Brian B, Author at Good Cheer | Elfster Blog

Using a wish list maker online (for free!) is the easiest way to organize a gift exchange.

Is There a Wish List Maker Online for Free?

You know that feeling when you send an email and are gripped with the desire to take it back? I don’t mean when you accidentally hit “reply all” or when you realize you’ve attached the [read more]

These Easter party games will brighten your celebrations.

5 Easter Party Games that will Make Everyone Hoppy

Brian B

When I was a kid, we used to play in the cornfields behind my aunt’s house every Easter. Then, when I was 10, the cornfields were turned into a subdivision, complete with a big park. [read more]

Secret Santa variations make gift exchanges appropriate for any occasion.

The Top 5 Secret Santa Variations

Brian B

I talk about the holidays a lot. It’s a magical time of year, as we all know. It’s not about the gifts (really!) and it’s not even about the parties per se. The holidays are [read more]

These Eid gift ideas will make the holiday even more festive.

The 7 Best Eid Gift Ideas for Friends

Brian B

Ramadan can perhaps be understood as a gift you give to yourself. Through your faith, you are given the gift of quietude, of contemplation, or thoughtfulness. You give yourself the gift of thinking about others [read more]

The easiest way to draw names out of a hat online is with a Secret Santa generator.

Can I Draw Names Out of a Hat Online for Secret Santa?

Brian B

One Thanksgiving, when I was just a kid—so a very, very long time ago—we were drawing names out of a hat for our Christmas gift exchange. My uncle, with great fanfare, reached in… and immediately [read more]

A gift exchange can be a great game to play on Eid.

5 Fun Games to Play on Eid

Brian B

Chances are, when you think about Eid, you think about sweets. After all, after a month of fasting for Ramadan, the candies and breads and sticky gooey things of Eid are extremely satisfying. Across the [read more]

An Easter wish list makes it easier to celebrate new beginnings.

How to Make an Easter Wish List the Easy Way

Brian B

I have a confession about Spring: I don’t actually know what a crocus is. I know that people start to feel the warmth of Spring when the crocuses bloom from the ground, but I couldn’t [read more]

These Secret Santa ideas for college students will rock your world.

Top Secret Santa Ideas for College Students

Brian B

When I went to college—and yes, I can remember that far back, albeit dimly—it was both exciting and terrifying. I was exhilarated: I was going to get to meet new people! I was terrified: I [read more]

Secret Santa for Eid is a great way to celebrate.

Secret Santa for Eid: Tips for Celebrating with a Gift Exchange

Brian B

There are few religious observations in the world with the solemnity and consecrating power of Ramadan, with its month of fasting, observance, and dedication. Consequently, there are few celebrations with as much joy and happiness [read more]

An Easter gift exchange is a great way to celebrate new beginnings.

How to Host an Eggcellent Easter Gift Exchange

Brian B

When I was a kid, I had some questions about the Easter Bunny. Now, Santa—I got that guy. Big dude, cool sleigh, lots of presents. But why was the Easter Bunny hiding eggs? Why did [read more]

There are lots of great Secret Santa options to keep things interesting.

15 Secret Santa Options to Add Variety to the Game

Brian B

If there’s one thing I love, it’s variety. If there’s another thing I love, it’s giving and receiving gifts. Oh, and I also love my friends and family and music and parties. Turns out I [read more]

A Galentine's Day gift exchange is the perfect way to celebrate sisterhood.

Host the Perfect Galentine’s Day Gift Exchange to Celebrate Sisterhood

Brian B

My wife and I were discussing whether she and her friends were going to do something this year for Galentine’s Day on February 13th, and we started talking about what they’d done in the past. [read more]

Not sure what to buy for a gift exchange? Here are some great ideas.

How to Figure out What to Buy for a Gift Exchange

Brian B

I love giving people presents. When you pick the right present, it isn’t about buying. It isn’t about the person getting a “thing.” It’s about them being seen. Picking the right gift is a signal [read more]

Secret Santa on a budget is a great way to make the game more affordable.

How to Host Secret Santa on a Budget

Brian B

I’m friends with a lot of artists and musicians. This isn’t due to any musical or artistic talent on my behalf—I can’t carry a tune to save my life and my drawings look like someone [read more]

These gift exchange themes for friends will spice up any occasion.

Top 7 Gift Exchange Themes for Friends

Brian B

Last weekend, we had some friends over. One of them was my oldest friend. We’ve been hanging out since we were wee lads, so for more than 30 years. We practically have our own language. [read more]

You can still get an amazing gift if you're the Secret Santa for someone you don't know.

Tips for Being the Secret Santa for Someone You Don’t Know

Brian B

My wife and I first started dating in early July. But by Christmas we were already at the “let’s see each other’s family!” stage of things (cue: awwww). When she joined my family’s Secret Santa [read more]

An online generator is the best way to draw names randomly for a Secret Santa.

The Best Ways to Draw Names Randomly for a Gift Exchange

Brian B

My cousin, Laura, is probably one of the world’s worst Secret Santa players. She gets amazing gifts and is one of the warmest and funniest people I know. But every year, when we’d draw names [read more]

Secret Santa is perfect for remote employees.

How to Host a Secret Santa for Remote Employees

Brian B

I got my first job out of college in 2001. At our first Christmas party, we had a few people who worked in an office outpost at another city call in via speakerphone for a [read more]

There are many great Christmas games that are similar to White Elephant.

What Christmas Games are Similar to White Elephant?

Brian B

There’s a famous old holiday saying which goes, “Gift exchange games are like sandwiches: everyone has their own name for them and by golly, I love them all no matter what.” Okay, that might not [read more]

A New Year's Eve gift exchange game is the perfect way to kick off 2020.

3 New Year’s Eve Gift Exchange Games to Start the Year Off Right

Brian B

Saying the holidays are hectic is like saying water is wet. Everyone knows that. There’s so much hustle and bustle packed into a few short weeks. There are office parties and family parties and visits [read more]

A Christmas wish list maker with pictures make it easier on the people shopping for you.

The Benefits of a Christmas Wish List Maker with Pictures

Brian B

One of the most frequent holiday-time conversations I have with my wife is when we’re out shopping and I see something I like. She tells me, wisely, not to buy it because what if I [read more]

Christmas party games for small groups are great ways to up the fun.

5 Festive Christmas Party Games for Small Groups

Brian B

Normally, we throw a big Christmas party every year. But the holidays can be hectic, and sometimes we just want something a little more intimate. So last year, we decided to just have a handful [read more]

You can draw names out of a hat using an online generator.

How to Use a Draw Names Out of a Hat Generator

Brian B

It used to be that every Thanksgiving, during the post-feast repose, we’d draw names for Secret Santa. People would write down their names and three gifts they wanted. We’d toss it all into a hat [read more]

Secret Santa is a fun Christmas party game for high school students to play.

What are the Best Christmas Party Games for High School Students?

Brian B

Being a teenager means living in a strange middle ground between childhood and adulthood. That manifests in a lot of ways, but it’s especially acute around Christmas. You’re a little too old for the childhood [read more]