Best products from r/secretsanta

My Dearest Santa:

In the event that you would like some specific items to help jostle your brain cells in to thinking of an item or if you just want to get it for me...

This thing is cool. It's been hanging out in my Amazon wish list for a while. I also have those miracle berries or the miracle berry tablets that mess with your taste buds on my wishlist.

Survey!

Name: Jennifer

Favorite types of food: Salty stuff

Favorite 3 types of Candy: Chocolate-covered peanuts, chocolate-covered raisins... I dunno. I don't each much candy :p I was recently informed of chocolate-covered cranberries! I want to try it!

Chocolate Yes/No: Sure

Favorite Scent: I like most scents!

Do you have any Hobbies? Half-assed crafting, exercising (my treadmill is broken, buy me a new one?? :D?), going to parks and walking in them, playing PC games (I'll give you my steam name if you want to know and stalk my game purchases... you can make a throwaway if you want to stay anonymous! I mostly play TF2 and Terraria, though), thinking of inventions that will obviously make me rich

Favorite Author/Genre of Book: Fantasy/sci-fi, I suppose! I'm currently primarily reading Harry Potter but I switch to LOTR (which I am reading for the first time) sometimes.

Favorite type of animal: Cats! Seriously, they're awesome.

Movie you would like to own: Uhhhh. I own all of the movies that I want to own, actually.

Favorite Color: Most of them

What person (dead/alive) you would like to meet? Carl Sagan, but probably many others, too.

Favorite Music Artist/Type: Rock in general. Favorite artist... I dunno. I suppose these the bands I listen to most often: MSI, mc chris, muse, queens of the stone age, various dubstep/brostep, mastodon, gnarls barkley, dethklok, poison the well, 90s dance music (my only weakness)

Do you Collect Anything? Monies I find that are especially old. Twist ties from bread.

Favorite Stores to shop at: Big Lots!!! Target, Deal$, Dollar Tree...

Favorite Drink: Diet Rite (caffeine-free, calorie-free, no aspartame)

Favorite Sports Team/Athlete: N/A, really. I will watch my boyfriend play TF2 or DOTA2 like it's a sport, though

Favorite Time of the Year: The parts that are around 70 degrees. My house is old and turns mild cold into super cold and does the same with heat

One Place You Would Like to Visit: Aurora Borealis on mushrooms

Favorite Magazines: Scientific American MIND

Favorite Restaurants to Eat at: The ones with tasty food

Favorite TV Show: Let me first say that I cancelled my TV subscription. I watched plenty of TV before I did that, though. I loved most of the stuff on the Science channel before they only cared about construction and how things are made... I dunno wtf they play anymore. Sealab 2021, Eureka, LOST, and many more that probably don't matter anyway

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner? Breakfast. Damn straight

One Actor or Actress You Would Want to Meet: Johnny Depp (if I have to pick somebody). I bet he's even dreamier in person

Favorite Movie Theatre: Silly question

Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Depends on my caffeine needs

Favorite Type of Cookie: Macadamia nut or one with some type of red fruit

Apple or PC? PC, but I do have an iphone 3gs and ipod shuffle

My favorite part of the day is: Meh morning is OK when I'm off of work and maybe want to exercise or get some breakfast from somewhere, afternoon is nice to dick around, evening is nice to dick around

If I ruled the world: It'd be a nice place (unless I am corrupt, then sorry)

Anything else your SS should know: Probably.

Guillotine is fantastic. My friends always ask for that one at game night :)

Timeline has become a new favorite to pull out in-between longer games. We're all in our mid-twenties and enjoy trying to remember our high school history and science classes but I think this would be a good game for Redditors that are looking for games to play with their kids as well. There are a few alternate decks--you can mix and match; they're not true "expansions." Bonus: it comes in a very attractive, small, metal tin and is very portable!

Citadels is another card game that can be played with 2-7 players (though it's honestly better with at least 4). First person to build up their medieval-themed city ends the game, however, all players then count points for their city landmarks (so the biggest city is not necessarily the winning city.) It gets a little madcap as you change "profession" (each with their own special ability) every round but I really enjoy it.

For the Redditor with a darker sense of humor, get Gloom ! The creator actually came up with the idea for the game because his wife didn't like being "mean" to other players in games. In this game, you have 4 spooky families that you literally have to kill with kindness! It's quirky and another one that gets asked for fairly frequently at game nights. It's best with 4 players but there are expansion packs available to gain new families and fit more players in.

Wits and Wagers is a trivia game that isn't, where everyone gets a white board and a marker and has to write either a number or date according to the trivia question on the card (how many feet tall is the Statue of Liberty, etc.) Then you arrange the boards and bet with chips on which one you think is correct--the closest answer wins, everyone is dealt chips, and it goes on for 7 rounds in total. Highly recommended!

As someone who looks forward to having the occasional quiet night in with my boyfriend, I find that there are a lot of games that say they can be 2 player but aren't actually any good with any fewer than 3 or 4 players. Lost Cities is a very good 2 player only game where you're playing as much against yourself as the other player. The Amazon reviews are all more or less indifferent or negative so I had put off buying it but after playing it during a visit with a friend, I knew I had to have it. Mr. Jack , though pricier at $30.47 is another very good 2 player only game of cat and mouse. (I haven't tried the pocket version, which is less expensive, but it seems to have favorable reviews.)

OP has a great list so I hope it's "the more the merrier" with my additions (not trying to step on any toes!)

My pleasure! Photography is expensive, but cooking is a hobby that's easy to get into in measures. I would recommend How to Cook Everything by Bittman as an excellent, excellent first (or even only) book. Check it out next time you're in a bookstore with a decent cooking section - FYI, the newer red cover is updated and (generally) better than the older yellow cover. It's the sort of book you can spend a little time on a Saturday perusing, make a trip to the grocery store, come home, and try something new. And then leave on your shelf for a few more weeks. But if you keep doing that long enough, you'll get pretty decent at cooking. =)

Looks like quite a few people have given some good links for merchandise. I would also suggest checking out ThinkGeek, they usually have some fun stuff.

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If you know if they are Alliance or Horde in WoW then I think these are pretty cool

https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/iuts/

Or a personalized WoW tankard / mug

https://www.amazon.com/Warcraft-Engraved-Tankard-Personalized-Groomsmen/dp/B079VW9S2Z/

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I would say that the energy drinks and snacks idea is a great one, maybe buy one kinda nice piece of merchandise and pad out with snacks. Hopefully they gave some information about favorite snacks, but if not then just go with the stereotypical options.

You're going to do great!

12/14 UPDATE I just received a follow-up gift! Check it out.

+++++++

I received a pretty awesome trollection of goodies: crazy straws, Justin Bieber stickers, "Santa's Coal" bubble gum, KY Jelly, two leather-scented auto fresheners, a bunch of pages ripped out of a mini calendar featuring naked chicks, a pelican silly band, a Joe Bonamassa CD and a TV guide from Decatur, IL.

Thanks, whoever you are!

Oh, and this gift-giver appears to be a Dallas Cowboys fan....so if you see this, here's what I thought about the Cowboys trollchain you sent: http://i.imgur.com/Z3nxi.jpg

Go Skins! Happy Trollidays!

By the way....this ominous note was written on the back of trollface: http://i.imgur.com/Fh6YK.jpg


(this is a resubmission because I forgot "NSFW" tags due to the naked boobies in the picture....sorry!)

It's really nice of you to be thinking this way. It's hard to solve a serious illness like depression by a gift, though. A cheery letter may be appreciated, and maybe add in the Hyperbole and a Half book. It is hilarious, and contains some great pieces about depression.
Edited because spelling is nice.

You're a great santa to care about your giftee/ask how to help them. Pets help a lot with depression. I know you can't give them a dog, cat, etc. but maybe you could find a way to send them a fish/small tank setup like a beta? Or maybe an animal type experience might be available in their area from groupon?

Also maybe [this book by Allie Brosh from Hyperbole and a Half] (https://www.amazon.com/Hyperbole-Half-Unfortunate-Situations-Mechanisms/dp/1451666179) She posted about her depression on her blog

And maybe a little something like this that they can carry with them/hold in their hand just to help them remember that they're amazing.

Dang, I'm just going to be pimpin this all day long:

>My BF is studying to be a computer engineer. Last year I got him this travel router and he loved it. It is literally the size of a credit card (thicker) and can be used to create a local wifi network at hotels which may only have ethernet cords, set up a guest network with a small range at home, or to create a local LAN for gaming.

I know virtually nothing about computers or programming, but my SO was really impressed by this gift.

Thanks. Once I saw that paper on Amazon I knew it would be a good fit for this secret santa. Here's the link if anyone is interesting in picking some up.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MQTY2XC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love traditional board games too. I'd assume that they already have things like Scrabble, Scattergories, and Taboo and go with something like Wits and Wagers, Encore, Sequence, or Loaded Questions. It kinda depends what kind of games they like - strategy/card, singing, word games, party/get-to-know-you games, etc.

Not to try and change your mind, but for those who are curious, here are some great boardgames at or around the $20 price point:

Forbidden Island

Race for the Galaxy

The Resistance

Innovation

For Sale

Roll Through the Ages

Glory to Rome

Citadels

Acquire

Qwirkle

Bohnanza

I quite like the little airplanes you can get for bicycle handles https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-BA-Bike-Airplane/dp/B000OD5T7M

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cat toys are an easy win. Get one with catnip or that crinkles (like these https://www.amazon.com/Petsvv-Mylar-Crinkle-Balls-Kitten/dp/B07HGSP3XV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543417337&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=cat+crinkle+ball&psc=1) and they'll be a hit

Something like this might be fun! It combines two of her likes and it's not crazy expensive

I was surprisingly successful with a quick google search. Like I thought googling "addicted to pot coffee mug" was a shot in the dark.

I found some on amazon for $16 a roll but I loved it and will use it for other things too.

I think Disney did a makeup or Purse line, I saw some cute purses on amazon like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Frozen-Embossed-Lite-Blue/dp/B00WBHRMNI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1481284940&sr=8-6&keywords=disney+womens+purse+frozen

Also some Disney Makeup: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Dare-Dream-Beauty-Mulan/dp/B011AQLBOQ/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481284964&sr=8-3&keywords=disney+makeup

I think a photo frame or something like this she could fill with her family and pets would be amazing.
https://www.amazon.com/Neil-Enterprises-Inc-Floating-Silver/dp/B07PJLZ4F8/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=office+desk+frames&qid=1563233097&s=gateway&sr=8-10


Maybe do something inspirational but not religious to go with it or a letter board that she can write out her own messages on?

Hmmm! You might try some fun desk ephemera? A headset holder? A usb drink warmer/cooler? USB TOAST HANDWARMERS.

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Those really do exist: https://www.amazon.com/Warmers-Fingerless-Heated-Typing-Mittens/dp/B07BHTLG69

What a world we live in.

Kindle version of How to Cook Everything, Completely Revised 10th Anniversary Edition: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great Food. Plus some toys for your cats.

Olyer from Amazon: 4 Pairs Soft Comfortable Novelty Cartoon Aminal Cat Crew Pattern Cotton Socks (4 pairs(4 colors cat)) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0150W0O5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y8PsybTPYDCYE

The Bacon Cookbook, Ratio, and because I'm obsessed with New Orleans food, The Court of Two Sisters Cookbook.

Also someone else mentioned the Cook's Illustrated cookbook which is absolutely amazing.

It seems that your comment contains 1 or more links that are hard to tap for mobile users.
I will extend those so they're easier for our sausage fingers to click!


Here is link number 1 - Previous text "$16"



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