White Elephant Exchange

Last Friday we had a white elephant exchange at work, it is always interesting to try traditional American things with some of my colleagues from different countries. I found myself trying to explain what this was and what you should bring to the exchange. One of the things that they mentioned in the email invitation for this was the gift could be used... so I looked around and tried to figure out what I had laying around the house that I wanted to get rid of. It turns out that I had just unpacked my box of cookbooks and found an old coffee table book about great moments in St. Louis sports. I am not sure how this made it to the house but I figured that I could give it up for a good cause. 

A great book from the museum of history in St. Louis

I still had some wrapping paper so I wrapped it up and took it to school. We dropped our gifts off in one of the Admin offices in my department so that no one would know who brought what. There weren't a whole lot of gifts when I dropped mine off but that is OK it can still be a good time. 

You know you would have grabbed this gift, right

At 2 we went up to the conference room to have a little party. The department sprung for an amazing red velvet cake... I could not finish my entire piece but it was sooo good. There was a relatively good turn out, about 25 people and not all Americans. I got pretty lucky with a pull of 17, so I was able to see what gifts were going around by the time it got to me. 

Present Table

For my turn I stole a set of cooking supplies because really can you have too many measuring cups? Yeah, I didn't think so either. Turns out one of the Admin girls thought the same thing so that was gone... and I wanted that. For my next turn I picked an unopened present... I will confess that I knew what was in it and I wanted it. This contained a Southern Living decorating book. As I was sitting down a chinese woman said "I think I need that" and stole it from me. I again went back to the present table and picked another unopened gift. I was not so lucky this time as I got a design your own mug kit. 

I got this!

 I will confess that my mug is still blank but I am trying to figure out what to put on the mug so that it looks cool and professional since it is going to be my lab mug. I am thinking of something like, Lab Diva. I will be sure to post a pic when it finally gets decorated but for now I am just excited that I didn't get a really crappy gift. What is the best or worst thing you have gotten at one of these exchanges?