HO HO HO 2011 Holiday Gift Exchange (Secret Santa)

[okarol]

  Thank you Wenchie!! I look so forward to opening the Secret Santa gifts every year. Mine sat here for a long time and even though I shook the larger box I could not figure out what it was. Turns out the noise I heard was 3 big bags of M&M's: Cordial Cherry, Mint, and dark chocolate!! I also got a beautiful New York calendar, a Cornell bottle opener/key chain, a sweet Santa ornament, and the coolest black t-shirt with a skull and wings that says "Argyle's EASY STREET, Hot Bikes, Cold Beer. Cortland, NY" - I love it the most!! Thanks so much - the card was hysterical, I read it out loud and we all had a good laugh! Best wishes to you and your family! 

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Thank you Rerun, for pulling this together! 

[CebuShan]

I almost forgot... I had ordered a coffee mug from the IHD store and didn't expect it until next week but it came on Christmas Eve! It was a nice surprise!

[cattlekid]

It's me...cattlekid    I didn't know which name to put on the package.   

Glad you and yours liked the pressies   

Thank you sooo much to our Secret Santas! I have photos but I can't figure out how to get them to post!  Jim's SS was Looneytunes. He got a couple of Hotwheels cars, some gum, and a pair of Jimmie Johnson PJ bottoms. He couldn't wait to put them on! My SS was Vicki (I don't know her screen name, she didn't put it!) I got a wonderful smelling candle that is burning right now! She also sent toys for Timo and Tuula! Timo loves his tug rope and Tuula has been playing with her mouse all day! Thanks again to our SS and to Rerun who was willing to brave the headaches of organizing this. Merry Christmas everybody!!

[Wenchie58]

Thank you Wenchie!! I look so forward to opening the Secret Santa gifts every year. Mine sat here for a long time and even though I shook the larger box I could not figure out what it was. Turns out the noise I heard was 3 big bags of M&M's: Cordial Cherry, Mint, and dark chocolate!! I also got a beautiful New York calendar, a Cornell bottle opener/key chain, a sweet Santa ornament, and the coolest black t-shirt with a skull and wings that says "Argyle's EASY STREET, Hot Bikes, Cold Beer. Cortland, NY" - I love it the most!! Thanks so much - the card was hysterical, I read it out loud and we all had a good laugh! Best wishes to you and your family! 

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Thank you Rerun, for pulling this together! 

  Knew the M&M's would throw you!  I laughed out loud when picking the card.  And the t-shirt was so NOT you in my mind that I knew it would be a hit.  Local biker bar near me....not that I would ever go to such an establishment!   

[CebuShan]

It's me...cattlekid    I didn't know which name to put on the package.   

Glad you and yours liked the pressies   

Thank you sooo much to our Secret Santas! I have photos but I can't figure out how to get them to post!  Jim's SS was Looneytunes. He got a couple of Hotwheels cars, some gum, and a pair of Jimmie Johnson PJ bottoms. He couldn't wait to put them on! My SS was Vicki (I don't know her screen name, she didn't put it!) I got a wonderful smelling candle that is burning right now! She also sent toys for Timo and Tuula! Timo loves his tug rope and Tuula has been playing with her mouse all day! Thanks again to our SS and to Rerun who was willing to brave the headaches of organizing this. Merry Christmas everybody!!

Thank you so much, cattlekid! I really loved the candle and the card was perfect! 

[YLGuy]

 
Thank you James!
I received a picture frame which I have plenty pictures of my kids to put into it.  I also got a magnifying glass with lite which I desperately need sometimes.  The last thing I got was a wind-up flashlight which my last one broke a long time ago but I never replaced like I should have.  Living in earthquake country I really needed one.  Thank you so much!  I love everything.
Marc

[Cordelia]

Woodsman, Thank you so much for my gift!          I absolultely LOVE/ADORE the gorgeous angel necklace you gave me for my SS gift! Thank you so much!           I wore it all day today and got a lot of really nice compliments on it, thank you so very much!!           I hope to post a pic soon!     

Del, You're very welcome for your gift!          I'm so happy you enjoy it!        My twin daughters, 1 one of my twin daughters made the one and my other twin daughter made the other, they are so thrilled you really like both bracelets and are just so happy they fit too!           

Soooo happy you like everything!             

Rerun, thanks ever so much for organzing this very fun gift exchange for today!       

[Bajanne]

PHEW!!!  *wiping sweat off brow*  I am so relieved that the gifts from Lilbajanne and myself arrived in time!
[I got to get that November 23rd deadline worked out next year.  It will save me lots of worry!]

[Marsh]

SS is VCarmody, I got a snowman teapot(I collect them), wind chimes which are hanging in my sewing room and a package of key lime cookies(delicious)!!!    Thanks Vicki!!  And thank you Rerun for hosting this exchange for us.  It is my first one and I am looking forward to next year's!

 

[vcarmody]

My SS was Marsh, and she must have researched me very well.  My puppy loved the squeaky toys (me not so much LOL). Me and my husband both loved the puppy desk calendar and the tie dyed place mats, and I think everyone enjoyed the rain deer antlers I wore all day today.  I can't wait till Jan. 1st so we can start using the calendar!!  Thank you Marsha for all the great gifts, and thank you Rerun for spending all the time getting this together.  Can't wait for next years SS.   

[woodsman]

Woodsman, Thank you so much for my gift!          I absolultely LOVE/ADORE the gorgeous angel necklace you gave me for my SS gift! Thank you so much!           I wore it all day today and got a lot of really nice compliments on it, thank you so very much!!           I hope to post a pic soon!     

Del, You're very welcome for your gift!          I'm so happy you enjoy it!        My twin daughters, 1 one of my twin daughters made the one and my other twin daughter made the other, they are so thrilled you really like both bracelets and are just so happy they fit too!           

Soooo happy you like everything!             

Rerun, thanks ever so much for organzing this very fun gift exchange for today!       

I am so glad you enjoyed it...

[del]

Here are our gifts:
Thank you poppy and Cordelia!!

[Cordelia]

Woodsman, I'm going to be wearing the necklace you gave me again today-I have all my inlaws coming over for a big Christmas meal today! I love to wear it!   

Del, your pics turned out great! My daughters are over the moon you like the bracelets so much!     

[gothiclovemonkey]

PHEW!!!  *wiping sweat off brow*  I am so relieved that the gifts from Lilbajanne and myself arrived in time!
[I got to get that November 23rd deadline worked out next year.  It will save me lots of worry!]

I absolutely loved it! And, I dont think I could have sat there for a month staring at the package! So it arrived the perfect time
Thank you so much! The calendar is already hanging up, with imporrtant dates already filled in, and that passionfruit tea is sooo yummy! Ive never had tea like that before, so I had to have my step mom help me! lol It was really good stuff!
It was really lovely seeing ur face! Gorgeous woman you are I really enjoyed reading the info book, it makes me want to go there soooo bad! the food sounds amazing, i might even try a few of the recipes on the calendar
Thank you!!!

[Bajanne]

@ gothiclovemonkey
It was totally my pleasure.  I am just sorry I left things so late that I had to rush.  Hope you liked the handmade straw thingy.  And did you use the little hut for the tea? - that is what it is for.

[gothiclovemonkey]

I love it all! The straw wallet thing is so gorgeous idk, i think i should only use it special occasions!!! Its beautiful, and amazing someone did that by hand!!!
I still cant get over how cute that lil hat is on the wine!! TOO cute!
Yes, the tea thing worked great, Its cute too. I knew what it was, I have just never used one before, luckily my step mom new how lol very tasty, and the aroma was sooo good.
Rushing is no fun, i felt really bad because the stuff i ordered for like 3 different people still hasnt come in, so i had to run out and buy alternatives for them!

I love IHD! Having you all as friends is really what made Christmas this year amazing! I dont have many offline friends, and Having a place to come to and talk to people, getting to know you all, and especially getting to meet some of you in Vegas this year was a real treat! Im so very thankful for all of you. Im very blessed <3

[Pam]

I had to wait and look at my package for almost 2 months.
Thank You so much Chook!
The bracelet is my favorite blue
The candle smells amazing
The handmade cards are so cute
And I love magnets, but my favorite gift was the hand written letter and the pics. I will cherish them forever!
Pam

[kellyt]

I opened my SS gift late yesterday and I found sweet surprises!    My SS was Devlinswife and, as you may or may not know, she has been off the site for a while due to illness and such.  The fact that she found the time and strength to send me anything speaks volumes about her character.  Thank you so much, Devlinswife!   

I received a box of yummy chocolates, a cool deck of cards, some cheesecake/cheeseball mix and the most wonderful handwritten letter explaining all the gifts!  The letter was my favorite gift!  So sweet!

Thanks again, Devlinswife!  I hope you had a peaceful Christmas and I hope you have an exciting New Year!!   


I'm still waiting to hear from the member I sent a gift to!  I hope she liked it!!

[Rerun]

My pleasure.  It is so fun reading what you all received.  Fun!

               

[del]

Hubby's secret santa did not receive her gift for Christmas.  I mailed it early Nov. 10 but I think somebody must be swimming across the Atlantic with it!!  I have been in contact with the member and she says it is something to look forward to in the new year. I also mailed a gift to new Zealand on Oct 21 and that hasn't arrived yet!!   Could we please, please ,please have our names earlier next year so that if it has to go international we can mail earlier.  I mailed a gift to the same person a couple of years ago and it arrived in February!!

I love reading and seeing what everybody got!!

[Desert Dancer]

The whole time I was opening it I was trying to figure out just who on here is from Michigan. Gwyn saw the return address - from Arizona, you sneaky devil - and thought it must be DD. We were both completely led astray. Nicely done, I just love surprises.

Wait, what?! I was not your Secret Santa! Also, you've mistaken a Buckeye for a Wolverine... bad, bad, bad. 

[Desert Dancer]

But cariad was MY Secret Santa! I'll have to come back and post pics later, but I must say the little hints she left in each gift were the really fun part! I had my first suspicion it was her - due to word use - in the 'pre-opening' letter. The suspicion deepened when Andy opened his gift and I saw the card benefiting 'New City Public Schools' and an affirmation that we'd met in Vegas. The suspicion was confirmed when not one, but two, of her hints indicated she is "the least crafty person in the world".  She just said the same thing to jbeany a few days ago in the off-topic forum. I was triumphantly vindicated when I opened the 'post-opening' card and she confirmed her identity!

I got a gorgeous violet parasol, which will come in so handy walking around Phoenix this summer! It will be a mate to my blue and yellow parasol I used all last summer. I got a light switch cover painted in traditional Rangoli designs by one of her handsome sons and a gorgeous little lacquered pill box - both in green and purple! She also sent me beautiful artwork in a tiny silver frame, which promptly went on my keychain and... last but not least, Omanhene Hot Cocoa mix! I've really gone overboard on my potassium and phosphorus this last week so I haven't had it yet, but I intend to have a great big mug of it on my birthday! I can't wait!

Thank you so much, cariad - I really loved my gifts and I had so much fun participating in the Secret Santa. I wish I had been more creative and fun with my own gift... but there's always next year! 

[CebuShan]

So far, my person hasn't been on to say if she liked her gifts. I hope its because she's so busy with family and not some other reason!

[cariad]

I had my first suspicion it was her - due to word use - in the 'pre-opening' letter.

Well, aren't you bloody Miss Marple! And I was trying not to sound like myself. D'oh! Story of my life.

The suspicion was confirmed when not one, but two, of her hints indicated she is "the least crafty person in the world".  She just said the same thing to jbeany a few days ago in the off-topic forum.

Did I? Double d'oh! I thought I had been careful about that, although I guess I was banking on the notion that no one actually reads anything I write on here. I am just so damn un-crafty, I guess I have to mention it a minimum of thrice a week, lest anyone expect anything hand-crafted out of me. The little picture frame was something off Esty where all vendors take a pledge that everything they sell is either handmade or vintage. I learned quite a bit about Alphonse Mucha from being your Secret Santa, and the pictures are repros of his work. I cannot believe that you noticed that the card was from The New City School (where Aidan learned Rangoli). That is taking the observant-ness to a whole new level. All right, that's it. Next year I am picking another member to impersonate, studying their speech-patterns, flying to their hometown, package in hand.... 

Also, you've mistaken a Buckeye for a Wolverine... bad, bad, bad. 

Sorry! All you non-badgers look alike....

So glad you enjoyed, DD, (and please know that you don't have to actually use the switchplate cover, Aidan will never know. He was just so honored that I asked him to make it for me.)
Hope it's been a merry one for you and yours!
~t

[Desert Dancer]

So far, my person hasn't been on to say if she liked her gifts. I hope its because she's so busy with family and not some other reason!

Same here! <gulp>