Cookie Exchange & Hot Chocolate Cupcakes News Segment

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with lovely runny, melted candy canes.

Grrr...

Holly Jolly Red Velvet Cupcakes - RECIPE

This past week I had the pleasure of going on the news again to show off my cookie exchange party tablescape and to demo how to make Hot Chocolate Cupcakes. I got my cupcakes made in the morning, topped them with the chopped up candy canes, stuck the candy cane "handle" in the cupcake, and put them in my handy dandy cupcake container and on the kitchen table to "rest" until showtime. So, when we get to the news station and I open my handy dandy cupcake container to find melted, runny candy canes I was very disappointed. *Strike One* Then here I am to display how to host a cookie exchange, and I forgot my three-tiered stand at home, which was going to display the cookies for said cookie exchange. *Strike Two* Then the usual anchors whom I have built a relationship with and some rapport with both had the night off, so I had two new anchors to work with. *Strike Three* (Not that they were bad to work with, but at the time when everything else was seeming to go in a downward spiral, I just felt like, good gravy, not ONE more thing!!!! My nerves can't take anymore!!! But, they were VERY nice and sweet!) So, anyways, everything went smoothly and it was a lot of fun. THANKS to my sweet mama and little sister for coming and helping me set up and calm my frazzled nerves. Hopefully they'll ask me back and I can do something fabulous for Valentine's Day!

Here's the clip of the news segment in case you missed it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFdxSY91Rk0

{Oh, and did I mention that it was SNOWING that night when I had to drive to the news station, and me, my tahoe, snow, and slick roads are not BFF's?} ----> *Strike Four

{My super sweet sis, Ashley}

Cookie Exchange 2010

We had two cute party crashers.

Last year, right before Christmas, I got a wild hair up my rear that I needed to host a cookie exchange. So, super fast I threw a party together and me and about a handful of ladies from church got together and swapped some yummy goodies. But, I KNEW I wanted to do it again this year, but with a little more time to prepare. So, after finding some sweet pink and blue ornaments at Hobby Lobby, I had my color scheme. Next up, I needed my invitation. So, my friend, Jess, over at Party Box Design, created me a custom cookie exchange invitation. So stinkin' cute! And the best part about her invites are that you can either go green and e-mail them, or print them off at your local Sam's or Walgreens, and send them off!

For my cookie exchange I went with a Girly Winter Wonderland Theme. I made feather boa Christmas trees using foam cones, my BFF, the hot glue gun, and a few boas. SUPER EASY. Wrap and glue. I found the little gingerbread house at TJMAXX and the ornaments came from Hobby Lobby and Target. After talking to Nancy over at A to Zebra Celebrations, I decided to make my banner using the word, Believe. It was either that or got cookies? I think I made the right choice! Everyone brought such yummy treats to share! We had oreo truffles, fudge, buckeyes, mint chocolate chip cookies, almond sugar cookies, and many more! But, of course, it wouldn't be one of my parties without a cupcake or two. I was really wanting to stick with my light pink and blue color scheme, so I thought I'd be miss fancy pants and make Martha's red velvet cupcakes... but blue. Not one of my better ideas. They weren't the pretty blue I had envisioned in my head. Oh, well.... At least they tasted good. I think everyone had a fun time. I served a few appetizers before we packaged up our goodies and also made some yummy Candy Cane Cocoa, which you can get the recipe HERE, and had a little hot chocolate bar with peppermint sticks, whip cream, and PINK marshmallows. Everything turned out GREAT and everyone got to go home with lots of yummy cookies. I thought I'd be using mine to share, yea, that has yet to happen... and at the rate they're disappearing, I'm not sure I see that happening!

1st Annual Cookie Exchange

At the last minute this holiday season, I decided to host a cookie exchange with some of the ladies at church. (As if I didn't already have enough going on!) But it turned out so nice! We had a bunch of cookies and other appetizers to munch on, as well as some yummy homemade hot cocoa, topped with whipped cream!!! I am ready to do it again next Christmas!!!