**The Complete Secret Sister Questionnaire** (will update, tweak and revise as needed) Index Included!!

January 15 edit

request from one of the Sisters to include a question about aprons. You'll find it added to the Cooking/Kitchen/Gadgets... section of the questionnaire!

 January 6 edit

PLEASE NOTE: You do NOT need to answer every single question if you don't want to. Just answer those that interest you! I thought I mentioned that, but maybe it wasn't exactly clear? Anyway, I only answer those questions that pertain to me. Some choose to answer all. These are questions Sisters have been asking over the last 10 cycles all in one place rather than scattered making it easier for those Sisters who don't have the time or desire to spend a lot of time hunting!!

January ? edit

 Hey ladies! It just dawned on me, reading through some old posts, that a lot of you have pets and they're a very important part of your life. That question never made it onto the list! So I just edited the Misc. Section and added it. It comes right AFTER - Favorite Animal - If you've already answered the questions and want to edit your response to reflect this addition, you can. If you don't know how to do the edit thing, send me a PM and I'll help you through it! Otherwise, go ahead an answer that question in a new reply and I'll make sure to add it to the index!! Thanks!

I'll put it in a seperate post to your attn. too. Just for those who've already answered and may not be back to read this update!!!

 Do you have pets? If so,
    What kind?
    Anything special you want us to know about them?

 January 1

Welcome, Sisters one and all to the Secret Sister Questionaire list! Feel free to answer any and all of the questions amongst these lists that pertain to you! You aren't expected to answer every single question. But you can if you want to! It's one way for your 'Sending Sister' to get to know a little bit more about you without you knowing what she's plotting and planning! Trust me, it does help! For those of you who don't have the time or know how to do some sleuthing, my hope is that this will be a helpful tool to all who choose to utilize it!
When answering the questions for your Sister, please keep in mind that giving a bit more info. vs. a simple yes or no would be extremely helpful to your 'Sending Sister'.  The more info. you can supply her with, the easier it will be for her to know how to proceed to pamper you with those things you truly do enjoy. Example, What kind of music do you like? If you simply say country, that's not much to go on. I like some country, but not much. More specifics about the artists I most enjoy might be a big help. Then again, if you like New Age music, and I do, maybe some don't really know what that is! Give some examples, like Yanni or Enya, etc. Mention what of their CD's you might have and what you might like to have! Answering these questions with just a bit more info. could prove to be invaluable to a 'Sending Sister'! Let's not forget about iTunes, either! Is there a special iTunes only collection you'd like. Let your Sister know that and suggest you might like an iTunes gift card!
How about you reading Sisters! I am a voracious reader and have a list of authors I love and would like to read that is at least a mile long. Other Sisters may only have a few authors they like! For me to list every single one would be a daunting task, not to mention how difficult that would be for my 'Sending Sister'. I can choose which authors to list or not, which of their books I'm dying to read. I might even mention someone I really would rather NOT read! You get the idea, right? You might want to peek into the Secret Sister Reading Circle if your Sister  is a reader. You can learn an awful lot about her likes and dislikes there!
(I'm not going to touch on every category. I mentioned the 2 above because those are 2 categories I've found the most frustrating as a 'Sending' and a 'Receiving' Sister.) 
My point? You don't help your Sister much if you don't give her much to go on! I've been frustated in the past with this dilemma! I know I am not alone! I'm just asking you to keep in mind that your 'Sending Sisters' job could be made so much easiser if you could just help her out a bit more with your answers to whichever questions you choose to answer! No need to write a book. But more info. vs. little info. truly does make a HUGE difference when trying to plot what you can do to really make your Sister feel like a million bucks.
*NOTE: I will edit and tweak these lists as needed! Add new questions on new posts. or those submitted on here - I will eventually find them and incorporate them. My hope is that 1 questionnaire vs. several with the same questions will kind of streamline things for one and ALL! I also plan to save this post to update, bump up and reuse as needed. I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by taking this on myself. That is certainly not my intention. I'm doing this more out of selfishness than anything else! I get a bit overwhelmed and frustrated wading through all the posts only to discover I already answered that question elsewhere. My Sending Sister might not check every single thread to find my answers. And she might miss something that would be a huge help!
** I'm also hoping to sort of index this thread by listing the names of the Sisters who have answered and what category & page their responses can be found on! (I know! The anal me is coming out!! lol) Beats having to sort through pages and pages when time is limited for some of our Sisters. I only ask you to be patient with me in keeping those parts of this post updated. I'll do the best I can and will check it out at least once each day until we're well underway!
***Please feel free to add, make suggestions, whatever to me via PM or posts to my attn. This is, after all YOUR thread, not MINE!!! I'm doing this to hopefully help ALL!!
ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE THOSE YOU SISTERS HAVE ASKED OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS! IF I'VE MISSED ANY, I OFFER SINCERE APOLOGIES!!
You can cut and paste the questions you choose to answer into your reply post. If you want or need to add something later, go back to your original response, hit edit and make the changes! No need to post a new response. That can sometimes make it harder for your Sister to find ALL of your responses!
Having said all that, shall we begin?

Questionnaires in order:
SS Cooking/Cookbooks/Kitchen Gadgets/Magazines/Other
SS Entertainment - Books/Games/Movies/Music
SS Food/Beverage/Restaurants
SS Hobbies
SS Holidays
SS Home Decor (colors, schemes, etc)
SS Miscellaneous (a mishmash of all the little extras)
SS Personal Likes/Dislikes

 ____________________________

Index of Responders :

Pg 1
KC10 - ALL categories
mary2171 - Cooking..., Entertainment..., Food.... Hobbies..., Holidays...

Pg 2
mary2171 - Home Decor
Simple Soul - Cooking
weebill - Cooking..., Entertainment..., Food....,Holidays..., Hobbies..., Home Decor...,Misc...
walkerjan_WI -  ALL categories
ConnieD53 - Cooking..., Entertainment..., Food.... Hobbies..., Holidays...

Pg 3
ConnieD53 - Home Decor..., Misc..., Personal
Lert - ALL categories
spanishteacher - ALL categories
mary2171 - Misc..., Personal

Pg 4
peacelover1950 - ALL categories
arizonacook - ALL categories
_nlfPA - ALL categories
PalominofillyinMS - ALL categories

Pg 5
maryann146 - Cooking..., Entertainment..., Food....,Holidays..., Home Decor...,Misc..., Personal
coolwhun - ALL categories
Glory68 - ALL categories
HDMac_WA - Cooking..., Entertainment
katemarie - ALL categories
mormonmon45 - Cooking..., Entertainment..., Food..., Hobbies..., Holidays

Pg 6
mormonmom45 - Home Decor..., Mics..., Personal
zaiahsgramma - ALL categories
cookiesma - Entertainment..., Hobbies..., Food...,

Pg 7
cookiesma - Holidays..., Cooking..., Home Decor...., Misc..., Personal
ajmom - ALL categories
irish_german - ALL categories
kity - ALL categories
Elijo_TN - ALL categories

Pg 8
hambonevt - ALL categories
spanisheteacher - response to pet question
Inwhilte - ALL categories
crossingguard - ALL categories
mrsmonty - ALL categories
LadyUni - ALL categories
SimpleSoul - Entertainment.., Food..., Personal..., Hobbies...,  Holidays..., Home Decor..., Misc.

Pg 9
cllw - Cooking..., Food..., Home Decor..., Personal
cUtsie - ALL categories
pat48 - Cooking...Entertainment..., Food..., Hobbies

Pg 10
pat48 - Holidays..., Home Decor...,Misc..., Personal
pumpkin_lady - ALL categories
coriri - ALL categories
kimberlylarae - ALL categories
mtmind - ALL categories
hedgie - ALL categories
kvwriter - Cooking..., Food..., Holidays..., Home Decor..., Misc..., Personal
Lert - response to pet ? and apron ?

APRON QUESTION -
mary2171
cUtsie
walkerjan_WI
irish_german
crossingguard
mormonmom45
hambonevt
weebill
spanishteacher
pat48
_nlfPA
mtmind
PalominofillyinMS
kity
cookiesma
coolwhun
peacelover1950
arizonacook
ConnieD53

thru apron ? - Pg11

Cooking/Kitchen/Gadgets/Cookbooks/Magazines

Do you LIKE to cook?
    If so, any specific kind? (i.e. Italian, Mexican, BBQ...)

Cookbooks ?
    Community?
    Other

Gadgets?
    What do you like or need?

Magazines (i.e. Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray, Cook's Illustrated...)

Kitchen  towels?

Do you like aprons? If so, any particular style? (i.e. chef, bib, half or full)

Other?

 Entertainment - Music/Books/Movies/Games

Books -
    eReader?
        Kindle
        Nook
         iPad
         Other
     Authors you like?
     Authors you would like to explore?
     Genre:
         Mystery
         SciFi
         Historical Fiction
         Autobiography/Biography
         Travel
         Self-help
         Non Fiction
         Romance

What magazines do you subscribe to? 
    Is there a magazine that you would like to receive?

Would you mind a gently used book? Would you be willing to try different kinds of books (gently used), ie if you like romance, would you like to try suspense, to get an idea of what your SS is reading or just to read something different?

Would you like a gift card from Amazon? Barnes and Noble or other?

___________________

Games -
    Online?
    Do you play cards, dominoes, Bunco, board games, etc.?

Do you play cards, dominoes, Bunco, board games, etc.?

_______________________

Movies -

Do you watch movies?
     VCR?
     DVD?
     Blue Ray?
 
What kind of movies do you like?
    Is there a specific movie that you've always wanted to own?
   
 TV Series on DVD
__________________

Music -
Genre i.e. Country, Classical, Rock, Easy listening...
     Favorite Performers

Do you use iTunes?
    What kind of music do you listen to?
CD's
Cassette

 Food/Beverages -

Do you drink coffee, tea, hot chocolate? 
    Do you want coffee mugs?
What do you like to snack on?
Do you visit any coffee shops such as Dunkin Donuts, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, etc?
    Want a gift card?
Do you like Chocolate?
    Dark?
    Milk Chocolate?
    White?
    Sugar Free?
 
What is your favorite meal?
What is your favorite dessert?
 What is your favorite drink?
 What is your favorite soup?
 What is your favorite appetizer?
 What is your favorite sandwich?
 What is your favorite bread?
 What are your favorite fruits?
 
Would you accept homemade food items?
 
In the summer, do you or your family enjoy going out for ice cream at any shops such as Friendly's or Cold Stone Creamery?
 
Do you or your family like to visit any of the fast food restraunts such as Mc Donald's, Wendy's, Kentuky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Taco Bell, ect.?
 
What is your favorite restaurant?
    Would you like a gift card to celebrate that special occasion or just for a relaxing night out with family, friends, self?
 

 Hobbies -

Do you sew?
    If so, what kind of sewing do you do? (i.e., quilts, crafts, aprons, clothing, etc)

Do you do any crafts?
    scrapbooking?
    card making?
    painting?
    knitting?
    crocheting?
    embroidery?
    beading?
    other?

 Are there any crafting supplies you'd like to have?

Woodworking?

Bird Watching?

Other? (please be specific)

 Holidays -
(Keeping in mind the 6 month cycle of SS, some of these do NOT apply at this time. Just answer the pertinent questions for the cycle you're in!)

Do you decorate for the holidays?
    Valentines?
    St. Patrick's?
    Easter?
    Memorial Day?
    July 4th?
    Fall?
    Halloween?
    Thanksgiving?
    Christmas?
    Hanukah?

        Do you prefer religious or "cute" decorations?

Inside?
Outside?
    What colors or theme do you use?
Holiday Entertaining?
    Do you specialize in comfort foods, look for cookbooks, etc~
    What do you do to make a particular holiday special?
    Do you host family gatherings?
    Quiet meal at home?

Christmas -
    Do you put up a tree~or maybe more than one?
    Do you have a theme you like to stick to?
 

 Home Decor -
    
What are your Colors/Themes for the following?
Kitchen - 
Living Room/Family Room - 
Bedroom: 
Bathroom:
Dining Room:

Do you use -
    Placemats
    Table runner
    Table cloth
        Cloth?
             - what size?
        Vinyl?
             - what size?
        Paper?
             - what size?
    Napkins
        Cloth?
        Paper?
    
Would you like a door wreath?
    Indoor or Outdoor?
    Theme?

Candles/Potpourri -
Do you like candles?
    What scents?
Do you use Wick/Reed Diffusers?
    If so, what scents?

Do you like seasonal/decorative flags? 
    What size, small garden or larger porch/house?
Do you like suncatchers? What type would you like?
Do you like windchimes?
    Would you like one?

 Misc.

What do you like to do for fun?
What do you do to relax?
Do you like going on family outings/day trips?
Do you have a planned vacation coming up soon?
Do you have a ladies night with friends?
Do you have a family night?
Do you collect anything?
Are you a gardener?
Do you like sports?
    If so, what kind? Is there any specific sport teams you follow/support?
Do you ever go fishing/hunting?
Are there any other special days you like to celebrate during the next six months?
 Do you like/use post-it-notes, note cards, bookmarks?
 Do you like stationary or note cards?
 Do you like magnets?
 Would you like to get homecrafted items?
    Like wall hangings, afghans, shawls, pot holders and such?
Do you belong to the Red Hat??
 What is your favorite season?
 Do you save coupons?
    (Any specific ones?)
 Favorite animal?

Do you have pets? If so,
    What kind?
    Anything special you want us to know about them?

 What stores do you enjoy shopping at for other than groceries?
    You know, for things that you enjoy.
 What about on-line shopping?
 
Not everyone likes to get "religious" cards. It does not mean that they are not believers or have faith but some just prefer not to receive these cards. Please let us know your preference.
 
Would you like something that your SS state is known for?
 Is there something you can't get in your area that you would like your SS to get for you?
 What is something that you would like that you can't make?
 Is there anything that you DON'T need or want?
 Is there anything else you want your secret sister to know about you?

 Personal -

What is your favorite color?

 Do you have any allergies that your sister should know about?
    If yes? Can you please be more specific?
                    Foods?
            Scents?
 
Body lotions
Body scrubs
Nail Polish
Perfumes

1. What is your shoe size?
    Do you like sandals & flip flops?
2. What is your shirt size?
    What color would you like & do you like beaded accents, ect?
3. Do you wear jewelry?
    Silver or gold?
        Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, toe rings rings, ankle bracelets?

Anything you really do NOT want?

Do you LIKE to cook? Yes!
    If so, any specific kind? (i.e. Italian, Mexican, BBQ...) - Love to cook anything, really. But have a particular fondness for making cheesecakes!! Love Italian cooking and summertime grilling, too!

Cookbooks ? I love cookboks!
    Community? Community cookbooks are awesome! Love the helpful tips many offer.

Other?

Gadgets? I love unique gadgets!!

   What do you like or need? I could use a new cheese slicer.

Magazines (i.e. Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray, Cook's Illustrated...) - I love my Bon Appetit. I would love to get a Tea Magazine

Kitchen  towels? No thank you! I have plenty, really!!
__________

Entertainment - Music/Books/Movies/Games

Books -
        iPad - I have and LOVE my iPad:o)

Authors you like? My new fave is Laura Childs. Her Tea Shop Mysteries are so fun!!

       Genre:
         Mystery - Love a good mysterry
         Historical Fiction - I've learned more world history thru this genre

         Romance - I enjoy some of the Christian romances.

What magazines do you subscribe to?  Bon Appetit is the only one!
    Is there a magazine that you would like to receive? Tea Magazin

Would you like a gift card from Amazon? Barnes and Noble or other? Either of those would be awesome!! :O)

___________________

Games -
    Online? I play Farm Town on FB for relaxation. DH isn't a game player! :o(
   
_______________________

Music -
Genre i.e. Country, Classical, Rock, Easy listening...
     Favorite Performers - I love so many artists! Right now I'm enjoying Enya!! She's awesome!!

Do you use iTunes? Yes!
    What kind of music do you listen to? Mostly Christian, but some New Age and Easy Listening like the Carpenter's!! Boy! Am I dating myself or what?

CD's - Definitely!

________

Food/Beverages -

Do you drink coffee, tea, hot chocolate?  I'm a bit of a coffee snob!
    Do you want coffee mugs? Please, no! I have more than enough, thanks!
Do you like Chocolate? Who doesn't? lol

   Dark? Definitely!!     

What is your favorite dessert? - Cheesecake!!
  
What is your favorite restaurant? Perkin's
    Would you like a gift card to celebrate that special occasion or just for a relaxing night out with family, friends, self? Sure would! Applebee's is good! So is Olive Garden!! :O)

___________

Hobbies -

Do you sew? Yes!
    If so, what kind of sewing do you do? (i.e., quilts, crafts, aprons, clothing, etc) - Quilts mainly!

Do you do any crafts?
       knitting? Yes! It helps to keep my hands busy!

Bird Watching? I am an avid bird watcher. You should see all the feeders we stock! lol

Other? (please be specific) - I'm just learning how to do Huck Embroidery/Swedish Weaving

____________________

Holidays -
(Keeping in mind the 6 month cycle of SS, some of these do NOT apply at this time. Just answer the pertinent questions for the cycle you're in!)

Do you decorate for the holidays? Not a lot!

_______________________

Home Decor -
   
What are your Colors/Themes for the following? a lot of neutrals and earthy colors

Kitchen - 
Soon to be remodeled so in between colors at the moment!

Living Room/Family Room - creams, taupes, browns


Bedroom: Master - Bamboo and Olive Green

                 Guest- Bamboo and Deep country Blue


Bathroom: also redoing. Right now cream with taupe, sage green accents

Dining Room: cream

Do you use -
    Placemats - Yes! Cloth!
        Table cloth
        Cloth? Definitely prefer Cloth!
             - what size? 52X70 and the next size bigger for entertaining. I think it's 60x84?
        Napkins - Always!
        Cloth? Yes!
        Paper? Yes!!
   
Candles/Potpourri - No thank you! I'm allergic to scents!

Do you like seasonal/decorative flags?  Absolutely love these!
    What size, small garden or larger porch/house? Small ones for now!
Do you like suncatchers? Yes!

What type would you like? Birds and flowers!

_______________

Misc.

What do you do to relax?  Read, knit, sew!

Are you a gardener? Yes! I have a small veggie garden and several flower beds!!

Would you like to get homecrafted items?
    Like wall hangings, afghans, shawls, pot holders and such? Anything homemade is always appreciated!!

What is your favorite season? - Fall and Winter! I know it asks for 1. But I love them both!!!lol

 What about on-line shopping? - iTunes, Amazon and Barnes & Nobles!

_________________

What is your favorite color? butter yellow! You know? the color of baby chicks? :O)

Do you have any allergies that your sister should know about? I am allergic to a lot of stuff!
    If yes? Can you please be more specific?
                   

Foods? MSG and artificial colorings give me LOTS of problems!

Scents? Anything scented give me a migraine! I'd love to be able to say otherwise. But the reality is what it is! So nothing scented, please!

Cooking/Kitchen/Gadgets/Cookbooks/Magazines

Do you LIKE to cook? Yes
    If so, any specific kind? (i.e. Italian, Mexican, BBQ...)  I have to make a New Years resolution and loose weight.  So I am going to try and cook healthier....

Cookbooks ? Love em!
    Community? Yes
    Other  Low Carb or healthy cooking types

Gadgets? Love unique gadgets..
    What do you like or need?    Basting brush...love gadgets

Magazines (i.e. Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray, Cook's Illustrated...)  I subscribe to TOH...     I would like Sandra Lee, Semi Homemade to read once in awhile......I most cooking magazines as long as they are not gourmet...I like those little cookbooks they sell in the grocery store in the check out isle...I like community cookbooks from your area would be awesome....I like the Food Network Magazine too....

Kitchen  towels? Can always use towels

Other?  I like anything for the kitchen....Love Fall pumpkins and decorations...

 Entertainment - Music/Books/Movies/Games

Books -
    eReader? No

       Kindle No
        Nook no
         iPad no
         Other
     Authors you like?  I like Nora Roberts....
     Authors you would like to explore?
     Genre:
         Mystery.. I like mystery
         SciFi
         Historical Fiction
         Autobiography/Biography
         Travel
         Self-help
         Non Fiction
         Romance

I kinda like motivational books....Magazines...Light reading

What magazines do you subscribe to?   TOH
    Is there a magazine that you would like to receive?I would like to read  Semi Homemade by Sandra Lee or Food Network

Would you mind a gently used book? No

Would you be willing to try different kinds of books (gently used), ie if you like romance, would you like to try suspense, to get an idea of what your SS is reading or just to read something different? YES

Would you like a gift card from Amazon? Barnes and Noble or other? Walmart, Boscov's

___________________

Games -
    Online?  Cafe World
    Do you play cards, dominoes, Bunco, board games, etc.? Not too much..Bingo with the gk's

Do you play cards, dominoes, Bunco, board games, etc.?  No often

_______________________

 Hobbies -

Do you sew?  no
    If so, what kind of sewing do you do? (i.e., quilts, crafts, aprons, clothing, etc)

Do you do any crafts?
    scrapbooking?
    card making?  a little

    painting?
    knitting?
    crocheting?
    embroidery?
    beading?
    other?

 Are there any crafting supplies you'd like to have?

Woodworking? Dh does alot of woodworking

Bird Watching? Love watching birds.

Other? (please be specific) 

 Holidays -
(Keeping in mind the 6 month cycle of SS, some of these do NOT apply at this time. Just answer the pertinent questions for the cycle you're in!)

Do you decorate for the holidays?  Yes
    Valentines?
    St. Patrick's?
    Easter?  yes
    Memorial Day? yes
    July 4th? Yes
    Fall?
    Halloween?
    Thanksgiving?
    Christmas?
    Hanukah?

Fall is my favorite time of year to decorate...love the mums, pumpkins and the colors of fall....

        Do you prefer religious or "cute" decorations? cute

Inside? yes
Outside?  sometimes...for fall I do..
    What colors or theme do you use?  colors fitting to the holiday
Holiday Entertaining?
    Do you specialize in comfort foods, look for cookbooks, etc~  I  love cookbooks. I try to cook healthy...less sugar, low carb...healthy foods...

   What do you do to make a particular holiday special?
    Do you host family gatherings? YES
    Quiet meal at home?

Christmas -
    Do you put up a tree~or maybe more than one?  One tree
    Do you have a theme you like to stick to? No theme, but love snowmen, Santa's