Before I get into all the details I just want to start out with WOW and THANK YOU. This is a freaking incredible gift, and tailored perfectly to me.

This gift really has it all. Stunning handpainted portrait of one of my favorite animals? Check. Not one or two or four but SIX bath bombs? Check. Something that satisfies my need to compulsively grow my library and eat sweets without getting sick? Check and check!

I got a notification a couple days ago that my gift had shipped and boy oh boy was I excited! But it wasn't scheduled to be delivered until Monday, so I was expecting a weekend of stressful waiting. But alas! At the last minute the post office update my tracking and it was delivered today! I rushed home from work (by some miracle today was the day we got out early due to a holiday party) to find it sitting on my doorstep. One happy little brown box.

I rushed inside to tear it open and found four objects inside. A card, two wrapped presents and something in bubble wrap. I restrained myself from peeking through the bubble wrap until after reading the card.

The card was a really lovely touch. My Santa said she felt like she got to know me through my likes/dislikes, and from the gifts she gave it's super obvious she read them well! It's always so nice to get a thoughtful handwritten card like that (super pretty card too!). My Santa is also a super talented artist, and said when she saw my likes/dislikes she saw one of my favorite animals is a vulture, and couldn't get it out of her head. So she painted me a vulture.

I re-read that a couple of times, shocked & excited. And then I realized what must be inside the bubble wrap. I opened it and there it was. A stunning watercolor of a vulture. You'll have to look at the pictures, as words can't do it justice. I feel like it really captures this beautiful creature with dignity, which is hard to do. I've always loved vultures because they provide a really important service to the rest of us, taking care of the dead. Unlike most animals, they do not need to harm other animals or even plants in order to survive. I think that's a really beautiful and unusual thing. So thank you for this gift most of all. I also really love the simple black float frame you gave it to me in. I have already hung it up with pride in my home.

If you want to give some love to my Santa and check out more of her art, please do so at her [tumblr](artidt.tumblr.com) or support her by buying .some work of your own from [her etsy](dianateeter.etsy.com)

Next came the two wrapped gifts! More gifts? The vulture painting was already above and beyond anything I could've expected. But there was more to open and so open I did! The next gift was BATH BOMBS. I loooove bath bombs. I only discovered them this year (I was gifted some during the colors exchange) and fell madly in love. I got six (SIX!) bombs in different scents/themes. The themes are: Cozy Night (Sweet Romance), Energize (Afternoon Delight), Wellness (Congestion & Sinus Relief), Yoga (Morning Detox & Bliss Awakening) and Zen (Mom's Time Out)... I'm not a mom but hey, everyone could use a little Zen in their life! ;-) I can't wait to try them out!

There was just one present left. It was book-shaped. This is exciting, because I love books. The card also mentioned the book "making up for" lack of sweets... so even more intriguing! And oh boy oh boy is it lovely! The book is called "Babycakes: Vegan, (Mostly) Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery" by Erin McKenna. It's full of all sorts of delectable delights I'm so excited to bake!!

Thank you so very much again for all the lovely gifts. I really couldn't have dreamed of a more wonderful Secret Santa.