AndreaInNC

I have a small family, but my brother's extended family is quite large. They draw names - that way they just buy one gift but everyone gets something.

Yes !!!! It's back on the shelves!!!! Pumpkin Pie Spice coffee creamer!!! I don't know what made me happier .. triple coupons at Harris Teeter or the creamer!

Can you squeeze any shopping in during your lunch hour? You'd also be surprised just how late stores stay open from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. I know Target stays open until 11pm and Best Buy has later hours too. Are you a single parent? Or can you make a trip after you put your little one down for the night? You just need to be organized and keep a list with you at all times!

I stocked up on card when they went 90% off at Target last year. If I wanted to start on them, then I'd have to remember what bin they are in up in my attic!

Also know that you will get a list of everyone's real names and addresses when the list is finalized sometime in November. But Jarerice is right .. you send a card to everyone on the list and you will get one from everyone on the list back!

not available for instore pick up for me. too bad ... great deal!

I just like to hang around BB about 1/2 hour before they open and watch the folks that are just pulling up hoping to get the items on the front of the circular! what fun!

It really depends on what you want and how far they are. The outlet by me that does midnight madness is about 40 miles from me. I normally go for the Banana Republic Outlet which does 40% off the entire store. I usually find enough deals to make it worth my while - but with gas prices the way they are now .. I'm not sure about this year. The lines are verrrrry long and forget about trying anything on unless you want to wait even longer. It's a zoo at the outlets in Smithfield, NC. Unless you go at like 3am when the majority of the crowds have cleared out. The stores will post on the outlet's website what they are going to be doing - so you can find out before you go what the deals will be.

I keep stuff under my desk at work. One year when I was about 12, my parents hid my big gift right in front of me by telling me it was for the girl who lived across the street. It was a bike. My parents told me that they were hiding it for her parents. What a sucker I was ... lol Do you have room under your bed? I had to buy some bed risers for my bed to make room for gifts. We also have the "you peek and it goes back to the store" rule at my house. Have had that one ever since DD17 was about 5. Only had to take back one gift in 7 years. And I made her go to the store with me to return it. I know I'm mean, but she had to know I meant business. When her sister got a little older, she explained the rule to her little sister with such seriousness - I couldn't help but giggle. My kids know where in the house is off limits year round since I do my holiday shopping starting Dec 26!

check out the 2008 Holiday Exchange thread as this year a cookie exchange is being included.

DD17 & DD13 thank you Eve!

I bought one of the Fusion. You can play the Disney movies on it, but it doesn't fill the screen - so it's really tiny. I don't know how those Disney movies on the SD card play on the MixMax. I bought a Fusion for me and I love it! Mine is SpongeBob!

Thanks Eve for doing this for us! I hope Eve doesn't kill me for making this comment about the card exchange .. but last year my kids were upset that the cards came addressed to me only (they can't open my mail) so I'm sending my info with "& family". I know most of us have kids .. so if you want them included on the envelope for the card .. I don't mind adding it on yours if you'll add it on mine!

Almost everyone has it on sale this week. Depends on the system on the price. For Wii, on sale it was still over $120.00.

got an email today 50% off your photo order of $10 or more @ Wags thru 9/20. Use promo code "half"

How about board games? I know my kids (both in HS) still love board games. We actually bought a game last week. It's not a board game, but it's a great game to play for the whole family. It's called Apples to Apples. We got it at Target. The group that played it ranged in age from 12 to 65. We had a blast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples We also loooove to play Mexican train dominoes. You can get the 12 or the 15 count dominoes pretty much anywhere. I picked up a set @ Walgreens! My kids also loved (and still do DD13 & DD17) the card game Phase 10. Again, a game the entire family can enjoy. I love to try and find gifts that will bring my kids together and not have them sitting in their room with earphones on ..

or just wait and return it until after Christmas when Best Buy takes back anything unopened with no receipt and they will do so for 30 days after the holidays. I'm talking mostly DVD, CDs etc .. not computers or refridgerators .. lol

be careful about where you pick up your used boxes from - they (cardboard) normally are a haven for bugs. yucko. Our Uhaul place sells used boxes - you could make a few phone calls. I found that it was actually cheaper for me to buy storage bins than moving boxes. If you have a Target buy you, now is the time to pick them up really cheap as their College 08 collection is being clearanced out. What didn't get unpack got stored in the attic in a water tight and non bug friendly container.

if you wear one of the 1920s style suits no one would notice :)

Well the current promo is save $5 off a purchase of $20 in the photo department with the code "saymore" - expires 9/13. Riteaid is running a promo 25 free prints with the purchase of 25. I don't know how many you can use - I have the coupon if you need the code. I got a bunch of free prints from CVS. Do a google search for free CVS prints and you'll find all the info. I think I ended up getting over 50 free prints with them after all was said and done.

hit the jackpot on Rimmel foundation Tuesday. Marked down from $5.99 to 74 cents! Tons of Boots and Iman makeup on clearance too. Lipsticks and mascara marked down to right around $2.25.

oh believe me I tried. My kids were literally dragging me out the door with just my 10 folders and the sharpener. For some reason, they think I have a shopping addiction

fyi .. the Garnier deal for Sept is spend $20 in Garnier face or hair products and receive a $10 rebate.

there are 2 Garnier coupons in the August ES book. You don't have to have the $20 be on one receipt - so you can break it up if you want to. If you take the $5 ES Eye Roller and put that with a mfrg coupon (I have one for $2.00) that makes this a sweet deal!

I didn't see the catalogs in my store, but you can see the catalog and the coupons here http://a1061.g.akamai.net/7/1061/5412/home/www.walgreens.com/rebate/RebatePeriod110.pdf