stacyk9

Thanks for the great info. I'll definitely be checking out Amazon.com this year!

This year I have to say it's the TRU for me. My DS is 4 and is already making his list. Plus, if they open at midnight, I will definitely be there! Which ad are you waiting for this year? Stacy

I usually wait for the first Christmas cartoon to come on TV and then I just sit in front of the TV and wrap. This year, though, I'll probably wrap my DS's gifts on Christmas Eve after my he goes to sleep so he won't spot his early!

I will be in Cape Girardeau, MO, standing in line at midnight at TRU! God help me!!!!

We always send out photo cards. I usually send them out the weekend after Thanksgiving.

WOOHOO!!!!! Totally going to be there!!!!

I vow to actually go shopping on BF this year! Every year I say I'm going to do it and I always come up with some lame excuse not to go. No this year!! Especially if TRU opens at midnight. I'm definitely there!!

I agree that a majority of the population shopping on Black Friday probably does celebrate Christmas rather than another holiday, but I think it's okay to say Happy Holidays because as someone else pointed out, there are several official holidays celebrated between the months of November and December. Whether someone tells me Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, it's not going to affect my shopping habits. Not that petty!!! And BTW, my Kohl's is decorated for Christmas with red & green. Maybe each store is doing something different, you know, to make sure noone feels left out! I also don't understand these people who are h*ll bent on removing Christmas decorations. If they celebrate a different holiday and would like to display a giant Menorah, so be it. Put it up!

This will be my very first Black Friday experience!! My DS is 4 this year and I'm sure his list is going to be a mile long, so all the more reason to get out there and get some deals. And, yes, I'm going to tackle the dreaded TRU!! Of course, if they open at midnight that would be great! I am so psyched. I can't wait!!!! Stacy

That would be awesome if it opened at midnight! I hope the cashiers were right!!!

Come on Ace Hardware! I had predicted it would come out tomorrow!! Don't let me down!!

Just read an interesting article about Toys R Us adding "pop-up" locations for the holiday season. Toys R Us Plans Christmas Blitz Written by The Merchant. Filed under Christmas Marketplace September 16th, 2009 With Christmas just a few months away, Toys R Us Inc. is boosting its holiday lineup with hundreds of new toy shops. The toy giant is expected to announce plans today to open about 350 Holiday Express toy locations throughout the country by early October in an effort to drive sales and grab market share from other toy sellers. The expansion includes more than 80 pop-up stores in shopping centers nationwide and more than 260 toy shops within the company’s Babies R Us stores. The Wayne, N.J., retailer currently operates 847 Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores in the U.S. Pop-up stores are temporary locations that are usually tied to a specific event, such as Halloween or the back-to-school season, and close after a few weeks or months. They have become more popular lately as prime retail spaces sit vacant during the recession. The company said the Holiday Express shops would offer the “hottest gifts,” including dolls, action figures and educational toys, at “great values.” “We’re aggressively expanding our toy-selling footprint to make Toys R Us more accessible than ever for busy shoppers this holiday season,” Chief Executive Jerry Storch said. “The foot traffic in these popular shopping destinations provides a considerable opportunity to assert our toy authority position, increase our brand penetration and drive incremental sales.” The shops are scheduled to close in mid-January.

I went to TRU a couple years ago and it was a madhouse, but I understand why. Where I live, it's easily an hour to an hour and a half to another TRU, so it's the only option we've got! DS is 4 this year and I'm sure he's going to have a list as long as my arm, so I will probably be price matching or doing TRU online this year. Hope they offer free shipping! Stacy

I say Ace Hardware on 9/25

1. In your opinion, what store had the best Black Friday ad last year (2008) and why? For me, it was Sears. They had a lot of the items I was looking for, including the great washer/dryer combo. 2. What would be your #1 piece of advice to someone totally new to Black Friday? I am by no means a Black Friday expert, but I would definitely get organized with a list for each store along with the deals for each item. Someone here had the great idea to put everything in a three-ring binder that way there's only one thing to carry in the store and you don't have ads flying everywhere! Also, if you can, have friends stationed at different stores and give them a copy of your list as well as you have a copy of their list. Also, I know some parts of the country are extremely cold on BF, but try not to wear a huge coat. It will just get in the way!!! 3. Besides offering great deals, what else can a store do to get you to shop there on BF? Offer more bundles items, more free items with purchase, and price matching. Stacy

I watched "Mr. St. Nick" this other night. I don't know why, but I love that movie!! Stacy

I posted slightly less because between us, my brother and his wife and DH's sister and husband, we decided not to buy gifts for each other. That will bring my budget down by $100.00. I'll be putting that money to good use by paying for school! I attended "Financial Peace" last year and have been putting money away as suggested, so no credit card bills for me come January! What a freeing feeling. Stacy

Just got mine. Thanks!!

I also grew up Catholic, but of Roman decent. We never did St. Nick, but where I live now is very dominantly German Catholic, so just about everyone does it. I decided to start this tradition with my DS3 this year. We wrote our letter to Santa, put it in his stocking and Santa left him a little gift. He really enjoyed it. We will be making this a tradition in our house.

That is beautiful! I will try and get a pic of mine up this weekend.

I am going to bake Egg Nog Bread and put it in a plastic goody bag and include the recipe. I gave this to my co-workers two years ago and it went over very well!

Take the turkey out about 20-30 minutes before it's time to eat, place a loose piece of tin foil over the top and just let it sit. Helps the juices settle in the bird and not just run all over the plate when you cut into it!

I say Donder, although I grew up knowing it as Donner.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both 2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.Too many allergies for a real one. 3. When do you put up the tree? Weekend before Thanksgiving 4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day or soon after. 5. Do you like eggnog? Yes! I make egg nog bread. It's so yummy! 6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie house 7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother 8. Easiest person to buy for? My son 9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I have 3. 10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I must have blocked it out because I don't remember! 11. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? September 14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably 15. Favorite thing to do at Christmas? See my son's face on Christmas morning 16. Lights on the tree? I have both colored and white lights on my tree 17. Favorite Christmas song? What Child Is This? 18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, but only a 1 1/2 hour trip 19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the red nosed reindeer...Thanks!!! 20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Victorian-style Santa 21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning 22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The hustle & the bustle 23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Traditional 24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham 25. What do you want for Christmas this year? DVDs of Storm Chasers series

We usually only have one to DH's parents, but they came for a visit last weekend and so we exchanged gifts then, so no shipping this year. YEAH!!!