Well, if my SS reads this, I wouldn't mind an area specific decoration for my tree, but on the other hand, food is always good too.

I just like food *grins* but I have a peanut allergy, so no peanut butter please :P

But but but, you loved my Mr Peanut!

Can you even send food overseas, anyway?

All I want is Matt Damon.

So you want some big peanuts, too, huh Shel? :)

Yes, but I want to put these nuts back INTO the Shel. ;-)

:)

I would like anything that was local to the person. Something from "where they are"----food is always good (most agree!) but a local little something is good, too.

Sending food to the USA
If it's not likely to decompose en route you can send it.

Sending food to Australia:

Our best known local foods in Philly are cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, neither of which travel well.

If you were my SS giftee and I hadn't found the gift I am sending, Sundae, this is what I would have sent you.

It's a bit of a stereotype, but I thought it was cool.

Add to that ... scrapple and Taylor's Pork Roll don't ship well either, Philadelphia Cream Cheese isn't made here, and Frank's Cherry Wishniak is a fond memory of the past, so my giftee also won't be getting actual food items.

How about a Philly Cheese Steak? :D

what? No Cherry Wishniak? What has become of youse people!?

Bit expensive for a meal.

I'm worth $89!
Well - I can give you $89 dollars worth... I might need some mouthwash though...

I once drove all the way to Nottingham and back (4 hour round trip) to get my evil ex a kebab from his favourite kebab shop. He was working and I wasn't, so I dropped him off at the station and drove up there to the place that used to be local to him, and he always raved about. However in order to make it a total surprise, I told him we'd probably just get take-away that night. So when I picked him up from the station he said he'd been starving, so had eaten on the train home.

He still manfully tried to eat his kebab, but it wasn't the same. There were quite a few situations where I tried to surprise him with something where it really didn't work out. I guess the universe knew we were a bad idea. Or I only remember the bad times - whichever works for your personal ideology.

Right - so I know three people who don't have me as their giftee (unless they're great bluffers...)

I've already sent my gift to my secret santa recipient. I hope I picked a good one. I strayed from the food theme based upon posts they made on the Cellar.

Let's put it this way. If you played strip poker with any of the three of us, we'd end up naked.

Of course you'd get the same results with chess, checkers, lawn darts (ouch).....:rolleyes:

How come we aren't making our giftee's wait til Christmas to open their presents? It's just not right. No one should be allowed to open gifts before Christmas Day, Santa would not be happy.

My victim is local anyway, damnit. :rolleyes:

You got LJ? What rip off. :D

Screw that. Chanukah starts the night of Dec 21st.

Playing with a dreidel is not the same.

It is if your dreidel's big enough.;)

BTW, my SS has asked what size bed I own.......HMMMMMMMM

Wow - Rich is getting a hooker!

That's why, during Christmas time, I switch to Jewish! Earlier presents=much happiness!

And if rich is getting a hooker...I wonder what Lj and jinx are getting...

I am adding a more affordable alternative gift idea. This is about half the price of the other and much more funner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA

Dear Santa ...
anything I can eat
anything I can listen to
anything I can knit with
preferred colours purple, green, red, blue
yours expectantly (if it's not too late)
limey

Please continue....

All packed up and ready to go ...

I got my pressie today. Going to post it tomorrow. :)

You got yours already? Your SS is fast!

I thought I read somewhere that the target was to have them delivered in early December, around 2-3 weeks from now. Is that right?

Ali meant she bought her present, and she is going to get in in the mail to her recipient :)

Yes Glatt, ideally they should arrive by early Dec, so there is plenty of time for people to post pics of the gifts and guess before eveyone gets busy for the holiday at the end of the month.

Please don't forget to PM me when you mail (or 'post', ya weirdo furriners) your gifts so I can keep track!!

I have 1/3 of mine.
Or maybe a 1/4, depends on postal prices.
Not even thinking of posting (mailing for your furriners) until December though.

The fact that I have to list the contents on the customs form AND provide my name and address means I'd rather stay secret for as long as possible - it's the only surprise my recipient will get!

I had my gift shipped on Saturday. It should arrive at my SS in a few more days.

you don't have to be terribly specific. "novelty gift" works well.

Hey y'all! I didn't catch this thread til too late, but I remember someone requesting no noobs so I wouldn't have been able to participate anyways. But I love Secret Santa and y'all seem like a great bunch, so ya think I can join next year? :p

Really? Okay then.
The first gift I received from the States was very specific on the Customs form, so being a very law abiding type, I've always done the same myself.

Actually, two parcels of books I sent to Kenya were opened by Customs, so I was glad they had exactly what was stated on the form.

I may be a little less specific then. Reckon I'll get away with "recreational narcotics" for cocaine?

Tulip, if you're here next year you more than qualify!

yes, don't lie on the form, but you can be vague. they x-ray them before they go to the effort of opening them. obviously if you put the value at $200, "novelty gift" isn't going to ring true and if you're sending branston pickle that might be tough too -but put "souvenir condiment" for that..... etc. be creative :D (but truthful)

try "Nasal Cosmetics"

Nasal confections you mean...

I was thinking like a little anti-glare powder..... it's so embarrassing when you have shiny nostrils

crap! I bought loose tea, and need to ship internationally. Am I screwed?

Bought part of SS gift! Yay, I am so excited!

Oh. Now the heat is on.

Bought it a week ago, still need to get in the mail. Don't worry Santa's little helper is on the way to the rescue.

Although the original use was for pain control, I think cocaine is a "recreational stimulant."

I think Bill Cosby used to do a bit where he mentioned that cocaine is supposed to enhance one's personality ... "But what if you're an asshole?"

Little Saturday Afternoon stream of consciousness there ... I've just finished wrapping up and addressing my SS-box ... just need to get off my lazy butt and take it to the Post Office. Won't be able to do it Monday because the car's being inspected that morning ... I'll get it there.

Bought and mailed mine today!

Argh! I'd really better get on with mine if so many people are sending them in their own country!

I finally got mine wrapped tonight and I intend to ship it on Monday. This morning I was humming "Felize Navidad" in the shower. This was wrong because:

a) Christmas is not for another 33 days.
b) I don't speak Spanish
c) I'm Jewish

I remember when Christmas decorations did not go up until Thanksgiving. I think that I've been hearing Christmas music for the past 2 weeks.

I'm so glad you're all getting into the Christmas spirit nice and early. :)

Round here, I think the economy has them starting early. it's usually the day after thanksgiving, but the bells started this monday and the elevator-version xmas songs were irritating the f outta me today, but the decorations in the parking lots aren't yet up. usually the decorations go up and then IT starts.

Santa has been at our mall for about 2 weeks now...

Tell him to get off his fat ass. The Dwellers are suppose to get their gifts by 14 Dec.

oh oops? Really?

Plenty of time.... although I was trying to buy mine today and failed. I might just make jim do it since he so thoughtfully signed me up for it in the first place... bah hamburger...

No matter. It's just another way of saying "Dude! I hope the sun god comes back, I'm freezing my nads off!"

dropping in again for my weakly visit...

I'd still like to have some more helpful clues...

Novelty gifts? Ooookay. I can do that. Novelty edible gifts? With local flavor? Homemade?