Secret Pals

New Secret Pals

2006-05-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just an update to remind everyone to sign up for the next group of Secret Pals.
I've already got a few names, along with a few new ones... email me at bloggerpals@gmail.com with your information if you want to get in on this round.

And don't forget your reveal dates are coming up. May 18 - 31.

Reveal Dates & New Secret Pal Group

2006-04-28T04:34:00.000-07:00

It is getting close to our reveal dates and I just wanted to remind everyone. Between May 18 - 31, you should send your secret pal one last package and reveal who you are to her. I'm sure there are a lot of us (especially me) that can't wait to find out and who may have an idea.

I'm ready to start taking names for the next group of Secret Pals. Last time there were a few that wanted to join late, but in much of the confusion of my normal life, it didn't work out. So I thought I would give everyone more time to sign up for this one. I hope we have the same great turn out and I hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have.

If you want to sign up again or for the first time... Email me your name and 'real' email address at bloggerpals@gmail.com. When it starts getting a little closer to the end of May, we'll do another questionnaire and decide on the length, etc. If you have any suggestions on any part of this, just let me know because I can surely use all the help I can get! =)

Clip Art

2006-04-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

I had nothing better to do than play around today. I was trying to make something to go on my own blog but I'm still not happy with any of these. Take them if want to. I'm going to keep on making until I'm happy with one. I'm not sure if the sizes are correct or not, so you may have to resize them or let me know and I will be glad to do it.

Secret Pal Buttons

2006-03-18T05:56:00.000-08:00

I made these the other day when Blogger wasn't letting me post and thought I'd share them.
They aren't the greatest but they will do for now.

Additional Information Needed

2006-03-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone ~
I am enjoying our Secret Pal group as much or more than I imagined.
I've heard nothing but comments from all of the ones playing along with us.
I have had a few request from some but we have to do it as a 'group' so nothing is to obvious.

Here are a few questions that some of us would like to know.

What size p.j.'s?
What size t-shirt?
What size shoes?
Silver or Gold?

You can either post the answers here as a comment or on your blog....
Which ever you are more comfortable with.

I've also had two more people contact me that want to hop on board and join us...
Next time, there will be several others, which is great!

Also, if their is anyone who hasn't had any contact from their Secret Pal, please let me know.

Have you heard from Your Secret Pal?

2006-03-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to make sure everyone has received something from their Secret Pal...
If you haven't had any contact, let me know.

I have another person who has signed up and if there is anyone else wanting to join, it would work out perfect.

3 months won.

2006-02-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

Looks like 3 months is what this Secret Pal group will be.
6 months ran close behind.
I'll say that May 31st will be the end of this group.
Between May 18 - 31, you should reveal to your secret pal who you are, in the last package you send.
Then we can start again and exchange new names if everyone wants to.
And if there are any others that want to join in, they can do so at that time.
Thanks for voting everyone.

Names have been sent

2006-02-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hubby has let me know that all the names have been emailed out.
If you haven't recieved an email with your Secret Pal info. let me know.
The emails should have been mailed to your regular email address.
Don't forget to post your questions and notify your Secret Pal that you have their name... Just don't tell them who YOU are!

I'm off to answer my questions on my blog.

Secret Pal names are going out today!

2006-02-15T07:41:00.000-08:00

Secret Pal names are being sent out today...
Everyone will receive an email with the information of their Secret Pal, on their 'normal' email address.
From there, you should use your 'secret' email address to contact your own Secret Pal.
Don't forget to answer the questions and post it on your blog in the next day or so...

Only thing left is how long this will go on.
It looks like 3 months and 6 months are tied with 7 votes each.
So on Friday morning, I'll check the votes and whichever has the greatest amount of votes will be what we decide... Either 3 or 6 months. If you have a preference, vote on it before Friday morning!

Feb. 14

2006-02-14T07:54:00.000-08:00

Good Morning ~
I just wanted to let you all know that we have 11 confirmed participants.
I am thinking in the next day or two we could start to exchange names, if that is alright with everyone.
When you get your Secret Pal's name, go ahead and answer those questions on your blog so she will start to have a reference to go by...

I've been asked several times if I will have a Secret Pal and the answer is YES!
Beadinggal has agreed to help me in switching the names so I won't know who my secret pal is either.
Also, I need some input on what to do about the return addresses and post mark...
I'm at a loss because anyone could use this information to find out who their SP is... I have figured out what I'm going to do with my pkgs. to insure that my SP doesn't know who I am, but it will be a bit more expensive so I'm not suggesting this to anyone, I just thought I'd share my idea...
When I get something ready to send to my secret pal, I'm going to mail it to my mom, friend, family member, etc. in another state with the postage already on it... Then they can stick it in the mail at their house so the post mark won't be here. Did I explain that correct?
That is the only thing I could come up with and I don't know if it will work or if I'll do it everytime, etc.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Okay... I'm ready to start in the next few days so if anyone is wanting to still join in that hasn't emailed me their information, go ahead and send it so we can all get started!

Questionnaire

2006-02-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this is so your Secret Pal will get to know a little about you and what she could send you. You should post this on your blog, along with the answers and then leave a comment here so your Secret Pal Giver will know it is there.

I've came up with as many questions as I could think of. Let me know of anything else you may think of and I'll be more than happy to add it. [email: bloggerpals@gmail.com]

1. Favorite candy/cookies/snack food.
2. Favorite type of music.
3. Favorite scent.
4. Birthday.
5. Anniversary.
6. Other special date.
7. I celebrate Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/other.
8. Pets? (type of pet & their name)
9. Married?
10. Do you read? (tell what your favorite thing to read is)
11. Favorite color?
12. Do you collect anything? What is it?
13. Any hobbies?
14. Favorite drink.
15. Favorite vacation place.
16. List anything else that you can think of that may help your Secret Pal to get to know you a little better.

Requirements

2006-02-12T18:33:00.000-08:00

The following are the requirements to join up on Secret Pals. I'm open to any and all suggestions... This is my first time at trying to organize a group like this so I will gladly add anything anyone suggest to me. Send them to me at bloggerpals@gmail.com.

1. You will need to send at least one item a month to your Secret Pal. Of course you could send items more often but once a month will let your Secret Pal know you are still participating.

2. You will need your own blog. You can post on your blog when you receive your surprise from your Secret Pal. Since you won't know who they are to tell them the item has arrived and you love/like/dislike/etc. It, you can post it and your sender will know that it did arrive and instead of getting lost in the mail.

3. You will need 2 email addresses. One is the normal email address you check and use all the time. The second email address is one that you will use to contact your Secret Pal and you will also use it to receive email from your Secret Pal. This email account must not have your real name associated with it. There are many places that will allow you to set up a free account pretty quickly such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc. *Remember to use a secret name as your return name.

4. You will have to send your information to Sherry so I can give it to your Secret Pal Sender.

I will need:
Your name
Mailing Address
Real email address

Secret email address
Blog url

~Just so you know, the only person that will have your mailing address is myself, along with your Secret Pal... I'll be the only one to have your real email address and that will be 'just in case'...~

5. After receiving the name and information of your Secret Pal, send them an email (from you secret address) to let them know they have a new Secret Pal.

At the end of the 3, 6 or 12 months (whatever is decided)... You will need to send your Secret Pal a final gift/card/etc. And reveal yourself to them. This is one of the greatest parts ~ finding out who had been sending you all that stuff!

6. Be anonoymous! When you send your items in the mail do not use your real name. Think of something that will go along with your secret email address, use Minnie Mouse, Secret Pal, etc.

I'm sure there will be other items added as this really gets going to make this a go smooth. If you can think of anything, just drop me a line.

Gift Ideas For Your Secret Pal

2006-02-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

Gift Ideas

***Fell free to add your ideas to the list also***

Candy/Cookies/Snacks
Stationary and a pen
Address book
Picture frame
Photo alblum
Books/Magazines
Cards (don't forget holidays/birthdays/etc.)
Candles
Homemade cookies/candy
Bubble bath/bath items
Specialty coffee/tea
Key chain
Magnets
Package of flower/plant seeds
Coffee mugs
Postcard from where you live or travel to
Homemade craft items
Anything to add to a collection they have or hobbies
Plants/flowers
Email cards from your secret email address

Misc. info. about Secret Pal

2006-02-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

There will be a questionnaire that I will post which you will need to answer on your blog. The questions will be information for your Secret Pal Buyer to get an idea of what you may or may not like, your hobbies, etc. It will be like a guideline for the Secret Pal Buyer. I need input on what questions to ask... So if you can think of something you may need to know or want to know about the Secret Pal your will be buying for...Email it to me at bloggerpals@gmail.com.

Once all the secret pals are passed out, we can continue to do this for 3, 6, or even 12 months. I would like some input from everyone on how long this should go on. At the end of that time, we can start over and possibly change names to all that want to do it again. I think it is normally done for 6 or 12 months but I'm going to leave that up to everyone.

I hope that once we get started, everyone will continue to do their part until the end of it. But if for chance someone can't, if they will just let me know, I'll make sure that their Secret Pal continues to receive something until the end... (I will call this Secret Pal Elves) If 2 people stop doing it, the other 2 will be linked up. (I sure hope I made sense trying to explain that).

Just keep in mind that this is suppose to be fun and not stressful! Each gift should be small, inexpensive, or homemade - it’s the thought of being remembered that counts! A little card in the mailbox can make someone's day!

2005-04-29T17:37:00.000-07:00