Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion

Feel free to talk about anything and everything here :)

IT'S TIME!

Wooooohooooo!! The best time of the year!!

Wow, I can't believe we are starting this.

Melissa wrote: "Wow, I can't believe we are starting this."

I know :) I got so many emails asking me when it was starting that I did it a few days early. I think I sent out the initial email on the 19th last year :)

We're always appreciative and excited when you get this thing going Heather! It's always an amazing time.

YAY!

My first time and I’m so excited!!!

Shelby wrote: "We're always appreciative and excited when you get this thing going Heather! It's always an amazing time."

I'm so happy that other people love it as much as I do!!

**Kaycee** wrote: "My first time and I’m so excited!!!"

Happy to have you!

Trio wrote: "YAY!"

Wooohooo!

Shelby wrote: "We're always appreciative and excited when you get this thing going Heather! It's always an amazing time."

Yes, this!!! <3 Thanks Heather, as always! xx

So freaking excited to participate again!!!! And I'm still thinking about my elf name! :P

xoxo, guys!

Shin Mon wrote: "So freaking excited to participate again!!!! And I'm still thinking about my elf name! :P"

I hate to say it, but I got nothing. The harder I try to think of something *clever, of course, LOL*, the more I blank out on it. :/

Hi all!

So funny I had to share. I just clicked on the upper right side of the group header under my topics. I found my original post in this group from 2015! It was so funny. My gifs made me laugh so hard. If you've been on here for awhile check it out.

Lisazj1 wrote: "Shin Mon wrote: "So freaking excited to participate again!!!! And I'm still thinking about my elf name! :P"

I hate to say it, but I got nothing. The harder I try to think of something *clever, of ..."

Last year, my elf name was too obvious. Everyone knew it was me! xD

I gotta step up my game this year. <3

Who knew that in this lifetime I would need an Elf name!!!
😸

Shin Mon wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Shin Mon wrote: "So freaking excited to participate again!!!! And I'm still thinking about my elf name! :P"

I hate to say it, but I got nothing. The harder I try to think of someth..."

Me too girl, me too. Only a few people, the ones that know me best, got mine last year but I never like what I come up with and this year is just way worse, LOL. I'm not that creative. :)

I am not good with Elf names sooo...we will see what my kids come up with

I'm also terrible with elf names, and I'm pretty sure everyone knows who I am every year. I go with a theme and kind of stick to it every year... maybe I'll deviate a bit this year!

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "I'm also terrible with elf names, and I'm pretty sure everyone knows who I am every year. I go with a theme and kind of stick to it every year... maybe I'll deviate a bit this year!"

We have to start think elf names for next year as soon as this year exchange is ended too. That's the only way to come up with best names. xD

I completely forgot about elf names. Crap!

What do people mean when they say they weren't "claimed?"

Zuzu wrote: "What do people mean when they say they weren't "claimed?""

At the end of the exchange, you can reveal who you were matched with. Some people never had anyone fess up to being their match!

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "What do people mean when they say they weren't "claimed?""

At the end of the exchange, you can reveal who you were matched with. Some people never had anyone fess up to being their ma..."

Aww. That seems like it would be the fun part! Oh well.

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "What do people mean when they say they weren't "claimed?""

At the end of the exchange, you can reveal who you were matched with. Some people never had anyone fess up to being their ma..."

I have been one of the unclaimed for 2 years

Shin Mon wrote: "We have to start think elf names for next year as soon as this year exchange is ended too. That's the only way to come up with best names. xD"
Uh oh, I haven't thought of an elf name!

Oh, I've already picked my Elf name....

Aղցela W. wrote: "Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "What do people mean when they say they weren't "claimed?""

At the end of the exchange, you can reveal who you were matched with. Some peop..."

I hope that changes for you this year. I'm looking forward to that part!

Apologies if I missed the post explaining this, but how do I register my elf name on elfster? Do I enter that name as my main ID? Or is there a separate spot. have been googling, but am not finding the answer...

Brian wrote: "Apologies if I missed the post explaining this, but how do I register my elf name on elfster? Do I enter that name as my main ID? Or is there a separate spot. have been googling, but am not finding..."

You don't register an elf name. It is the name you put on the gift when you send it. When you mark an online purchase as a gift, it gives you the chance to leave a little note with it usually.

Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)

Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I always have one Secret Santa name for my giftee and one secret elf name for giving to other peeps.

Also, when you do make a note on Elfster and you are trying to be stealthy, make sure you check the little box that says "post anonymously". Guess how I know about that? *rolls eyes*

And when you send books from Amazon or Smashwords or something like that, make sure you take your account name out of the send info and replace it with your Elf/Secret Santa name. I know about this for the same reason I know about "post anonymously", LOL. I was so excited to give gifts the first time that I told on myself immediately. :)

Lisazj1 wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I always have one Secret Santa name for my giftee and one se..."

Oh wow--thanks for the heads up!! Honestly, it's amazing that I can navigate an etransfer, so all this is next level for me!

Brian wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I always have one Secret Santa name for my g..."

I'm with you Brian! This is my first year and I'm hoping I can keep my identity a secret until the "big reveal." LOL

Zuzu wrote: "Brian wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I always have one Secret Santa..."

Zuzu, good luck! Sounds like we are in the same boat lol. I am still trying to figure out the logistics of giving ebooks, but I am assuming that will become obvious once the gift exchange moves to the next phase mid-November.

Brian wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "Brian wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I always have one..."

I was nervous my first year, but everyone in this group is so awesome and nice. There will always be someone that can help. By the end of the exchange you will be an expert :)

Isaiah wrote: "Brian wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "Brian wrote: "Lisazj1 wrote: "Brian wrote: "Thank you, Isaiah! That makes sense :)"

But the most fun is NOT telling anybody who you are and leaving them guessing. :) I a..."

I (personally) think that this group is the nicest corner of the internet! You will be amazed at how generous everyone is, and how thoughtful.

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "I (personally) think that this group is the nicest corner of the internet! You will be amazed at how generous everyone is, and how thoughtful."

This is exactly why I look forward to this exchange all year, I agree with you 100% Heather! <3

Brian & Zuzu, you're going to love it! Have fun. :)

Hi Everyone!

Hello Lisa :), & Heather. I couldn't agree with you more. The group is always so kind, fun, and generous. This is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season!

I'm beyond excited for this year, as you may can tell by my over-the-top, exuberant "introduction"
HERE.

WELCOME to the newcomers!!

liz wrote: "Hi Everyone!

Hello Lisa :), & Heather. I couldn't agree with you more. The group is always so kind, fun, and generous. This is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season!

I'm beyond excited f..."

Hey liz!! It's already exciting, isn't it?? And all we've done is sign up LOL. The anticipation is real. :D

We need an elf name?! :))

Julia wrote: "We need an elf name?! :))"

I believe it's a "secret santa" until the reveal at the end!

Thanks Zuzu, I’ll get thinking!🧝🏻‍♀️

Lisazj1 wrote: "."

IKR! I can not wait until the gifts start rolling in& seeing everyones’s excitement with them, and the creative names are revealed.. I’m still working on mine...writers block, LOL.

Julia wrote: "We need an elf name?! :))"

Hi Julia. You can certainly just be “Secret Santa” if you’d like.

Usually, some, if not most will create a fun secret Santa name so that when you send your gifts, the person you send to will come back to this thread and say:

Omg! I received from “A Clueless Elf “ or “ A-hole Elf”, or “ Fairy Elf”, etc..,(whatever you wish the name to be)

At the end, some people will reveal who they gifted to, or what their names were. Others may reveal who they sent to, but keep their elf name secret to use later.

Hope that helps...but just being SS is totally ok.

Thanks so much everyone - I will keep reading all the posts until it becomes clear! A Clueless Elf indeed....😁

I send all my gifts to my match as "secret Santa" and then gifts I give randomly (you'll see!!), I send as an Elf name. Some people use elf names for all of their gifting, though!

Since this is my first year I am super excited. However I need to warn you. I work for the 2nd most hated government affiliation. Yes the United States Postal Service. So this is a super busy time of year for us. If I fail to respond to a post please feel free to send me a message. I don’t always have time to look at goodreads. 😁.