SDMB Secret Santa Gift Exchange 2014 [signup closed]

[Helena330]

I’m so excited! I was expecting my new digital camera from Amazon today, and ran downstairs to meet the delivery guy. He gives me two packages, one from Amazon, and one from…**EmilyG **in Canada! Forget the camera!

I have crappy phone pictures which I’ll post later because I’m running out the door right now. Emily sent me a lovely wooden box she painted herself in greens, blues and yellow. It’s kind of scary because I collect little wooden boxes, but I hadn’t posted a thing about that. :eek: She also sent CHOCOLATE including a “Bubbly Santa” from England. There was also a tiny little cardboard piano she made. A Montreal magnet and a little notebook with a kitty on it rounded out my wonderful surprise.

Thanks so much, EmilyG. You’re the best Santa ever. The box is on a little shelf above my desk, and I know I’ll smile every time I see it. xoxoxoxo

I guess I should look at the camera. I’m late now anyway.

[Helena330]

@EmilyG

Okay, I sent out my package today. Though I sent it out kind of late in the day and I don’t know if it’ll actually get going anywhere until tomorrow.

I can’t believe it got here in three days! :eek: Montreal to Seattle!

[EmilyG]

@Helena330

I’m so excited! I was expecting my new digital camera from Amazon today, and ran downstairs to meet the delivery guy. He gives me two packages, one from Amazon, and one from…**EmilyG **in Canada! Forget the camera!

I have crappy phone pictures which I’ll post later because I’m running out the door right now. Emily sent me a lovely wooden box she painted herself in greens, blues and yellow. It’s kind of scary because I collect little wooden boxes, but I hadn’t posted a thing about that. :eek: She also sent CHOCOLATE including a “Bubbly Santa” from England. There was also a tiny little cardboard piano she made. A Montreal magnet and a little notebook with a kitty on it rounded out my wonderful surprise.

Thanks so much, EmilyG. You’re the best Santa ever. The box is on a little shelf above my desk, and I know I’ll smile every time I see it. xoxoxoxo

I guess I should look at the camera. I’m late now anyway.

So glad you liked your gifts. I had fun buying/making the different gifts.

[Slow_Moving_Vehicle]

So. Went to the post office on Monday with my nicely-packed present. Filled out the customs form, since it’s going overseas, wrote out a nice label, paused to admire again my bitchin’ packaging skillz, took it to the nice man behind the counter. Whereupon this dialog took place:

Nice Post Office Guy Behind Counter: “Your package weighs 4.8 lbs. That’ll be [three times the declared value of the gift!]”

Me: “HOW MUCH? Uh, okay, I think I can repack it a little better…”

So, took it home, repacked it in one of the free boxes that the P.O. provides. Not quite as neat, but smaller and lighter. Back to the P.O.

NPOGBC: “That’ll be [even more!]”

Me: “How can it be more? It weighs even less!”

NPOGBC: “You put it in a Priority Mail box. That locks you in to a more expensive rate.”

Me: “Oh.” (“Welp, I’m a dumbass” was the unspoken but accurate subtext.)

Reboxed it again, not nearly so neatly, and presented myself once more to the NPOGBC, who informed me shipping cost was now out of the “sell a kidney” range, and fired it off.

So, it’s taken wing for a voyage to the mysterious and distant land of Not’muricastan, where they talk all funny and eat weird food and have never even heard of the Chicago Cubs, the savage heathens. I hope that it gets there by Christmas, but it’s now in the hands of the U.S. Post Office, so who knows?

[OneCentStamp]

@fairychatmom

glad you like it!

@anaamika

this whole post is adorable and you are a cutie.

[romansperson]

And I got my gift from OneCentStamp today!

Behold!

Y’all need to be insanely jealous, because the coffee smells DIVINE (and not like a beard at all!). If only we had smellivision … and yep, I have a grinder, so beans are perfect. I am the only coffee drinker here, so beans are best so as to keep them fresh until I am ready to use them.

The shot glasses are adorable! As you can see, I’ve already filled one (with Krupnikas, a spiced honey liqueur made locally). Very nice to have on a chilly winter night.

Your note is lovely - sorry I had to make you troll my posts, though. Probably the most boring Internet stalking ever done by anyone.

I am also seeing a hat trend here - maybe we need to do a hat exchange sometime next year.

Anyway, thank you!!!

And I just checked the tracking on my package, and it has now left the US via the Miami airport (so much for actually arriving by today, but at least it’s out of the country).

[Silvorange]

**Sent: 18/42 Received: 6/42

FloatyGimpy
Aspenglow -> Hockey Monkey
romansperson
carnut -> MsRobyn
peedin -> FairyChatMom
EmilyG -> Helena330
FairyChatMom -> OneCentStamp
OneCentStamp -> romansperson
twickster
Helena330
Baker
Filbert
jsgoddess
SeaDragonTattoo
freckafree
MissTake
Anaamika
Slow Moving Vehicle**

I just love this whole thread. It is so happy!

[OneCentStamp]

@romansperson

And I got my gift from OneCentStamp today!

Behold!

Y’all need to be insanely jealous, because the coffee smells DIVINE (and not like a beard at all!). If only we had smellivision … and yep, I have a grinder, so beans are perfect. I am the only coffee drinker here, so beans are best so as to keep them fresh until I am ready to use them.

The shot glasses are adorable! As you can see, I’ve already filled one (with Krupnikas, a spiced honey liqueur made locally). Very nice to have on a chilly winter night.

Your note is lovely - sorry I had to make you troll my posts, though. Probably the most boring Internet stalking ever done by anyone.

I am also seeing a hat trend here - maybe we need to do a hat exchange sometime next year.

Anyway, thank you!!!

And I just checked the tracking on my package, and it has now left the US via the Miami airport (so much for actually arriving by today, but at least it’s out of the country).

First and foremost, I’m just glad if all four shot glasses made it there intact. I tried to be a thoughtful gifter, but freely admit I’m but an indifferent packer. Honestly, I’d give myself a B minus even if three of the four made it there OK.

And I’m so glad I guessed correctly about your level of coffee hardware ownership. Will make it much easier if I draw you again next year. (Just kidding; if I draw you again next year, you’re getting booze.)

[Silvorange]

Ok, I finally went to the post office and my box should get to its destination in 6-10 business days. I’m sorry if it doesn’t make it for Christmas Day.

[Helena330]

@Helena330

I’m so excited! I was expecting my new digital camera from Amazon today, and ran downstairs to meet the delivery guy. He gives me two packages, one from Amazon, and one from…**EmilyG **in Canada! Forget the camera!

I have crappy phone pictures which I’ll post later because I’m running out the door right now. Emily sent me a lovely wooden box she painted herself in greens, blues and yellow. It’s kind of scary because I collect little wooden boxes, but I hadn’t posted a thing about that. :eek: She also sent CHOCOLATE including a “Bubbly Santa” from England. There was also a tiny little cardboard piano she made. A Montreal magnet and a little notebook with a kitty on it rounded out my wonderful surprise.

Thanks so much, EmilyG. You’re the best Santa ever. The box is on a little shelf above my desk, and I know I’ll smile every time I see it. xoxoxoxo

I guess I should look at the camera. I’m late now anyway.

Here are the pictures in terrible light, and which do not do justice to the beautiful colors on the box:

Thank you again, EmilyG!

[Anaamika]

@romansperson

I am also seeing a hat trend here - maybe we need to do a hat exchange sometime next year.

Anyway, thank you!!!

.

YES! I am in. I like hats but have no idea how to buy one. I own two winter hats, both of which are gifts.

[EmilyG]

Thanks,** Helena330! **
(by the way, all links you posted link to the same picture, but when I clicked “second image” and “third image” at the top, I saw the other pictures.)
Glad you liked your goodies.

[rocking_chair]

A package has been handed off to the usps, heading south.

[Infovore]

I sent mine out today, priority mail. I’m told it should arrive on Tuesday.

[Silvorange]

**Sent: 21/42 Received: 6/42

FloatyGimpy
Aspenglow -> Hockey Monkey
romansperson
carnut -> MsRobyn
peedin -> FairyChatMom
EmilyG -> Helena330
FairyChatMom -> OneCentStamp
OneCentStamp -> romansperson
twickster
Helena330
Baker
Filbert
jsgoddess
SeaDragonTattoo
freckafree
MissTake
Anaamika
Slow Moving Vehicle
Silvorange
rocking chair
Infovore**

[KinkiNipponTourist]

Sent!

The Japanese post office charges packages at a higher rate if they have letters in them, so my present is sent without comment. Ho ho ho!

[Pai325]

I have to apologize - my move went well, but I’m still disorganized. However, my gift is packaged and ready to be mailed Monday.

[carnut]

@OneCentStamp

(Just kidding; if I draw you again next year, you’re getting booze.)

Illegal to ship booze. I found myself unable to send a friend some of my raspberry cordial last year. Dang it.

[EmilyG]

Yeah, we had a shot glass exchange here on the Dope, and I sent my person a shot glass filled with candies because I wasn’t sure of the booze-sending rules.

[brainstall]

Package sent yesterday. I sent it Expedited, which is supposed to arrive in four days, but the nice lady at the postal outlet said there was no guarantee at this time of year. Fingers crossed. I’m hoping it gets there before Christmas.