It’s no secret that I LOVE Christmas. My tree would be set up in September if my husband didn’t threaten to cut it down with a chainsaw (notice I said my tree – it’s MINE).
This year, to add to my Christmas-ness, I was lucky enough to be included in a Social Media Secret Santa with some awesome bloggers from all around Australia. There were around 100 participants and I even spied one person from New York – the powers of the internet! There are no boundaries any more.
We’ve been chatting and stalking one another for some time now, trying to decide on the *perfect* present. To say I’m an overthinker would be the understatement of the century. I’m a card-holding member of Overthinkers Anonymous. No seriously. So finding the ultimate present for my recipient meant I had to search the web, read her blog, follow her around the interwebz and start all over again.
Eventually I pulled this together:
I worked on the theory that I’ve been coveting those M-Cups forEVER and anyone would be happy to have them. I mean, they’re measurting cups AND BAbushka dolls! Genius!
So I patiently (ok, impatiently) waited for my gift to arrive. The idea that a complete stranger could possibly choose something that would make the hair stand up on the back of my neck in Christmassy excitement was foreign to me. Each day our lovely Postie shook her head and rode off as I watched her come and go…no present.
Then the day arrived. My squeals of excitement made Lucky look at me in horror as ‘that crazy mum lady’ and even Mr Handyman couldn’t quite understand my enthusiasm for a package. It turns out, he thought it was something I’d bought myself!
I opened it to find the most amazing frame with the following saying inside:
Devote today to something so daring even you can’t believe you’re doing it
To say I love it just wouldn’t suffice. It sits proudly in my office and one day, when I can get Mr Handyman to drill into the bricks, it will hang above my workspace.
The thing I like most of all, is the connection I’ve made with some fabulously motivated and brilliant women out there. I’ve come across some amazing writers through this who in turn encourage me to be a better version of myself.
This simple secret santa has reminded me that although it can feel isolating to work from home, there are so many others like me. I can’t possibly feel alone if there are others feeling the same way…
Working Women Australia 
I LOVE those babushka measuring cups! I have been enjoying seeing all the photos of everyone’s gifts and the wrapping has been impressive too!
I bought my SS gift while on holiday and I tried to get something she would like but I have this fear that she didn’t. Oh well. hard to get someone something when you don’t know them. But I’d never heard of her before and now I have a new blog to read. Yay.
Love the green frame too!
It’s tough to choose the gift isn’t it? But I have to say, reading through people’s blogs and FB pages has helped a little 🙂
Yay! I went with the theory, buy something I would love. I figure a quote like that in a frame is very modern, and I truly believe for us ladies that blog, well we’re pretty modern!
The quote is from Katrina Chambers (aka. the block).
You did a wonderful job Mandy 🙂 I love it! Can’t wait to find some time to start reading over at A LIttle Space Like Home xx