Equestrian Blogger Secret Santa for the Win

Peppermint mochas and mistletoe. Silent Night and a candlelight Christmas Eve service. Poinsettias and presents. Random horse people I’ve never met before sending me gifts. What do these things have in common? They are fabulous Christmas traditions I look forward to every year. And my 2018 Equestrian Blogger Secret Santa did not disappoint!

If you’re not familiar with the annual Equestrian Bloggers Secret Santa gift exchange and you’re a blogger, you need to mark it down on your 2018 calendar so you can join in the festivities next year. I was excited to scheme for my Secret Santa giftee (Emma from Fraidy Cat Eventing), and I wondered over the course of the last month who my special Santa would be. And now for the big reveal. . .

Stacie from Amateur at Large was the thoughtful Santa from across the land who gifted me with a box full o’ goodies which I shall now share with you. (Thanks, Stacie!)

Right away I knew this was going to be fun because what says fun like an ugly Christmas sweater theme? I observed right away the necklace, pencil and ugly sweater playing cards. (The cards are in the shiny box on the right, by the penguin. Sorry for the glare.)

Speaking of the penguin, what’s not to love about penguins? I remember one year at Christmas when I was single I watched The March of the Penguins alone and I was bawling. I was astonished at the penguins’ commitment to their mates and wondered how those birds could find a partner who’d march across the tundra for them and I was coming up short on all my stupid Internet dates. But that, my friends, is a story for another time and another place (like my equestrian dating memoir which I plan to publish next year).

So inside the penguin were chocolates and candies and I ate one or two right away and loving placed the rest into my secret candy drawer in the kitchen. But that wasn’t the end of the sweets!

I opened the first of the wrapped packages and found these glorious Christmas trees. Aren’t they so cute? I loved the neighborly touch of the Christmas cookies!

I then opened another wrapped gift and found, to my delight, an ear bonnet! I don’t think I’ve posted this fact anywhere, but I lost my one not-fancy ear bonnet in the wildfire. I didn’t bother replacing it because my insurance is lame and I’m not going to file a claim for my losses (if I file they will raise my homeowners’ rates 45% for three years). So when I saw a navy with sparkly crystal bonnet from Equine Couture in my hands, I might have had moist eyes! How did Stacie know? I love it and am excited to try it on Knight in the new year.

And she also gave us a cool hoof pick in the navy theme and a fun browband that’s green and navy. She included in a sweet Christmas card from her and her herd (horses and pups). It was all lovely and generous and I was floored.

Thank you to Stacie and thank you to Tracy (for hosting) and thank you to you, reader, for reading! This is a really fun annual event and I am excited to participate again in 2018.

Merry Christmas!

Do you participate in a Secret Santa exchange? If so, were you pleased with Santa’s picks this year? Tell us in the comments section.

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