Family members aren’t the only ones that we shop for during the holidays. Friends and co-workers sometimes arrange “Secret Santa” parties. This is how they tend to operate: your group, be it colleagues from the office or the fellow members of your book club, puts everyone’s name into a bowl. Each group member selects a piece of paper from that bowl and the name you see is the person you purchase a secret Santa gift for.
No one reveals whose name they have (remember, it’s “Secret Santa”) and then everyone meets up for a gift-exchanging party. Looking for a fun Secret Santa present that goes beyond the typical candle or bottle of wine? Here are some unique ideas that the recipient will greatly appreciate.
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Kate Spade Office Tackle Box
When you sit at a desk all day long, little items, such as cute desk accessories, make the 9-5 day a bit easier. Fashion icon Kate Spade put a clever spin on a fisherman’s trademark tackle box, but instead of fishing gear, this one’s chock-full of desk goodies. Whimsical office supplies include clamps, tacks, pencils and pads, which are neatly packed into a lucite box. Available at Macy’s and Bloomingdales.
Price: $36
Bamboo NJ Cutting Board
This is a fantastic gift for someone who loves both cooking and personalized special kitchen items. One can show off their Jersey pride with a Bamboo cutting board in the shape of the Garden State. (Yes, all 50 states are available for purchase.) It’s creative and functional, and online feedback vows it’s easy to clean and great for serving snacks, as well as veggie chopping. Available at Bed Bath & Beyond.
Price: $19.99
Lilly Pulitzer Pen Set
In the 60s, New York socialite and fashion designer Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau set out to create an empire. Years later, her fun accessories and attire are still cherished. This set of four black-ink Lilly Pulitzer pens is so pretty it may inspire the recipient to get back into journaling. Each pen has a gold tip and the exterior of the pens has beautiful, bright colors that will bring a smile to one’s face. You’ll spot Lilly Pulitzer’s trademark Logo on the clip. Available at Amazon.com.
Price: $20.00
Cubicle Guest Book
This gift is fabulous for the office employee with an amazing, infectious sense of humor. Museums, historical monuments, wineries and even bridal showers oftentimes have a guest book out for visitors to write a little “I was here!” note. With so many people in and out of your cubicle space, why not have a Guest Book available for them to scribble their John Hancock with a matching doodle? Want more chuckles? Pull it out after a long meeting and pass it around the table. Hardcover with foil stamping, 112 pages. Available at Knock Knock Stuff.
Price: $11.35
Rao’s Cookbook
If you’re the Secret Santa for someone who loves Italian food, gift them with the newly-released Rao’s Classics cookbook. Located in East Harlem, Rao’s legendary, family-owned restaurant is famous for its mouth-watering meals, hard-to-get reservations and complete line of Rao’s food products, including sauces. This cookbook explores the deep history of the Rao family, the restaurant and America’s love affair with Southern Italian cooking. More than 140 recipes included. Available at Amazon.com.
Price: $35
Minimergency Kit
We’ve all had a beauty emergency, from leaving the house without deodorant on, to snagging a run in our pantyhose. Thankfully, Pinch Provisions’s mini kits provide personal care must-have items for women, men, bridesmaids, offices and more. The Minimergency® Kit For Her contains 17 mini items, such as a deodorant towel, teeny-tiny hairspray, clear nail polish and stain remover. The zippered pouch itself comes in a variety of colors and fits in the palm of your hand; it’s cute, colorful and also perfect for business travelers. Click here to view all the kits available. Available on the company website or at Sephora.
Price: $18.00
Our Own Candle Company Candles
The White Butterfly Café and Gift Boutique in Jackson specializes in unique decor and accessories. It’s a fantastic place to browse (and eat!) if you’re seeking a great gift for a co-worker. Check out their collection of yummy scented candles from Our Own Candle Company. Made in New York State, these handmade candles are housed in mason jars and include flavors such as Apple Pie Cinnamon Vanilla and Baby Powder. The shop also sells New Jersey State Necklaces, Sugarfina Candy, Bracelets and more.
Price: $12
Panda Stapler
Most people have a favorite wild animal they love, whether it’s a penguin, a koala or even a dolphin. If there’s a panda aficionado in your office, they’ll love this super cute stapler in the shape of a panda. It’s lightweight, compact and adds a little personality to anyone’s desk. Comes with staples. Available at Amazon.com.
Price: $6.99
Beach in a Box Zen Garden
Take a vacation without ever leaving your desk or home. Beach in a Box is a mini Zen garden that you can easily set up, play with and gaze at while dreaming of digging your toes in the Jersey Shore sand. It’s a great conversation piece for any home or office. The set comes with a beach chair, umbrella, shells, ball, floating ring and sand, pretty much everything but the water. Available at Office Playground.
Price: $8.99
Desktop Dartboard
Need to find a clever new way to pass time in the office, especially when the boss is away? Give someone the gift of a desktop dartboard. Host dart tournaments with co-workers or play around with it to relieve stress. The recipient of this gift will be the envy of the office. Board dimensions: 6.75″ x 8″ x 2.875″. Kit contains 6 plastic and metal tipped darts. Please Note: Darts are sharp, so use caution. Available at Office Playground.
Price: $7.99
Mud Pie Platters and Trays
Kitchen items are a must-have in any home, whether you’re 22 or 82. Kathie’s Gifts and Accessories in Maywood carries fantastic gift items, including a “Follow Your Inner Cheese” set ($24.99), “Oh So Thankful” Serving Platter and Spreader ($34.99) and “Happy” server set ($24.99), all from the home goods brand Mud Pie. They’ll jazz up anyone’s home. The boutique also carries Pandora charms, Vera Bradley items, Christmas ornaments and more.
Bubble Wrap Calendar
One fun way adults and kids alike can alleviate stress is by popping Bubble Wrap. So, why not gift someone with a quirky 2017 Bubble Wrap calendar that sure beats any “Word of the Day” calendar out there? This one looks fab on any wall and has a daily bubble to pop. All days of the week and US holidays are marked for quick reference. The calendar is made of recycled paper label stock, is plastic and manufactured in Brooklyn. Available at UncommonGoods.
Price: $27.00
Bike Multi-tool Keychain
If you’re the Secret Santa for someone who often bikes to work, or is pretty handy around the office, consider gifting them with this multi-functional keychain in the shape of a bike. It keeps holds both light and bulky keys, such as car keys, and easily slips on to a belt loop. There’s even a built in bottle opener. Available at UncommonGoods.
Price: $16.50
Build On Brick Mug
If you’ve got a 9:00 am meeting, you’ll need more than a warm cup of coffee to get you through it. So, why not have some fun with your new mug as you listen to colleagues drone on and on? GameStop’s Build-On Brick Mug is a coffee mug and construction set all in one! It does not come with any mini bricks, but it’s compatible with LEGO, PixelBlocks, Mega Bloks, KRE-O, or K’NEX Bricks. Available at GameStop (online only).
Price: $9.99
Hero (Top) Feature Image: © anaumenko / Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Macy’s / Website
Bed Bath & Beyond / Website
Lilly Pulitzer Pen Set / Amazon.com
Knock Knock Stuff / Website
Allied International Marketing / Amazon
Sephora / Website
White Butterfly Café and Gift Boutique / Website
Panda Stapler / Amazon
Office Playground / Website
Mud Pie / Website
UncommonGoods / Website
GameStop / Website
