On the 7th Day of Christmas: I hosted a recipe exchange! - Mix & Match Mama (2024)

On the 7th Day of Christmas, I showed you how I host an annual recipe exchange!

PLUS: We have another awesome giveaway, Elf craziness, a fabulous recipe and great gift ideas! So much fun!

I’ve shared with you my love for Scarlet & Gold before. (Click here to see that post!)

Scarlet & Gold makes beautiful prints, placemats, cards and stationary. I have some gorgeous stationary from them, whimsical holiday placemats and of course…

…three metal prints of my kids’ initials to hang in their rooms at the new house. These pieces are so special to me! Right now, Scarlet & Gold is giving away not only a $100 gift card to one of you, they are giving our readers a 20% off promo code to be used TODAY AND TOMORROW only!

Look at these fun Christmas placemats…

And look at my stationary…

…isn’t it so pretty?!?! Think about who you need to buy birthday gifts for this year and go ahead and get them some beautiful stationary or a gorgeous print. At 20%, you will be so happy you did it today!

Each year, I host a recipe exchange for some of my girlfriends. This was my 4th year and my 4th theme. My girlfriends all tell me that this is their favorite activity of the year! I love, love, love hearing that! You can host a recipe exchange too! And it doesn’t have to be around the holidays…it can be anytime during the year.

1st Year…Cookie Exchange!

2nd Year: Appetizer Exchange

3rd Year: Side Dish Exchange

4th Year: Casserole Exchange

Isn’t that so much fun?!?! Here’s what you do to host a recipe exchange…

After each girl emails me back her recipe, I compile them into a simple Microsoft Word book and staple them together on fun, colorful paper. That way, when each girl leave the party, they leave with copies of every recipe.

For the first year, I included appetizers to go along with all of our cookies (since sometimes, you need a little savory with the sweet!). For the 2nd year, I included dessert to go with our appetizers, for the 3rd year, I included a ham, rolls and dessert to go with our side dishes and this year, for my casserole exchange, I included dessert.

I always award a prize for the best recipe of the night. We secretly vote and reveal the winner at the end! And…you never leave one of my parties without a party favor, so each year, party favors are given to each guest.

Last year, I decided to ask each girl to bring something for two kids I picked off the Angel Tree and this year, I asked each girl to bring canned food to donate to our local food pantry (and I awarded a prize to the girl who brought the most…Sheaffer!).

Here are some pics from this year’s recipe exchange…

This is a little table next to my front door. It has their party favor bag plus a copy of our recipe book!

The theme this year was Merry & Bright…so I decked everything in big, bright lights and lots of bright colors! And of course, each year, Andrea with Slightly Askew Designs creates my invitations and food labels. She is crazy genius when it comes to stuff like this!

The best part about this Shade of Shay? Spending time with my favorite ladies. I love these girls so much!!

Another great gift idea this season…pajamas for the kiddos! I buy my kids pjs every Christmas…not Christmas pjs (because they’re opening these gifts on Christmas Day, they don’t need Christmas pjs) but just good winter pjs! Here are some of my favorites…

If you have grandkids, nieces or nephews and don’t know what to buy…buy them some winter pjs! I find that kids (and especially parents!) really love receiving pajamas!

Click here to see some great girl pajama options and click here to see some great boy options too!

And don’t forget about the big girls too…

Happy PJ Shopping!

Today, we’re dippin’ it! We’re dipping everything! Click here to see how I’m using things in my pantry to create yummy, simple and super festive holiday desserts! This is THE simplest dessert you can make this season!