HansieDZ

My son (10) is very interested in this also! IDK-I'm skeptical of the whole thing and the price tag-yikes! Not only that,but how much play will they actually get from it? I'm thinking of some more hands-on types of things. I've seen where Jamie and Adam from MythBusters have a line of kits....even my 18 y.o. likes these!

LUCK! I don't know how old you are,but if you have ever watched the movie Trading Places with Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy and Eddie's first time going into the Pit at the commodities exchange.... when Dan says, "Nothing you have ever experienced has prepared you for the absolute carnage you are about to witness. Super Bowl. World Series-they don't know what pressure is. In this building it's kill or be killed." Lol,there's more but it can be like that sometimes. That scene always comes to mind when you're out there for the DoorBusters. Just roll with the flow and you should be fine! There is always a point where I look at myself and say, "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING OUT HERE IN ALL OF THIS AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING????" I never have regretted it though and I've been doing it for 16 years in all kinds of weather. Once you do it,you wonder why you waited so long!

It's the Kick-Off to Christmas! The weather,the music,the rush,......just about all of it!

Hi Mike! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have a question about charging batteries in the charger: after charging,should you take the batteries out or leave them in the charger (unplugged)? I've read about "low self-discharge" and "high self-discharge" (I think) which is when the batteries lose power just by being in the device,whether or not they are being used. Could you address this issue? (or p.m. if you think the info would not be useful to others. it may be a stupid question that everyone but me knows the answer to!)

Love this! This should be on the Happy BF thread!

Since we have threads about peeves (we surely can relate) or bad things that happen on BF...... In the spirit of the season, let's have a thread about good things that might have happened to you unexpectedly,or just any example of a beautiful witness to the true holiday spirit. I will say that here in my corner of the world,we are pretty civil and I love the people who dress in their Christmasey clothes on BF-thank you! It really sets the tone and I love the stores that play Christmas songs on the p.a. system.

Me too! It's both "needs" and prezzies. Like I will buy appliances but to me,a five dollar can opener is not a present but something I might need at the time. Heck,it's just a fun time to be out in the stores! The prices are great and folks are in the Christmas Spirit so that is a win-win combination.

16 years for me. I remember standing out in the cold and snow in front of Toys R Us back when I had many small kids. TG for 24 hr. stores now :)

I collect snowmen (not all- they have to "speak" to me) and cardinal birds I live in a good wintery part of the country so I keep my snowmen and cardinals up until Valentine's Day. I've thought of keeping them up year-round but I don't know if seeing them everyday would make them lose their special meaning. I love every bit of the Christmas season--it's the best part of the year as far as I am concerned. This year, I am starting Christmas on November 1

Absolutely I do. Depends on what commercials are on tv as to what the Toy Du Jour is. I take notice of what the kids really seem to like throughout the whole season and not just what they like now. Once the weather changes and they are indoors more,they seem to like board games,Legos,KNex and video/computer games,arts and crafts,cooking etc. Commercials really affect the kids' wish lists!

Food is always good Also,maybe pick up some movie gift cards: either to a theater or rental place. Another popular place to get a gift card to would be a laser tag place, Putt-Putt (for their indoor arcade if you are in a colder part of the country. Look in the phone book for special deals for tokens.), or anyplace that has an arcade. For the OP, if she likes cooking,take a stroll through a local candy/baking specialty shop---so many fun things there! Candy molds,aprons for the younger set, cookie cutters, really cool stuff! Arts and crafts might be a good thing to get started in if she is creative.

GS/GD stands for grandson/granddaughter too

I don't care what anybody says,I'm going with that site that wx4svr posted! Below average temps and above average precip = one happy Hansie :) BRING IT ON

I would so like to know what kind of photo deal Wags will have on BF. I know they've done the photo greeting cards pretty cheaply and remember last year's deal? It was their Value Pack (reg. $9.99) half-price. I took advantage of that and used all the extra wallet and smaller sized photos to stick in Christmas cards.

Stockings are almost my favorite part! I like the challenge of finding smallish gifts that are just right. For adults: small size coffee or hot chocolate packets,lottery tickets,a special pen (DH likes the G2),lottery tickets,upscale candy like Starbucks or Ghiradelli chocolates,those small bottles you get at the liquor store,a favorite magazine rolled up,bath goodies,good razors,cozy socks,gift cards to their favorite places (restaurants,book stores,movie theaters)really just about anything you can find at the Dollar Tree or Dollar Spot at Target. For children: they are so easy to please that their favorite candies,coloring books rolled up,little toys of most kinds will bring a smile to their faces. For tweens and teens: BREATH MINTS/SPRAY/GUM (they all think they 'neeeeed' these)-which are perfectly sized for stockings! This is a big hit too: go to dept. stores and pick up samples of colognes/perfumes (of course name brand is the key) and if they really love a scent,you have another gift idea ; of course gift cards to restaurants,movie places,tokens for Putt Putt game rooms,online music stores,earbuds,candy,slipper socks,anything with a favorite sports team logo on it. Personalized things make good gifts for the 10-12 y.o. kids. Believe it or not,the kids enjoy those pencils with their names on them like you get from Lillian Vernon et al. I'll think of more later,I'm sure.

Would someone be so kind as to post a link to a station that is playing holiday music already? TIA!

I send out photo cards too and usually Walgreen's has a pretty good BF deal. I try to get them out by the first week of December (since BF is later this year,it will be second week of Dec.). Sadly,I find I send out less cards and receive less each year. I always hang mine above the entryway from the dining room to the living room. It brings a smile to my face to see the cards from friends and family and reminds me of the the joyful times of the season!

I vow not to freak out over buying something,then seeing it on sale later on,and returning it only to save a dollar. The stress over doing that multiple times is surely not worth the few dollars I might be saving. I vow to CUT BACK. I know I say it every year,but this year I mean it! (I say THAT every year too)

First things first: I'm looking forward to the THANKSGIVING DAY sales at Meijer! The deals on TDay at Meijer are just as good as BF and less crowded. Sometimes TDay at KMart is good and I will run out there if I have time. I live for the 3-Day Sale ad from Meijer mostly.Then I like to look at Target and Walmart's ads for BF but my main shopping is at Meijer.

I usually wait til the last weekend or right before the kids get out of school for Christmas Break. I always have to take things back (I buy too much too early,or find a better deal) so it does me no good to wrap early. Last year our electricity was out for 5 days before Christmas and to say I was a little stressed over last minute buying and all the wrapping to do was an understatement. Trying to pull out everything and wrap in the cold and dark was a pain. I lived thru that (the electricity came back on at 3 p.m. Dec. 23!) so I know I can handle just about anything!

Me too! Can't wait :) The best BF was 2 years ago. When I woke up there were a couple of inches of snow but not on the streets-that was the best! It really puts me in the holiday spirit.

AWESOME! Let the 2009 BF Madness begin!

LOL,my brother and his family live in Tuscola! My niece works at the Outlet Mall there. I'll be in Ft. Wayne, Indiana :)

Verrry interesting! I appreciate the head's up on that info. I don't think I am in the mood to do outdoor shopping at that time of morning on BF-that's one of the reasons I shop a 24-hr. store. It's usually either raining or snowing here on BF and it's always pretty chilly. Besides,I am thinking of the logistics of all the shoppers trying to get in or out the sets of doors! I actually like Meijer better on Thanksgiving and Black Saturday. The deals are still awesome but there are less people.

I soooo agree! If I am going to have that big of a set-up,I'll have real pets (which I do not want at this time). I refuse to get caught up in the hoopla of the Hot Toy Du Jour. Sometimes it's just the priniciple of the thing!