pogiporkchop

It's that time of year again... and Chief Elf is again hosting this year's festivities! Want to join in on the fun? Read the rules first, then email me at [email protected] using "Secret Santa 2014" in the subject line. (You can also PM me if you like - it'll likely be quicker.) If you have any questions feel free to ask. (It's basically the same as last year.) Registration is now closed. This is not an official GottaDeal.com event, so participate at your own risk. GottaDeal cannot be held responsible if you do not receive anything. While I hope we won't be needing any please specify if you are willing to be an elf to someone in the event he/she does not receive a gift/ornament. Please include in your email: 1. Your forum username, your name and address 2. The exchanges you would like to take part in (Secret Santa, Ornament and/or Card) 3. The answers to the questions below if you are going to be in Secret Santa/Ornament exchange 4. Anything else you'd like your Secret Santa to know about you 5. Gift wrap preference (yes or no) The Questions... Are you male or female? Are you married? Do you have kids? If so, gender and age Do you have pets? Are you allergic to anything? Would you accept homemade food (such as cookies)? Any absolute dislikes? Do you have any hobbies? Do you collect anything? Favorite Fast Food Establishment? Do you have a favorite candy? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite color? Do you like lotions? If so what kinds? Do you like scented candles? What scent? Any favorite sports teams or Nascar drivers? What’s your favorite flower? What's your favorite music/artist? What's your favorite movie? What's your favorite holiday movie? What's your favorite author? What's your favorite thing to do during your ‘me time’? What is your favorite winter activity? Something that you wouldn’t buy yourself but have always wanted? Anything else? The Rules: 1. Secret Santa is just like it sounds - a secret exchange of gifts! There's a MINIMUM of $10 before shipping. If you choose to spend more, please don't be disappointed if your partner doesn't. 2. Ornament Exchange is also just like it sounds - an exchange of ornaments! There's a MINIMUM of $5 before shipping. If you choose to spend more, please don't be disappointed if your partner doesn't. 3. Card Exchange is also as it sounds - an exchange of holiday greeting cards. Unlike the other two, however, you send (a card) to everyone who signs up and you get (a card) from everyone who signs up! If you have a favorite holiday recipe feel free to include it with the cards you send out. There is no minimum or delivery confirmation but please understand that you send a card to everyone on the list so if 50 people join the exchange you will be spending $24.50 for postage. (The current cost for a first class stamp as of the time of this posting is 49 cents). 4. Tracking (aka delivery confirmation) is a MUST. Please PM/email me the tracking number and how it is being shipped (USPS or UPS) so I can keep track of everything. If you send via USPS Priority it should be included at no charge, but it is always best to check for yourself. 5. Insurance from the USPS is also a MUST. Check with the post office nearest you for the cost. 6. Make sure your item(s) is/are properly packed and with plenty of padding. 7. No junk. Everything must be new/unused within reason. Used books, CDs, and DVDs are okay as long as they are in a like new condition that you would be okay with receiving. 8. The last day to sign up is Wednesday, October 29th (you have until midnight ET). (I will have names out by no later than Monday, November 3rd.) Registration is now closed. 9. The last day to ship is Friday, December 5th. If for some reason you cannot ship by this date you must let me know ASAP and then ship priority. 10. If you are participating in the Card Exchange please feel free to ship any time but make sure to keep holiday mail delivery times in mind. 11. You must have been a member since May 1, with some posting activity, in order to participate. This helps to make sure that only dedicated GottaDealers are participating and we have less of a chance of people flaking out. Also, if you have flaked on any of the 2013 events or the 2014 summer event, you will not be allowed to participate. 12. Any decisions made by the exchange host are final. Each case or question will be given fair treatment and consideration; if you plead a case or ask a question and don't get a reply you like please don't complain. Remember, this is all about having fun. Now ready, set.... GO! Secret Santa (34) stevierocks Hillbillyswife Pepper_Mint_Tea nafcmf Racerfan Spice9195 msyves Kash tracypa26 willandmel Bopeep ytmomof4 gatorburg momlori tyreejames queenkishaa lis415529 robertmorr1999 misstaken wittenlover hockeyfanamo jendeere Reinholt1 Reinholt1sMom sbaldasare Illinoismom npg princez916 frugalnotcheap lilquiet raven20_79 NovemberDiva whynot0224 jesusluvu Ornament Exchange (19) Hillbillyswife Pepper_Mint_Tea nafcmf Racerfan tracypa26 willandmel Bopeep lis415529 robertmorr1999 Mandy4Matt hockeyfanamo jendeere sbaldasare princez916 swampbaby Bfaddict716 frugalnotcheap lilquiet jesusluvu Card Exchange (12) stevierocks tracypa26 ytmomof4 queenkishaa robertmorr1999 hockeyfanamo princez916 vic13 swampbaby Kimmisue Bfaddict716 frugalnotcheap

The cat in that first photo obviously shares what is, I'm sure, the opinion of a majority of people here on this issue... well, at least it reflects my opinion...

Thanks for the input and keep it coming!

For those anticipating the opening of the holiday exchanges a special message from the accounting firm of ShiShi, ShiShi and ShiShi... Soon. Very soon. When Chief Elf's avatar changes you'll know it's about to go up Now a question from Chief Elf for those who have taken part or are thinking of taking part this year: do you like having a longer list of questions to answer or would you prefer to go shorter? I noticed a lot of blank spaces last year so maybe it needs to be condensed a bit. I do have a format in mind that I believe would work well and still provide people with enough info on their exchange person. Feedback will be accepted through Tuesday night only so I have time to get things ready.

I've had one but say they should just skip to peppermint mocha! But wait, I still have candy canes from last year.... peppermint mocha here I come!

It's never too early to discuss store hours... and it is after Labor Day. I don't think I like the earlier hours. That being said I'm just not into it this year, don't know why.

If BF season is under way then it's also time for... well, maybe not just yet. It is still August after all...

Got a nose full of cinnamon scented pinecones walking into a grocery store yesterday.... Mmmmmm.....

I'm looking forward to running the SS exchange again this year!

I suppose I better start tucking money away too and preparing my lists too!

And now from the offices of ShiShi, ShiShi and ShiShi (who are busy playing with the canned snow and gnawing on candy canes along with the rest of the clan)... the lists! Ornament Exchange bfaddict716 sent to chrisjuvers Bopeep sent to mgmckny chrisjuvers sent to nafcmf frugalnotcheap sent to Bopeep Hillbillyswife sent to jstluvem Hockeyfanamo sent to Mandy4Matt jstluvem sent to me (pogiporkchop) Katyloveshockey sent to Swampbaby ladybug0506 sent to princez916 lilquiet sent to SuggaD Mandy4Matt sent to Hillbillyswife mgmckny sent to bfaddict716 nafcmf sent to Katyloveshockey I (pogiporkchop) sent to lilquiet princez916 sent to Racerfan Racerfan sent to Hockeyfanamo RBWilliams sent to frugalnotcheap SuggaD sent to RBWilliams Swampbaby sent to ladybug0506 Secret Santa arf110106 sent to nafcmf Bopeep sent to stevierocks chrisjuvers sent to Reinholt1 frugalnotcheap sent to SuggaD gatorburg sent to ladybug0506 GatorPam sent to Racerfan Hillbillyswife sent to princez916 Hockeyfanamo sent to npg Illinoismom sent to me (pogiporkchop) jendeere sent to Katyloveshockey jstluvem sent to tyreejames Katyloveshockey sent to mgmckny Krissy72 sent to Pepper_Mint_Tea ladybug0506 sent to hockeyfanamo lilquiet sent to frugalnotcheap mgmckny sent to Spice9195 misstaken sent to wittenlover momlori sent to jstluvem msyves sent to chrisjuvers nafcmf sent to ytmomof4 npg sent to whynot0224 Peekaboo sent to RBWilliams Pepper_Mint_Tea sent to Peekaboo I (pogiporkchop) sent to krissy72 princez916 sent to arf110106 queenkishaa sent to gatorburg Racerfan sent to Illinoismom raven20_79 sent to momlori RBWilliams sent to queenkishaa Reinholt1 sent to Hillbillyswife Spice9195 sent to raven20_79 stevierocks sent to msyves SuggaD sent to jendeere Tara3117 sent to GatorPam tyreejames sent to lilquiet whynot0224 sent to Bopeep wittenlover sent to misstaken ytmomof4 sent to Tara3117 Thanks for making this an elf-free exchange! Merry Christmas and I'll see everyone back here next year!

Merry Christmas everyone! I will be posting the lists tomorrow night...

I got said card and note. It was very nice to read and I could feel the joy and happiness in the words. And with that everyone should have their packages... I will post the lists sometime Christmas Day.

All OE have been delivered! Only waiting on two SS...

That's a good story There's only a few packages that have yet to make it to their destination. Those of you waiting on packages please let me know as soon as you have them, even if you wait to open. Everyone should have their packages by Christmas Eve.

I am still stuck at one present. One. Wait, got two yesterday... that's three... now I'm moving!

Thank you Illinoismom!! I just got my SS package and was surprised to find six wrapped gifts inside... a Yankee Candle snowflake candle charm, aloe infused fuzzy socks, Santa throw blanket, Reese's candy cane, a Starbucks coffee and cookie mug and a set of two travel tote bags. I better hide some of this or my kids are going to take everything when they get home! The tote bags will be perfect when we make shorter trips and possibly for work too. The blanket and socks will be put to use tonight and the edibles I hope to hold on to for a few days at least. I love everything... thanks again!

Weather combined with high mail volume could cause considerable delays. Just waiting on a few to be delivered yet.

I've been busy checking tracking numbers. There are a number who, according to tracking, have received but have not posted as much. (If the tracking says delivered I am going to assume you got your package.) A few others are in transit but otherwise it looks like everyone has put their packages in the mail.

I've contacted your OE. Waiting for an update.

Yours was delivered today but apparently not to your address. Do you have a neighbor or community office that will accept packages for you if you're not home? Your SS doesn't want you to think they forgot.

That's one of my favorite scents too

Those who have received, if you haven't already please post that you got your packages. Even if you are going to wait to open them.

Running through the posts, etc. is making my head spin... this makes it much easier for me. Thanks.

I've sliced up the cheese and sausage... (drooling)... DD made off with practically all of the sausage, but not before DS and I got a taste. The cheese is very tasty!