Need your opinion

[razzyripple]

Hi, I am new to the area where I live and only have just a couple of acquaintances here. I want to have a cookie exchange party to get to know more people. I thought if I invited each of them acquaintances to the party and tell them to bring a friend but that firend has to follow the same rules for the party as everyone else. Kind of a get to know you party. I was also told to maybe put up a sign at the local laundromat or something about "Want to meet a new friens?" "Want/Need help in xmas baking?" then come to this party. RSVP your name and address will send info and rules..... come join the fun. Will print out the recipes used for each cookie brought to the party to create a cookbook for this special event and possibly include a few pages of printed photos from the party to go along with it.

I'd like to know what you all thought about it. I thought it would be great way to meet new friends.

Sandy
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[Bonnie]

I can sympathize with being in a new area and wanting to meet people but I would NOT post any notices anywhere. I would stick with people you have already met and I think having them bring a friend is a great idea.

I would actually have them RSVP to the party and RSVP if they would like to do the cookie exchange. Some may want to come to the party but not bake. Then next year you will have a better idea of the guest, etc. and they will also see that it was a lot of fun and look forward to coming.

Many ladies do not do cookie exchanges or have even heard of them so this is a great opportunity to make it your own.

Since you are doing this as a way of meeting people as well I would not be too strict about the rules - keep it light.

You could also do an exchange (like a White Elephant or ornament) as well for those who would like to participate. It 's a great way to break the ice with people you don't know. I posted a left/right game which would be great for an ornament exchange.

Actually I recently went to a pot holder/oven mitt exchange and it was so much fun. I loved seeing the different designs, etc. and everyone included a favorite recipe. We did the left/right game to exchange which everyone loved.

Good Luck and if you don't pull it off this year there is always next year.

[Susan]

Not to be an alarmist, but when you are dealing with food that you will feed to your family, I would only invite people who I know and trust.

With strangers, you have no idea how they keep their house, how clean their kitchen is, whether the cat is allowed to roam on the kitchen counter, or how recently they bought the ingredients. I went to a cookie swap at work last season and someone made and brought cookies done with nuts that had gone rancid. (true story)

Just a few things to consider.