The Journey 11/21

Well, it 's almost Thanksgiving. I really don't care for most of the Thanksgiving traditional foods, but I am so craving pumpkin pie!  I am going to the store today to get the ingredients for my pumpkin pudding before I rob a House of Pies!

I went to Burlington yesterday to look for a handbag for my mom for her birthday. The crowds were already insane, and it's not even Black Friday yet. I hate shopping this time of year.

I've ordered (online) gifts for Woogie and Ivy, my mom, and my daughters. I may shop at the Walgreens gift card display for everyone else! I have no idea what to get for Rhys - he's too litle for toys and he doesn't need clothes.

Are you a shopper? Do you like the crowds and the endless Christmas music?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Lynne,
I love shopping, that is why I work in retail. I deal with Christmas in one way or another most of the year! It goes from getting in inventory in June and july, putting it out in August,Xmas card sale in Sept, Corp Xmas sales start in Oct, early shoppers and decorators in Nov, BIG push in Dec,Jan returns and after Xmas sales, and second discount, in February or March we ship out the left over have a couple of months reprive and then istarts all over again.
Meggie

Meggie, I love you but you are NUTZ!!!!

But in a good way . . .

Yes Lynne, I am most definately nuts!! Most people in retail who love it are! Working where I do makes it easy. Is is marvelous to go in everyday and work around the best and most beautiful things imaginable. I dont deal with needs but with wants. My customers are (well 95%) the most wonderful people and so many have become  my friends too! Like everywhere else we have our crazies but they keep it real and real interesting!!

Meggie

My friends will tell you--I'm a "disgrace to my race"...I'm NOT a shopper. I like LOOKING at the decorations, etc at the malls, and LOVE the "people watching".....but NOT NOT NOT the shopping. Give me my WalMart card anyday. This year I ordered all my little ones the same type thing-personalized duffle bags from  www.lillianvernon.com  --too cute. They MIGHT get a fleece blanket and a toy, inside their bag--or they MIGHT just get a bag...we'll see....Oh-and LYNNE-I'm making the "pumpkin pudding whip stuff" as one the desserts I'm taking to my sister's house for Thanksgiving. I forgot how much I like it-l add protein powder to my individual svg and eat it as a meal (but not ON Thanksgiving, of course--I eat FOOD then....lol)

Lynne, you could start a savings acct in his name and each year contribute a little bit towards his college or first car.  My Dad put $100 in a mutual fund for my daughter's birthday each year and with interest it was enough to get her a car when she was 21.  She knew why she never got birthday presents from them and was so happy when she was able to buy that first car.  I know Christmas is a little different but it's a thought.

My mom has started buying the kids savings bonds, and they already have savings accounts. I will probably give them each a check, but I just hate not giving a gift! I know that's crazy, especially for Rhys this year.

Good Morning Lynne,

You're way ahead of me...on the gift situation.  

As you can tell, I am NOT a shopper and I do not like crowds, but I do love the Christmas music.

I think it's save to say, I'm a "gift-card gal."  I love to give them away and I love to get them.

That's my story....


Lisa

I'd go for a tiny toy or stuffed animal for the baby and a savings bond or $ for a savings acct.  That way you have the best of both worlds.

I have most of my shopping done.  I have a couple of gift cards to buy, a gift cert. for a friend from a company she likes to buy from, and a few more stocking things for Ben.  I usually have all his stocking stuffers by now but haven't this year.  I was getting him a "surprise" t-shirt from Layne's chicken yesterday with "Laynes wrecking chicken"...since A & M is reviving their old wrecking crew on the football team and they threw it at me NOT in a bag and the huge pan of chicken tenders was so hot I had to use it as a hot pad.  He saw it already.    I already got him a $150 AE gift card, a miniature replica football helmet for A & M, a regular size football helmet that is actually a tailgating/party chip/dip server, white tshirts and 2 pair underwear from AE, and a blow up of part of Kyle Field from a pic I had taken done on canvas.  I think that should be enough.  He always used to count how many gifts he had.  It has been anywhere from 15-30 some years.  Many are small things.  I guess I spoil him somewhat!

Ross got a brick for Christmas...am I nice or what?  Actually it's got his name and graduation year and will be on a walkway at our new high school.  My mom got me one for my birthday.  Now I will have one there and at SFA.  My sister didn't want one because she said someone might not like her and spit on it.  I guess I don't care.  Maybe my brick will trip them if they do that!

I bought myself decorative rubber boots.  I asked Ben for a set of stainless steel pots and pans like he got from him and his dad.  That was several months ago.  I wonder if he even remembers?

Karla, I used to make my ex a list of what I wanted. He would dutifully go out and purchase each thing. Usually on Christmas Eve. I guess that should have made me happy but it used to **** me off that he couldn't think of one thing to get me on his own. All I really wanted from him was affection but that didn't happen.