HO HO HO 2011 Holiday Gift Exchange (Secret Santa)

[kitkatz]

Mine is mum on the gift subject, too, but then they may not know who to thank. Hehehe.

[Desert Dancer]

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.

Sorry my friend, but if you dangle a mystery before me I am going to bring all my powers of observation to bear in order to solve it! OH! I forgot to mention Andy's present: a replica ashtray from the Titanic. He opened his gift first and I grilled him as to whether he was hunting up ashtrays during his conversation with anyone in Vegas, and who he talked to about sailing. He wasn't much help in the clue department.

(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.)

You can tell Aidan for me right now that the switchplate cover will be going up in the craft room of our new house. (I'm your opposite in the crafting respect!) I won't put it up here because I don't want to chance accidentally leaving it behind, but it's definitely going up. I love nothing more than looking about me and seeing things that are one-of-a-kind and besides which, it's beautiful.

[lola]

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>

same???

[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>

same???

I haven't heard from the person I gifted, either.

[Katonsdad]

I was wondering . those of you who sent SS gifts to faraway lands (overseas)  How did you send them?
I sent mine United SAtates Poatal Service and it was delivered within 2 weeks. 
I had to fikk out cuzstoms paperwork , but it was under 30 dollares to send.\\Just checking for next year.

[Darthvadar]

Hi Katons's Dad...

From Ireland, I sent ours Regular Parcel Post... It does go Airmail, and each item I ever send to the US appears to arrive in about ten days to two weeks... About three weeks to Canada... If you keep the weight of the package or box to under two kilos, the cost is €16.60c (about US 21.50)... Mind you, go so much as a gram over, and the price goes to €34 (about US 44)... There's a Self service scale at our PO, and I bring the boxes and packaging, and the contents with me, and weigh them before wrapping... I always seem to be a few hundred grams under the limit, so I usually bring some small items with me... Little packets of sweets, bars of chocolate, etc., and add them so I get my box as close to the two kilos as possible... This year, our boxes were less than 10 grams under the two kilo weight!... The clerk at the Post Office laughed when he weighed the boxes... He said "Trust you to milk the two kilo limit... You're certainly getting your money's worth!'...

So far, neither Mum's person or mine have come on and said if they liked their gifts... Maybe they didn't!... *Gulp*.....

Love to all....

Darth...

[cariad]

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.

Sorry my friend, but if you dangle a mystery before me I am going to bring all my powers of observation to bear in order to solve it! OH! I forgot to mention Andy's present: a replica ashtray from the Titanic. He opened his gift first and I grilled him as to whether he was hunting up ashtrays during his conversation with anyone in Vegas, and who he talked to about sailing. He wasn't much help in the clue department.

I clearly had no idea what (or whom) I was up against. I am suitably impressed! I was hoping you'd think it was from MooseMom, but then she went and blabbed that she was sending overseas. So really, this is all MM's fault.

(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.)

You can tell Aidan for me right now that the switchplate cover will be going up in the craft room of our new house. (I'm your opposite in the crafting respect!) I won't put it up here because I don't want to chance accidentally leaving it behind, but it's definitely going up. I love nothing more than looking about me and seeing things that are one-of-a-kind and besides which, it's beautiful.

This is so sweet! I told Aidan and his response was 'yesss!'. Liot looked at me and said indignantly 'they have a craft room?!' (With a mother like me, of course they had never heard of such a thing....)

[Poppylicious]

My Secret Santa was amazing.  She wrapped up the presents so divinely that it was a shame to actually open them! 

I was lucky enough to get a gorgeous perfume bottle for my collection, a pink glass candle holder which will sparkle beautifully when the candle is lit AND ... TWINKIES!

Yummy!

I would like to thank DD for posting the package in Arizona ... but were you actually my SS?!  I only ask because a) the breakables were cushioned with pages from the Chicago Tribune and even *I* know that Chicago is a long way from Arizona, and b) I know there are some sneaky souls on here who will go out of their way to be mysterious!

 

Either way, THANK YOU! for my pressies.  I loved them.  I love SS.  And I love Rerun for organising it all this year!  And apologies for not being on earlier; we were entertaining all Christmas and out all day Tuesday.  It was exhausting!

[rsudock]

Riki you are welcome!

THANK YOU to Kelly for my secret Santa gifts! My Qtips and cotton balls have a home finally! Plus a big bag of chocolate.... I took to work to share, since Neil was eating a little too much!
I'm not sure what her IHD member name? I think it's Kelly who founded "Etta's Gift" but I don't want to assume...

Thanks for organizing Rerun!

Happy Holidays! Love to you ALL!
Rachel

[del]

I was wondering . those of you who sent SS gifts to faraway lands (overseas)  How did you send them?
I sent mine United SAtates Poatal Service and it was delivered within 2 weeks.
I had to fikk out cuzstoms paperwork , but it was under 30 dollares to send.\\Just checking for next year.

Katonsdad,

I have send overseas the past few years.  I just send it regular mail where ever I send.  It does take a bit longer but is a LOT cheaper.  Funny thing is it takes longer to get from me to the destination than it does if somebody mails to me!!  I usually try to send things that aren't heavy to keep the price down.  If what you buy can fit in a large bubble envelope and goes through the mail slot it can go as a regular letter.  T shirts are good for that!!  I did mail a package to Ireland on Nov, 10 and it hasn't arrived yet and one to NZ on Oct 21 that hasn't arrived.  You HAVE to mail early!!!

[willowtreewren]

Yes, Del's gift to ME arrived in plenty of time, and I was warned on the bubble envelope not to open it before Christmas. So we just carted that envelope to Massachusetts (about half way BACK to where it came from) so I could open it on Christmas morning. 

I'm STILL amazed at the wonderful gifts.

I got a lovely thank you by e-mail from the recipient of my gifts, so I know they arrived. 

Aleta

[Desert Dancer]

I would like to thank DD for posting the package in Arizona ... but were you actually my SS?!  I only ask because a) the breakables were cushioned with pages from the Chicago Tribune and even *I* know that Chicago is a long way from Arizona, and b) I know there are some sneaky souls on here who will go out of their way to be mysterious!

Ohhhhh.... hmmm. I think if you don't know who your SS is then I will just keep my lips sealed. Might as well stay a secret! Isn't it more fun that way? (Though I am VERY happy I know who mine is!)

If you REALLY insist, I'll tell you, though.

[Poppylicious]

Ohhhhh.... hmmm. I think if you don't know who your SS is then I will just keep my lips sealed. Might as well stay a secret! Isn't it more fun that way? (Though I am VERY happy I know who mine is!)

If you REALLY insist, I'll tell you, though.

I'm 99.999999% sure I know who it is IF it isn't you!  Of course, the newspaper could have been a very clever double bluff ...

 

I just realised that I forgot to post photos. I shall rectify that immediately ...

[Katonsdad]

I was wondering . those of you who sent SS gifts to faraway lands (overseas)  How did you send them?
I sent mine United SAtates Poatal Service and it was delivered within 2 weeks.
I had to fikk out cuzstoms paperwork , but it was under 30 dollares to send.\\Just checking for next year.

Katonsdad,

I have send overseas the past few years.  I just send it regular mail where ever I send.  It does take a bit longer but is a LOT cheaper.  Funny thing is it takes longer to get from me to the destination than it does if somebody mails to me!!  I usually try to send things that aren't heavy to keep the price down.  If what you buy can fit in a large bubble envelope and goes through the mail slot it can go as a regular letter.  T shirts are good for that!!  I did mail a package to Ireland on Nov, 10 and it hasn't arrived yet and one to NZ on Oct 21

DEL

I too sent regular mail   4 lbs ,,,,,,,,Went to UPS the friday after Thanksgiving and they ere closed   went to Fed Ex  and hey wanted 212.00 
for the 4 lb package,.....Regular mail  27.00 /   Well thankfu;;y my reciepent got her package in 10 days ... So she had to wait quite  FEW Daya
to open.  She was very happy with the gift . Had a lot of fun doing this .  Will do it again next yer.

Appreciate the hard work Rerun put into this.

Katonsdad

[kellyt]

Riki you are welcome!

THANK YOU to Kelly for my secret Santa gifts! My Qtips and cotton balls have a home finally! Plus a big bag of chocolate.... I took to work to share, since Neil was eating a little too much!
I'm not sure what her IHD member name? I think it's Kelly who founded "Etta's Gift" but I don't want to assume...

Thanks for organizing Rerun!

Happy Holidays! Love to you ALL!
Rachel

Sounds wonderful, but it's not me. 

[CebuShan]

I send packages and letters to Finland all year and it never seems to take more than 10 days except after Thanksgiving. Then it usually takes 14 days. I just send USPS.

[Rerun]

You guys are welcome to PM me and I'll tell you who your SS was and also if you didn't get a gift.

           

[kitkatz]

1st RERUN thanks for all your hard work putting together the IHD secret santa list. 2nd to my SS whoever u are THANK you SOOOOOOOOO much, I only know it was shipped from California and I got some great t-shirts a purse, Christmas ornament  and a VERY extra special something I can not say thank you enough.    ....................Amy

Oops missed this post earlier.  I was your Secret Santa Lola!

[lola]

 

[Rerun]

Secret Santa List 2011

Rerun had Paris
Del had Willowtrewren
Del's Hubby had Darthvadar
Cattlekid had CebuShan
Darthvadar had Bajanne
Mum had Thegrandmalady
Poppylicious had Del's Hubby
Tyefly had Looneytunes
Looneytunes had Dude
Kitkatz had Lola
MooseMom had Wattle
Desert Dancer had Poppy
CebuShan had Tyefly
Dude had YLGuy
Lola had Cosmickelly
Cordelia had Del
Okarol had Moosemom
Paris had lilbajnne
Wattle had Kitkatz
KellyT had Renalwife
YLGuy had Wenchie
Willowtreewren had Devlinswife
Wenchie 58 had Okarol
Riki had Cattlekid
Thegrandmalady had Rerun
Woodsman had Cordelia
Devlinswife had KellyT
Renalwife had Katons Dad
Cosmickelly had Rsudock
Katonsdad had Darth's Mum
Bajanne had Gothiclovemky
Lilbajanne had Angela515
Pam had Cariad
Rsudock had Riki
Gothiclovemonkey had Woodsman
Angela515 had Chook
Chook had Pam
Cariad had Desert Dancer
Marsh had Vcarmody
Vcarmody had Marsh

[okarol]

 

[rsudock]

THANK YOU CosmicKelly!!!!

xo,
R

[Darthvadar]

Thanks for all the work on this, Rerun.... Well done!...

Mum loves her gift... Is watching soaps on TV right now with the rug over her knees!... Happy lady!...

Mine will arrive eventually... I'm not a bit worried!....

I hope our two gift reciepients are okay... Neither have posted since Christmas... Maybe they hated their gifts so much, they've gone running to the hills!.... 

Love to all, and thanks again, RR....

Darth...

[woodsman]

Thanks to Gothiclovemonkey for the gift. Happy new year to you all.

[Poppylicious]

Secret Santa List 2011

Desert Dancer had Poppy

Oooh, Chicago Tribune double bluff?!  Clever!  (Unless there's a mini-Chicago in Az?!)

Thank YOU, DD! 

(And if anyone is interested, a Twinkie is 4 points if you're following the WW diet.  This means I can enjoy one a day until they run out!)