Ideas for a Yankee Swap?

MrsJenE

I need ideas for a Yankee Swap.  It can be crazy or nice, but it can't be NSFW.

For those who don't know what a Yankee Swap is, I think people called it a White Elephant when I was living in LA.  It's the same sort of idea.

RiverPlate

Does it have a theme?  We went to one where it was a Christmas Luau and I took a box of tropical fruit.

Are airline bottles of liquor SFW?  Obviously not to DRINK at work.

For a nice gift, I just got some trinkets at Sur La Table, who is having a stocking stuffer sale.  I got several things (for me -- I suck at buying Christmas presents) that are silly but were on sale.  I got a mini-butter churner, a stripping thingy that takes the corn kernels off the cob, some spatulas with snowflakes on them, and one of those silicone finger-covers things to pick up hot plates.  I think I spent around $15.  I also got Husband a package of 'beer goggles' - basically wine charms for beer that look like Red Baron-style goggles.  They're pretty funny.  You could probably find similar stuff at BB&B.

lab7979

A lot of times I just get something like a Starbucks gift card and wrap it up in a box like a gift.  Its easy and people will use it.

sneetches

Last year I brought scratch-off lottery tickets.  People fought for those! 

jackiback

Can you do something edible? A box of fancy cookies? Cupcakes? Something from a  good local bakery? Or a nice mug and some whole beans... something like that?  I always feel like people like gifts that they can consume and be rid of more than a trinkety thing. 

Although at the last White Elephant we did, the big hit was a shake weight and a snuggie. So, you never know  

MrsJenE

jackiback said:

Although at the last White Elephant we did, the big hit was a shake weight and a snuggie. So, you never know  

Actually, I like the Snuggie idea.  It would be pretty funny since it's always freezing in this office.

jackiback

MrsJenE said:

jackiback said:

Although at the last White Elephant we did, the big hit was a shake weight and a snuggie. So, you never know  

Actually, I like the Snuggie idea.  It would be pretty funny since it's always freezing in this office.

I have no idea if Five and Below is a national chain, but they always have them I think. For five bucks. Can't beat that. 

booneybear

- pink fuzzy dice and a bright pink fuzzy steering wheel cover 

- Pink flamingo lawn ornament?

- bacon popcorn http://www.whatonearthcatalog.com/whatonearth/Top-Gifts_2AA/Item_s-BACON-FOODSTUFFS-BACON-POPCORN_CF5562.html

SusieBW

Are gift cards okay?
My family does a Yankee swap on Christmas Eve every year, and we outlawed gift cards because it took the fun out of it. We do a $25 swap and then a $5 swap.

Booze is ALWAYS a popular gift.
Candles
cooking stuff, like RiverPlate suggested
games or cool gadgets
scratch tickets, like sneetches said
nice throw blankets

This year DH and I are giving a bottle of booze and a really nice hand-carved wooden cooking spoon.  Last year was a 8x10 matted print of a painting by a local artist (he paints zombies, so I put it in the swap knowing full well that my brother would end up with it) and 2 bottles of local wine.