I thought about Secret Santa this weekend...

[seabreeze]

Can you believe it? I guess with the definite "feel" and "look" of fall with the low-humidity here in eastern VA and with school starting and all, I actually thought about Secret Santa. I suppose the arrival of a new Smartpak catalog added to the momentum, too.

Last year was the first year I participated, and it was one of the best Christmas activities I have done in years! I can't wait to do it again this year!

[ChocoMare]

Hmmm, must have had the ESP going. My thoughts have been down the Sleigh Path too. I'll probably post next week with the official thread. :D

[equineartworks]

Seabreeze you are going to love this years Secret Santa! I am SO excited! We have some really neat things up our sleeve and we are hoping it makes it even easier and more fun than ever. :D

eta...

umm...Choco? I would say ESP is definitely in play. We posted at almost the exact same time lol!

[twinkle]

I too have turned my thoughts to Secret Santa. The past 2 years have been so much fun and my S.S's were AMAZING!

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Special Horses will be organizing Secret Santa for our participating groups again! This time it will be like a "wedding registry" on the site. Maybe I'll even do regular SS as well.

[harveyhorses]

How does it work? :))

[Brown Horse]

How does it work? :))

Yes...and can any of us participate? :cool:

[jen-s]

Yes, details please..... I was new to COTH last year and didn't participate.

[ChocoMare]

On October 1st, I'll post a new thread: OFFICIAL 2009 COTH SECRET SANTA SIGN-UP

Within it are the directions. Here are parts of last year's so you can get a idea.

**************************

Send an e-mail to ss_chief_elf@yahoo.com (ss_chief_elf@yahoo.com) with all of the following information

1. Your COTH Board Name

2. Your real name and full address, including country

3. Your e-mail address(es).

4. Your phone number.

5. The exact dollar amount of money you're willing to spend on your SS, rounded to the nearest $10. .

6. A YES or NO as to whether you'd be willing to ship overseas or to Canada. We have quite the international contingent and certainly don't want them to feel left out.

7. A description of yourself! This is your chance to tell your Secret Santa about who you are, what you like/need/want/dislike/etc.

**************

Usually I close it to entries on the 30th. Then spend the next week or two mix and matching COTHers within each spending range group. I then privately e-mail you who your SS Giftee is, along with their info. The rest is up to you.

[Lori T]

I'm ready to participate again! It has been so much fun doing this!

[Murphy's Mom]

'Tis the season. I've done it several years now at different price ranges depending on my finances that year. Always fun!

[Carrera]

I too was thinking about SS and the card exchange this weekend!

I CAN'T wait :smile:

[cocopuff]

This thread has me excited! I'm new to COTH and saw all the buzz last year over Secret Santa. I'm a SS virgin and would love to participate this year!

[HorsesinHaiti]

Remember, regular SS participating folks can go shop now at the SpecialHorses auction.

plug, plug

[ex-racer owner]

This sounds great! I'm sure many COTHers have the same situation, where you have to pretty much detail what you want for a gift (birthday, Christmas). My sister and I send online links to one another, especially so one can let Dad know what to get the other (he's clueless, but he's our Dad and we love him :lol:). This sounds great because then we can all get a surprise for a gift! I'm really looking forward to it. Great idea!

[equineartworks]

sent in my info!

And because I am a little slow on the uptake I realized after I posted that this is the Secret Santa and I was talking about Secret Santa for the Rescues above. SORRY! :lol:

[ChocoMare]

FYI: The COTH Board Member Secret Santa is NOT open yet. The real thread will be started by me on October 1st.

A separate thread will be created for SS for Rescues by either Equineartworks or DressageGeek

[Noctis]

YAY! I was starting shopping already! OK so I start stashing in February lol

[dressagetraks]

I was just thinking about this, too! I've been in 2 years, and it's been a blast. So neat to be dealing with horsey people who "get it." My family, bless them, tries to give me horsey gifts sometimes, but I have also received gifts like "a bit" from them. Yep, brother went down to the tack store (95% Western) and was stunned to find out that there is not a generic bit, so of course he picked the biggest and shiniest. :D:lol: Bigger is better, right?

[ChocoMare]

And just as a public service announcement:

WARNING TO ANY POTENTIAL GRINCHES :mad: Grinching will absolutely, positively, 1000% NOT be tolerated!!!!

For those new folks who might be gun-shy or those past participating COTHers who have been grinched, let me reassure you:

I have the last FOUR years of Secret Santa participant records, so this hear Chief Elf In Charge knows who the Grinches are. In fact, I just checked each of their board names to see when they last logged in. If it's anywhere within the last 18 months, I've flagged their name to be extra sure they don't sneak in.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Remember, regular SS participating folks can go shop now at the SpecialHorses auction.

plug, plug
THANK YOU!!

[equestrian72]

I am excited to sign up when it opens up in October. I was sad that I lissed out last year as it sounds like it would be great fun!

[horse-loverz]

I've been thinking about it too.. I had so much fun shopping for my SS last year!! Can't wait to do it again this year. :cool: