2014 Secret Santa received thread

[sivyaleah]

I am hoping to get the package into the mail this Saturday. I had intended to do it before, but the weather in the NY/NJ area this week was deplorable, and I still have to shop for a couple of small things to add to it. Hoping it gets to "whomever" by Xmas.  I'll make sure however, that no matter how I send it, that it will!

 

[MoochNNoodles]

i"d move her.  Right onto my lap!  That looks perfect for snuggling! 

 
I am hoping to get the package into the mail this Saturday. I had intended to do it before, but the weather in the NY/NJ area this week was deplorable, and I still have to shop for a couple of small things to add to it. Hoping it gets to "whomever" by Xmas.  I'll make sure however, that no matter how I send it, that it will!

Crazy weather!  It said we have a 20% chance for precipitation today.  I just looked at the weather and it's snowing 20 minutes north of me.  

  I must be sitting on the other side of a front because it's 40 here.  I'm so not ready for winter!  I need to buy my kids boots too....

 

[betsygee]

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• nebula
• Dec 10, 2014

Who could move this precious baby girl???

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• nebula
• Dec 10, 2014

Oh, yes, I'm sure it would be considered animal cruelty to make her get up.  

     Those photos are adorable.

 

[sivyaleah]

Finished shopping, yay!

Package goes out in the morning. yay!

I haz a box from MY secret santa. double yay!  

Not opened yet. I'll probably break down and open it tomorrow 

 

[nurseangel]

Great gifts, Nebula.  I love the drawing!  

 

[MoochNNoodles]

 
Finished shopping, yay!

Package goes out in the morning. yay!

I haz a box from MY secret santa. double yay!  

Not opened yet. I'll probably break down and open it tomorrow 

Yay!  That's one more check on my list!  Post pics if you can please! 

 

[sivyaleah]

 
Yay!  That's one more check on my list!  Post pics if you can please! 

Working on that. My house doesn't have great natural light in it.  A lot of 4-square type homes don't it seems.  Having several smaller rooms, not an open plan, makes for poor lighting.  I took a bunch last night  with my cell phone, which typically takes pretty good photos but most don't look very good at all and I trashed them.  Going to pull out my Nikon and try again today lol.  I will say, that everything in it was a big hit.  Even Casper, who isn't much of a player, was chasing and pouncing on a couple of the gifts.  WIN!

 

[parsleysage]

I got mine I got mine I got mine!!!! We are running errands so I just opened the card and the gift on top - strawberry cheesecake Godiva truffles!! I can't wait until we get home to open the rest!!! Also I know who my SS is but I'll wait so others can get their gifts!

 

[sivyaleah]

Ok, I'm going to try and post some pix.  I'm apologizing in advance.  These are so not up to my standards lol.  In fact, this morning I tried taking more of items I didn't capture yet but apparently, something was wacky with my cell phone camera.  I discovered it while heading into work.  Had to power it down, bring it back up and whatever I took earlier in the day was lost.  So, I'll post those at another point.

Anyway.  The package was deceiving, it looked kind of small and light but, was jam packed with lots of goodies!  

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

Two items were laid inside.  Both, were wand type toys, which I knew Cocoa would go nuts for.  In fact, the one which is in the left side of the photo really got her going.  It's got 3 small pom poms attached above the tinsel, which are attached really well.  So, she can hook her claws around it, tug and pull and they don't seem like they are going anywhere.  The other, has blue tinsel on it and she's loving chasing this one as I run around the house with it lol.

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

As I opened the package further, I saw the above sign!  Not that I would have mistaken what it was for a cat toy, but it clued me in to be more careful opening it.  Inside, was a beautiful Dream Catcher, beads and feathers.  I love these.  I have a few other Native American items such as a totem animal (fox) which I got out west.  Unfortunately, this was one of the things I tried to photograph which didn't "take".  I have it at the top of my lamp, bedside, until I can get a hook to attach it correctly.

Also inside not photographed yet, is a beautiful hand knit scarf in colors which are good for me; sort of muted brown/apricot/pink tones.  Has little sequins here and there, not overdone.  Just perfect and I wore it all weekend.

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

Here's the cute card, and one of the small wrapped items for the kitties.  Several shiny, crinkly balls thingies, and just as many puffy sachet type of toys.  Both Casper and Cocoa are enjoying batting these around the house.  Let me tell you, anything which makes Casper get off his fat butt is a good thing, and it cracks us up that with all the expensive toys around, as usual, he prefers the smaller, simple toys best.

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

also included was a sweet treats recipe book.  Has dozens of basic, well loved dessert recipes in it.  Kind of a "go to" for cookies, cakes and pies lol.  Tom and I both will get use out of this, since he enjoys baking as well!

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

Here is Miss Cocoabean reading her gift card

The last item was something extremely appreciated, and considering how I screwed up photographing all of this, kind of ironic.  It's a portable, photographic reflector.  Really good for directing light onto small items. This will come in handy once my roses are blooming again, and for many other tiny objects.  It folds almost into nothing.  Very cool item to have on hand!

BTW, my SS did not include any food in the box.  This, was very appreciated since I've been dieting for months now.  It's bad enough being confronted with everything arriving at my job, and not having any additional junk to snack on, is actually a very, very good thing.

xoxo to my SS! 

 

[parsleysage]

Okay, I'm back and I have pictures!!!!!! I have to say... WOW. Just... wow. I wasn't going to reveal who my Santa is yet, but after viewing these gifts I simply have to let SILVYALEAH know how stunned and humbled and appreciative I am for these amazing gifts. Laurie, you have absolutely been blessed with (or must have spent years developing!) the art of giving. All these gifts are so thoughtful and perfectly suited to my tastes. I'm not exaggerating in the slightest! Thank you SO MUCH, Santa Laurie!!!!!!!!!!! 

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

NOW I was home from errands and could really dig in! Here is the abundance of lovely gifts still wrapped. Simon did a ton of inspecting the gifts and I had to work hard to keep him off!

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

First up... HAHA!!!!! I saw this book online once; a friend shared it with me! I never bought it and I'm so happy to have received it as a gift. It's funny and cute!

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

Catnip fortune cookie cat toys... perfect! I used these to distract the cats while I opened the gifts... threw one and that gave me a few minutes... they came back and I threw another, etc. 

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

This gift is beautiful AND practical! A little book for storing internet passwords We have a lockbox I can keep this in for safety. I love the floral pattern - that is right up my alley! I'd love to have sheets or a pillow in this pattern, haha.

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

Another 

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

Now this is super cool - it's one of those nano bugs! I haven't tested it yet but it's supposed to take on the characteristics of a real bug. I'm excited to check it out I love the Christmas theme!

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

Laurie also bought my cats' favorite treats - freeze dried turkey! These are the treats that caused us to have to install child safety locks on the cabinet that holds the cat food - I would come out and there would be empty bags of Pure Bites on the kitchen floor! Haha. The kitties are grateful to you, Santa!

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

Here is the array of wonderful gifts once opened. Again, I am so stunned and thankful to have received these! Beautiful gifts from a wonderful Santa. Thank you so much, Laurie.  

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• parsleysage
• Dec 15, 2014

 

[parsleysage]

Oh I totally forgot!!!!!!! I got a chocolate bar with bits of bacon & potato chips!!!! 

 I've always wanted to try out a bacon dessert (I am one of those who puts syrup on my bacon if I'm having pancakes & bacon) so I'm happy to get the chance! Will report back! 

 

[sivyaleah]

 
Oh I totally forgot!!!!!!! I got a chocolate bar with bits of bacon & potato chips!!!! 

 I've always wanted to try out a bacon dessert (I am one of those who puts syrup on my bacon if I'm having pancakes & bacon) so I'm happy to get the chance! Will report back! 

You'll love it.  I didn't buy one for us (how I resisted I do not know) but, there's another manufacturer who makes one called "Mo's Bacon Bar" or something like that.  Dark chocolate with bacon in it.  By Vosges.  OMG so yummy.

 

[sivyaleah]

Ok, another couple of photos!

First, I TOTALLY forgot about...Gumby!!!

I loved Gumby as a kid.  And guess what?  One of my key chains was on the verge of breaking.  Of course, I probably shouldn't open it since it says "Collectible" but I know I'll break down and open it 

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

Ok, and here's a photo of the dream catcher.  I think it worked.  I slept really well last night 

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• sivyaleah
• Dec 15, 2014

Just gotta get a photo of the scarf now.

Thank you again to my Secret Santa! 

 

[MoochNNoodles]

What great gifts!  I love Gumby!  And the champagne glasses! 

Simon is so cute sniffing those fortune cookie cat toys! 

 

[betsygee]

What wonderful gifts all the way around!  How fun.  

 

[stewball]

What happened to the United Kingdom?

 

[stewball]

I love seeing all the gifts you send and receive. Such wonderful imaginations you all have.
those wine glassea are beautiful.
This is all so exciting for me which is strange as I don't send or receive.
Bring it on.

 

[pinkdagger]

What wonderful gifts!

@Stewball, will we be seeing your name on the list next year? All of my Secret Santa exchanges are almost done - one more to wrap up - so once that's done, my holidays-with-strangers is complete and I have to live vicariously through other people's gifts too!

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I got a package! It came yesterday shortly after I got a call to go in to work an extra shift so I didn't open it until after I got home and got some sleep this morning. Sorry, no pictures yet. I didn't open any of the presents yet and the card didn't give me the least little hint about who my SS is.

I got called in to work again tonight, so no time to upload the pictures. Maybe tomorrow, but I'm not making any promises.

I guess they want you to work for it!

 

I love checking names off on my spreadsheet! 

 

[stewball]

What wonderful gifts
@Stewball
, will we be seeing your name on the list next year? All of my Secret Santa exchanges are almost done - one more to wrap up - so once that's done, my holidays-with-strangers is complete and I have to live vicariously through other ppeople's gifts too! :lol3:

I live abroad so I don't know if financially it's possible.