What to Wear to a Christmas Cookie Swap + What to Take

Hello and welcome to Dressed for My Day, where my goal is to encourage and help women 40+ dress for their unique day in a way that helps them engage with confidence and influence. Today I’ve joined hands with my sweet friend Susanne from Thompson Hill Blog to share what to wear to a Christmas cookie swap. Plus, we’re both sharing favorite cookie recipes!

Susanne and I giggled when we exchanged photos in preparation for this blog post. As you can see, the two of us picked out very similar outfits! Ah well, great minds and all. I hope you’ll check out Susanne’s post, too, after visiting here for a while. She and I first met via our blogs, then through texts and emails, and then we heard each other’s voices over phone calls. Susanne lives in the hills of West Virginia, a state I’ve never even been to. But we have plenty in common otherwise. We’re both empty nesters, in our 50s, fashionista wannabes and married to our photographers. Ha! But Susanne also posts lots of recipes and hospitality tips on her blog, so I really think you’ll enjoy what you see there.

What to Wear to a Christmas Cookie Swap

For my Christmas Cookie Swap attire, I chose to go with simple high-rise straight leg black cords, a colorful and bright plaid shirt and my classic red down puffer vest. But I added a festive touch with the addition of my gold driving moccasins and some gold jewelry.

When I go to a gal-pal party like a Christmas Cookie Swap I want to look casual, but festive. Honestly, I think dark wash jeans or black jeans would substitute well for the black cords, if you’d prefer. But I do love these cords. They have just enough give to move with you, but not so much as to stretch out with wear. And I’m really enjoying the new higher waistbands.

My belt is actually this leather reversible belt, and on the other side it’s a pretty, shimmery gold. But I felt like the gold shoes were enough glitter, so I wore the belt on the “coffee” side. It’s easy to reverse and a nice width.

I think Talbots has finally sold out of my favorite gold layering necklace, as I’ve been calling it for a couple of months now. But this one is similar, and it’s less than half price in the gold (someone better grab this necklace!). And they still have the gold and silver shimmer bangles in stock. Now this is my “favorite gold bracelet.” Ha!

I really don’t think my black cords looks this dusty or “lint-y” in real life. We shot these photos in the middle of the morning, and we’re used to shooting in the late afternoon. So my husband had to make some major adjustments to the brightness. And when he did I think every little speck of dust on my pants just popped with brightness! But, if you’d prefer a different shade, these cords come in 10 other beautiful colors. I especially like the latte brown.

By the way, wouldn’t it be sweet to take this darling Gingerbread Man “Baking Spirits Bright” pin to the hostess of your Christmas Cookie Swap? Or you could also consider one of the holiday fashion accessories I showed here or one of the hostess gifts I featured in this post.

Shop this Look Here:

Rarely do one of my looks come totally from one store, but that happens to be the case today. Fortunately, you can get anything and everything in this look for at least 30% off. Talbots is giving you 30% off your entire purchase with code HOLIDAY, plus a few of these items are marked down already. While I love shopping several other stores, too, I do find that Talbots’ clothing is well made and classic enough to last me several seasons, and often more.

My Favorite Sugar Cut-Out Cookies and Icing

So that’s what I’d wear to a Christmas Cookie Swap, but I’d also like to share with you what I’d take with me. Every year I get requests for my recipe for these Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies. I’d never really been one to decorate cookies until I came across this recipe. Not only are these cookies delicious – tender, yummy and  – but these directions for icing cookies really speak to me.

They’re time consuming. But that’s okay. I make a day of it. I always invite my friend Dorothy over and we make several batches. We also have a yummy lunch and solve all the world’s problems while we work! Hee, hee! Sometimes I’m lucky enough to have one or both of my kids here to help, too.

**Click here for the printable/downloadable Recipe**

So I suggest you make a day of it. Take your time and enjoy the process. Get messy! Invite a friend over to share in the mayhem and the fun. And definitely eat some goodies while you work! Oh, and then, of course, pack them up to take them to a Christmas Cookie Swap. What fun!

Blessed for My Day

Of course, you don’t have to wait for an invitation to a Christmas Cookie Swap to enjoy the fun. Why not organize one yourself and invite a few women over for cookies, coffee, hot tea, conversation and laughter. It might especially be nice to include someone you don’t know very well – the new neighbor, the woman from work you’ve never socialized with, the gal who sits on the other end of your church pew or the friend of a friend who seems like your cup of tea! 

I can get so comfortable doing things with my safe and familiar friends that I neglect to reach out and beyond to the women on the periphery. But we’re always surrounded by people who desperately need and long to be included. Has the Lord been prompting you to reach beyond your familiar circle? Let’s quit thinking about it…and just do it. You could be such a blessing to another woman with a simple but sincere invitation.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. ~ Hebrews 13:2

Don’t forget to check out Susanne’s outfit and cookie recipe for the Christmas Cookie Swap. You’re going to love her!

And if you’re visiting from Thompson Hill, thank you so much for being here today. I hope you’ll look around at a few of my other posts. And then maybe you’d like to subscribe to receive either my daily or weekly emails. I’d love to meet you and hear from you in the comments section. And if you’d like to learn more about what I offer my subscribers and join the gang, you can do that here.

By the way, I have used affiliate links in this post. So if you shop through them and buy something, I will potentially earn a commission. Thank you. The work I do here at Dressed for My Day is my sole income and how I help support my husband and myself while we are planting a church here in Southern Arizona. I really appreciate you supporting my mission here.

I’ve linked today’s post with Jo-Lynne Shane’s Fashion Friday Link-Up. Be sure to check out some of the other great style ideas there.

One more thing, and I’ll let you go! If you liked today’s post, would you consider sharing it on your Facebook or Twitter feed? You could also pin it to one or more of your Pinterest boards. I really love it when you read, comment, share, shop or subscribe. That just makes my day! Oh, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram while you’re at it!

Have a blessed and beautiful day, gals!!