ohitsunshine

Near Ocala Florida. In shorts. And a t-shirt. No not really...although I would love to rub it in that it will be like 50 or 60 here, I am a weenie and will be in my winter coat for sure.

Wow, I can't believe how old I am! I thought well I started going when I was 18 so what, 5 or 6 years. But then I realized no- it's but 14! AAAaak! Where did all the time go??? At any rate, no one in my family would dare go out- and even though I had no money and no one to really buy for, I ventured out on my own to see what all the fuss was about. I loved it! I have been going every year since!

Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell

$200 is a lot of money to be spending on nieces and nephews! Wow! Our family does not set a budget - we buy what we are comfortable with buying. I have one sister no kids, so she gets something for her. I have another sister with 2 kids- so they get a couple toys or clothes, and her and her husband get a package gift. Something for both of them. I have 3 kids, and usually they just get something for each of my kids. Some years one of us may get more than the other but we all know how the economy is, who just bought a house, who lost hours at work, etc. I think that we are all thankful that we get to give each other anything!

I wrap fairly early, mostly so the kids won't know what I have gotten.

Target is always my favorite for fun shopping. Wal-Mart is my favorite for cheap shopping. Anything else in between in a bonus!

I buy mine after Christmas, and I send them out Black Friday Morning! On my way out to shop I drop them in the blue box, and that signifies the start of the season!

My favorite Black Friday experience was the first time my husband went with me. He was so amazed at the crowds at first but really got into it. I watched him run down the aisle at Target and skip over the base of an endcap to get one of their Lego sets. No more than a minute after he snatched it they were gone!

In my experiences, they have had a table of them set up in each entrance. They are small globes, not full sized. I have gotten them a couple hours after opening, and I have had them run out before I made it there early on. Different stores in different towns also, so I think most will also have different experiences.

I had never been to Kmart until last year we went Thanksgiving morning. We went for that stinking Nerf gun. We found like 3 of them crammed on a top shelf with random toys. We got ours, and were close to the front of the line before open. Before we left the toy section there were at least 5 or 6 people looking for that same gun. I can't believe they would only have 3.

I have had 2 completely different experiences. One year in NY I was not sure what time they opened, and only wanted the drum set. I had hit Wal-Mart and headed to TRU- I walked in...got the drum set and left. I was the only customer in there. I don't know if they randomly opened early or what. There was no line, no nothing. Last year in FL, I waited in line forever. It was wrapped up and down aisles and around the store. I wanted the skate ramp and left without it that day but had gotten a couple good finds. The next day I called to see if more ramps came in- after talking to multiple people and getting different answers it turned out the ramps were left on the truck the previous day and no one knew. It was a doorbuster, but they gave me the price on it the next day because of their mistake.

Well that kind of stinks. From my experience Target runs out of toys fast- so I might have to go there first this year then. Can't wait to see the ads!

6 if I remember right

1. Xbox 360 2. Xbox games 3. Flatscreen's for kids rooms 4. Ipod's 5. Cell phone deals!!

Used to go with my husband, mom or sisters but since moving to FL and my husband always works that day...all by myself! It isn't as fun but sometimes I am glad no one is holding me up either!

Went there about 10:30 in Ocala FL, there were EMPTY shelves, and then a bunch of boxes throughout the floor. There were all black ones left but I didn't look too hard- once I saw the line to the back of the store. What the heck? I mean yah, $1 flops, great but you can get $3, $4 or $5 flops just the same elsewhere! I was not waiting there for that!

We had jamming problems right away but then found as long as we stuffed the whole "bullet" in the tube far enough it would prevent it from jamming so easily. That and just layering the strip back and forth neatly worked for us. Hope you can get it working better, my son is loving it although the dogs are not! (No he isnt hitting them directly I would not allow that but they are 5 and 20 pounds and a little nervous anything is flying in any general direction!)

We bought 3 computer desks, one for each kid. They have a nice shelf and cabinets. I have a cup of left over pieces my husband insists they dont need. He put them all together himself, as I would have made it worse! But it took him half the day to do, and then had the basketball hoop to put together as well! My most miserable project was the Polly Cruise Ship.

Will let you know here, I picked up plenty of batteries but was 2 shy of the 6 we needed for this toy!

Me too, I always thought a nice catalog tree would be pretty, but once you get them all up its like awww...

I may need to adopt your improvisations- I made a huge batch of cookies a couple weeks ago- they ate them all. I made another slightly smaller batch a week ago for work, and set some aside as the little one reminded me daily we needed them for Santa. Came home yesterday, they're gone. They ate them while mom was at work!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d159/jenrein/Tree.jpg There we go- I got it. My tree is filled with family ornaments, the ones kids make and the ones we get every year. I still have mine from when I was born. I think every branch is full so we made need 2 trees next year!

We let the kids open their new pajamas and presents from their grandparents that have been under the tree taunting them for a week!

FL- Mid 80s

Ok. wont post for some reason!