Dearest Santa,

You said you were worried about the newspaper wrapping, and I audibly laughed when I read that. I actually took photos of everything before opening because I loved the wrapping so much. From the moment I opened the scuffed orange mailer and confetti fell out I could tell you went the extra mile with my gift. Little did I know just how far you went.

The Newspaper wrapping looked entirely intentional. It was gorgeous, and the blues, yellows, and golds worked so well together. It looked like an art nouveau set that you would buy in a small specialty shop nestled in a market where no cars are allowed to drive. None of my poorly lit photos do it justice. By the time it arrived here in the cold dark north - the sun had long set.

I read your letter first. It was so sweet. I was excited to open your gifts, but also worried. Worried that you fretting too much finding things. Worried that you spent too much money. Worried about a million things entirely out of my control, and frankly - entirely against the very idea of secret santa! So I dug in, starting with the brown drawstring pouch. It was the one item I could open without ruining any paper!

The necklace within was gorgeous. A silver Tree pendant, to fill with scented oils. Multiple felts, to match any outfit color or scent. I immediately got even more excited, as I guessed what the heavier wrapped package was at this point - and why the entire gift mailer smelled so familiar.

I opened that package next. Within, six essential oils. Eucalyptus, lavender, orange, teatree, lemongrass, and peppermint. While I don't believe in homeopathic medicine like my grandfather did when he sold them, they still have such a place in my heart. They're so soothing. It wasn't just his house that always smelled of them growing up - it was such an integral part of him.

So three drops of eucalyptus in the necklace later and I was ready to move on. I swore to myself I wasn't going to cry while opening the gifts. Super swore. Super duper swore.

Next I opened the smallest box. Inside I found the pop-open smile cards! I found them to be so magical. On the back there were lines to write a message to the next person, or even to yourself. I wanted to wait before opening any of them until I desperately need them, so I left them in the box. (Or until a friend needs them. I really love the idea of always having a few in my purse!)

And so, I reached the final, largest item. Underneath the amazing newspaper wrapping was a navy blue travelers notebook. It was soft and blank and beautiful. It already smelled slightly of the oils it had been traveling with for the past week. It was perfect.

It wasn't until I read the Top Secret note that I failed my 'don't cry' mission. I suppose it was a silly mission after all. I cannot possibly express the amount of love and hope and gratitude that your gift brought me. I'm touched.

Everything here was so thoughtful, so perfectly ridiculously meticulously thought out... Thank you Santa. I don't have the right words for how you made me feel opening these, and reading everything you wrote. But it was happy? Good? Sad, too... but in a healing, beneficial sad kinda way? Hard to describe.

Many thanks from a fairly speechless giftee, (disregarding the fact that I just wrote a 500+ word thank you note,)

~Jekka