Secret sodding Santa.

[AllGoodDogs]

First time in years I'm involved in one! I'm fairly new to my job but the co-worker I've drawn in SS has only been here a month so I don't know her too well.

£10 budget, she's early 30's, married with a young baby and a dog. I'd love some original ideas please - not just standard Boots gift set etc.

What's the best (& worst) SS gifts you've had?!

Thanks!

Nice chocs, photo frame, desk calander, mini pamper hamper, wine.

Wine always seems to go down well & I think smellies are always nice. In terms of more original, not sure. I know you don't know her all that well but has she mentioned any hobbies/interests? You could get something related to that. Does she wear scarves? Some cute slippers? Hair stuff? Photo frames? Nice candle? Reed diffuser? Mug? That's all I get think of right now! If I think of any other things I'll come back to you!

How about above mug for the office? Look at the Sophie Allport website

I'm back! A winter hat? Funny book about motherhood? (As she has a young baby) Does she like cooking do you know? Boots do some great spice/herb gift sets. Make up set if she wears any? Really can't think of anymore now!

Oxfam has some nice ethical mugs

Fingerless gloves
Thermal travel mug
Luxury coffee
A mug with hot chocolate powder
Paperchase 2018 diary

Minus the dog this could describe me. I would hate candles and Reed diffusers (child would eat them).

Yy to the generic good chocolates or a bottle of wine.

maybe a nice photo frame or a pack of those ones that stick on the fridge

travel mug and Costa voucher or beanies coffee/tea gift set with different flavours

nice hot water bottle

adult colouring book and pens

lush bath bombs

pretty diary/notebook and pen

gloves

New paperback and booklight/bookmark

nice tree decoration

Worst was a shower cap that was done to look like a Christmas pudding. I had bought some toiletries and favourite chocolates for the person I drew. As everyone sat opening things like smellies, nailvarnish sets and chocolates I felt so hurt. I threw it away.

I never joined in again.

grannytomine That's a bit rubbish. I don't really like Christmas themed novelty gifts, I think it's nice to get something someone would enjoy/use/get something out of rather than something which will probably get thrown away.
I've always been given stuff like toiletries or candles which I really appreciate. I've never been given a bad gift (so far!)

Pretty toiletry/make-up bag?

Last year my ss who was new to the team bought me one of those lovely lunch bags. I’ve used it everyday since and it’s not something I would have bought myself! She put a mini bottle of prosecco and some chocolates in it!

Most useful ss present I’ve ever had!

i've seen a few nice prosecco/gin & tonic/cocktail lip balm trios around this year that would make a lovely gift for this sort of thing. white stuff have some as do m&s & various other stores

Does she wear earrings? I would love earrings or a scarf.

Nice recipe book or something like a Christmas magazine, wine and chocolate (if you could do that in budget)

Something like this nails inc gift set - although this is over budget at £13.50, but something similar?

For Secret Santa at work we all have to buy "something FUNNY and appropriate to the person for £5 from charity shop".

Last year someone bought me plastic toy sunglasses, the year before it was a Thomas the Tank engine video (I'm 58). (No way did they spend £5) (Though, to be fair, I actually spent £5 and couldn't find anything that fitted the criteria either).

I'd really rather we all just chucked £5 in a pot and donated it to a charity. Having to wrap something that you know is awful and then give it as the world's most disappointing gift is just vaguely depressing.

Reasons my kid is crying if you want a humorous book

Anything from M&S then at least she can exchange it for a pair of pants

Wow loads of great ideas! The lunchbag with a mini bottle of Prosecco sounds like a fab idea! Will look up that book too, thanks

Sass & Belle have some really cute lunch bags in their Black Friday sale - loving this and this for £2.50.

£2 for a mini prosecco bottle & £5.50 on chocolates! Great idea from jock.

Best one I had was a metre long Dairy Milk bar when I was 12. Also liked a reusable water bottle for work/the gym.

Forgot to say - one year I received a gorgeous Christmas decoration which was a lovely idea.

I have been bought some really lovely decorations in ss. I would never spend that much myself on one bauble so it seems very luxurious to have someone buy one for me. I think this is especially nice when you're still setting up your home and adding to your Christmas decoration collection. Once I got a beautiful snow globe which I still pop on my bedside table each year.

Both Next and Matalan have some cute make up/toiletries bags with an initial letter on it. (£8 in Next, £6 in Matalan) A girl can never have too many little bags. Could pop some chocs in or nice lip balm or bath bomb.

If she brings lunch to work, then a lacquered/plastic bento box?

I'd be amazed if anyone really needs another mug, but the aforementioned travel mug is a good idea.

Tbh I'd probably prefer the Prosecco and maybe some really nice caramelised almonds or something a bit different to more chocolate, as there's so much of it around at Christmas.

A really beautiful glass bauble would be nice as well.

@CaseStudyResearch thank you for that site! Ordered a lunch bag and foldable shopping bag for my SS, and this for my best friend after she mentioned last week she bought her mum one and wished she'd gotten herself one :)