What a wonderful exchange this has been! My santa contacted me RIGHT away (the very DAY of matching!) and her enthusiasm was a great jump start to my holiday season. When I pulled her gift in from the porch this evening, it was like the party had already started -- and I hadn't even opened the box!

Apparently, jelybene and her friend BOTH do Secret Santa, and they decorated my box together! I'm not sure what you were drinkin', sisters, but I hope you saved a glass for me! My favorite part: a big souvenir swatch of Bella's hair in the tape and an outline of her very special noseprint on the box. :-D (Hi Bella! Thank you for the hair and the kiss!!)

So I got the box open, read the lovely note, and started pulling out the goodies. Candy canes for my students! BOXES of candy canes! Jelly beans for my daughters! (At least that's who claimed them first.) A stocking stuffed with my favorite candy and its sassy twin brother (my NEW other-favorite): Gummy Colas and Sour Gummy Colas! OMG. I'm in gummy heaven right now!!

As delighted as I was by these treats, the best was yet to come. A soft, squooshy package revealed a HANDMADE crocheted scarf! So bright. Such colorful. Much warm. Do love. I'm a crocheter myself, but I almost never make anything for me. It is such a nice change of pace to be on the receiving end!

Another, curiously dense box revealed fantastically packed HANDMADE reddit Secret-Santa-themed tile coasters! Almost as adorable as my daughter's delighted giggles as she helped me unwrap each one so she could be the first to discover each design. Jelybene diminishes her skills, but seriously, these are SO cute and well done! I love the creativity and uniqueness of each different one.

Thank you, jelybene. You made this a very, very special exchange with the love you put into my gifts. I could not possibly be any more thrilled! They are going to be in my family for a LONG time to come!

Except the gummy colas. Those are pretty much guaranteed to be gone by New Year's.