Over 30 years ago a few of my friends and family got together at my house and made cookies. We baked together. Ate lots of snacks. Drank adult beverages.

And it continued. Every year. Picking up more friends and family. Baking at my house. The only exception was a short time that I lived in Katy, TX. And even then, I had my own cookie baking day and sent boxes of cookies to those peeps back in Florida.

And it went from a few friends and family to a lot more friends and family and the happy just expanded. So much expansion that we no longer baked at my house. Only the peeps that spent the weekend at my house, were doing the baking at my house. But that was still a lot of baking!

The date has changed over the years and the number of bakers have increased but for the past several it has been the 2nd Saturday in December. That way our out-of-town bakers can make travel and living arrangements way in advance. My niece comes from Scottsdale, AZ, another friend came from Tennessee this year. My daughter and family flew in from DC, and her in-laws arrived from North Myrtle Beach. My niece from Boston couldn’t make it this year but she usually does plus granddaughter Courtney was busy at college in St. Louis at Maryville and we were missing a few of our other regulars.

I call it the “Most Happiest Day of the Year”. And

Like I said, for me it is the most happiest day of the year.

My daughter, Jes, has started her own “spin-off” of Cookie Day with her friends in DC. Mom is so proud!

I always give a small gift to the friends and family that stay at my house. This year it was Rudolph mugs from Pottery Barn in handcrafted fabric gift bags.

I stepped up my gift bag game this year. Found a really great tutorial, so much better then how I’ve been making the bags in the past. The instructions are free: Drawstring Bag Tutorial from “In Color Order”. There is a video, written instructions, plus extra posts with hints and suggestions. You might have to do some searching but they are there. I changed the size up on mine so the mug would fit. I also lined the exterior panel with fusible fleece to protect the mug a little with extra padding.

It was a fun way to use up some of my Christmas fabric stash. (But I still have a huge bunch left! I love Christmas fabric!”)

I used either paracord or twine for the drawstring. If I had had more time to make them, I probably would have made matching drawstrings–but who has extra time at Christmas?

I tried melting the paracord so the ends wouldn’t shred. But I didn’t really like the look of the melted ends. And they still shredded when I put them through the beads. So I had to do more melting!

After the first messy attempt, I just tied them off with a very tight knot.

I thought they turned out great and plan on making a few more for hostess gifts with some fun mugs!

Athena was a bit traumatized by all the commotion of cookie day. She did lots of zoomies and then finally collapsed under my white and blue Christmas tree. Sweet girl tried to adjust but she just had to strike out once in awhile. My son-in-law started calling her Harley Quinn. Pretty girl. Just didn’t know what her next evil plans were. (And he is a cat lover!)

Anyhow, the most happiest day of the year was again the most happiest day of the year. And Athena is now catching up on her sleep and plotting her next attack! (Hope it’s not me!)