2012 Holiday Gift Exchange

artyfacesbyluz wrote:Diane : I am smarter than you!! I misunderstood the rules too and I PM my secret friend asking her for the things I wanted!!! I was so embarrass when she told me it was the opposite way and I have to give her a gift.

HAHAHA!! Well, I'm glad I wasn't the only newbie last year to learn something about it!

I was excited to post here and say this made 100 and I am in, but am understanding of the upset too. I will admit I used the thread to build up my post count but only by a couple. I have been so excited about the swap that I have driven my other half nuts since I found it and he took me out today so I could start my shopping. But it is only fun if everyone that earned it and wants to participates, since my kit is (or was) rather small to begin with I could absorb it if it means others are more comfortable. I too have been burned before and understand. I spend more time reading than I do posting.

I am working on getting the number of posts up to be able to participate, I dont mind giving my location, and my facebook page, ill even give you my phone number, lol

This is really disappointing to read. I was very excited to be on this board and very excited to be part of the swap. I joined in to what I took to be a way to welcome new people to participate. I appreciated that Shannon made the thread. I've always posted my location, I have an avatar of my daughter, I've asked questions and given suggestions before I even knew there was a swap.

What some of you see as new people flocking in to take advantage of you, others of us saw as a chance to become part of a community. I'm sorry you've been burned on swaps. That really sucks. But is it really fair to take that out on new people who had nothing to do with the situation? If you didn't want to participate, you could have just not participated.

Lady jynx ,ninascau, Jenny Nixe, no worries you guys are welcome. I completely understand both sides but your determination to get to one hundred posts tells me that you are very excited to jump in this exchange.

Lady Jayde, you are awesome and I can't imagine someone stiffing you. If you change your mind, I know someone that lives in Gallipolis Ohio that would love to be your secret giver and would not stiff you! Not only cause she thinks you are super cool but because she is afraid that you would drive down to Southern Ohio and kick her butt if she did stiff you,LOL. I'm just sayin..."SHE", is trustworthy. So if you change your mind, just e-mail me your info, and I'll make sure she gets it.

Now, I am off to sort my inbox and match up some folks!

Lady Jayde, I'm with Jody. No way would I stiff you on a gift. Sorry for your bad experiences.

You have a second on that offer to be your secret santa in Columbus Ohio Lady Jayde! The drive down to Columbus to kick my arse would take less time.

And you know I wouldn't stiff you... might send you a stiff one though.

Thank you Jody. I am super excited to be part of the swap. Already started picking things up Probably should have waited to see what my person wanted but I got carried away this morning. I tend to do alot of my shopping early.

My favorite holiday is Halloween and then Christmas and my whole family swears it isn't Christmas without my individually assembled baskets of baked goods, candy, hand decorated ornaments and candles. With all of us spread so far I am already gearing up for at least 20 pounds of fudge and countless hours of candle making. Now that I think about it I am going to need more baskets.

I have started handing out secret pals so it isn't to overwhelming all at once,LOL Don't worry if you have not gotten yours yet, you will, by Nov 11.

I do have a silly question, how do I get in ???? Haha, I know I can just take someone but I guess one of you lucky campers will get an email from me saying surprise, surprise,surprise...you get to send ME something. I don't feel very tactful but guess that is what will happen,LOL

Lol Jody I'm sure anyone would be happy to send you something all this work you're doing setting this up!

JennyNixe wrote:This is really disappointing to read. I was very excited to be on this board and very excited to be part of the swap. I joined in to what I took to be a way to welcome new people to participate. I appreciated that Shannon made the thread. I've always posted my location, I have an avatar of my daughter, I've asked questions and given suggestions before I even knew there was a swap.

What some of you see as new people flocking in to take advantage of you, others of us saw as a chance to become part of a community. I'm sorry you've been burned on swaps. That really sucks. But is it really fair to take that out on new people who had nothing to do with the situation? If you didn't want to participate, you could have just not participated.

Jenny i don't think Jayde meant anything bad by it she more so meant that there were people who have never posted on here at all that wanted to do the one word thing to get in. I know some of you guys just started but have been asking questions and stuff way before this post and just hadn't gotten to 100. She's a sweetheart she wasn't trying to stub you guys just mentioning her experience. It would suck to get burned twice :/

ashovoxo wrote:

JennyNixe wrote:This is really disappointing to read. I was very excited to be on this board and very excited to be part of the swap. I joined in to what I took to be a way to welcome new people to participate. I appreciated that Shannon made the thread. I've always posted my location, I have an avatar of my daughter, I've asked questions and given suggestions before I even knew there was a swap.

What some of you see as new people flocking in to take advantage of you, others of us saw as a chance to become part of a community. I'm sorry you've been burned on swaps. That really sucks. But is it really fair to take that out on new people who had nothing to do with the situation? If you didn't want to participate, you could have just not participated.

Jenny i don't think Jayde meant anything bad by it she more so meant that there were people who have never posted on here at all that wanted to do the one word thing to get in. I know someone you guys just started but have been asking questions and stuff way before this post and just hadn't gotten to 100. She's a sweetheart she wasn't trying to stub you guys just mentioning her experience. It would suck to get burned twice :/

Thanks for that! I've said it over and over again that my intent was not
To discourage anyone from participating. People who know me know that
I'm pretty cut and dry. There are some who don't like that I abhor sugarcoating
and others who like knowing where they stand with me. I won't apologize for being
straight forward about my explanation. We all have a right to our feelings and opinions
and sometimes those feelings and opinions may touch a nerve, but that doesn't mean that it is of less value or should be stifled for the imagined better emotional good of all.
Everybody here has right to be heard, it's as simple as that. Not once did I say people shouldn't participate, I explained why I wasn't going to. If that somehow made others feel bad I'm sorry for your turmoil but I won't apologize for my honesty.

To my fellow Ohio ladies, you guys are aces. Shannon you know I got you.
To everybody else. Enjoy the swap...and may the paint be ever in your favor...

One last thing, could someone point out to me exactly where I took anything out on anyone? I'm baffled and a little annoyed by that assessment. Imagine a world
where nobody expressed their feelings or shared their experiences for fear that someone would object...

Lady Jayde,

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you should hide your feelings. I felt kind of attacked when you described your experiences with past swaps and said you didn't have much confidence in this one because of those of us who were participating in Shannon's thread. As you said, it was a bit baffling -- what do new people now have to do with those who stiffed you in the past?

I expressed my own feelings which, as you've acknowledged, everyone has the right to do. In my experience, many people who say they "don't sugarcoat" and "tell it like it is" really mean they can say whatever they want and no one should ever disagree. I'm glad to see you're not that kind of person.

There's no turmoil here, so no worries. I think we probably should let this thread get back on point now.

On the first day of Christmas my forum friend sent to me....

suzy Sparkle's so bright and sparkly!!!

On the second day of Christmas my forum friend sent to me....

2 snaz pallets

and suzy sparkles so bright and sparkly!!!

On the third day of Christmas my forum friend sent to me

3 wolf black

2 snaz pallets

and suzy sparkles bright and sparkly!!!

on the fourth day of christmas my forum friend sent to me....

4 split cakes

3 wolf black

2 snaz pallets

and a suzy sparkles bright and sparkly!!!

On the fifth day of Christmas my forum friend sent to me....

5 glittering gems

4 split cakes

3 wolf black

2 snaz pallets

and a suzy sparkles bright and sparkly!!!

Oooh! The twelve days of Christmas would make an awesome challenge!

My family makes a new version of it every year. Just a goofy little tradition. Then when we all get together we try to remember all the different versions from over the years.

On the sixth day of christmas my forum friend sent to me....

6 tip jars a ringing

5 glittering gems

4 split cakes

3 wolf black

2 snaz pallets

and a suzy sparkles bright and sparkly!!!

On the seventh day of Christmas my forum friend gave to me....

7 sponges a sponging

6 tip jars a ringing

5 glittering gems

4 split cakes

3 wolf black

2 snaz pallets

and a suzy sparkles bright and sparkly!!!

LJ, getting burned sucks Also, I'd have never, ever imagined attempting to french kiss a tiger. I have a really weird visual in my head now.

Jody - I don't think we hit many snags last year - except when i found out that Luz had emailed her recipient with her wish list! I did wait until the end to sort things out, though, just in case any restrictions with postage/used supplies/etc were going to be a hindrance. Or if someone requested that they be someone's secret Santa, specifically. It was me sitting on the landing with pieces of paper spread out around me in a circle