it's funny, I particpate in another santa thing with a theme. Yesterday I saw the perfect gift, but didnt' buy it because by nextyear I would have forgot were I put it or would have broken it.

I can't even think of 2008 yet. Good for you.

I solved this after "losing" Christmas cards purchased at the after-Christmas sale... and finding them after Christmas the next year.

I now put all "need before Christmas" items in the storage box with Thanksgiving decorations.

I was not your Secret Santa, but this comment reflects exactly what the season is NOT supposed to be about. Isn't it possible that Harry & David sent you the wrong basket? And isn't it possible that your Secret Santa ran out of time through no fault of their own, (or perhaps couldn't come up with any more personalized ideas), and therefore sent you a gift they knew you would like because they know you have a pulse?

I have a friend whose mother was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in the middle of December. When she gave me a candle from the Walgreen's endcap, do you think I berated her for not planning ahead, or for not taking time away from her mother to give me a more "thought[ful] and customiz[ed]" gift? Get over it, and enjoy your basket. And to whomever was the poster's Secret Santa -- next time you want to send out H&D pears, my husband loves them more than almost any other gift, so if you want to send them to someone else, I'll be happy to send you my address. :)

I had already thanked my SS as I had some stuff that came unwrapped then a bunch of wrapped goodies that had to wait for Christmas. I wanted to post the rest of the goodies as they were really great ideas!

Someone paid attention to my references to how cold it is here in NY because I got some hand warmers and warm, fluffy socks. Also was a great little light that is perfect to take with me for traveling when I read. I always feel bad when I have the overhead light on while flying at night, so the small clip light will be perfect. There was also a travel journal and I already put in my first trip of the new year! OH, and a fantastic hair towel. I used it all weekend and it really does work great!!

All great gifts and I look forward to participating again next year. This was my first and I started slow with just one SS, but next year I'll definitely want to do more! I had the most fun searching through posts to try to get ideas.

Haven't been here in a month ...

I returned to this address today and found two lovely and generous
gifts designed to increase my girth - an iGourmet gift card (will
probably go for chocolate) and a care package jam-packed with
goodies, of which a stress-relief tea jumped right out at me, and
thank you especially for that!

Thank you for the great wine glasses. They will go to use immediately! Happy New Year to all.......

This is a first! Santa is speechless.... so speechless that he could not even post on this thread last evening!

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the special "Secret Santa" community for the wonderful gift I received last evening.

Santa's elves kept a very good secret as did Santa's partner.

While keeping secrets can be naughty and get you on Santa's Bad List, it is more than offset by the selfless generosity of many of you. :D

As most of you now know a certain Elf named Nancy - or IleftmyheartinTexas - took it upon herself to organize an effort to recognize Santa. What make this more amazing... she was the last person to join our Secret Santa extravaganza... after the deadline... but I was able to find her a Santa.... guess that was a great decision on my part. :)

My partner had strict orders to take photographs of the "blessed event" of my opening the packages last evening. You can find the pictures at the following link if you care to see them:

Santa's Surprise

Just to give you a breakdown of what was in the package....

• Lots of confetti with each of your FT handles
• A wonderful personalized holiday card
• Bars of Ghirardelli Limited Edition Peppermint Bark
• Homemade coffee/hot chocolate
• Chocolate dipped marshmallows
• Gift cards to Dale and Thomas Popcorn
• Gift cards to Sonic Drive In
• Gift card to Panera's
• A MAJOR gift card to BestBuy (I know how that will be used)

We also received two individual envelopes from BestBuy.com that had two additional gift cards. Finally, there was an email notifying us of an additional gift certificate for The Chart House restaurant... ironically, one of my favorite restaurants!

As I have said over the years, I continue to coordinate the Secret Santa extravaganza because it is my small way to give back to this community. It is a tremendous pleasure for me to do this... and I do it for no other reason than the joy it brings to bring people together. I was reviewing the threads from the past five years... and looking over the notes/files I have (and I have them all for five years) from seasons past. I am reminded of the great posts about how someone received an amazing gift... and the private messages from people who did not receive a gift... or one they did not appreciate. :) Over the past five years, I myself have sent out 31 gifts... 18 that I assigned to myself originally.... and 13 that I sent to make up for people who did not get gifts at all or in a timely manner. To this day, I think only about 8 of those people know they had Santa as their Secret Santa. :)

I do not know what other words I could say to convey how I feel about the generosity you have shown me. I can only say "THANK YOU". I only hope that I can continue to serve you in this small way to enhance your Flyertalk experience.

Now, for those of you who have not sent your gifts to your Secret Santas, get on it NOW! Santa is in a great mood right now... but eventually will be sending out those pesty emails again......!

William

Glad you enjoyed it William and thank you for doing so much for the FT community. I can't wait for next year's Secret Santa gift exchange :)

Big thumbs up to Nancy for putting this all together, she made it so easy for us all to share our appreciation with William.

Word- what UCBeau said. :) Thanks, William! And thanks Nancy for making that gift so special. :)^

GG

I hope Santa doesn't scold ILeftMyHeartInTexas for not making the Christmas delivery deadline for his gift. :D

Seriously....glad you enjoyed the Big Box. Nancy (and the elves) worked very hard to coordinate it.

With the delivery of your gift (part 3) ;), I now officially close Santas Workshop until later this year. Most of the elves have left anyway; leaving me behind, to close the door.

Besides thanking William (again), I'd like to thank IleftmyheartinTexas for coordinating this effort. ^

This should 'secure' our names on the 'Good List' for some time to come! :D

Thanks for sharing the pictures with us William; and thanks again for doing such a great job with the Secret Santa program!

DD

while we are all giving thanks....
 

I want send out a big thank you to my "fill in" Secret Santa. I was greeted today by a large package on my doorstep. And inside that package? A GARDEN GNOME!! I really like it. Thank you. It is a nice garden gnome and not a cheap plastic-y walgreens type gnome (in case anyone was wondering).

Thank you Secret Santa for stepping up to the plate and taking over for my original AWOL Santa. That was awfully nice of you.


Once again thanks to both of my Secret Santas. And to William. And to IleftmyheartinTexas for being so thoughtful and organizing the gift for William.

Well-deserved William.
It would not have happened but for the generosity of Nancy-a truly lovely lady.

.....What Braefoot said......