December gone?  I think it would be really cute in a child's room, or shrunk down to use as an embellishment on a gift, or if your Christmas decor is non-traditional colors hang it on your mantle.

You can download here. Personal use only. Thanks.

Elf on the Shelf

Barnes & Noble has The Elf on the Shelf 40% off this week for members (a trial membership is free). Use an in store coupon or code 147851 to order online.

Our elf, Levi, is due to return from the North Pole tomorrow, Dec. 1st and my boys can't wait.

Even if you don't get an elf, be sure to show your little ones the website, it is a December favorite at our house!

Handmade Christmas :: Part 1

If you haven't met Ana before, let me introduce you. Ana White posts (free) furniture plans on her site. Plans that are very similar to furniture from places like Potterybarn, West Elm, Land of Nod, Crate and Barrel, etc.

If Santa can pull it off, he'll be leaving these under--or next to our tree. When shopping for the WOW gift we go for every year we decided this would be our best option since we'll need them eventually (we've had the plans printed off for at least a year...). And our 4 year old begs us for bunkbeds frequently (ever since he saw the cousins--he wants one blue and one green just like theirs too).

Land of Nod sells their's for $1,499. Last time we priced lumber we figured the total cost to be around $130 and I pick up a gallon of mis-mixed paint for $5. All we need to add is a little manual labor and we are set!


Now where are those elves?