# Secret Santa 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 7, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118 "2011-11-07T00:38:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/221 "2011-12-25T12:32:52Z")
I opened my wonderful Secret Santa package from **IvoryTowerDenizen**! First of all, it was in a gorgeous gift box that I am definitely saving. The enclosed card said that her daughter’s “likes” were mine, so she assisted with the shopping. In the box was a lovely little “mood” charm and a fabulous slice of handmade glycerin soap…and it’s PURPLE…and it has a KITTEH in it! My first-floor bathroom houses part of my itty-bitty-kitty collection, so it’s perfect for the sink in there. Thank you so much, **IvoryTowerDenizen** and daughter! Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/222 "2011-12-25T13:43:10Z")
Thank you so much, **Avarie537** ; you got me the perfect gift! A lovely holiday/winter mug and a bag of Christmas blend coffee. The blend is just right, let me tell you, it’s delicious! The first thing I did after opening it was to, of course, brew the coffee and taste it. 🙂 Thank you so much!! And I hope you liked your present, **Twickster** , which I hope made it all in one piece!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/223 "2011-12-25T14:35:34Z")
I’m so glad you liked it! Your post said purple and cats… so that seemed purrrfect! Hee. Merry Christmas to all the Santas, secret or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/224 "2011-12-25T15:18:07Z")
I’m so happy it arrived in time! Glad you like it, **Avarie537**! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/225 "2011-12-25T17:10:17Z")
> [@Susie\_Derkins](#): > > Woo-hoo! Just got home to a package on the doorstep. Being a paragon of maturity, I ripped it open straight away and found several personalized bookmarks, a very nice card, and LUSH BATH PRODUCTS. I’m going to be smelling very fancy tomorrow, thanks to **twickster**! > > I love it, thank you so much! Oh, and my husband, the ebay seller, thanks you for the bag of packing peanuts. Yay! Glad it got there in time – I was procrastinating on shipping it, partially because I was disorganized, and partially because the gift-wrapped box was sitting on my desk smelling ridiculously wonderful. Enjoy! Let me know what you think of the bath bomb … I’m a bath-taker, and they have bins of them in the store in a myriad of scents. Very tempting. > [@tarragon918](#): > > And I hope you liked your present, **Twickster** , which I hope made it all in one piece!! :eek: The candle holder was cracked but not badly – and the T-shirt (black, with a rainbow design of hot-air balloons) is my new favorite. Thank you – wonderful! Merry Christmas – Og bless us every one! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/226 "2011-12-26T13:48:03Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > OMG **Shirley Ujest** , THANK YOU! I finally tore open my boxes: > A plush turtle-shaped pillow. Which the Rottweiler thought was a dog toy so I hid it on my bed - he’s now shredding the box. > Really yummy lemon cream lotion. > I LOVE the glass turtle! It may go in one of my outdoor planters come summer. > And the sock monkey is supposed to be for the dogs but he’s so cute I have him sitting on the shelf over the computer monitor. > > Thank you so much, these are all lovely! > **Merry Christmas!** You are very welcome! If I knew you have a Rotty, I would have gotten a bigger dog toy. For some reason I pictured you with a yorkie, I have no idea why. **Jane Doe** THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for the owls. I LOOOOVE THEM. The Windchimes are above my kitchen sink and after the tree comes down, the owl ornament will go in with all my other owls on display! You are AWESOMESAUCE! ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_Doe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/53a042/32.png) [@Jane\_Doe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_Doe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/227 "2011-12-26T16:43:11Z")
Shirley unset I am so happy you like your owls. Your likes were owls and knitting and I have no idea what to get a knitter. I scoured the stores for owls and had to decide between very brightly colored items or more naturally colored ones. Hope I made the right choice. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/228 "2011-12-26T16:50:34Z")
**Twickster** , that is one of the “glowdeo” balloons from the Albuquerque balloon fiesta in October - they do it most evening, just after sunset - fire up the balloons and they all just “glow” in the evening air. It’s a beautiful sight for sure. 🙂 Sorry that the candle cracked, but hope you’ll still be able to use it. I wanted to find a nice sand candle but forgot that the shipping on that would be iffy at best! Glad everyone had such a wonderful year with Secret Santa this year - yay! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/229 "2011-12-26T19:40:33Z")
And many thanks to **freckafree** , for the lovely gifts you sent me: all locally produced (Ohio) goodies: granola, soap, awesome Christmas jelly, and the earrings that YOU MADE! They are stunning & will be worn. I also appreciated your note that you’d been in my neck of the woods (Belfast, ME). If you’re ever coming this way, let me know & we can say hello face-to-face. BTW, I’ve driven through Thomaston and it is also a charming New England town. Regards and Seasonal Greetings! Happy Boxing Day to all! ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/230 "2011-12-26T19:42:46Z")
And kudos to Twickster, who orchestrated the whole Secret Santa 2011 event. I thoroughly enjoyed both the giving and being gifted :smack: Really! 😃 Now, can somebody do a Secret Easter Bunny event?!?!?!? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/231 "2011-12-26T21:32:08Z")
twickster, as a long time lush user, i can say the products are fantastic. the stores are a bit much, scent wise; one or two bombs are good, 100’s are allergy attack. the nifty thing is you don’t have to use the entire bomb. you can just break off bits of it and have many baths from one bomb. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/232 "2011-12-26T23:57:46Z")
I’m so glad you liked everything, **Atomic Mama**! I may have to go get some of the Christmas jelly for myself, it sounded so good. Yes, many, many thanks to **twicks**! Having done it one year, I know there can be a whole lot that goes on behind the scenes, not to mention the organizing and keeping track. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/233 "2011-12-27T01:53:56Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > the nifty thing is you don’t have to use the entire bomb. you can just break off bits of it and have many baths from one bomb. That is useful information. I’m definitely too cheap to pay $6 for one bath. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/234 "2011-12-27T21:12:26Z")
> [@Jane\_Doe](#): > > Shirley unset I am so happy you like your owls. Your likes were owls and knitting and I have no idea what to get a knitter. I scoured the stores for owls and had to decide between very brightly colored items or more naturally colored ones. Hope I made the right choice. You did perfect. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/235 "2011-12-27T22:45:42Z")
**NipponTourist** , I got a “sorry we missed ya!” note late last week (Sender: “Japan”) but I only made it to the post office today on my break. Just enough time to grab it and admire the exotic-looking stamps, not enough time to open it, but thanking you in advance! I’ll come back and post once I’ve actually opened it, but I may have to take a picture of all the strange-looking labels first. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/236 "2011-12-27T23:26:08Z")
Yes, **rocking chair** , thanks for the info! I will definitely try to get at least 2 baths out of the bath bomb, and I’m sure I’ll get many out of the soap. I haven’t used them yet; like **twickster** , I’ve left them on my desk so I can enjoy the smell! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/237 "2011-12-27T23:38:42Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > That is useful information. I’m definitely too cheap to pay $6 for one bath. ah, but what a bath it is!! another hint is when you are done with the bath, put some dish soap in the water, and swish when you drain the tub. helps to cut the oil so it doesn’t stick to the tub as much. some of the bath products are very moisturizing, great for skin, not great for tub. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/238 "2011-12-28T04:51:39Z")
Ooooooooh, I got a stack (yes, **Nippon** , all arrived unbroken) with a set of the prettiest little ceramic saucers or condiment holders, each one different and more beautiful than the one before. The are GORGEOUS - Mr. Horseshoe and I took turns ooh’ing and ah’ing over each one. Thank you so much! Errr … Is there a name for that style of little plate in Japanese? Fightin’ ignorance an’ all … ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/239 "2011-12-28T04:54:10Z")
I submit that everyone should post pictures of their gifts! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118/240 "2011-12-28T04:58:06Z")
Aww, missed the edit window. I had two questions: do you happen to know what kind of wood the spoons are made of? Nosy, nosy me. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-santa-2011/602118.md?page=13)