Book Blogger Secret Santa Gift Arrives!

My Book Blogger Secret Santa gift has arrived! It actually got here on Monday, but since the past couple of days have been a blur of working and getting holiday things done, I'm just getting a moment to post now. Now, my secret santa was clever and wrote on the outside of the package that this was from my secret santa. I could have chosen to wait until Christmas to open it, but I lack willpower when it comes to not opening packages containing books, and I REALLY lack willpower when it comes to opening packages that contain books that also happen to be presents! I did good, though. The mail arrived at about 10:30 AM and I managed to wait until 9:30 PM to open it. That's almost twelve hours, people! This is what I did to distract myself from opening that tantalizing package:

• laundry
• baked 6 dozen cookies to be given as gifts to teachers/bosses/etc.
• cleaned up after said baking
• fed hubby and kids
• packed hubby's lunch and sent him off to work for 1:30 pm
• did a bus run (1.5 hours)
• cooked dinner
• phoned my mom
• thought about blogging for a bit and then read blogs in Google Reader instead
• took a bath and read a book
• managed to not get the book wet
• broke up 9,673 fights between my children as to who was playing with what toy last (even if the toy in question hasn't been played with in a month)

Finally I could deal with the temptation no longer and I ripped open the package as quickly as I could! This is what my wonderful secret santa sent me:

• From Here to Maternity by Sinead Moriarty- This book has been on my wishlist since I read The Baby Trail (the first book in the series) earlier this year. It drives me crazy reading only one book in the series, so I can't wait to read this!
• Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo- This is a women's fiction book that my secret santa has read and enjoyed. Thank-you so much for this one! I love being introduced to new authors, and this story is set in Accra, Ghana, which allows me to indulge my inner armchair traveller as well.
• A beautiful "Peace" ornament for my Christmas tree
• 2 postcards from my secret santa's home province, PEI
• a candy cane
• chocolate
• a beautiful card with cyptic clues as to my secret santa's identity

My secret santa has chosen to remain anonymous, but has left me enough clues that I should be able to track her down! For now, though, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!! The books and treats that you picked out made my week. I can't wait to read both of the books that you chose for me, and I'm so happy to be introduced to a new author to boot! Oh, and the chocolate? It disappeared moments after I took the picture. Delicious chocolate never lasts long in my house!

EDITED TO ADD: I have found my Secret Santa! A big thank-you to fellow Canadian blogger Amy of Amy Reads!