amez74

My soaks in a brine for atleast 24 hours. In the brine I have salt, fresh sage, rosemary, cut up oranges, cut up lemons, and carrots (not sure if the carrots help but I'm afraid to not put them in now-cause what if they are). I bake it at 350-stuffed with oranges, lemons, carrots and the fresh herbs. I pour about a cup of white wine in as well. My husband usually bastes it - I guess he likes that job. which is okay cause I'm always trying to get all the other stuff done. cute story - nothing really to do with the recipe when my son was about four, my husband took him Christmas shopping to pick me out something. He picked out a turkey baster. He was so proud and happy Christmas day when I opened it because he absolutely knew I would need it. Makes me teary eyed thinking about it-it was so sweet of him to think of something he knew that I would use and need.

5 snuggies at Office Max @ $4.99 each total $24.95 13' ladder at Menards $55 Target has the Game "Would you Rather" $17--I really really want to get that! Sears has a sony 32" flat screen that would fit great above our fireplace for $379

getting up early cramming in the suburban dashing for best deals

If I can dream big it would be a weekend get away with just my husband A bit more realistic would be a kindle so I can just block everyone out for a while (or just give me a book store gift card for a couple hundred bucks!!)

I found them at Walmart for $8 and bought two-wish I had bought more, but I would certainly not pay more for them. If my children didn't get one they would be okay-they know santa doesn't get you everything on your list.

thanks-this is the best prize-gotta deal stuff for me and zhu zhu pets for the three kiddos!

ty Brad-definitely be shopping at kohls this year -either online or inperson.

Last week I took my six year old dd to spend her birthday money at Walmart. We were in there for two hours while she pondered the best way to spend/maximize her money. At one point I told her "You don't have to spend it all, we can put part of it in savings" She told me quite seriously, "mom, I don't want to waste my money like that."

petshop can be purchased for nearly any price beginning at around$4 on up both my six year old and my 10 year old love petshop items. If you can find a zhu zhu pet they are only $8 and they will work a hard surface (not so well on carpet), all of my kids love webkinz (if the kids are allowed to play on the computer w/ internet) I usually find the best sale prices at Ace Hardware store-less then $10 each. My son is 7, but at that age he liked playing with cars - sets like matchbox can often be found on sale - I know that hotwheels sets are cheaper but we've never had any luck with them being of good quality. My nephew who is 3 is asking for Geo trax sets -these often run on sale too. At that age my son liked trains-he had just a generic wooden track set, but others at that age love Thomas the Train (not sure on prices any more)

thanks I didn't think about trus or freecycle.

Not nearly far enough I've bought 12 gift cards for my husbands employees, and his parents. I've got four children to buy for. So far I have a couple of wii games, a my generations doll for my youngest dd, a pet shop center for oldest dd, and a movie for my youngest ds. This is very unusual for me, still plenty of time though Amy

Any ideas where I could find a drum set for my almost 8 year old? I think he would be too big for a junior set (he is very tall) seems like they are soooo expensive. tia Amy

I think it is the coke commercial -- you follow a little girl growing up each christmas, getting a coke from Santa. then when she is older she gives him a coke. or something like that. It's been a whole year since i've seen it but it is very sweet http://www.hillmanweb.com/xmas/xmascoke.html edited to ad the link-I had to look it up after I started thinking about it.

We go to my inlaws for thanksgiving every year and they always have their decorations up because we do not come for Christmas. They like for the kids to see the house decorated for Christmas. so go for it!

I love making pumpkin rolls during the holidays, but someone already posted a recipe. Here is one we began making over the holidays a few years ago. It's a little cooler and lighter then many of the deserts we have. I usually make it with light cream cheese, and cool whip just to try to help out my waist line a little bit 1-1/2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 cup sugar, divided 1/3 cup butter, melted 2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained 4 medium bananas, 2 cups cold milk 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding 2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided jar of marchino cherries 1 cup PLANTERS Chopped Pecans/peanuts etc (optional my fam doesn't like nuts so I don't add any) MIX crumbs, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the butter; press firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Freeze 10 min. BEAT cream cheese and remaining 3/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Spread carefully over crust; top with pineapple. Slice the bananas; arrange over pineapple. POUR milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping; spread over banana layer in pan. Top with remaining 1 cup whipped topping; sprinkle with nuts. Refrigerate before serving arrange the cherries on the top. I'm so hungry now from reading all the recipes!! Amy

I seldom meet a book that I don't like-and I love a lot of books. but my all time fav is C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters" that book just fascinates me. Amy

I will send you my link #3 I was already a fan though!! Amy

my husband came with me shoppping one year. he embarrassed me so bad--gulp-he actually lined jumped. We were at Target and he was of the opinion that no one else wanted the item he was picking up so that made it okay. I'm embarrassed to even type it out. And yes, I went to the back of the line any way. Amy

my daughter loves "smart girls" its a fun little game. we've also picked up game boy games like sponge bob and my little pony for her as well. Amy

where don't we shop might be a shorter list we usually hit Meijer Walmart, Kmart, JcPenny Menards, Target radio shack depending on the ad and if we need/want anything-Best Buy, Walgreens and any place that strikes our fancy.

wii games (to go with the wii I just purchased on amazon) inexpensive gps for our 18 year old (he tends to break everything so I don't want to spend a lot) otherwise I'm not too sure. My kids dont' have an extensive list this year and it's kindof odd. Some items I'm looking for I will buy before black friday-laptop case for a 17", zhu zhu pets (got them!) I'm excited about black friday, but I have no idea yet what I'll be on the look out for

my sister in law! Maybe my dh will come this year

sounds odd, but Ace Hardware has a lot of them. They also will clearance down many of them at various times. Last time I was there I got three of them for $18. Also if you have a Pat Catan's they often have good deals. I think the bunny was $7.50 last time I was there.

I'm just about 20 minutes north of you--we have an exchange student from Vietnam--same problem so she stays inside all of the time My husband just got himself a pair of dark grey gloves and hat from Walmart that are the Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. He really likes them. He has a pair of gloves from Cabellas as well (much more expensive) but they are bulkier. hth Amy

I just orderd items on Monday and recieved most of them today and the rest are scheduled for tomorrow (weather permitting I'm sure) I was just thinking how quickly Amazon was getting the stuff out!!