We’re doing a version of Secret Santa at the office, where we’re supposed to secret nice stuff to one co-worker for the rest of week (it will be revealed on Friday).
So what kind of nifty stuff can I secretly do? I’m already planning on leaving her candy when she’s away from the computer, but I can’t really think of anything else…
Hence, please Dopers - give me some cool stuff to do?
It’s all in good fun and everyone is playing - so please no mocking or “bah, boring”
Our office does this too…four days of ‘small gifts’ (~$1) such as a beverage or small candy, then Friday a ‘large gift’ (~$15) and you reveal yourself.
We do a small form where we fill in our favorite snacks/sodas/candy and then (for the bigger gift) we list favorite stores/restaurants and favorite music/movies/candle scents/sports teams/collectibles. Then we draw random forms to select our victim. This really helps (especially if you don’t know the person) when you have ideas on what to buy, and a set price range.
I like to play outside the box though. I usually try to ask their friends or SO to get ideas for gifts they wouldn’t expect. I’ve delivered some pretty whacked out stuff they really enjoyed, but really weren’t expecting. Instead of buying the dollar stuff out of the vending machine, try a dollar store or goodwill/thrift store. I always make sure their $15 gift is something according to their taste, but I exercise carte blanche on the other days. 
It’s fun to get other people to play (delivery) elf too. Give a gift to Joe and ask him to give it to Sue to give to Mike who sits next to your victim. Go to people’s managers or even the cleaning crew to get access to their office to leave it during off-hours (most people love to be in on the conspiracy), or their SO to put it in their vehicle or mailbox, etc.
It can be fun, and I usually might drop a buck in the vending machine daily anyway so it’s fun to have someone else do it and deliver a beverage or snack I might not usually choose, and if the large gift is not to my taste, I re-gift it to family or friends outside the office…
Cool!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes, if you have a Micheal’s craft store near you, hie thee there. They always have a huge series of bins full of stuff for a dollar, and it’s a godsend for stuff like this. Little themed notebooks, cookie cutters, coloring books and crayons, little things of modeling clay, you never know what you’ll find.
Overall, I’ve found that little piddly craft/toy things go over really well–so many adults won’t give themselves permission to have fun with that kind of stuff unless there’s a kid involved that they never buy, say, a thing of silly putty for themselves. But if someone else buys it for them, they relax and have a ball.
Ah what store? (notice my location)
But yay! Cool stuff to play with, that would be awesome and she’d have a ball with it.
I’d leave a beautiful piece of fruit, or a movie pass. Something you can’t get in the office. Depending on the personality of the recipient, a small knick knack or christmas tree ornament is nice. Sometimes I’d leave it at the receptionist’s desk and ask her to call the person to come and get their gift.
StG
I have to have my neighbor fill out the gift tags so that my SS can’t figure out it’s me. And I have to have a decoy person deliver things because I am in last and out last and they could tell it’s me if I wait until I’m the only one here.
So far, I have a couple of candy items, and the main gift which is a pretty vase from thehungersite.com store.
Good tips and good advice!
My main problem is: It’s a small office (only 15 of us), hence it’s hard to engage the others since that would spoil the fun for them (since they’d know who I have).
Are there any vendors or delivery people who come by regularly who you could enlist to deliver treats?
We’ve cut back on all those things (stupid economy flunking) and she and some others usually handle all those things now.
I’ll keep you guys informed on what I do.