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Post by Nancy L on Jun 10, 2008 17:13:14 GMT -5
Hello! I have not yet hosted an exchange nor attended one. Can anyone tell me if they found that most people are happy to get such an invite or are they bummed to have to bake at all or feel like it is a burden? I am curious. For me, I think it would be fun to have one or attend one, but not everyone likes to bake and even one batch is a big deal for them.
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Post by Rhonda on Aug 12, 2008 10:22:42 GMT -5
I sent out around 30 invites and ended up having 17 people at my first cookie exchange last year. They mumbled a bit about having to bake, but it was all in good fun and they were already talking about what they were going to bake for this year!
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Post by Nancy L on Aug 18, 2008 20:50:59 GMT -5
Excellent! That's what I kind of imagine...grumble, but then have a great time and want to do it again!!
Thanks for your input!
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Post by cookiemonstergirl on Sept 1, 2008 13:50:17 GMT -5
I would love to host my first cookie exchange but my family is against it.
I would love to get feedback in order to maybe sway them in the right direction. I love your site Robin. Its addictive with all the pictures I love looking at them. Yummy cookies. I have 2 kids 15 and 11. boy and girl. neither are interested. what to do?
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Post by Laura on Oct 1, 2008 20:31:40 GMT -5
This will be my 7th annual exchange. My guest grumble about making so many cookies, and all of the rules they have to follow. However, I have over 25 people come every year!! Everyone has a great time!! Two years ago I put together a 'cookie exchange survival kit' as a favor which everyone loved. Good Luck!
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Post by kimzkidz on Oct 8, 2008 16:08:15 GMT -5
My invites usually get some hem and hawers.. but in the end, they all know it's in good fun and most make the party. I usually have 30-40 each year (my 5th yr this year!)
LAURA== I would LOVE to know what you put in your survival kits (thinking I may use your idea!)
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Post by NicksMommy on Oct 11, 2008 14:26:10 GMT -5
Yes,Laura--those survival kits sound interesting.Every year I usually have around 12-15 people.Last year we included kids and had a mini exchange for them.(Everything we did for us we did for them,just on a smaller scale.)This would be my 5th year,but unfortunately i'm not sure i'll be able to host one this year.(family illness).I almost can't wait to see all the great ideas everyone comes up with though.
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Post by Robin on Oct 15, 2008 13:11:27 GMT -5
This will be my 7th annual exchange. My guest grumble about making so many cookies, and all of the rules they have to follow. However, I have over 25 people come every year!! Everyone has a great time!! Two years ago I put together a 'cookie exchange survival kit' as a favor which everyone loved. Good Luck! Hi Laura, can you share what your cookie survival kit is? I'd like to put it in my newsletter. Thanks! Robin |
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Post by Tammi Madison on Oct 26, 2008 19:13:02 GMT -5
Robin,
Could you tell me how you made your '07 Cookie Exchange Invitation with your attending girls? I love it. I'm having my 6th Annual Cookie Exchange this year. I love your site. Keep up the good work!
Tammi
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Post by bonnieb on Nov 6, 2008 13:26:18 GMT -5
Some ladies love the cookie exchanges and some don't. If you want to have an exchange and are excited about doing so then go for it - there are always ladies who will participate. It doesn't matter if you have 5 or 50 show up it will still be fun.
I love hosting but the last few years friends have wanted to do the hosting which is a nice break for me. This year one of my friends wants to do a cookie exchange recipe party. She is having everyone bring a plate of cookies so we can all sample each others cookies and then go home with the recipes to make them ourselves. OK well different but I'm game. I do like to bake during the holidays (the only time I do) so whether I do the baking or take home cookies I don't really care.
I asked the reasoning behind this and she said because so many of her friends said they prefer to bake themselves for their families and don't really want to bring 6 dozen cookies to one party.
Everyone does something a little different I guess. I loved seeing all the platters or bags displayed on the table and then taking them home to my family. But I'm going along with her this year - it will be something different and might just work out great. She is also doing a white elephant and games so I'm sure it will be fun.
Just do what works for you and it will be great.
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Post by Sandy M on Nov 11, 2008 7:43:09 GMT -5
Laura I would also like to know what you put together for your survival kits. They sound interesting. Thanks and enjoy the Holidays!  |
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Post by jackie on Nov 14, 2008 16:46:13 GMT -5
On Dec. 9th I will have my 31st annual cookie exchange. I invite about 45 people and usually about 30 show up. I don't think that's too bad since there are so many things going on at that time of year. Everyone does complain about baking (8 dozen cookies) but they love going home with lots of different kinds and their husbands, children and grandchildren are very happy! If someone doesn't come for two years in a row and don't call and sound like they would like to be there I just take them off the list. My daughter and her family live in town so I let her invite some of her friends too. It's nice having new faces and new recipes. My party always starts at 7:30 so everyone has had dinner. I serve punch, some of each kind of cookies along with some dips and a cheese spread with crackers and chips and I put out bowls of nuts and chocolates. This year I am going to have a teenage girl come and put out cookies as they arrive so I will have more time to spend with my guests. It takes some work to prepare but it's always a lot of fun! I would love to hear about Laura's kit too!
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Post by Ellie D on Nov 15, 2008 18:06:39 GMT -5
I am feeling pretty bad some of the invitation reactions I have got. This will be my first year hosting an exchange, i thought it would be so much fun and get everyone in the Xmas spirit! The general rection has been...'5 dozen...that's a lot'. This was swiftly followed by, 'um, I think my husband's working' or 'my son's at training'. I am really quite angry that I open my home to these ladies, make all the effort on an invite and they just can't be bothered. Or maybe I'm being a little hot headed and they just don't understand. Fortunately I have 3 ladies who say they are definates (and to be honest they were the ones I knew I could count on)...one can't even bake and she says she won't be defeated and will get her kids to help! Another is sooo enthusiastic and has been spreading the word that it actually doesn't take that long to bake 5 dozen cookies. Anyways I invited 20 people...I'm now thinking I should have invited more...any advice??
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Post by Marguerite Kennedy on Nov 17, 2008 9:39:47 GMT -5
On December 6th, I will be hosting my 7th annual exchange. You always invite twice as many as you really want-good rule of thumb-you invite 60, you will probably end up with 25-30...atleast thats been my experience with my exchanges. One year, I had 9 ladies out of 38 that said they were coming and just did not show up..(this was the year that I spent good money and had an Elvis impersonater singing christmas songs)...I was very upset with them so I did not include them in the next years exchange. The bottom line is they are not hosting so they have no idea how expensive and how much work it is to put one on...so when they dont show up or dont reply...they just dont care...so if you get these type of ladies...keep them off your list for the following year.
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Post by Robin on Nov 18, 2008 19:18:47 GMT -5
Hi Ellie, Don't put too much pressure on yourself this year. Just enjoy who ever comes. At the party, whether it's 3 others or 20, announce that it is your intention to make this an annual tradition and ask for their help! To think of others through out the year that would like to join your cookie exchange! It's also a great way to get to know your neighbors. Not all party goers are party givers... they have no idea how much work we do to create a party. Don't take it personally, is what I am trying to say. Start out with the rules from the get go and then you won't have to back track! www.cookie-exchange.com/rules_of_the_cookie_exchange.htmlAlter them to suit your needs. |
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Post by Ally from NJ on Nov 19, 2008 14:10:10 GMT -5
Robin:
Did Laura ever get back to you with your cookie exchange survival kit? I would love to create them for the ladies coming to my party this year.
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Post by judyellis on Nov 19, 2008 15:19:19 GMT -5
I am pretty new at cookie exchanges...I have had one in the past, but am now wanting to do another one. If everyone brings 6 dozen of cookies, do you just put all the cookies on the table on a platter and then everyone goes around and takes one at a time until they are all gone? not sure how the separation goes?
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Post by Robin on Nov 20, 2008 20:27:32 GMT -5
No, she didn't.  |
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Post by jennifers399 on Nov 29, 2008 13:31:41 GMT -5
I am about to host my 7th Annual Exchange. I love it but I'm noticing that people are not that thrilled with it anymore. At first, people flipped out having to bake 6 dozen, so I had to explain why they needed to bring 6 dozen. As someone who bakes nearly every day, this didn't seem unreasonable to me, but since most of American households do not bake or cook their own food anymore, it appeared "snobby" and "overwhelming" to others.
My first year was a huge success, but now I am lucky if 10 people show up, and even luckier if people bring something edible!
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