Chia pet!
Okay, stopped by World Market today and picked up a small hot sauce sampler pack. Good to go. 
I’ll report back afterwards.
The best one I ever brought to our work party was a wrapped case of six gallons of windshield wiper fluid. I twas huge, heavy, made odd sounds, and really cheap. We are in MN so it was also very popular.
I’d take pet safe sidewalk salt if I still lived in MN.
Amazon has a section White Elephant Gift Ideas. This is one example:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00465S1ZG/
Lol. This looks like something that would go straight into the weekly bag…
@oregon101 , One year I too brought a truly awful landscape painting from a thrift store. The next year it appeared again, but the new owner had painted in some people to make it “better.” Following year it appeared with the addition of LED Christmas lights on the frame. I think we retired it after that.
Another funny one with that group was a tea tray designed for putting photos under the glass, except the couple that brought it put in lovey-dovey selfies of THEMSELVES: clinking champagne glasses over dinner, hand-in-hand as they walked on the beach . . .
Box of lottery tickets
A ‘Cup of Knowledge’ (Mug & teabags from your state uni)
A bomemade Ball jar of layered cookie / biscuit mix with recipe attached
Ball jar of homemade sugar / salt scrub
etc
FourAtShore, love the tea tray! To me this is the idea behind a white elephant party.
This year for White Elephant I am bringing a collection of batteries.
But I do like the idea of lottery tickets… hmmm
For lottery tickets, I’d say, any winnings over $XXX, you need to share with me. Probably couldn’t enforce that, but theide they might win some huge amount makes me nervous.
I did fill a big jar with small wrapped candies and it was a hit. The gal who clung to it, in the end, was the sort you’d never think ate chocolates. But she wanted it for her office desk, as a friendly thing for anyone who came by.
I’m bringing a brand new’60s-style lava lamp that I won as a door prize at a birthday party. I understand you can buy them at Target.
I personally love the gag gifts, and the funny but practical ones too (windshield wiper fluid – hysterical!), but I’ve learned the hard way you gotta know your audience. I was new to a book club and brought Amy Sedaris’ “Hospitality Under the Influence” book for our holiday gift exchange. It’s jokey and funny but also contains real recipes and entertaining tips. I was so embarrassed by the frosty reception it received that I “stole” it back and let the recipient have my scented candle (or whatever I had gotten, LOL, can’t remember). I didn’t last long in that book club. :))
The windshield wiper fluid IS genius - funny, situational, and practical. A trifecta!
I’ve been invited to a Christmas party/white elephant when I’m visiting my sister in northeast Ohio. The email said a $15 gift for either gender that is not a regift or something in your pantry. Something that each person can go home with that they are excited about.
I’m asking all my friends 
what of these gifts they would like?
Cherry republic granola or cherry scone mix with a bag of coffee.
American spoon foods jam with the coffee (their jam is expensive, I guess I know why I don’t go there very often)
A nice bottle, well $15 of wine
An insulated wine glass, if cheap enough I’ll add a cheap bottle of wine
A bottle of liquor
I don’t think many people there are familiar with my area of the country, I wonder if they would like food from Michigan.
I don’t know these people that well, hence why I’m asking.
I go to a white elephant here. Everyone brings either Christmas decorations or libations.
I know I’m not suppose to regift but I have a bottle of chocolate wine I could give. Then I would put $15 worth of candy. Do you think people would like Mackinac island fudge? (I’m not going to Mackinac but have a place that’s in town, just that style)
A friend posted herself wearing the White Elephant gift she won - if you like gag gifts, it was absolutely hilarious. It’s a fanny pack, available for under $15 at Amazon, showing a man’s bare belly, including belly button. Available with hair or without.
Thanks @college_query but my understanding from the email was not gag gifts. That gift sounds great though
I would go with something consumable - either the wine or nice chocolates
Costco has a very nice three-layer box of Godiva chocolates this month for exactly $15. What’s not to love?
I would FIGHT for the Michigan cherry granola or scone mix with coffee. @deb922 I don’t know if this is readily available to you but this coffee brand and this particular flavor - is it available in your stores? They used to carry it at Meijer here but don’t anymore. It is a family favorite and now I can’t find it locally anymore! Anyway, a suggestion of coffee: