Secret Santa Soiree 2013 Final Post

I hope each and every one has had a lovely holiday season. Once again, it is time for the Secret Santa Soiree Swap to come to an end. I still have a handful who do not have their post up, it may be due to computer problems, camera problems, or out of town, however, I am confident I will be able to update the list to 100% soon. I have heard from every one who is lacking their post, so keep checking back.

I'd like to take a moment to share some thoughts I have had the past few weeks. Most of you who read my blog, know I tend to speak my mind and ramble on....so expect that would be no different with this post. 

There have been situations I have either been a part of, or heard of someone experiencing the same type of situation and it has given me several things to think about. I decided to share them here on this last post and if it is something you can take away from my thoughts and find them useful, then that is great, if you don't get anything out of it, well...just chalk it up to me rambling as I am inclined to do.

Sometimes, the biggest disappointments come from expectations. Now, clearly, there are always expectations in most every thing we do, but I am talking about expectations from people we may not know personally, or expectations that are just too high and not attainable. Sometimes, people have unrealistic expectations of family or friends and when their expectations are not met for what ever the reason may be, they feel slighted or upset. I have learned in the last few years, expectations can lead to misunderstanding, disappointment, and a deeply wounded spirit if I let it.

Secondly, there are no two people on this world that have the same 100% taste in their likes or dislikes. I personally, throughout my lifetime have received gifts that were truly not my taste at all. I have received gifts that were deliberately given to me knowing I would not like them. (yes, I am afraid there has been someone very  much like this in my life and I allowed them to treat me this way for years...no more.) But the key to handling this type of situation was always smiling, thanking them for the gift, (regardless of the motivation behind the gift) and simply letting it go. There is a huge difference in someone maliciously giving terrible gifts, and someone sincerely trying to buy something they think someone will like and just missing the mark. It falls back to no two people have the same taste in all things.

Thirdly, no matter what, no matter how your expectations were not met, no matter what you think should have happened, it is always good manners to thank anyone who does something for you. Period. No matter if it is a small thing, or a big thing. Showing gratitude is very important these days, as we live in a world where very little gratitude is ever displayed.

Likewise, we live in a world where so many types of people interact with each other on various levels. Within our own families, there are difficulties that arise and our own families seem to disappoint and leave us feeling like they just don't get us. It is a fact, I know lots of folks feel this way. When the people closest to us miss the mark at times, how can we possibly expect total strangers to get it 100% right? Yes, there is disappointment but I think it all falls back to unattainable expectations. Clearly, the only thing we can control is how graciously we hold our heads up high, and do the right thing and display a thankful and grateful attitude even if we wish things had been different.

My expectations in hosting this swap each and every year is to give bloggers an opportunity to get to know someone they may not already know. It is ideal if that person has many different interest than myself. I have found if I have someone very different from myself, I usually find that once I have shopped for them, I have truly enjoyed thinking out of my comfort zone in trying to please someone who holds different interest.

Do I always get it right? Maybe not, I really don't know for a fact if I always get it right, but it is not from lack of trying. I am wondering if this is not they way to do things, and maybe I need to try and swap people with similar interest. Please know, it is always in the past and again this year been done in random draw when I assign someone their person. I don't look at names, I use numbers to make the assignments. Please know hosting this swap is a lot of fun for me, and I enjoy all the fun seeing the gifts when the packages arrive. I have not visited all of the participants yet, but I will do that in the next few days. Please take a moment and check out all the participants post about their gifts, it is always great fun~ and thank you to my Secret Santa this year....I am still over the moon about my gifts!

Thanks again for participating this year, and I hope you enjoyed yourself and enjoyed shopping for your swap person!

Below is the list of who had who......please refer to the original LIST to see who's blog belongs to what number.

for example

31 was Coloradolady and she had 21 tweloquilting

1 - 8
2 - 25
3 - 15
4 - 11
5 - 32
6 - 27
7 - 2
8 - 4
9 - 23
10 - 26
11 - 28
12 - 30
13 - 37
14 - 35
15 - 20
16 - 10
17 - 3
18 - 14
19 - 17
20 - 18
21 - 38
22 - 9
23 - 22
24 - 5
25 - 29
26 - 7
27 - 1
28 - 13
29 - 34
30 - 36
31 - 21
32 - 16
33 - 30
34 - 33
35 - 19
36 - 12
37 - 24
38 - 6

Please if you have not done your post, let me know when you do. I had a hard time this year as some of you were in multiple swaps, and I hope I got the right post linked in to the original list! Forgive me if I made a mistake, if you let me know, I will fix that!

Have a very Happy New Year!! I hope 2014 is the best it can be for each of you! And, once again, thank you all for participating this year...I hope you experienced a little Christmas cheer along the way!

Secret Santa Soiree - Reminder.....

By now, most all of the packages should have arrived to their destinations. I have quiet a few who have not done their blog post and their packages have arrived.

I'd really like to wrap this up by the weekend, and post the list of which swappers had who's name. Please try and get your post up on your blog by this weekend, and email me and let me know you have done so.

IF you have not received your parcel, please send me an email and let me know. I know some were delayed in their shipping, but most all should have received their packages.

It seems to me that there are a lot of swappers who have either not received their packages or not blogged. Christmas is next week, and this should really be winding down.

Thanks all who have already completed your obligations to the swap!! Be sure and refer back to the original signup list and check out the great packages that have been sent to our participants! It is so fun to see what everyone received!

Secret Santa Gifts

Secret Santa gifts are making their way all across the globe. Some of you are getting more than one package....so just know that may happen. Many missed the day to mail by a couple of days, but know all have notified me that their packages are on the way.

My secret Santa package came last week, and I am a bit tardy on getting my post up. With the busy work of running the swap itself, and making sure all were on top of the shipping, and working a full time job, and packaging Etsy goods to ship, I have been scrambling for extra time. Lame excuse...but it is all true!

My Secret Santa sent me a fantastic package...in fact, I was just stunned when it came, everything was perfectly selected and I was and still am just THRILLED.

Look at the box...packed with all kinds of treasures. The first package had two quilting books and wonderful, beautiful fabric!!

Notice the note..."can fabric scraps really be a gift"....oh, yes indeed....perfect gifts! My secret Santa did not forget the Doxies....they were most thrilled when they heard the crinkle of the packaging on these treats....which by the way, was wrapped in this adorable vintage towel.

This package was a cute little basket with an adorable, beautiful, lovely vintage tablecloth! Oh, the colors and pattern are just dreamy!! I was head over heals!!! Lovely S&P shakers too, I love these colors, and the pattern is perfect with collection of pink rose china!

Wonderful euphoria and hand made tags, I love these!! In fact, I have already used some of them in another gift I just mailed off. They came at the perfect time! Look at the beautiful hankie and that is a dachshund necklace. I absolutely love it and the length of the chain is perfect!

This was just too much.....a vintage sewing basket, and I think my mom had a similar one when I was growing up, but hers was pink. Inside, vintage buttons, threads, trims, lace, fabric and a fantastic Christmas pin and hanky. Oh, what a glorious gift!

These two little boxes were packed with vintage treasures.....LOVE! the bottom right photo shows the little girl and Mr. and Mrs Santa already in my Christmas decor! Loved it all!

Two sweet vanilla soaps were included in my box as well. Vanilla is one of my favorite scents, and these are displayed in my guest bathroom, the packaging matches my bathroom perfectly.

Also in my box was a wonderful blue apron, and a beautiful runner in pinks, blues and greens, It is just amazing, and these are all my favorite colors for vintage linens. This was an amazing package and I will treasure each and every thing that was chosen for me! I can't tell you how much fun I had with my box....I was beside myself for sure!

It is always so fun to see what someone picks for you and takes the time to try and make you smile...my Secret Santa did that very thing. I am in awe at how special she made me feel and can not thank her enough!!

I am looking forward to seeing all of your lovely gifts...that is the most fun for me, seeing what everyone got!! Looking forward to all the boxes arriving...and your post!

Secret Santa Soiree - Instructions on seeing Blog Post about Gifts.

Hello fellow Secret Santa's!! I hope by now you have (1) either shipped your package or (2) shipping in the next day or two. I still am waiting to hear from about two folks, so if you are one of those folks who have not answered my emails, please let me know the status of your package. Seriously, the stress is killing me here!  Thank you , thank you to all of you who follow all the request of this swap to the letter, it makes my job so much easier!

Secret Santa packages are making their way all across the globe and some have received their packages already. Some have received packages, and don't even know more packages are in route to them as they read this! What great Secret Santa Swappers. If in fact, you are one of the folks I am referring to, please once your other packages arrive, go back and update and add the new photos to your blog post.

It is my hope that each of you enjoyed shopping for your partner, and really tried to spoil your swap partner the best to your ability. That is what this swap is about.....doing for someone you don't know and hopefully making a new friend along the way.

If you have participated before, you know how I update the original link to indicate someone has received their package. If you are new this year...this is how it works.

When I am notified that one of the swappers have done their post, I update the original link as indicated below:

*** Coloradolady - The three *** indicates and lets you know the SSS post is up.

The link will take you to the blog post. It is a lot of fun seeing what every one received. I have already updated the links that I have been notified that the blog post are up. 
Please don't forget to do your blog post when your gifts arrivee, your Santa looks forward to reading your post, and it is a let down when you don't do that. (email me if you want to know how I know that!)

Be sure to let me know when your box arrives, and I hope you have had a good time!

I'd like to take a moment to say, I can not help the fact if you are disappointed in your package you receive. I wish I could, but I can't. Granted, it may be warranted, but I don't know what more I can do to ensure this type of thing does not happen. I felt pretty confident this year that those types of problems would not happen, but alas, I was wrong. As the host, I ultimately feel responsible in some way, and really feel bad when something like this happens. I keep meticulous notes year after year and refer back to them each year to make sure I eliminate a potential problem before it pops up. Even with doing all of that, and the time it takes to do it, things still don't go as I had hoped. That being said, please, please let me know if you experience any problems at all. That is the only way I can try to correct a problem should there be one and keeping them from  happening in the future.

My post will be up this week about my Secret Santa goodies....I am still over the moon with my box and I hope the packages you receive give you the same feeling!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Advent Calendar SECRET SANTA SOIREE REMINDER

Secret Santa Soiree Participants!!!!

Tomorrow is December 5th and the deadline for shipping your gifts!!!!! I have not heard from very many with the shipping information. Please, PLEASE let me know when you have shipped your gifts. I have a couple of folks, shipping on the weekend, that is fine, but I need to know when you plan to ship.

Secret Santa packages are arriving!! Once you do your post, please let me know you have it up so I can fix the link to indicate who has received their gifts.

My Secret Santa package arrived today, and my neighbor is holding it for me! She is 96 years old, and when I got home, it was too late to go get it! I will get it in the morning, as she gets up with the chickens!! Excited!!



Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday

If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Back in the 1980's I ordered this advent calendar through a magazine. If there was ever a time I wish I had ordered two of them, this would be one of those times. This has been a favorite when my kids were growing up and it still is today.

The tree has magnetic dots and for each day, a Christmas theme character is placed on the tree from being retrieved from the boxes.

I used to notice once I placed the little pieces in the boxes, most times, they were rearranged by my daughter. I never paid much attention to it until later years as her logic in the order they were placed on the tree.

In her mind, Santa would be the last on the tree, as that was the day Santa came....smart kid I raised, I tell ya, I never thought of it like that!

The 5th of the month is the angel. Why the angel on the 5th? Well, that is my daughters birthday and she always wanted the angel on the tree on her day...December 5th. I think I remember putting the snowman in the #5 box, but she always changed it!

With the kids grown, and gone, my husband and I still place the little pieces on the tree during the month of December. One day, this will belong to one of my kids, and passed down to the grand kids.

And in case you are wondering, we have never lost a single piece to this advent calendar. I keep it stored inside the house during the year to keep it from aging too much. You can tell it has been well loved, and gently taken care of to be in the shape it is in today. A real treasure...and since it is over 25 years old....a real vintage treasures.

Secret Santa Soiree ~ REMINDER........Shipping Done By Thursday!!!!

Where has the time gone??? Seriously folks.....this week is the deadline week to ship your Secret Santa gifts. If you are shipping internationally, I hope you have shipped already or very soon! Remember the deadline is Thursday, December 5th......and how is it the 1st already???

I decided to share some of my past secret Santa gifts that I enjoy year after year, and it never fails when I unpack my Christmas goodies for decorating each year, my SSS gifts always bring a smile.

I have had a couple of swappers email me that they have shipped their packages already, and one person has received their package, but not blogged about it yet. But.....I am sure many are still preparing to ship their package. Do you know how I would know that??? Well, because I am one of those!! But have no fear, it will be mailed by the deadline of THURSDAY.

Please email me when you ship your package with the delivery confirmation number or tracking number. Please don't forget that part.

Once you receive your gifts, email me when you have done your blog post. PLEASE, please and I can not express this enough....but PLEASE remember to take the time to blog about your gifts. It is important that you do that. It is good manners as well.

Lastly, enjoy the season.....shed some light where you can, bring some joy to those who may need it, and let the warmth of the holiday season carry each and everyone into the new year! Thanks for being a part of the Secret Santa Soiree this year.

*** If you are having an issue in sending your gifts on time, please let me know about that as soon as you can! But try and make the deadline!

Secret Santa Soiree ~ I've Made The List.....And Checked It Twice......No....Four Times...............

I am happy to report, everyone has been swapped. I have compiled all the emails, checked them four times for accuracy....AND......they will be in your INBOX today. The number in the subject matter of the email was for my purposes only, it kept it a bit easier when checking and triple checking!

Please remember to REPLY back to me on that email, that way I know you received your information.

** Side note, when I checked and double checked my work, I happened to notice some swappers are paired up with folks very different from themselves. It happens like that because I truly RANDOMLY assign partners. It is a wonderful way to get to know someone new, and someone different from yourselves. It really is fun to think outside the box on someone very different from yourself. I HOPE you all have a wonderful time shopping for your partner. IF you need any additional help, or questions answered from the person you are assigned, just email me and I will be happy to ask the questions for you and let you know. Do not email your partner directly. Let's keep it all a secret until the reveal in December.

*** Remember, THE PERSON who has YOUR name....IS NOT the person assigned to you. Please shop for your partner as you would want someone shopping for you.

Lastly, International swappers.....I tried to swap you within your country, if that was not possible, I tried to swap you with someone who was not on the other side of the globe as to try and keep shipping cost down for you all. I hope that works out well for all of you! I am so glad so many international swappers joined in this year. 

*****Once you ship, send me your tracking information (international will be a bit different)

*****Blog about your gifts when you receive them, and email me when your blog post is up!

Now.....go check your emails.....and have a great time!

Secret Santa Soiree - I need your help.....

Please check your emails this morning, I am TRYING to finish up all my emails about the swap and your partner information.

For some reason, I am missing address for some of you. Some of you, your links are not working to your blogs on the main link. I have emailed the ones this morning that I am missing address, or need the correct link to your blog.

I know this may sound redundant, but it is so confusing trying to match up names, blog names and addresses when all three don't always match.....

Hang in there a bit longer....I am almost ready to TRIPLE check everything before sending....I try so HARD not to make any mistakes, but it always seems like there is a snafu each year.....

Thanks guys!!

Secret Santa Soiree - Update

Good news! I have everyone swapped and I am in the process now, of drafting up all the emails to send out. I was lucky enough to get this all done this weekend while on an airplane. So when I say.....everyone was assigned randomly, that is truly what I mean. I had everyone written on a sheet of paper, and swapped by luck of the draw. I did manage to check my past list to make sure you all would not have the same swap partner twice. That was more of a daunting task than I could have imagined, but alas, it is done.

Please READ the email in its entirety when you get it. You will need to hit REPLY to that email and send it to me. That will let me know you received your swap partner information. If I don't get that reply back from you.....I will bug you until I know you received your information!

If you have a partner that is not in the same country as you, please, PLEASE try and send your package off as soon as you possibly can. Many countries mail flow backs up tremendously during the holidays and can take up to six weeks or longer to get a package to someone. I know this because the first year, one swapper did not get their gifts until Valentines day.....and the package was mailed at the deadline, not earlier. International mailings need more time, that is just the way it is.

You will need to spend at least $20.00 but you can spend more on your swap person, not including shipping. Shop with much thought and kindness. With a little creativity, you'd be amazed at the wonderful packages that are sent each year by our swappers. It is a wonderful feeling to bring a little joy to someone you may otherwise never have met.

***If after reading your email and you still have some questions about your swap partner, please email me your questions, and I will do the investigating for you so your partner does not know who you are...remember this is a surprise!! Don't tell your partner who you are. They will find out in December when I post the list of who had who. Likewise, when you mail your package, you do not have to include your real name in the return address label. You can use initials, but do include your real address. I usually do something like this....

From: Santa's Elf
**9 Winnie St
Ft. Worth, Tx *****

I am still waiting on a couple of questionnaires to be forwarded to me, once I get those and I finish up the email bundle, I will email all the swappers their information......it should be within a couple of days!

I hope you are getting excited!! I am.......it is a lot of fun for me to watch how this unfolds each year!!

Secret Santa Soiree - Huge Thank You!!

The swap will close this evening.....I left it up just one more day.....just in case someone missed it.....I know I said I would not do that, but......I am.........someone ALWAYS emails me after it is closed and wants to join.......and that makes me feel bad to turn them away.  Go HERE to sign up if you have not done so.

I wanted to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who signed up.....you guys really did a fantastic job getting me all the returned emails with your questionnaires filled out and right on time. I think some of the errors were not on you guys part at all, but for some reason some of your emails went into my old email address and I found them last night. :-)

Everyone who has signed up has everything back to me I need!! THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.....makes it so much easier for me!

I know you are wondering....when will I know who my swap person is????

I will work on swapping everyone this weekend. I have the records from the previous two years still, and I want to make sure everyone is swapped with someone different than the past. That is a huge part of what this swap is about, meeting someone new and someone you may not know. I don't know exactly how much more work that will be....but I will have everyone swapped by the 7th of November. My goal is BEFORE that....possibly in a couple of days.

Watch here and I will have a post up when I have emailed everyone's information about their person!!

Have a great weekend......and thanks again for keeping this so easy for me this year!

Secret Santa Soiree ~ Signups are about to close

The signups for the Secret Santa Swap close on Thursday. If you have thought about joining and have not signed up yet, there is still time to do so! You can go HERE to sign up and find out more information on the swap. This is always a lot of fun during the holidays, and if you have never participated before, come and join us, you will be glad you did!

I will be working on this between now and the end of the week to make sure I have everyone's emails, and getting everyone ready to be swapped! I am looking forward to this season!

I can not add anyone after the link closes, so please don't be left out! Stop over and sign up today while the link is still active!

Secret Santa Soiree Swap Information

I have emailed everyone this morning the questionnaire to be filled out. Please fill it out completely, and with detail and return to me via email. It is a tremendous help to your partner when they shop for you to have a detailed questionnaire to refer to. 

Check your email for the email titled SSS - Questionnaire. If you don't see it, check your spam folder. The email is coming from my gmail email address and I am hoping I don't have any issues this year with this email account. In the event you don't have the email and it is not in your spam folder, please let me know right away.

Also, the swap will be ending in less than ten days, if you would do a little shout out on your own blogs so no one misses the deadline that would be great. Also, if you have signed up and are not in the United States, it would be great for you to mention this on your blogs as well, so maybe more international swappers will sign up and that will help with swapping in your own countries.

Thanks for your patience, I have found myself overwhelmed with all I have going on right now at home and in my personal life...but I will keep on top of this!! Have fun filling out the form!!

The Dog Days of a Rainy Week

This week started out very wet here at our place. We are really glad for the rain, but some of my family members are glad they finally have a good excuse for their loafing around all the time.

Dora and Sophie have pretty much taken this quilt over and have not gotten off the bed. When I ask them if they want to go outside, they pretty much just look at me through squinted eyes like I am nuts. In all honesty, if I had a choice, I'd be in direct competition with these two and stay wrapped up, snug as a bug all day too!

Secret Santa Soiree 2013 signups are in full swing. Follow THIS LINK to the signup post and THIS LINK for all the information about the swap. Swap closes on October 31st.




Have a great day.....hope you are enjoying the weather in your area, I myself would enjoy it a bit more if I had a little more "rest" time! You don't have to worry, Sophie and Dora have their day all planned out. ahem.......

Secret Santa Soiree 2013 Signup Link

It is time to sign up for the Secret Santa Soiree Swap for 2013. I posted detailed information earlier today about the swap, please go HERE to read that first if you missed it this morning.

Below is the link for the Secret Santa Soiree for 2013. Please follow the instructions below when linking in, please. I am excited  to be hosting this again this year and hope you are as excited as I am.

1. leave a comment to this post saying you are participating this year.

2. leave you information in the linky below. PLEASE be sure to fill out the link entirely and add your email address and real name in the spot that asks for that information. (it makes it easier for me when I am emailing you your information)

3. follow the "contact me" button on my right sidebar and email me your mailing address and the link to YOUR blog. Also, please, let me know if you are interested in swapping international or not. Please use subject line in email as SSS or Secret Santa Swap

I'm excited...and hope you are ready to be a Secret Santa!

The Secret Santa Soiree ~ Information on Swap for 2013

Today is the day that the Secret Santa Soiree Swap will begin. I am posting the detailed information this morning for anyone wanting to participate to read over about the swap, the link will go live this evening for you to sign up if you want to participate. Please take the time to read over how this swap works before you sign up this evening.

I'd like to give you some insight on this Christmas swap. The purpose really is to meet new folks through this swap. The person you are shopping for, may not be in your blogging circle, they may be new to you all together and not have any of the same likes, or hobbies that you do. That is ok, and I have found that if that is the case, I really enjoy thinking about what I am going to send my SSS person who is a little different from myself. 

The swap person you have, will not have your name. That is to keep it a secret as to who had who. You will know when I post at the end of the swap who had your name. The questionnaire form that I send you to fill out will be sent to the person who has your name and vise versa, that is how you know a little of what your partner might like or what hobbies they may have. It is a chance for you to get creative in your gifts, and you will find, many of our swappers enjoy things that are not necessarily new, but recycled, or thrifted. (I myself love those gifts so much) First, and foremost, it is an opportunity to meet new people and send someone a little Christmas cheer. I get many emails each year thanking me, as some participants only receive the gifts through the swaps and they really do mean a lot to a lot of folks.

It's NEVER to early to start thinking about Christmas...

The signups for the SSS will begin tonight. PLEASE before you sign up, read these directions in their entirety and make sure you are able to participate.

Signups run through October 31st or when we reach the allotted number of swappers, which this year will be 75. 


If you want to show the bloggy world you are participating and send some folks this way to join in the fun, there are some buttons to grab at the bottom of the page.  I have no idea how to add a code to these for the link part, so you will have to add the photo and link it back to this post. IF anyone does know how to do that and wants to help a technical challenged blogger out, let me know!!

This is going to be A LOT of fun and I am so glad you all want to be part of the Third Secret Santa Soiree hosted here at The Coloradolady...so on with the show...

*How It Works*

*** All updates and announcements will be posted in a blog post so you won't miss anything as the swap goes on.

You will need to sign up this evening when the link post goes live. ( Please when putting in your link, completely fill out the link part with your name, blog address and EMAIL address.)  Feel free to spread the word of our Secret Santa Soiree here at The Coloradolady. This will be limited to 60 bloggers who sign up. The cut off time to sign up is Thursday, October 31st. ALL PACKAGES NEED TO BE IN THE MAIL BY December 5th. (earlier if you are shipping to an international swapper)

*411*

1) You must have a blog so that when your gift(s) start rolling in you can post pics and blog your lil ♥ out about how GREAT your Secret Santa Soiree exchange partner is. Some folks did not do this last year after I begged them to do so. If you failed to do this part of the swap, I am sorry, but you won't be able to join this year. This is one of the most important parts for your swap partner and there were many who were very disappointed that their partner did not do this. In my opinion, it is just plain rude to not do this part of the swap, and it really hurts others when you fail to do this part.

2) You must not share your partner's address with anyone else-
The only two people who will ever see your full name and address will be myself and your partner. Under no circumstances are you to share that private information with any other blogger.

3) The spending limit will be  $20.00 (not including shipping) if you choose to spend more that is fine, but PLEASE do not be upset if your SSS partner does not. You can spend the money anyway you'd like by buying small gifts or one gift. The choice is yours. I have found that most people do enjoy several smaller packages to open as opposed to one, but the choice is yours.


4) When you're ready to ship your gift, make sure you send it with tracking, I believe now it is included with priority shipping, it used to be called delivery confirmation, but however you send your package, make sure you have the tracking number.. This will serve as proof that you actually did ship your gift to your partner, you will then need to email me the delivery confirmation number.

5)a) In order to sign up you must leave a comment to the post this evening and Be sure to link in at the bottom of the post using the linky as well. Complete linky in its entirety.

b) BUT ALSO you will need to email me. If you link in and do not email me the information I have asked for I will delete your link. I can not and will not try to hunt anyone down this year, I just don't have the time to do so.  You can click on the "contact me" on the right sidebar  with your shipping info-this will be the ONLY way I can be certain you want to be a part of the SSS.  PLEASE put SSS in your subject line and also include a link to your blog-obviously I don't know everyone's real names yet so it's helpful if you give me the name you post under along with your blog link. Once I receive your email with your shipping information, I will email you a short questionnaire that needs to be filled out in a day or two and returned to me via email. This will give your swap partner some ideas of your likes, dislikes and so forth. **** If you are willing to be a Secret Santa to a international friend. Please let me know in the email with your shipping information. I really want to include international bloggers as well, so I need to make sure you would be willing to ship/swap with an international blogger.  Simply -  (I will exchange with a International friend) is enough to let me know you are willing to ship internationally.

6) You MUST ship by Dec 5th-feel free to get creative with your return address (remember, it is a Secret Santa exchange) while keeping in mind the rules and regs of USPS or your shipping carrier of choice

7) Probably the most important bit of 411-This is a SECRET Santa soiree so PLEASE do not share who your exchange partner is...you want to keep them guessing right?

*How to Participate*

1. come back here tonight and sign up.
2. email me your information
3. when you receive your questionnaire, fill  it out and email it back to me.
4. watch your email for your partners information
5. shop for your partner
6. send your gifts on time with tracking
7. blog about your gifts

Feel free to grab a button and link back to my blog to spread the word~ 

Please, please if you sign up make sure you are going to follow through. This is really a lot of fun during the holidays and once you commit to being a Secret Santa, make sure you will be able to follow through. It makes things a whole lot less stressful on myself and others. 

My time is VERY limited this year and I almost decided not to host due to the amount of time it takes to run this swap. I don't have the time this year to beg people to do what they agreed to do. Please make sure you are able to do this  and follow through with all that is required without me having to email about what needs to be done over and over. 

I know that sounds a bit gruff...but I don't mean it to come across that way. This is very time consuming and it can run rather smoothly if all do as asked!  It just makes is a lot easier on everyone and no feelings are hurt!! Now.....Let The Fun Begin!!!

The Secret Santa Signup Link will go live this evening. See ya then, and thanks to all who have emailed me about being excited for this to take place again this year.