This past Monday my sister, Sara, and I hosted our 2nd annual cookie exchange. The rules were simple, bring a half dozen cookies for each girl in attendance and some to share. Chocolate chip cookies are excluded and everything must be home made. We also had everyone bring an extra dozen to donate to the homeless shelter for the holidays. I know this sounds like a lot but everyone had to bring 10 dozen. We also gave out prizes for the best tasting, best looking and most creative cookie. This year the best tasting cookie was the "Scooby Snack" by Michelle. The recipe is easy but very tasty. It has three ingredients: Oreo cookies, cream cheese and chocolate bark. The steps are simple:

1 Crush up one package of Oreo's
2 mix together one pack cream cheese with the Oreo's
3 form into balls
4 dip balls into chocolate coating and let harden

This year we had 17 girls in attendance. We had a fun evening or eating and socializing. Dave always has to leave the house because it is just too crazy. Here are some pix to enjoy.

Last Friday I shot an engagement session with Megan and Tony. It was 25 degrees outside but we still had a great time. We took a couple of breaks inside Starbucks to let their faces thaw out a little. Megan was hoping for snow but there wasn't much on the ground. As we were shooting, it started to snow a little. We actually caught the flakes in a few pix. Megan and Tony are getting married this spring. We are definitely looking forward to working with them. Here are a few of their images.

I always like to share things that I love and here is one. For my cookie exchange tomorrow night, I am making a chilled coffee drink that is amazing. This is a great idea for holiday parties.

6 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant coffee
1/2 cup hot chocolate mix
1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream

Boil 6 cups water. Add in sugar, coffee, and hot chocolate mix. Chill. When you are ready to serve mix in the ice cream. (It is best to let this sit for awhile before serving. The flavors mix better together.)

Enjoy!!!!

Ice, ice baby! This year my theme for the holiday season is ice. Everything is clear with icicles. I got this beautiful branch from Pottery Barn that is my favorite decoration this year. I saw it once and passed on it. When I got home I kept thinking about it. I went back and it was on sale so I couldn't pass it by again. I am so glad I got it. I could just sit every evening and watch the lights.

Dave is also finished with his outdoor masterpiece. I have asked him for years and years to put up lights with no luck. This year he has really surprised me. He put in alot of time hanging up the lights and trouble shooting them as well. He put up a total of 7,000 lights. Check the pix of our house this holiday season.