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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Christmas ·

On the 7th Day of Christmas: I hosted a recipe exchange!


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!
First…we have a special giveaway from Scarlet & Gold!
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!  
And now, for another tradition (and one of my 52 Shades of Shay)…
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…
Click here for the flannel sets and here for the fleece bottoms.
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!

And…

…our Elf built himself a Lego house and got a date…with a mermaid.  I think it’s true love.

The winner of the $150 gift card to Milk and Honey is….
MALLORY WALSH!
E-mail Sheaffer at pinteresttoldmeto@yahoo.com and we will get you hooked up!

Make sure you enter the giveaway below…happy Tuesday!

On the 1st Day of Christmas: I explained a lot to you and gave away a HUGE gift card!
On the 2nd Day of Christmas: I wrapped presents galore and gave away jewelry! 
On the 3rd Day of Christmas: I went for a carriage ride and spent all of my awesome Gap cash!
On the 4th Day of Christmas: I talked to you about…so many fun and festive things!
On the 5th Day of Christmas: I told you how to have your own Jammy Cocoa Christmas! 
On the 6th Day of Christmas: We had a snow day and ate lots of yummy goodies!

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Comments

  5. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    YAY for your recipe exchange! SERIOUSLY one of my favorite nights of the year. And I love how at the 4th annual party we were already talking about planning the 5th one. And your elf? Laughing so hard at his date!

  8. Anonymous says

    I wish I had your excitement with party planning! Going to check the website out now for Christmas gifts. -Cara C in MD

  10. Anonymous says

    What a wonderful idea for a yearly celebration! Good times with good friends! Love Scarlet & Gold!

  17. Ashley L. says

    I would love to get some new placemats with this Scarlet and Gold gift card! Love your recipe exchanges! Thanks!!

    Ashley L.

  18. Megan says

    I feel like you need to move back to Detroit so we can be friends and I can come to all of your cute parties. Love love love the recipe exchange!

  27. Julie C. says

    A recipe exchange party is such a good idea!!! Every single party you throw always looks like SO much fun!!!

  28. Rob & Michelle Eberly Family says

    I'm going to a cookie exchange tonight. I love the idea to mix up what you exchange each year.

  38. mlangerm says

    You throw a great party! I am going to my first exchange party, a cookie exchange for work, tomorrow – I'm very excited!

  40. Tara Long says

    A recipe exchange would be something I would love to do, I love to cook and try new recipes. Would love to win one of your giveaways also!

  46. Tara G. says

    Very fun!!!! I enjoy hosting parties for my friends, too! :). I have one cooking for the winter doldrums….

  49. This Gingers Journey says

    Love your recipe exchange!!! You have the best ideas! After hearing about your scarf exchange my book club did it this year for Christmas and it was so much fun!!! Keep the good ideas and recipes coming 🙂

  51. Kim Fleming says

    Made your salsa chicken and pasta last night! My kids and my husband loved and I made an extra to take to a special friend going through some yukky stuff and she loved it too! Thanks, my 14 yr old laughs at my obsession at the Monday Meal Plannings!!

  57. Stephanie Jennings says

    I loved looking at your recipe exchange ideas. So fun!!! Stealing all your elf ideas, too! Have a great day 🙂

  58. PartyofFive says

    I love the signs and stationery. I host a lot of parties as well and love seeing your ideas. Like the big bulbed lights on top of your tablecloth.

  59. PartyofFive says

    I love the signs and stationery. I host a lot of parties as well and love seeing your ideas. Like the big bulbed lights on top of your tablecloth.

  65. Hannah Gist says

    LOVE all the great Christmas ideas! my friends and I might just have to try out a recipe exchange =)

  67. Unknown says

    Love the recipe exchange!! Once we're in our new house, I'm so doing this! Thanks for all the ideas you give us! Colleen G.

  74. Erica says

    Can you share what your party favors were? I struggle with favor ideas.
    You make it all look so easy!

  75. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says

    Cute ideas for the recipe exchange party! I went to my first one last month, and loved it! I would love to host one someday.

  79. Leiah G. says

    I LOVE your recipe exchange party ideas!!! We are hoping to buy a house this year and the first party I plan to host will be a fun festive recipe exchange!

  85. Ben and Anne's Life Adventures says

    I love the idea of a recipe exchange! I've always just had cookie exchanges. What a great idea !

  86. Mallory Dyer says

    OMG I was sooooo close to be that winner! Wrong last name! Can't wait to read your posts every day!

  97. Desaree Martin says

    I love those initial prints and your recipe exchange parties. I might have to begin hosting them next year.

  99. Kelly Wilson says

    I love your recipe exchange party idea, so awesome! Thank you for another awesome giveaway!

  103. emily says

    too bad you live in texas, i think we'd be best friends. 🙂

    does that sound weird? i'm not creepy! ha.

  104. Kristen says

    I love your recipe exchange party! I have a cookie exchange every year but I really like the idea of changing things up.

  106. Liz/happymommy says

    I am in love with those initial prints, beautiful! Also, love your recipe exchange…so much fun…you sure know how to throw a great party!!!

  111. Alison @ Get Your Pretty On says

    What a fun idea! Those prints are amazing. That elf date is hilarious! He's quite the ladies' man. 🙂

  112. Amber says

    The recipe exchange sounds like a lot of fun! Would love to try that sometime. Would also looove to win the giveaway to Scarlet & Gold! The prints are so cute!

  121. Toby says

    Love everything in this post! We are moving our 4 1/2 year old twins to their own big kid bedrooms and I would love to get them each a special print for their rooms!

  122. Laura says

    I completely agree with the PJ idea for the kids. I live the Hanna Anderson ones because they seem to only get softer with every washing.

  127. DeBrady says

    I love the recipe exchange idea!! Also love the prints. Is it possible to share some of the recipes? 🙂

  128. DeBrady says

    I love the recipe exchange idea!! Also love the prints. Is it possible to share some of the recipes? 🙂

  130. Ansleighsmom says

    love those prints ansleigh would love one in her room! love the elf date ours went on a joy ride w barbie in her car the other night!

  138. hillary says

    You are incredible. You are seriously the energizer bunny! I love the recipe exchange parties!! Oh how I wish I lived in McKinney and we were friends! I totally appreciate your over-achievey-ness.

  144. Travis and Tiffany says

    Such a fun idea for a recipe exchange party!! We do a cookie exchange each year and it's so fun to get all the girls together for a fun/festive evening!

  147. Anonymous says

    Next year you need to have a soup exchange. We do a recipe exchange every year with my mom's club. Last year we had a soup exchange & it was a huge hit!! Each girl brought a crock pot full of soup. We all sampled the soups & then each chose a soup to bring home. We had a fun girl's night out & dinner all set for the next day. A busy mom's dream!

  148. Allison Travis says

    I think next Christmas I am going to start a recipe exchange! As always love your ideas 🙂

  151. Tara says

    I need to host one of these parties! So fun and cute! I love the way your table looks with the lights and red tablecloth. Speaking of… where do you get your tablecloths. I need to get a fun one for my Xmas party I am hosting on Saturday!

  152. DetroitDuchess says

    I LOVE those party ideas, so adorable and easy! I did a wine tasting last year with cheese and chocolate, but I like the idea of exchanging recipes.

  157. kriszondo says

    What a fantabulous idea! We just moved into a new house, but I plan to start this recipe exchange next year! How fun!

    Thanks for your ideas always!
    Kristin

  158. kriszondo says

    What a fantabulous idea! We just moved into a new house, but I plan to start this recipe exchange next year! How fun!

    Thanks for your ideas always!
    Kristin

  161. Katie says

    All those prints and paper goods are so cute…I would love something for my twin baby girls room!

  164. Nikki says

    What a fun way to celebrate the season with a recipe exchange party! I may have to try and organize something like this next year. And those chocolate dipped pretzels look yummy.

  165. Crystal D says

    I wish I was a friend of yours living close (or one of my friends would host a great party like that!)

  170. Jess says

    I love the idea of a recipe exchange party! I have hosted/attended several potlucks but this is such a fun twist! I'll definitely be trying it. Thanks again for another amazing idea!

  171. Dawn says

    So much fun in one post!! 🙂 Love the prints and stationary!! 🙂 A recipe exchange sounds like so much fun-I always love getting new recipe ideas!

  172. Wehaf says

    I love the cookie exchange idea! And wouldn't those personalized signs be really cute as placemats, too?

  178. Natalie says

    I love the recipe exchange idea! I have done cookie exchanges but not with appetizers or casseroles. Great tips! Thanks!

  180. Taylor and Robin says

    OK, I can't get over that you get up at 4:30 am (that is the middle of the night for me!) – what all do you do before your kids get up?! I can barely get up at 6:30 and it's all I can do to drag myself out of bed to make a cup of coffee and have my quiet time. No wonder you have a second cup later in the day!

    Great giveaway by the way! Thanks!

  186. Alex e says

    Love the recipe exchange idea! Great way for people to get together before the holidays and get in the festive spirit

  187. Alex e says

    Love the recipe exchange idea! Great way for people to get together before the holidays and get in the festive spirit

  188. Alex e says

    Love the recipe exchange idea! Great way for people to get together before the holidays and get in the festive spirit

  189. mcoop1125 says

    So glad you shared the dipping ideas! I've seen others make treats that way but haven't tried it myself…so easy and festive! Your parties look so fun! You are quite the hostess!

  208. Melissa Joseph says

    I love this blog! My friends and I are getting ready to do our own scarf party thanks to you!

  210. Annie Cox says

    The recipe exchange party sounds like a ton of fun. I had a scarf party a couple of months ago and all of us thought it was a blast. What a great idea!

  230. Jaren says

    Love the idea of changing the theme each year! I hosted a sweet swap a few years ago, and I loved it!
    Love the metal prints!!

  233. Scagney says

    LOVE the party idea. I have done a cookie exchange for several years. I love the idea of changing the theme.

  236. ashleypalmer625 says

    Your party looks like so much fun! I'll have to add that to my holiday traditions list for next year.

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