Christmas, Christmas, Time is here!

This weekend was a flurry of decorating, baking, shopping, cleaning, and eating. 

I promise, by the end of today, you will be exhausted by my multiple posts referencing weekend excitement.

But first, and foremost, let's discuss the big event of the weekend.

The event that officially kicks off the Christmas season at my house.

Miss Ann's Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange.

Have you ever participated in a cookie exchange?

Chances are, you have never participated in a cookie exchange to this caliber! 

This is my 4th year.

And can we say, competition?

Can we say creativity?

First of all, let me introduce you to Ann....

Um, yeah.

She's totally one of my heroes. 

This girl is a domestic goddess.

Her house is totally to die for....

Her decor is immaculate.

And she throws a party like NO ONE else!

Every year for the last 9 years, she has hosted her cookie exchange.  And every year she doles out prizes for the best cookie and the best presentation.

And let me tell you people, the competition is FIERCE!

Tyra thought she had the corner on fierce competition, but she has never seen the likes of 10 women drooling over 1200 cookies in some of the most clever packaging you have ever seen.

Here's a picture of (most of) us (someone had to take the picture obviously...)

The varieties of cookies are always astounding with concoctions like Eggnog Cheesecake Streusel Deliciousness and Rocky Road Dreaminess and Pineapple Upside Down Amazingness. 

Ok, confession time.

I bake, but not exquisitely. 

Pineapple Upside Down Amazingness would never be something that I would just dream up. 

So I stick to basics. 

This year was a Crushed Peanut Butter Cup cookie.  (Which was really a Chocolate Chip Cookie dough with Crushed PB Cups substituted for Chocolate Chips...easy peasy!)

But packaging....

Now there's where I let my creative side take over.

And this year....

This year my cookies arrived in the belly of an Elf....

I thought it was creativity to the Nth degree....

But creativity that is pretty wins over just plain old creativity any day....

And we can't deny that Sue's creative poinsettia holders, are very, very pretty....

Buddy, the Elf may not have gotten many votes from the ladies....

But I'm guessing that the kids that it's going home to, will love it!

And those are the votes that really count!

And with the Cookie Exchange behind me, I can officially announce that Christmas season has arrived. 

My house is filled to the brim with more cookies than I know what to do with.... 

(Especially with 11 lbs of baby weight left...)

My baking has begun.

My heart is warm.

And I love this feeling!

Merry Christmas, all!!!