Secret Santa 2!

Avalon · Oct 4, 2002

So I know it's only the beginning of October now, but I thought this year we should start early figuring the Secret Santa stuff out (if we want to do it) so everything gets there on time for all participants! 
By starting now it gives many of you time to decide if you want to participate, and/or get parental permission <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">, then it gives us time to figure out who gets who, then shopping time for all, then delivery time! X-mas is not as far away as you'd think! 
I figure the "sent by" date should be December first, just to be sure, and we should have all the gifter/giftee stuff figured out by the beginning of Nov to give everyone time to be all set. Thus, I thought I'd get ya'll a thinkin about it 
For those of you who are new to VB since last year, Secret Santa is a little gift exchange we set up last year between members. It was actually really fun. You have to supply your address, so someone can send you a gift, and you will recieve the address of one person for whom you will find a gift. 
All gifts were expected to total under about $10 U.S. (a dollar or two more isn't a big deal- but the idea is to keep it small and affordable for all.) So for example, you could send: one $10 book, or: a $2 candle holder with a scented $1 candle, plus a hand-made craft, plus some little item you thought was just right for the person... as long as it's around $10. 
For example, I got an amazing grass bag from Ana (in NewZealand) and a burnt copy of her fav CD. She collected some beautiful shells from the beach near her house and sewed them to the front of the bag. It was lovely. 
Kreeli baked some treats for her Giftee! 
Everyone put a lot of thought into the gifts, and made it that much more special for those involved! It's a good way to get to know your fellow VB members better, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside for the holiday season! 
We also created a Secret Santa log in, so "Santa" could ask the person you were buying for specific questions, without giving away who the secret santa was. 
So who thinks they will probably be in? 
(It's no rush yet, obviously) 
Also, does anyone have any suggestions for changes to the format?

WonderRandy · Oct 4, 2002

I'm in. Definitely. 
I'm feeling the Christmas spirit already!!! (Please tell me we won't have to debate the socio-religious-historical Christmas arguments, tho... I think we've all heard them by now... I'm really looking for simple fun for Christmas this year <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> )

Kreeli · Oct 4, 2002

i'm in too, but i don't want to be the organizer this year. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

GhostUser · Oct 4, 2002

Ho Ho Ho! 
I'm game! <img alt="" src="http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/holiday/areindeer.gif" style="border:0px solid;"><img alt="" src="http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/holiday/areindeer.gif" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/holiday/areindeer.gif" style="border:0px solid;"><img alt="" src="http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/otn/holiday/areindeer.gif" style="border:0px solid;"> Edited to remove broken image.

Michael · Oct 4, 2002

I'm in! I was actually thinking about posting a message to not start this too early. I'm just concerned with it being 2 months away people may mysteriously drop out. So why don't we wait until the first week of November or so before assigning partners? That'll still give everyone 3 weeks in order to get their gift and have it mailed out by 12/1. 
As for format, I would like to strongly encourage people to send something homemade, unique to their area, etc. We have a wide variety of people from a wide variety of locations and with a limit of only $10 it would be nice if we received something we wouldn't easily be able to get for ourselves. 
Avalon, I take it this means you're heading up this monumental project? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

KC Kid · Oct 5, 2002

Avalon for power, what's one more task to her already busy lifestyle<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I'm in this year and I already got the perfect gift to send and it's homemade. I can't wait to send this off!!

Kreeli · Oct 5, 2002

FTR, i also sent my giftee (IRProduce) a humungous bottle of Lush body lotion last year. though i'm sure the baked goodies tasted better. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

GhostUser · Oct 5, 2002

This site has items under $10, and cute veggie pins under the "Animal pins" link... <a href="http://www.nyc-showcase.com" target="_blank">http://www.nyc-showcase.com</a>

Kreeli · Oct 5, 2002

hee hee...YH just dropped a "hint" about what she'd like as a secret santa gift! 
i want my own private island off the coast of british columbia, santa! okay? hee.

kerouac · Oct 5, 2002

i am so in this year <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
yayness.

Thalia · Oct 5, 2002

I'm in. And thanks Yum for the link, there are some great gift ideas on there. And the veggie pins are really cute!

Michael · Oct 5, 2002

K - Nice to see you're joining us this year. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> You were mysteriously absent last year. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I guess this means she likes us... She really likes us. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

GhostUser · Oct 5, 2002

by the way it's Kreeli's B'day in a week or so. The burning question is------- Has she opened her presents already this year? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Vegankat · Oct 6, 2002

I am totally Secret Santa-ing this year. If my SS becomes a crazy stalker, so be it.

Skylark · Oct 6, 2002

Would anyone feel offended if I used a PO box for the SS exchange? It's not that I don't trust YOU people, its just that anyone at all can get on this site and look at our posts. 
But yes, I would love to join in! Now all I have to do is think of what's unique to my corner of Ohio. One local town is known for it's annual ribs burn-off... any vegetarians want a reason to barf? LOL j/k I would never do that to anyone! The stench is... oh my gosh, you can smell it miles away. 
Perhaps, when we find out who we are gifting, it might be useful to know whether that person is vegan, vegetarian, and/or what shade of the aforementioned terms.

majake · Oct 6, 2002

Skylark, if i remember correctly, last year the only people who received the address was the organiser and the secret santa, no one else received it, and it is not posted anywhere on VB.

kerouac · Oct 6, 2002

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally posted by Michael K - Nice to see you're joining us this year. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> You were mysteriously absent last year. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> I guess this means she likes us... She really likes us. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"></div>
</div>
 
of course i do dahling. I now give you permission to thank the academy and kiss my hand <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Michael · Oct 6, 2002

*smooch* Where's that licky smiley when you need it? I might have to do something about that... 
PO Box is fine. Maj is right, your address is not posted on the board. It is only given to the person arranging things and the person they assign to you. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable is fine.

Avalon · Oct 6, 2002

Yes, absotively-posilutely. I hereby volunteer, (having been a Secret Santa's Little Helper last year) to organise it this year. 
I also agree we shouldn't *assing-- oops: assign-- people too early. Michael, my plan was actually to assign the people on about November 1st. 
I guess I should point out then, that when we get to the ol' matching up part of things, the people who agree to be involved must understand that they can't NOT send something if they wander off and frequent the board here less. Some poor person who sent something out to another person will be left without. 
Also: P.O.Boxes are fine. As mentioned above, the only people who will have your address are ME or my helper (whomsoever that will turn out to be) and the person sending you your gift. 
How it works is, when we know who's officially in and out, you send me your mailing addresses, and I will split the people into 2 groups. I keep one group myself (with the name of my helper in it), and give the names in the other group (with my name in it) to my SS helper. Then we match the people in our own group up, and advise each person individually of whom they must buy for. That buyER gets the address of their person, and sends the gift out. 
If anyone is really uncomfortable with this format, but would perhaps like to participate otherwise, I suppose I could work something out where your giftee sends the gift to me, then I to you. That way the only person with your address would be me. 
If anyone is interested in doing it that way, I do not mind taking care of it, but said individuals would have to send me a few bucks, so I don't have to cover the extra shipping for them. 
The normal way is free (cept for the cost of the gift). i.e. no fee to participate. 
So, is it just me, or does that make 10 people already? 
Woo hoo! This'll be really fun! 
* Okay... so perhaps Avalon's secret santa should get her a Hooked on Phonics system for Christmas...

Avalon · Oct 6, 2002

Oh yeah! And I will need to know the Secret Santa login password again, so I can let the participants in on it. 
We use that login to ask questions, like the above Veg, vegan etc question above, to our SS, and generally spread the holiday cheer. 
But also everyone should give a little blurb at some point summarising what they are like, and what their fav things and activities are again, since we have a few newbies this year who do not know everyone well yet.

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