A Belated Merry Christmas (and Our Cookie Exchange Recap!)

How was your Christmas? We had a nice quiet time at home . . .

Our Lil Lovebird was thrilled for her new dollhouse!

We said goodbye this week to the last of the cookies from last weekend's cookie exchange, and Lil Lovebird is still longing for more - she has quite the sweet tooth! (We ended up having a gingerbread house play date to appease her.) 

While I was disappointed not to host our cookie exchange last year we more than made up for it this year. It was such a fun time with friends from both sides of the Hudson. It made me very thankful for the connections we've made in almost 2 years of living here in Jersey City. 

Recreated last year's silly moment with my sisters

Have you ever been to a cookie exchange? What's your favorite cookie to gift (or eat!)?



P.S. Stay tuned for a few two-posts/day including today! I have quite a few things backlogged that I want to share from hair updates, to more Christmas details such as our recent return from the "can house," as Lil Lovebird calls it. It was our first annual family ski trip, and it was such a unique and memorable vacation in a sorta bizarre location. I can't wait to share more details soon!

4 Christmas Parties in 2 Days??? Why Not!

Today's key phrase is . . . RECOVERY MODE!

And yes, I'm trying to be in it as much as I can. We're hurtling toward our first annual family ski trip at the end of the week and while deep down I'm super excited it still hasn't hit me yet with everything else going on around here, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Anyway, the naysayers said it couldn't be done, but this weekend I managed to attend 3 parties plus Mr. Lovebird and I hosted 1 one of our own all in the midst of Snowpocolyse here in NYC. It was well worth it (and I promise proper DSLR pics and details about our cookie exchange party and Blow-Out to come!) . . .

Party #1: one of my local mom Meetup groups' annual Christmas party

Party #2: Loved returning to Harlem to visit my good friend and college roommate Maria and her family

Party #3: The grand opening holiday part for Blow-Out (formerly Image is Everything which I reviewed here)...So excited to have such a swank spot to get my hair done in Jersey City!

Party 4: Our cookie exchange

Is Christmas party season in full swing where you live? Any juggling of parties going on???
 


P.S. We also made it to Macy's Santaland for our 3rd annual visit. Let's just say Nia is no longer a fan! I'll share more later, but last year's visit is here.

Loving These Party-Themed Links!

This weekend is our 5th annual Christmas cookie exchange party, and thankfully I have Mr. Lovebird home with me today to prepare. We have a cleaning crew scrubbing all the nooks and crannies as this post goes up (I wish we had one post-party too, but I think I can handle that!).

Our 2011 cookie exchange seems so long ago!

With only a couple more weekends of party season I have a few party (and a couple non-party) related links to share:

• As someone who's lamented failing to get RSVPs, this NYT piece helped me understand why it's still so hard for some folks to RSVP especially in this digital age

• No budget for a cleaning crew? Here's how you can make your home appear cleaner than it really is in a jiffy!

• Still lacking inspiration for a holiday party but want to throw something together? Check out this handy cheat sheet infographic

• This comparison of a 20-something party vs. a 30-something party really hit home with me (especially the casserole dish one!)

• If you follow me on Instagram you know I'm developing quite the stash of washi tape so I Heart Organizing's recent post about how to organize it all is perfect timing  

• The definitive (and kinda gross) answer to the age-old question of whether to wash your raw chicken before cooking

Any parties this weekend? I'm still hoping to someday host my own Favorite Things party, but no room in the schedule this season. 
 

A Love Birds' Guide to a Christmas Cookie Exchange

As a follow-up to yesterday's post I wanted to share more details about throwing a Christmas Cookie Exchange and my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipe.

I vividly remember the first cookie exchange I went to as a child. It was actually a party my mom was invited to, but I came along. I remember seeing piles and piles of cookies everywhere and being completely excited and overwhelmed at the same time. I think this was one of the first times I tried buckeyes, an Ohio specialty, and I soon became obsessed with them.

The first cookie exchange I hosted was in 2007 when I first moved to NYC. I didn't have a lot of attendees and in 2008 when I was living in Queens while engaged I skipped having it and picked it back up when I returned to Harlem in 2009 after I got married. That time I did it as a brunch and made homemade buttermilk waffles topped with fresh whipped cream and blueberries but again had a poor turnout. Finally in 2010 I think things started going better because Lil Love Bird arrived and everyone was excited to see her! Having a prize for best cookie helped too. I repeated the prize this year. 

So quickly (before we get to the amazing recipe!), here are my basics for throwing a Christmas Cookie Exchange:

• Timing - do it mid-afternoon so people have time to sleep in and it doesn't interfere with brunch or dinner; also 2nd Saturday of December tends to work for me and my friends
• Balance - make sure to offer salty/healthy snacks to balance all the sugar; I like low-salt pretzels, potato chips and veggies and dip
• Allow store-bought cookies - so many people are deterred because they don't bake so I reiterate in the Evite that store-bought cookies are ok (in fact a store-bought cookie won this year; it was a "monster cookie" from here)
• Provide take-home containers - I think it's best to have the cookies laid out either in original packaging (if guests bring cute containers) or arrange them on your own tiers/cake stands with labels for guests to take at will (not everyone likes every cookie!); one year I used tins from Michaels but as the attendee list has become longer I do winter-themed bags and boxes from either there or The Container Store
• Entertain - have fun music from Pandora and/or streaming Christmas movies in the background to add to the festivities

Now on to the recipe . . .

When I was a teen my mom made these Buried Cherry Cookies (her recipe was via a BHG cookbook, but I found the same recipe at Cooks.com). My mom's always had the most elaborate assortment of Christmas cookies she'd bake every year that I remember from when I was little, but the later-introduction of the Buried Cherry Cookies stopped me dead in my tracks - they were life changing! SERIOUSLY. The best part about the cookies is the cherry in the middle. I know not everyone likes maraschino cherries but something about the fudginess of the cookie and the chocolate spooned on top (flavored with cherry juice) makes them so delicious.

Ingredients:

1 (10 oz.) jar maraschino cherries (about 48)
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk

 

Drain cherries and reserve juice. Stir together flour, cocoa, soda, powder and salt. In a large mixer bowl beat butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture and blend well.

Shape dough into 1" balls. Place about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press down center of each with your thumb. Place a cherry in each cookie.

 
 

In small saucepan combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat until chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, swirling to completely cover cherry.

 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Remove to racks and cool. Makes about 48.*

*In my experience this recipe never yields 48 - I have to double it to get that many!

If you end up making them please let me know how you like them! 

What is your all time favorite Christmas cookie?

Love Birds' 4th Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange

This past weekend we hosted our cookie exchange and it was a success!

I asked our guests to bring a couple dozen cookies (homemade or store-bought) and we had Starbucks giftcards for the best cookie and runner-up. It was a nice mix of friends and a few kids too! We had How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone playing silently in the background with an overlay of Pandora's Mariah Carey Christmas station. Sounds fun, right? 

Here are a few highlights from the party (Mr. Love Bird was the photographer!):

Me and my sister Ariane; she put up the decor in the background {inspired by Nat the Fat Rat}

We had such a fun array of cookies!

Those cupcakes on the counter were incredible!

Sorry for the fuzziness, but  wanted to share this silly shot that Mr. Love Bird captured!

I spy two little playmates! (remember their first playdate???)

Some of the leftovers ended up here as gifts the next day at church, and the others in an undisclosed location!

Lil Love Bird was pooped by the time the party ended

She was asleep within 10 minutes of the last guest leaving

{I'll return tomorrow to post the recipe for an awesome cookie I made for the party as well as a few tips for hosting your own cookie exchange!}

Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange

I had my 3rd annual cookie exchange two weeks ago, and I wanted to share a few pictures and recipes:

My sisters Lauren, Ariane and me

Nia's Santa hat was too small but the bib fit!

Time for some cookie recipes!

I made chai shortbread (which I've posted about before), 

Photo Credit: Cooking Light Magazine

 but there were also cranberry-orange pinwheels:

Photo Credit: BHG

 and Mexican hot chocolate snickerdoodles:

Photo Credit: Post Punk Kitchen

This year I changed it up and had guests vote for the best cookie with the winner receiving a Starbucks giftcard. It was a tie between the chai and pinwheels with the Mexican hot chocolate snickerdoodles coming in a close second (they have a cayenne kick that is pure awesomeness!). 

Needless to say we were eating cookies around the clock! 

A few tips for throwing your own cookie party: 

• hit up Michael's for take-home holiday themed paper bags and tins

• instead of asking guests to bring their recipes follow-up with links after the party; if your guests are super-planners you can request them to RSVP with their cookie on the Evite to avoid duplicates

• encourage everyone to bring something even if they don't bake (store bought cookies got votes for best cookie too!)

• provide salty/crunch snacks to offset the sweetness of the cookies; we had carrots and dip and potato chips

What are our readers' favorite holiday cookies?

Planning Nia's First Christmas

So about Nia's tree . . .


I was on 125th Street earlier this week, which is Harlem's shopping district, and I saw a 50% Christmas outlet. Wednesday I wandered in and boy, did they have some good deals!

The first step to planning Nia's first Christmas was to get her a tree. Growing up my family in Ohio went to a tree farm, selected our tree and cut it down. Not so in NYC and definitely no live tree as Mr. Love Bird grew up with fake ones (oh, the horror!).

I was elated to see a 4ft tree just the right size for Nia and . . .

IT WAS ONLY $8!!!! 

I was able to buy all of this for $23:

That's two packs of white lights, a set of ornaments, tree skirt skirt and a tree! Now many of you know how Type A I am and shouldn't be surprised by the fact that I took a pic of how the ornaments were packed so I could remember how to put them away when it's time to take down the tree:

This is my first tree on my own as I've done wreaths only before, but I'm very methodical when it comes to decorating. I don't want a hodge podge of ornaments and I like sticking to a central theme. I have been thinking of baby's first ornament though and saw a cool idea for a silhouette ornament:

Photo Credit: Young House Love.com

You can find the full post with instructions here.

Anyway, here's the finished tree:

It looks so boring against the white walls but there will be more stuff around it this weekend since we're having our annual cookie exchange. I have a few tins but need more cookie containers so everyone can take some home. A trip to Michael's is in order tomorrow! I'm looking forward to next year's cookie exchange so Nia can try a few cookies. This year I'm making chai shortbread.

Regarding the rest of Nia's Christmas we're asking for no toys, just cloth diapers and clothing. I'm still a bit strict about not allowing our apartment to get overrun with baby stuff and so far so good. There is one "toy" I do want her to have and that's Sophie, the teething giraffe. I guess it's not really a toy since it's a teether, but it kinda looks like a dog's chew toy:

Nia dislikes her butterfly teethers and is constantly trying to chew my fingers, the side of her Moby wrap as well as her own hands and clothing. She gets so frustrated that I know she needs something easier to grasp and from what I've read this is the perfect teether so we'll see. If I get it for her I'll definitely let her use it before Christmas!

Now Mr. Love Bird and I have decided to raise Nia the same way we were raised: not to believe in Santa. We believe that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ but that doesn't mean we ban all secular aspects of the holiday. I plan to take Nia to the ABC Carpet and Home store to see Santa there. I've heard it's the most authentic Santa and the one at Macy's is too hectic. Besides I can use my own camera to take a pic of Nia with Santa instead of paying $20.

I've never seen Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus, but I know it's coming on TV soon. I plan to watch it with her cause I think it's cool that it's her namesake, and I'm sure she'll like to brag about it growing up in elementary school! I think it'll be a fun tradition. With names like "Quiana" and "Uka," Mr. Love Bird and I never had that experience! BTW, here's the calendar for all the TV Christmas specials. Mr. Love Bird has never seen It's a Wonderful Life (a shame!) so I'm committed to making him watch it this season.

Regarding Christmas clothes, I did pick up Nia candy-striped PJs from Children's Place as well as a "My First Christmas" onesie. The woman in front of me in line had a 20% off coupon good for that day only. When she was done she tried to give it to her husband to save and he told her it was only for that day so I asked for it and she gave it to me! The total was only $10 after the coupon. When I was done I passed it to the woman behind me in line and the woman behind her asked her to do the same. I love when people help each other out!

I think Nia needs baby legs with the onesie, and I've always wanted to order her some. I went to their website and found some half-off for $6 but quickly Googled a coupon code and got an additional 10% and free shipping. My total was $5.88! I can't wait to see her in it on Christmas day =) 

See how cute they are?:

Photo Credit: Baby Legs.com

Hooray for Nia's First Christmas!