BGB Secret Santa Gift Exchange Reveal

One of my favorite things about blogging is the people I meet through various networks associated with my corner of the Internet. A newer community I've been a part of is the "Bloggers Gonna Blog" or BGB community. It's a group of food and healthy living bloggers who support and share with each other lead by Georgie and Christina that initially started as a Facebook group. It's grown to Instagram (#BGBcommunity) and while I haven't participated in discussions as much as I want (#gradschoolproblems) I love all the support and positivity of the group so definitely join their group on Facebook if you're a blogger or follow the hashtag (#BGBcommunity)! 

BGB had previously held foodie swaps so they decided to do a blogger Secret Santa gift exchange that 40 bloggers ended up participating in.   I LOVE Secret Santa gift exchanges because it's always a fun way to find something new about someone you know or don't know.  

What I Sent

I was paired up with one of the BGB co-founders, Christina of A Blissful Balance, actually and you can go over to her blog post to read all the details. Christina is a twenty-something healthy living blogger like me, except her blog is way bigger than mine, and she creates amazing recipes. You should also check out her gorgeous Instagram with all of its drool worthy food photos.  

I had followed her Instagram but hadn't read much of her blog so it was cool to go through and read about her and some of her posts. Once I found out she was also a runner it made gift-buying easy! I sent Christina LOTS of LesserEvil popcorn (which doubled as bubble wrap!) along with a running shirt from Reebok, adorable Vera Bradley hair ties, Nuun singles, and a lip gloss. 

What I Received

Kellen of A Cup of Kellen was paired up with me. I had recently started following her on Instagram so it was great to receive a gift from her. She sent a lovely long note which included how when she started reading my blog for ideas she realized we have SO much in common but just happen to live on opposite coasts of the country! She also loves craft beer runs, is a Nuun ambassador, and ran the Chicago Marathon this past year with the same Garmin I have. So we were pretty much twinning at Chicago and didn't know it. We're totally destined to be friends, haha. 

Kellen sent me an adorable festive beer open (because she couldn't ship me an actual pint of beer!). Although I will hold her to a beer rain check for the next time I make it out to San Diego.  


She also sent me AWESOME Christmas socks with little ice-skating penguins on them,  as well as a really cute hot pink Under Armour headband.  

You know we click because she also sent me some Nuun Energy Wild Berry as well as a Speculoos candy bar from Trader Joes. If you haven't had that candy bar, you are missing out. It is SO yummy and definitely something I needed to hide from my boyfriend so he didn't steal it. 

 I really loved all of my little gifts! Receiving snail mail is always fun, but it's more fun when you get a package. Since I knew a gift was coming, I was checking the mail everyday before it arrived! 

Did you participate in a gift exchange this year? What's one present you bought for someone else?