A Midsummer Night's Dream (Summer 2014 Secret Santa) Discussion

[chelsealady]

I swear I'm going to start wrapping tonight. I have a pile of boxes in the corner that I have to go thru. But none of it is for me. It is either for my FGC or one of the nieces.

 

[Jac13]

@ I like to go on campus bookstore and see what the different English professors have assigned as reading material. I have found some really good books like that. Of course I don't buy it from there; I go online or to a local bookstore for much cheaper prices.

 

[trekkersangel]

I've got 3 boxes in my closet right now with everything thrown inside.  I need to go through it & finally start wrapping it all up.  I'm getting excited because I know kind of what I "want" everything to look like. . . I just have to figure out how to get it to that point.  

@ I do the same thing with books on Amazon.  I have seriously gotten almost brand new books for pennies!  I love it!!!  We read a lot in this house so it always is a great way to save money & still get fabulous new books to read for all ages.

 

[puppymomofthree]

I am trying to be good FGM and not buy much!  I could not resist the Julep mystery box with the cleansing oil and free cleansing oil promo, but I other than memeboxes (and spending my BG giftcard from GB on items way out of the budget) that has been my only splurge...and the memeboxes will not be here for months...and I use the oil all the time, so back-ups of back-ups of back-ups will be appreciated to no end!  Going to hide my CC's from myself!

 

[meaganola]

Don't forget your local libraries! And I don't mean to check books out for borrowing purposes: A lot of them will have a little area where you can buy used books, typically donated to the library by people for this purpose. It's a fundraising mechanism for the library. My brother works for a library with one of these, and every time I have a big bag of books I can't sell at Powell's (GREATEST BOOKSTORE EVER. I think it's Portland's biggest tourist destination, but it's a tourist attraction that locals go to as well), I cart them to his library.

ETA Bank fraud update! My credit union received my affidavit and credited the money! I still don't have a new debit card yet, but at least the money is back.

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

@@meaganola that's awesome!  It's so horribly inconvenient when it happens, but thank goodness that banks these days have the protection/ability to restore the money.

Agreed on checking the library!  I did do that at least that before hitting up Amazon, but our teeny rural library is heavy on the NYT Best Seller List and light on the sci-fi/fantasy realm (my personal favorites!).  My mom just cleaned out half their used paperback section when she visited last weekend, but she likes the romance and mystery genres.

 

[Lolo22]

@@meaganola whew!! Glad to hear the money was returned quickly!

 

[meaganola]

Ooh, and I just received a Kickstarter backer package from this campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/different-deck-playing-cards-reinvented

My backer level meant I received two of each deck.  I want to open *one* deck to look at all of the pretty pictures, but I can't decide which one!  I'm kind of leaning towards a black deck just because it's, well, different from the usual white deck.

 

[nikkimouse]

Ooh, and I just received a Kickstarter backer package from this campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/different-deck-playing-cards-reinvented

My backer level meant I received two of each deck.  I want to open *one* deck to look at all of the pretty pictures, but I can't decide which one!  I'm kind of leaning towards a black deck just because it's, well, different from the usual white deck.

those are really cool cards I love the art work /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> 

 

[Sheeeeeelby]

FGM, if you are looking for a sweet treat for me : I'd love some SunKist Fruit Gems or Morinaga Hi-Chew fruit chews!!! I can't find them anywhere near me and they're both so good. I'm debating on whether or not I should just buy them from Amazon already lol!

Not completely sure what treats I should send to my FGC. My area is known for cherry products and fudge. Or we also have a local potato chip company, haha. 

Also I'm debating on whether or not to add in a Scentsy plug-in and a wax bar for my girl. Thoughts?? 

 

[lovepink]

Does anyone else see their godchild talking about buying or thinking about buying something, and all you want to do us say, "Nooooo!" -- because you already bought it for them? I have to practically sit on my hands to not say something!

And I can add you to my miniscle list of people who are not my FGM!  I have NOT been posting about the things I am buying so as not to stress out my FGM.  There are like a million things I am OOH SHINY about and do not want to make her have to change course.

@@meaganola  I think a lot of us mentioned we wouldn't mind dupes. Is it something she wouldn't mind having a dupe of??

But back on the ice cream topic, Talenti Gelato (so not really ice cream...BUT BETTER!) it's so delicious! We normally get B&J but this was on sale so we decided to try it. Caramel Apple Pie....so good! & since its gelato, it's nice & smooth & creamy. I'm hooked! 

OMG Talenti is the best!  I love the sea salt caramel one.   Another delish one is Caramel cookie crunch (see a theme here?) My husband & I almost bought the caramel apple pie one!  I will try that one next since I have a recommendation!

FGM, if you are looking for a sweet treat for me : I'd love some SunKist Fruit Gems or Morinaga Hi-Chew fruit chews!!! I can't find them anywhere near me and they're both so good. I'm debating on whether or not I should just buy them from Amazon already lol!

Not completely sure what treats I should send to my FGC. My area is known for cherry products and fudge. Or we also have a local potato chip company, haha. 

Also I'm debating on whether or not to add in a Scentsy plug-in and a wax bar for my girl. Thoughts?? 

Yay scentsy!  Do it!  I love the birthday cake scent one it is my favorite.  They always come out with cute new warmers.   I have a plug in and a regular one for the living room.  Scentsy also makes great room sprays (I keep one in the bathroom) and little travel tins that are great for cars or drawers. We rented a rental car that was "smoke" free and smelled like pipe tobacco so I put one of those tins in there in "skinny dipping."  Mmm

ETA: Since I cannot put all my thoughts down at once (this is what I get for interneting on an empty stomach) apparently my gift has a theme and it is two.  I seem to have 2 of all types of products in there!  

 

[tulosai]

Ooh, and I just received a Kickstarter backer package from this campaign:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/different-deck-playing-cards-reinvented

My backer level meant I received two of each deck.  I want to open *one* deck to look at all of the pretty pictures, but I can't decide which one!  I'm kind of leaning towards a black deck just because it's, well, different from the usual white deck.

I love those!!!

Regarding books, I second the library suggestion. Some of them even have 'stores' where they have quite a few books.

I'm really obsessed with reading... including children's books even though I have no kids.  Something about children's books makes me really happy  /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Sheeeeeelby]

@@lovepink  the fiance & I just ran to Meijer real quick for ice cream run. I actually just got Sea Salt Caramel! Not bad! and last night, he got the Caramel Cookie Crunch! I'm a huge caramel lover too - but Caramel Apple Pie has been my fave out of the 3 so far!! 

Yeah I'm a consultant (and very much addicted) so I know alllll about them! lol. Personally I have them all over my house just because with my dog, I feel much safer about having no flame. There's been a few times I was like shoot, did I blow out the candle & constantly worried about it. I felt terrible. I think I'll try a plug-in and a bar & maybe a scent circle too! 

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

@@tulosai I love children's books! I love poems, I love happy endings, and I love fanciful characters... Kids books have all of those! I read "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" to my 4-year-old tonight.  It went something like this:

Me: If you give a mouse a cookie...

Him:  I want a cookie!

Me:  Then he'll probably want a glass of milk...

Him:  I want milk!

Me:  And a straw to go with it...

Him:  I want a straw!

It was hilarious. 

 

[Kristine Walker]

 Books, the gift that always fits! I love having dupes of my favorite items, that way I always know I have it waiting in the wings. Yard sales often have fantastic book deals, many times I've lugged home entire boxes for only 2-3 dollars a box. Whatever I don't want gets donated to the library.

   Momma and my husband have to listen to me yammer daily about this fun swap, they have ooooo and aaaaahed over all the pressies, but I can tell they are ready for me to find a new talking point. This is so exciting though!

 

[dressupthedog]

I love children's books as well. They're magical and delightful in a way that adult books can't quite be. I spend a lot of reading. I love looking around used book stores. I've been informed that there is an excellent one in my new city. I will have to remember to venture that way one of these days.

 

[luckyme502]

I am not very crafty, but I love to cook and bake!  I could make some cookies and brownies and send them to my FGC.  I have been told that I make some of the best brownies ever!  I wish I could make dinner for her.  I love cooking!  

I love to read, but I haven't had much time lately.  I miss reading now that I think about it.  I guess I need to make it a goal to read at least one book this summer.  

Just got back home from a meeting and I think we are going to have to cancel our women's retreat for this weekend because not enough ladies signed up.  I'm really disappointed!  I love the women's retreat we host every year.  When I came home and told my husband, he suggested another idea for this weekend, so I have to add research to my to-do list for tomorrow.  

 

[elizabethrose]

To my FGM: I haven't been posting a whole lot lately and I apologize for that.. I don't actually have an excuse, I'm currently unemployed and not doing much.  I'm spending a majority of my hours watching hours and hours and hours of The West Wing and reading lots and lots of news on national security type things, cause that's my jam.

Also beginning to stress out a little bit because I just got my first syllabus for grad school and I have to read the Tribune, Sun Times (both Chicago newspapers), and at least one other major news outlet from cover to cover every single day.  Come June 23rd, I will no longer have a life.

 

[yousoldtheworld]

I found a couple of things on my FGC's list and I'm pretty excited about that. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Still have quite a bit of shopping to do, but I am going to take my time, anyway - I want to make sure to make it great. 

 

[kawaiiwoofs]

@@luckyme502 brownies sound awesome! Toss one here!