It’s the first Friday in December!
You guys, after today, I only have ONE more Friday Favorites left of the year. It’s all gone by so quickly!!
Today, I’m sharing some details from this year’s recipe exchange, a huge sale with my friends at Victoria Emerson and much more! And, of course, I’m linking up with my friends Andrea and Erika .
Happy happy happy Friday! I hope your weekend is very merry and bright!
My first Fave of the week is…MY ANNUAL RECIPE EXCHANGE!
On Tuesday night, I hosted my annual party and it was so F-U-N!
I have some pics to share…
A few years ago, we combined our Recipe Exchange party with our Favorite Things party, so that means, each girl brought one favorite thing to share with the other girls. Here are mine right here. This year, I gave each of my friends this makeup bag and then filled it with a few of my favorite travel things (makeup, a travel-sized perfume, ponytail holder and more!).
I always print off the recipes that each girl submitted to bring to the party so that everyone leaves with a copy of each recipe from the night.
More gifts! These were from Jeni to all of us.
My sweet friend Lori gave me the cutest gift for hosting!!!
I kept the table simple! Big plates and bowls are in order for this night of E-A-T-I-N-G!
We were having an unseasonably warm night, so I opened up the door all the way.
Presentation counts BIGTIME when you bring in your recipe! Meagan added lights around her sandwiches
So. Much. Food!!!!!!! It was all so delicious!!!!!
Every year, I add a little something extra to make the party beneficial for others. This year, we had a contest to see who could bring in the most canned food for our local food pantry. Andrea won!! I had a prize for the winner 🙂 .
This was only round one 😉 .
The winning recipe this year? Lori’s Jingle Juice!! I will post the recipe soon! It was DELICIOUS! It had Whipped Cream Vodka inside. Whaaaaaat?! Yes!
So, what was the theme?
This year, it was “Bring something (and wear something!) you like to eat while watching holiday movies”…
…everyone brought their A-game in festive pjs (even a face mask!) and all of their cozy eats and drinks!
My cozy fleece romper can be found HERE.
So, how does this party work? What are the rules? When do you send out invites? Who do you invite? How much food does everyone bring? What about the gifts for the Favorite Things portion? Allllllllll of these questions are answered in my podcast episode HERE! Season 2 Episode 25 of The Bestie Breakdown specifically breaks down this party and answers all of those questions (and many more!). It truly is the BEST place to get all the details and information. We break it all down!
Since I host the party, my recipe can’t ever “win” the competition. That being said, I still always try to make something super yummy to share. This year might have been my best recipe to date!! It’s Favorite #2 this week…
Hellllllllo Spicy Sausage Biscuit Breakfast Casserole!
You will want to make this recipe this holiday season.
I promise you.
It’s so easy.
And so delicious!
You can see it HERE.
I’m so, so, so excited about my third Fave this week! You guys, I’m partnering with one of my favorite brands and sharing some cuuuuuuuute bracelets to gift your favorite gals this holiday season THAT ARE ON SALE!!! You know how much I love Victoria Emerson’s jewelry. In fact, in 2019, one of their wrap bracelets was the favorite thing I gave my girlfriends at that year’s Recipe Exchange!! I have been buying, wearing and loving their wrap bracelets, cuffs and other fun jewelry for years and years, so when they asked me if they could sponsor this little Fave and share their big holiday sales, I said PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!
This will make it so easy to grab gifts for your kid’s teachers, your friends, coworkers, sisters, daughters, neighbors, EVERYONE will love these bracelets!
Here are a few that my heart is particularly fond of…
…I’ve shared this gold bangle before. It’s the perfect piece to add to any stack or wear alone. It comes in both gold and silver too. I had it on the other day with my Apple watch on one arm and…
…then I had a full stack on the other! Unfortunately, right now, the two pearl bracelets are sold out, but they still do have the Merry and the Glam in stock!
These pieces are all from Sheaffer’s most recent collection! Isn’t her stack fun here?! You can see these bracelets HERE.
Speaking of Sheaffer’s collections with Victoria Emerson, they still have…
…her round huggie earrings in stock and…
Here are a few more fun Victoria Emerson finds you might need to grab right now…
…I love how easy and effortless it is to add on one of these cuffs! On the top, I have their Portofino cuff (so fun and fancy yet priced so well!!!) and then on bottom, I have their Chartres cuff. It’s such an easy staple piece to add while also adding BIG glamour!
This Portofino cuff was the perfect piece to wear to Smith’s orchestra concert Wednesday night 🙂 .
If you’re looking for one of their wrap bracelets, these two are such staple pieces…
Both the Evening Sparkle on Natural or the Aubree on Black can be worn separately…
…or…
…together 🙂 .
So many great finds just in time for the holidays!!!
If you liked the sweater I’m wearing there in the first pic…
…you’ll love my fourth Fave this week 🙂 . Isn’t this sweater festive? It’s on sale too!!!
A few more finds on sale for your week…
…my Abercrombie pullover is also on sale right now (and available in multiple colors!)…
…and so are my Sherpa pullover and leggings!!!
One last find…
…this sweater/sweatshirt combo comes in several other colors, but the Christmas-y green one spoke right to my heart! Side note: I either need to wipe off my camera or my mirror…or both…sigh.
Just as a reference, I bought all of these items in an xs (my TTS!).
Did you catch my updated Christmas playlist?!
I’ve already had so many of you reach and out and tell me how much you love it!!! If you missed it, you can listen HERE.
And finally…
…thank you so much for the love after Wednesday’s Holiday Home Tour! I am so thankful for this sweet community!!! You guys are THE SWEETEST!!
Okay, I’m off to work on my Christmas shopping list! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, friends! I’ll see you back here on Monday for something SO FUN!!!!!!!!
Happy weekend! xx
Elspeth says
I always love reading about your parties! So fun!! Have a great weekend!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Erika Slaughter says
The hostess with the mostest!! It’s always one of my favorite Christmasy nights!
Laura Kutac says
Do you braid your own hair?! 🙂 it looks fantastic!
Mix and Match Mama says
Nope! One of my friends has teenage daughters that run over and do it. I wish I could do it!!
Rachel Pape says
Where are your gorgeous glitter placemats from? What a fun night for y’all!
Mix and Match Mama says
I bought them last year at Pier One before they went out of business 🙁
Sheaffer says
LOVE all your bracelets! And that whipped cream vodka? OHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYY!
Maggie says
I always love hearing about your girlfriend parties. Can you share the recipe for that drink? Also would be fun to see what everyone gifted as their favorites, I’m always looking for good girlfriend gifts.
Jennifer Sickle says
Always love this post every year! Can you share a list of what everyone brought for their favorite thing?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! We had a blanket, a bracelet, a bottle of gourmet cocktail mix, a fun tool for slicing veggies, perfume, an ornament, phone cases…such a fun assortment!
Emily says
How do your pj’s fit? Are you wearing a small? So cute!
Mix and Match Mama says
TTS! I’m wearing xs!
Lindsey Pannell says
I have a random questions; we always go snow skiing; I have 2 boys ages 7 and 10; they only wear tennis shoes or cowboy boots when we are at home; what shoes do you recommend when going snow skiing? I know Smith seems a lot like my boys so I was curious what he wears when he goes skiing to walk around.
Mix and Match Mama says
He always wears a pair of Sorels in the winter. They’re warm and waterproof!
Leah says
I really enjoyed the girlfriend parties podcast! I liked how you said that you don’t all buy each other gifts throughout the year, so you’re okay spending for each girlfriend at these parties! That makes sense! We do a favorite things party with a moms’ group I’m in and to keep it a little cheaper, we each bring one wrapped favorite thing and then do a gift swap (pass around while music is playing or draw numbers, etc). When the lady opens it, whoever brought that gift explains why it’s their favorite thing!
Love reading your blog every day and keeping up with your sweet family!
Jennifer Bethune says
Love the post! I was having a hard time thinking of what to get my daughter’s teachers for Christmas and then I saw the bracelets…gifts for them, my family, and myselft! lol!! Merry Christmas!!
Kala says
Such a great idea! Also that Abercrombie fleece is one of my faves! Got the leopard last year and the tan/black leather looking one this year ?
Shannon in PA says
I wish I could come to one of your girlfriend parties! Could you please post all of the recipes from it? Would love to see them! And happy holidays to you and your sweet family! 🙂
June Pope says
Listening to your Christmas playlist this morning and wanted to suggest a couple of songs for you if you haven’t heard them already. Carrie Underwood feat. John Legend Hallelujah and Carrie and her little Isaiah singing Little Drummer Boy. You will weep with joy on that one. Thanks for all you do for everyone! You’re pretty amazing!
Jenny says
I can’t wait to see the recipe for the Jingle Juice! Sounds yummy!!
TIFFANY DIIORIO says
What size is that make up bag? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I think it’s the 20″. I would need to check but it’s the larger one.
Angela Sharbono says
I love your favorite things posts! Thank you for sharing! Would you mind sharing all the recipes? Everything looked so yummy! 🙂
Heather says
Every year I post this question!! They always look amazing. What a great (and easy) post this would be year after year!
Mix and Match Mama says
The hard part is that I only want to post unique recipes or get permission to re-post another person’s recipe. That’s why I don’t just upload all the recipes. I’m trying to be sensitive to that aspect of it.
Tessa says
Can you please post the jingle Juice recipe? Or send me it? Thank you!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!!
Joanne says
Your parties sound so fun!
Kacy M says
My Bible study group does a “my favorite things” gift exchange every Christmas too and I love it!
Sara says
Where did your friend Megan get her cute PJ pants?
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t know, but I can ask!
Norma Blackwell says
Shay, I am doing a kitchen remodel and I saw you used quartz in the Calcutta pattern. Do you recall the manufacturer and exact name. Also I noticed you have a granite in the kitchen that looks black. Do you recall the name of it. Selections have been over whelming. Thank you. Love your kitchen.
Mix and Match Mama says
The black granite is called Black Pearl. Here is the quartz info: Bella blanco Polished Quartz. It is a Vicostone. BQ9606
Alissa says
On your podcast episode about your girlfriend parties you mentioned that you have a super motivating prize for the winner of the best dish. I’m super curious for some examples of what these awesome prizes are!
Mix and Match Mama says
This year, it was a pair of really fun Kendra Scott earrings!