w00t!!! I have been Secret Santa-d, and but good!

AmyLiz sent a box full of treasures, each with a sparkly tag: scented candles (one "snow" so I'll have some this year, one "cookies" which is yum), cookie-scented lip balm, wonderful-smelling orange and patchouli body scrub and a loofah mitt (made by Bathery, which made me think Elizabeth Bathory, but that's probably just me).

But wait, there's more! She read my mind somehow - I had just rearranged and cleaned my office, probably the first time it's been cleaned in 20 years, and 4 different people came through and said "That's what this place needed: a woman's touch!" Yeah, I got your woman's touch right here, pal. But I actually did want something a little feminine for my desk space. AmyLiz provided wonderful post-its, large and tiny, with colorful gerber daisies on them...AND a pink CD holder. Which is more mind-reading, as I have a stereo in my office, but no small case to carry CDs in.

Then, just to make it all perfectly sweet, she included a CD of Christmas music in the CD case (good choices too!), and two tiny friends for Mallory - a puppy and a kitty that are just the right size for him.

And the centerpiece was Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" which I have been wanting to read forever!

AmyLiz, you indeed rock like a rocking thing. Thank you so much!

I can't believe it got there in time, Raq! So glad it did, and that it made you so happy -- I had so much fun putting it together. Being a secret Santa is a very good thing. You're very welcome!

Yay, SailAweigh! I'm so glad it arrived (I mailed it the same day that my Secret Santa gift arrived. Embarrassing. But it did arrive in time, so I can continue with my procrastinating ways.

I'm happy that you're enjoying the gifts. May your holiday be full of joy (and chocolate).

I am overwhelm-ed by the generosity of my fabulous Secret Santa Teppy, thanks to whom I am right now drinking Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa and listening to one of two fantastic Christmas CD mixes, while admiring Serenity/FF swag, including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

A few minutes ago, I was happily arranging adorable little glass bubble magnets with different pictures (sort of retro) and words (and a monkey!) on my fridge while munching on some peppermint bark. Later today, I'll be drinking some lovely Earl Grey tea after having showered with Villainess Sudz amazing-smelling soap, while chatting with the gold devil rubber ducky that will be sitting on the ledge. And everyone will be nice to me, because they'll have read my "Don't make me get my flying monkeys" sticker. Ha!!

Many of these things were packed in a v. cute snowman box. All of these things are making me smile. There may even be bouncing. There is definitely singing along to the music. Thank you so very much, Steph! For the card, the gifts, and the thoughtfulness that went into making this stupendous Secret Santa box of goodies. Did I mention how much I love the CD mixes? Because I do.

Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa

That sounds so yum!

Oh, yay! You got it in time for Christmas! I was hoping you would, so that the CDs would still be timely. You are VERY welcome!

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire -- even though the one is called "Sweat," it was described as melon-ish, and "Pangaea" sounds like a hodgepodge of scents, but it sounded like something you might like, according to the all-powerful questionnaire. (Which is also where I obtained the seekrit knowledge about the peppermint bark and the tea.)

including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

Oh, yay! I was afraid that maybe you might have had one already. I got it at the preview showing, along with the other little bits of FF swag -- the magnets/stickers were made by (I think) the southern Ohio Browncoats, and handed out at the preview in goodie bags.

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill. A *lot* of people on my list are getting magnets this year. (A certain UmFriend got one that says "dildos." It made him chortle with disturbing glee.)

I can testify to Teppy doing superb magnets. I have a bunch of them on my fridge.

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill.

You made the magnets??!?! They are so fabulous!

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire

Oh, they smell sooooo wonderful. Cannot wait to use... actually, right about now. Whee!

(And the keychain, well, I think I did a little dance of Serenity-keychain-having, if I'm to be completely honest.)

That sounds so yum!

So yum!

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill.

You made the magnets??!?! They are so fabulous!

Awwww, thanks! Trust me -- it's the only arts-and-crafts skill I possess.

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire

Oh, they smell sooooo wonderful. Cannot wait to use... actually, right about now. Whee!

I ordered Pangaea soap for myself, too, and used it in the shower just about an hour ago. It's yummy without being overpowering. I keep smelling my arm.

And now I have to wrap all the family presents, and the ones for my girlfriends, since we're having a Very Girly Xmas Dinner in 3 hours and exchanging gifts. (The girlfriends are *also* getting Villainess soaps and devil duckies, along with candles and a CD I made called "Tub Tunes," with mellow music on it.) Must. Wrap. Now.

I also can attest to the coolness of the Steph magnets. I love mine and am constantly having to protect them from Kara, who also loves them and wants to take them away to play with.