This year was my first Secret Santa Gift Exchange and I was hopeful, yet not super expectant. I wanted to give my secret santa as much help as possible, so I wrote about a novel's worth of things that I liked, and she (found her return address on one of the amazon things, so i'll be sending her a thank you card) delivered utterly and completely. In contrast, the person who I got paired with gave me almost nothing to go on, so I stalked them to find out who they were. That is a story for another day.

Anyway, the first gifts to arrive were pretty phenomenal. I got a Star Wars T-shirt with Chewbacca and Darth Vader on it (pictured). The next day or so, I received a book on how to make sushi. Now, I've made sushi before, but not as good as the sushi I made following this lady's simple instructions and let me say I have made it twice in the past two weeks, and I'm going to teach my parents how to make it when I visit them tomorrow (Decemberween!) This book has helped me make fabulous sushi (pictured) and i'll be getting better and better the more I practice!

About a week passed, until the third and fourth gift arrived. Because I like (such a weak word for my dedication) video games, she got me a $50 Gamestop gift card. I was floored. Not even my husband is going to be getting me anything over $50 (because we're underemployed and don't have a lot of spare cash) and this Secret Santa decides I get fifty bucks. I haven't spent it, because I want to make it count! And, I don't want to waste it on one game. I want to use it for an unimaginably ridiculously amazing sale. The other package was Monopoly! But, it wasn't any old monopoly, it was DOCTOR WHO Monopoly. I haven't unsealed it yet, because I am waiting for my other Whovian friend and I to have a game night soon! I love both Doctor Who and Monopoly, so my secret santa got it right, yet again!

I want to mention that my Secret Santa wrote me an eloquent & fun email when she shipped the gifts to me. I thought it was a default Secret Santa email from how well-written it was. She told me to expect 7 gifts. Seven. I mean, it was closer to RedditHanukkahGifts. I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't sure if it was going to be 7 ipads, 7 strippergrams, or what. Needless to say, it fueled my own determination to get my secret santa giftee something awesomely thoughtful as well.

The third to last gift I received was a "Teach yourself Spanish" book. I mentioned wanting to continue learning Spanish, and my secret santa thoughtfully sent me the book (pictured) I will definitely use it alongside my regular studies! I want to be able to talk to my husband more in spanish!

The Last, but not least, of the gifts that were received were for other members of my family: My hamsters and gerbils. Since we are a gay couple, and not rich enough to adopt, we have rodents. They are all beautiful and unique and talented, and get good grades. Plus, they are convenient because they die in 2-4 years and don't rack up huge bills or destroy things. MY Secret Santa knew I had rodents because I mentioned it, but must have understood their lofty place in our household. She probably is a real estate broker, and sent a wooden home and chewables for the lucky bastards. A whole house. Can you imagine? I don't think any other person this season got a house for christmas from their Secret Santa.

In closing, I will be a die-hard redditgifts person from now on. My secret santa this year received a custom t-shirt with his face, a hobbit pipe, and his voluptuous afro on it, saying "Bitches call me fro-do" and some video games. Next year, if I get you, definitely spend time on your description and hobbies and likes/dislikes! You will definitely get a bunch of more stuff! I want to participate in all the giftingsfor years to come, and thank you Secret Santa, and Reddit for making my holiday amazing!