Hello! Like our new graphic? THANKS! When I created The Secret Sister Project I was in such a funk and needed some cheer. I cannot believe that years later we are still here spreading joy everywhere! So without further ado, here is your updated FAQs post. We do ask that you read this post thoroughly, and refer back to it PRIOR to reaching out to us with questions during the project. In addition, keep in mind that the hashtag #otspsecretsister is ALWAYS a fantastic resource for information needed, odds are that someone participating knows the answer to your inquiry!

The Basics

The What

The Secret Sister project is essentially a cheer club. Think Secret Santa but all year round (in 6 month intervals) with less emphasis on big presents, and more thoughtful notes, cards, small somethings sent just to let your secret sister know that you are thinking about them!

The When

• We will announce each round of signups at least a week prior to the sign up post going live
• Each round runs for 6 months so sign ups are generally in February and August

The Who

You! But there are some conditions that must be met prior to signing up, we are going to outline those below under “The Rules.”

The How

We will be posting questionnaires on our blogs for you to fill out. In addition to the questionnaire, you will also be asked to answer a few questions for a Google form. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not fill out BOTH of these things in full, then you will NOT be paired.

FAQs

What will I have to do if I sign up to be a secret sister?

This is a commitment, we can’t lie to you. By signing up to be a secret sister you are promising to send at least one small card AND/OR gift to your secret sister a month depending on the “monetary group” for which you sign up.

It is very important that you don’t sign up for this unless you are willing to follow through.

Please think of how sad (and unfair) it would be for someone to be working hard to make their secret sister feel special and not receive anything themselves!

Do I have to send presents?

Yes, unless you are signing up for the pen pal group you are expected to send a little something on top of a card or letter. Keep in mind that this really is meant to be more of a cheering up sort of club, so though you must abide by the price guidelines you should also be sending letters and cards to keep communication open.

Look at how extravagant that package is! I don’t have that kind of money…

Neither do I! This is why we have different price ranges, one of which is strictly pen pals – that means NO trinkets, etc! You should never, ever feel as if your package is inadequate as long as you are meeting your price range “standards.” Trust me, it is much more meaningful if you stay within your price range, send things on time, and then send an extra letter or card just to check in that month! Anyone who is getting caught up on the size of the gifts is missing the entire point of the project and will be dealt with accordingly.

Do we have to remain secret?

No, though that is part of the fun! Just leave your name off of the card or box you are sending if you want to remain secret, and reveal yourself whenever you wish! Some have used the same sending and return address, which is sneaky and perfect.

It is entirely up to you!

Do I have to be a blogger to join?

Technically, no. We do hope that you are bookish, however. We are book people over here! You should also be on social media, we are big on Twitter with chats and the hashtag. You will thank your (anonymous) sister by using the hashtag!

Is this project international?

It has been in the past, but lately we haven’t had enough people sign up to make it happen. We will have to answer that once sign-ups are over.

Why are you using the word “sister?” Isn’t that hindering some from joining?

We totally get it. When I created this project years ago I used the “secret sister” idea that I had learned about in my small town community growing up. Everyone is welcome. We do not discriminate!

What are the price ranges, and can we have some examples of what a package would look like for each range?

• Pen pals: That’s right, this is strictly letters and cards. No trinkets, no extras, nothing. If you want to send ANYTHING more than a letter or a card every month then we ask that you sign up for one of the higher monetary tiers.
• $5-$10: Send a heartfelt letter to catch your sister up on how things are going that month and then send an e-book, baked goods, homemade bookmark or other DIY project, or how about a movie night box with a DVD (thanks to the $5 bin at Walmart) and some candy for a movie night!
• $15-$20 Any of the possibilities listed above and perhaps a paperback from your sister’s wish-list, some fun socks, fandom tshirt, themed box, get creative!!
• $25+ The sky is the limit here, we just ask that you remember to reign it in a bit and remember the goal of this project is for cheer, and joy and forging positive relationships, not excessive gifts. Send those heartfelt letters!!

The Rules

• You must “know” the hosts in order to join! The hosts are myself, (@trippingbooks) and Alyssa (@withthebanned). What does “knowing” us entail? First and foremost, you should be following both of us on Twitter, you should know our names, and if one of us reaches out to you, you should know who we are. It is embarrassing (for you) when we reach out to you and you do not know that we are the creators of the project to which you belong. (This has happened!) We are all pretty active on Twitter and really like chatting. I understand that some of you have anxieties about this and I want to just reassure you and tell you that you shouldn’t be worried. The sole reason we do this is just to see if someone is serious about the project because in the past people have viewed it as a way to get gifts. If you go to the hashtag and interact with people a few times, that should be fine!

• You must be 18 or older to participate in The Secret Sister Project.

• You must actively use the hashtag #OTSPSecretSister to thank your sister during your time participating in The Secret Sister Project. We get TONS of emails asking things like “It says my sister’s package was delivered last week but I never heard anything?” We can avoid that all by doing the right thing and thanking your sister as soon as receiving your package!

• If we have to reach out to you more than once to ask why your sister hasn’t yet received anything then you will be asked to cease in participating. If you are going to be late, tell us. You will not be in “trouble” if life gets in the way and you let us know. We know things happen!

• If you have not received anything by the end of the month then YOU must contact US. We have had some who have reached out to us at the end of a round to say they hadn’t been receiving. Please don’t do this. We need this information to help you and ensure that no one suffers in the same way in future rounds. We are not going to be checking in with all of you throughout the month so it is imperative that you let us know if you are not receiving! Please do NOT ever feel uncomfortable reaching out to us to say that you didn’t receive something. We WANT to help you with this, you DESERVE to get cheer as you are sending cheer!!

• If for any reason you find that you have to drop out of this project, please email us immediately. We will not judge. We will not ask why. We will simply thank you for informing us and then pair your sister off to someone else so she isn’t missing out. Seriously, we get it.

• You will be asked to provide the name and contact info (email addresses, please) of a “buddy” who will be willing to answer questions put forth by your sister. We are asking that you keep this to someone who is in the community and therefore will be easy to contact. Husbands/moms/sisters are not easy or comfortable to contact.
  • Your sister will contact this person to ask things such as “Can you ask Sally if she likes citrus or flowery smelling candles better?” This person can also say things to your sister such as “Hello Joan, Sally ended up buying a copy of “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” off of her wishlist so please do not purchase it.
• You will be asked to provide a Goodreads or Amazon wish list that is specific to The Secret Sister Project, start working on this now!
  • The wishlist must have 20 or more books on it and must contain new and older titles – SOME ARCs are fine but keep in mind your sister may not have access to these.
  • This list MUST contain books that you (or someone else) are not going to purchase for yourself. IF you simply cannot resist a title here or there then please let your “buddy” (see above) know prior to buying so that they can tell your sister – but try to refrain from buying from this list if you can.
  • If your Goodreads profile is private, your sister cannot view your wishlist.
  • If you do not wish to make your Goodreads profile public then you may use another format for your wishlist such as, Amazon, or by providing a list in the sign-up email.
• You must answer ALL of the questions put forth in the sign-up email as well as be detailed and thorough.
• We are urging you you to put a little more emphasis on the “pen pal” aspect.
  • This means if you have signed up for one of the higher price ranges, you should still send a letters to your sister. This is one of the things people have been asking for, so please don’t forget.
• Do not tweet negativity while using the hashtag.

• Things such as “Wow, I wish I knew if my sister got her package” or “I wish my sister would use the hashtag more” are statements that promote negative communication. If you have issues like this, reach out to the person your sister designated as her “buddy” or to your point person and we will do our best to solve any issues.
• ARCs do not count toward the monetary limit.
• Do not send packages straight from Amazon. We had some people who completely forgot about their sister and then sent things directly from Amazon to try and make up for it. The emphasis should be on the cheer and the thought that you are putting into your sister and her happiness.
• Please refrain from sending “swag.” Unless you KNOW that this is something your sister would love.

Anything else I should know?

Use the hashtag and interact with one another! The whole point is to bring positive feelings into the our community.

Be as thorough as you can when answering the questions. There is no “writing too much” when answering these questions! Remember that this project is.

The best advice I can give you is to be creative and keep in mind the entire reason for the project is NOT about gifts, but fostering a positive environment.

If you are looking for ideas, chat us up, we would love to help! Or ask your fellow sisters!

READ THIS:

We can’t say this enough…please PLEASE only sign up if you are willing to send something monthly and give 100% to this project.

Please recognize that this is a commitment and that there is someone out there relying on you to follow through. That being said, we promise we are relaxed if you are honest with us. We know things come up, they come up for us too! Just let us know and we can work together to ensure everything runs smoothly for everyone.

So how do I sign up?

The sign-up post with all questions that need to be answered will be posted on our blogs and promoted via Twitter starting in February or August. Sign-ups run for two weeks until each round so you will have plenty of time.

I hope that this post has been helpful to you, friends! If you still have any questions then please reach out on Twitter. If you are new to the project then I encourage you to use the hashtag to talk to your fellow sisters as they may have the answers you are looking for! Thanks for sticking with us and being so generous and kind!

Wow. I can’t believe we are doing this for a SIXTH year in a row! A (blog and Twitter), B (blog and Twitter) and I try and host this two week feature where we celebrate all things Autumn and (if you want) HALLOWEEN!

I am basically just going to copy the same blurb I have for years cause 1. I am lazy and 2. It’s the pertinent info that ya need….SO for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about (hello, and welcome!) Fortnight of Fright is a time in which we host and share different posts related to Autumn and Halloween! We work with you guys and sometimes amazing authors to showcase some creepy books, interviews, movies, and SO MUCH MOAR! There is no limit on what you can post about! Do you have a signature Halloween or Autumn cocktail recipe? Pinterest board filled with DIY decorations? A book recommendation for those of us who love to be scared? We want it all!! JOIN US!!

Sign ups will be open from 9/11-9/22 and you will be notified the following week to confirm your post topic, and so on. We are going to ask that all posts get to us the week of 10/9 as we will be hosting you during the event which runs from 10/17-10/31! As always, the more the merrier, so scroll on down to our Google Doc and sign up to help us out!

Wondering what we had going on from years past? Check it out:

• Fortnight of Fright | Books + Halloween Candies
• Fortnight of Fright | Laurie’s Magic 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Fortnight of Fright | Halloween Glass Jar Crafts
• Fortnight of Fright | Salem, Massachusetts
• Fortnight of Fright | Halloween Movies & TV Shows
• Fortnight of Fright | Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Halloween Movies & TV Shows

We all know that Halloween is the PERFECT time for creepiness on your TVs and movie screens. There are sooooo many to choose from though!! Thankfully, Milka from ReadReadRead and WinterHaven Books has some recommendations for us! Way to go, Milka!

Hello! My name is Milka and I blog over at ReadReadRead and WinterHaven Books and I am very happy to be here today to share some of my favorite things to watch during Halloween in a form of a watchlist. So without further ado, here are some recommendations to consider while planning your Halloween film nights.

If you are looking for a classic horror film… you should watch THE SHINING

The shining was directed by Stanley Kubrick (my personal favorite) and it was released in 1980. I am probably not alone in saying that Jack Nicholson is one of the GREATS and from the multiple films I’ve seen in him, The Shining will probably always remain my favorite. I haven’t actually read the original source material for this film, meaning Stephen King’s novel, but I do know that the two are very different (King actually was quite unhappy with Kubrick’s adaptation of his work). This film proves to me that the kind of psychological horror it features is definitely must scarier (at least for me) than anything slasher films portray.

If you have seen The Shining and want to know/think about it more… you should watch ROOM 237

For those who have watched The Shining, the number 237 will probably mean something. Room 237 is 2012 documentary directed by Rodney Ascher that delves into several different interpretations and conspiracy theories surrounding the film. For example, according to one interpretation the film is about the genocide of Native Americans while another interpretation claims that the film is Kubrick’s attempt to remind the audiences about the Holocaust. Even if you are not a huge fan of The Shining itself, this documentary is an extremely interesting example of analysis and interpretation and how you can see pretty much anything you want from a chosen text if you just dig deep enough with a certain mindset.

If you want to introduce yourself to a piece of “Cult” horror…you should watch RE-ANIMATOR

This film is so weird and absurd and funny and wonderful. At first it was one of those films for me I described liking just because it is “so bad that it’s good” but after seeing it multiple times, I have started to appreciate the weirdness. There is some “gore” here, but honestly, this is more of a comedy than a horror film. This film also features my favorite cinematic cat of all time.

If you want to watch something with music…you should watch THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

I first became aware of this film during my year of living in United States where one of our neighbors screened it on their yard during Halloween. A couple of years after that, it was used as an inspiration for an episode of Glee and I thought that I should finally give it a chance. And I am happy I did, because after that first initial watch it has become of my favorite musicals of all time. It’s wonderfully weird and camp and filled with catchy songs and great dancing numbers.

If you want to watch something foreign…you should watch SUSPIRIA

To be completely honest, I like this film more for its visual outlook than its story, but in general, it is a great film (if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t recommend it for you!). Suspiria is an Italian horror film from 1977 directed by Dario Argento that follows an American student who goes to a ballet school in Germany who realizes that the school she’s in hides a supernatural and sinister secret. The design of this film is AMAZING and the way soundtrack is used to support the narrative works so well.

If you want to watch something with a sci-fi element…you should watch COHERENCE

This is not particularly a horror film, but I think it would make a great addition for a Halloween film night. The way this film is shot and constructed is so well done, and it is definitely one of those films that you have to watch very attentively not to miss anything. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say there’s a night of astronomical anomaly, eight people and possible alternative universes.

Before I finish with this list I want to share with you a couple of amazing Halloween themed sitcom episodes:

“Halloween” (The Office, season 2) – The Office is my favorite sitcom of all time, so there was no way for me not to include it in this list somehow! Though this episode is pretty significant when it comes to the character relationships (especially between Jim and Pam), it definitely can be watched without having a prior knowledge of the show. Michael’s paper-mache second head costume is a legend.

“Halloween” (Modern Family, season 2) – Modern Family has had a couple of good Halloween episodes, but this one is probably my favorite of them. Also, Claire’s Halloween House is AMAZING! Props for the people who set that up for the filming!

“Greg Pikitis” (Parks and Recreation, season 2) – One of my favorite things about this episode is the dynamic between Leslie and Andy! The scenes taking place at Ann’s Halloween party are also great, especially after Tom takes the position of a party master.

What are you planning to watch this Halloween?

Top Ten Top Ten Tuesdays

Guys! This is a super fun topic! Also CONGRATS, BROKE AND BOOKISH LADIES!! Five years of this awesome feature! *applause* Here’s to five more years of awesomeness!

Technically, this is supposed to be the top ten Top Ten Tuesdays of the past five years, but I’ve only been participating since 2012, so I’m limiting my list to Top Ten Tuesdays that I’ve participated in. Going through my archive was really fun, you guys. It’s like reading through an old journal; so much has changed in the way I write, the things I write, the books I talk about, everything. So, in no particular order, here are ten of my favorite Top Ten Tuesdays. This is so meta!

I remember having a nerdgasm when I found this topic in the Top Ten Tuesday archive. I used it for one of the “pick a past topic” weeks. I had almost no difficulty coming up with my list of ten favorite words. Spoiler alert: first word on there? Felicity.

This Top Ten Tuesday is one of the older ones and I was surprised and also not to see how many of these things haven’t changed at all since the early days of my blogging. Like, all of them. Every single one.

Another Top Ten Tuesday that was super easy for me. I feel like I have to point that out because sometimes they’re hard. Not only has none of this changed, but I think it points to something really important for me and my reading: I have really good instincts about what I’ll like and what I probably won’t.

One my happiest early blogging memories was when I posted this Top Ten Tuesday and April from Good Books and Good Wine retweeted it and left a really nice comment. I was still pretty new to the blogging community and I had such a fun time writing this post, and so I was really stoked to have someone else enjoy it too. Also, those Sweet Valley High titles. DAMN.

I love a good, unique name, friends. It’s a fine line between “unique” and “weird,” though, so you won’t find things like Royal or Rule on this list (same offending author). But names that sound pretty and roll off my tongue are always appealing, even if they aren’t names I’ve ever heard of before. One of my favorite character names is actually not even a character that we ever meet: Festival. THE JOYOUS FEELINGS. There are a few names I’d add to this list now, as well (but…not Royal or Rule).

YAY FOR FAKE PLACES! And also awesome real places! One of the very best things about reading is getting to experience different places and worlds, so this Top Ten Tuesday was easy peasy.

For real? This Top Ten Tuesday could’ve been 50 characters long. It’s a little heavier on characters from books I’d just read, but I wouldn’t change a thing now that I’ve had some time to meet new characters and remember older ones.

One of the newer Top Ten Tuesdays on my list, but I loved putting it together and sharing some of my favorite quotes. There are so many more, even though I’m not as good as I’d like to be when it comes to marking down passages while I read.

Guys, I have  a pretty awesome sibling myself, so I always love reading about them. It’s nice to know that not all character’s siblings are tools or bullies and that they have a supportive, awesome friend who will always be at their side.

Sooo, I slacked off with the words on this post, I’ll admit. But I found some pretty awesome fan art for my really awesome heroines, so that makes this one of my favorite Top Ten Tuesdays.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, they lovely folks over at The Broke and the Bookish post a top ten list topic so that book lovers like you and me can pour over their shelves and make their own lists. You can check out all the other Top Ten Tuesday lists on their site!

Secret Sister Project Round Two!

Hey lovelies! We are here to announce round two of our Secret Sister Project! First, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who made our trial run such a success. Honestly you guys blew me away with your generosity and ability to hold one another up on those cloudy days I really appreciate everyone’s time (and money) and cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of this community! So let’s get into the logistics…For those of you who are new here, you can take a glance at our initial post to get an idea of what is going on here. To my peeps who are signing up again, we have made some significant changes to the whole project so please read the below very carefully before signing up!

The What

The Secret Sister project is essentially a cheer club. Think Secret Santa but all year round with less emphasis on big presents, and more thoughtful notes, cards, small somethings sent just to let your secret sister know that you are thinking about her!

The When

• Sign-ups run January 12 – January 23
• You will be paired up with your secret sister by January 30
• This session will run from February 1 – July 31 (this means that your last something will be sent in July)

The What

You guys! The only “rule” we have is that before signing up, you must “know” at least one of us. Us being myself (@trippingbooks), Alyssa (@withthebanned), or Brittany (@bookaddictguide) and “knowing” one of us means that we must have spoken on Twitter or SOMETHING. We are just really concerned with someone not following through, and that would just make a bad time for everyone.

FAQs

What will I have to do if I sign up to be a secret sister?

This is a commitment, we can’t lie to you. By signing up to be a secret sister you are promising to send at least one small card OR gift to your secret sister a month. It is very important that you don’t sign up for this unless you are willing to follow through. Please think of how sad (and unfair) it would be for someone to be working hard to make their secret sister feel special and not receiving anything themselves! In addition, we are asking that you PLEASE use the hashtag #OTSPSecretSister on Twitter and Instagram to interact with all of us. Most of us used this hashtag to ask questions and get to know our sisters better! Also, (and this is most important) use this hashtag to THANK YOUR SISTER! One of the biggest complaints we had about round one was the lack of thank yous received!

Do I have to send presents?

No, you don’t have to send anything big, this really is meant to be more of a cheering up sort of club. However, in the six month period we will be going through Valentine’s Day, Easter, and maybe your secret sister’s birthday! It is encouraged that you send one or two presents during these six months (think a book from their wish list, some Easter candy, or if you’re feeling really fancy, some flowers for their birthday!) Honestly, this is as fun as you make it!

Do we have to remain secret?

No, though that is part of the fun! Just leave your name off of the card or box you are sending if you want to remain secret, and reveal yourself whenever you wish! It is entirely up to you! (If you are looking for some tips on how to remain secret -l ike if you want to send an e-book, for example, we can help ya out!)

Anything else I should know?

Use the hashtag and interact with one another! The whole point is to bring positive feelings into the our bookish community. Try and answer ALL of the questions below and be as thorough as you can, the more you share, the easier it is for your sister to spoil you! The best advice I can give you is to be creative. My secret sister handmade me bookmarks featuring my favorite dudes (HELLOOO CHRIS PRATT) and it was honestly the best thing I received. I saw some people exchanging letters back and forth, and even some baked goods. If you are looking for ideas, chat us up, we would love to help! We tweet from our own handles pretty frequently, but don’t forget to follow us all over at @galsonthesamepg)!

READ THIS

We can’t say this enough…please PLEASE only sign up if you are willing to send something monthly and give 100% to this project. We had very few hiccups the first time around but the problems we encountered were people neglecting to send something to their sister in a timely manner. First, If for any reason you find that you have to drop out of this project, please email us immediately. We will not judge. We will not ask why. We will simply thank you for informing us and then pair your sister off to someone else so she isn’t missing out. Second, if you have not received anything by the last week of the month you must contact us. We are not going to be checking in with all of you throughout the month so it is imperative that you let us know if you are not receiving!

So how do I sign up?

Here is where things differ from last time…we need you to answer the following questions and then email them to onthesamepagesecretsister AT gmail DOT com:

Name:

Mailing Address:

Email Address:

Blog:

Twitter Name:

How much are you willing to contribute to the project monthly? Choose one (NOTE: this is just a range, you can of course go over the limit and you are still encouraged to send one to two bigger “packages” during the 6 month time.)

• $5-$10 (This means you would be sending and receiving mostly cards or possibly hand made items)
• $15-$20 (So an average of what one book a month would cost to send)
• $25+ (A book and some chocolate, perhaps?)

Goodreads Profile (*so they can access your wishlists! Make sure to turn off the privacy setting & try and keep it updated!):

Important Dates to Remember (*This can be anything and everything! Your birthday, the day you are expecting your next child, the day you are leaving for your next vacation, your anniversary with your partner, the anniversary of the day you quit smoking, even a sad anniversary that you would like to be cheered up on!):

Food Allergies:

Your Likes (*Give us an array of things here! Types of food, fandoms, TV shows, movies, bands/types of music):

Your Dislikes (*Example: chocolate covered cherries, anything cinnamon flavored, the color brown):

Do You Have a Favorite Store?:

Are you okay receiving a gift card? If so, to where?:

Would you be comfortable receiving baked goods of some kind?:

What do you splurge on?:

Favorite Flowers:

Favorite Color?:

Do You Collect Anything?:

Do You Drink Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate?:

Do You Have an E-reader?:

Would you be okay being gifted an ebook? If so, please provide the email associated with your e-reader:

Tell Us Some Books on Your Wish List! (*HINT: If you purchase books off of this list, let us know and we can pass that info along to your secret sis as well!):

List some of your favorite genres or authors:

Are there any authors or genres that you won’t read?

T-shirt size:

Hogwarts House:

Favorite Disney movie and/or princess:

Is there a craft or hobby that you have been thinking of trying?

Any magazine you wish you had a subscription to?

Anything else we should know about you? (*Honestly GO CRAZY!! The more your “secret sister” knows, the easier it is to spoil you!)

**Important note for our international lovelies: Right now, this is US only, but if we can arrange for international participants to be paired up we will, so shoot us an email and we’ll keep you posted. 

That’s it, friends! We are beyond excited to be doing this again, and hope you are too. If you have any questions at all, tweet one of us or email onthesamepagesecretsister@gmail.com and one of us will get back to you ASAP!