Christmas Cookie Swaps And Bring A Book Buffets, An Easy Way To Gather With Friends And Share In The Holiday Spirit of Giving

With busy schedules and budgets in mind, Christmas Cookie Swaps are becoming some of the most popular holiday get together occasions. They are very easy to plan and because the guests take the food with them, little is left behind to clean up. It's a wonderful yet simple way to pass along a treasured recipe of your own and you always leave with an armload of delicious goodies for yourself and your family.

If you are hosting a cookie swap this holiday season, why not add a Bring A Book Buffet to the invitation? Everyone knows of a local school, church, or charitable group who would appreciate the donation of several books for their holiday gift baskets to deserving families. By giving a book, you give a child an adventure and a frenzied parent one less gift to have to squeeze into their stressed out budgets.

Suggestions for the combined event's invitation might include:

• Enclosing a handmade bookmark requesting a new or gently used children's book for donation after the swap,
• Including a photograph of your favorite book taken with a plate full of delicious cookies beside it,
• Attaching a handwritten note asking each cookie swap participant if they know of someone who would be delighted to receive the donation of books, or
• If time and money allow, hand delivering an over sized cookie to each guest in a brightly colored box or basket that they could bring to the party with them to haul home their confectionery catches.

A cookie swap is always an especially fun and festive time to gather with friends and co-workers, catch up over coffee, and exchange recipes and containers of yummy cookies. This year, make it an especially sweet treat indeed to pass along the spirit of giving to someone else by including the Bring A Book Buffet to your event. Leave some of the cookies and a big glass of milk out for Santa, but pass along the books. Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!