sammy50

I've ordered from Workingperson.com before and their prices are pretty good on Carhart.

Just a thought, but have you called your local Police Department to see if they are still taking names of families in need? Our local PD is still taking names of families in our town. Most police departments do a toy drive each year.

One year for Christmas I needed gifts for my daughter and 3 of her friends (also in poor financial shape). I went to the thrift store and got "dress up" clothes, hats, gloves, sunglasses, just a bunch of adult-type frilly stuff and put it into 4 cheap suitcases. I also put in some play makeup. They absolutely loved their "dress up" kits. Oh, I also added some high heels for them to parade around in. Just a suggestion.

I'm a total Grisham fan but two other authors I like are Robert Ludlum and Andrew Vachss.

My son is a nurse at a nursing home and he said a lot of the residents have bird feeders outside their windows. In fact he got a shepards crook and a small bird feeder for one of his "sweet little ole lady" residents. They get a lot of enjoyment out of them. And the staff are usually pretty nice about filling them if the resident isn't able to. The birdseed can be kept in a popcorn tin or tupperware container.

Last year I got my husband a GC for an hour's massage. He came home like a noodle and absolutely loved it. He would never have thought of it on his own.

I have "regifted" some small items that I knew someone had a use for and would like. I've never really gotten many gifts that I couldn't use tho. One time I did get a cheap sewing machine that wasn't heavy duty enough for my sewing so I gave it as a birthday gift to someone who could use it.

A laptop computer and a portable dvd player.

Tho stars are still twinkling I awake with a start. There's bargains to buy and I must do my part.

I have made it a point to get to really know at least one or two employees at a few stores I shop at most. Even went so far as to write letters to their headquarters naming these employees as being exceptionally professional and attentive. Then when "big" shopping deals roll around at these places, I'm always able to get really great service.

It would be wonderful if all the BF talk was just here on GD..................I've started seeing it discussed elsewhere but certainly not with the knowledge and enthusiasm GottaDeal has!!!!!

I just have to tell you that you really came up with a great idea there! That was a terrific buying maneauver. Thanks for the idea.

A good friend of mine had a fiber optic tree several different years and then went to the pre-lit about 3 years ago. She said she'd never go back to fiber optic. Personally, I much prefer the pre-lit because for some odd reason the fiber optic ones sorta put me on edge. I have no idea why.

When we still got live trees, we always put the stump into a 5 gallon bucket with small rocks in the bottom. Then we pour lots of water into the bucket and kept it filled halfway all season. They dried out a tiny bit at the very bottom, but kept fresh otherwise.

To make soft, chewey cookies always use unsalted real butter instead of margarine or crisco. And never, ever cook them too long. Take them out when slightly browned and they will keep on baking for a bit. (At least this is what I do and they always turn out terrific.) I usually take one week right after Thanksgiving and for a few hours each day do all of my Christmas baking. In addition to the traditional sugar cookies I also make several gumdrop cakes. My friends and family do not like regular fruitcake but they seem to love the gumdrop cakes.

I'm 35 minutes from the nearest cluster of major stores, but every year after Thanksgiving they reposition all the parking lot driving lanes and it is a total disaster. Once I park my car, it pretty much has to stay there and I trudge back and forth between car and stores. Yep, ya gotta love the rural life!

We don't keep any decorations up at all, but there is a house in town about a mile up the road from us that leaves their life-size nativity set up until April. Very festive!

My best friend's birthday is Dec 26th but they always had a regular birthday celebration and birthday presents for her on her birthday. They didn't try to combine it or shortchange her on her gifts so it worked out great that way.

I absolutely love the pine smelling scents, but I can't burn any pine scent candles because for some reason I will get a horrific headache:eyepoppin I sure wish I could find one that wouldn't do that. Until then I love the "Home for the Holidays" by Yankee Candle.

My in-laws had several children who got them lots of nice things, but they were never financially very well off, so my husband and I gave them money each Christmas to do or get what they wanted. They were extremely appreciative of it. Everyone's situation is different tho.

Ever since my mom passed away 8 years ago I somehow got to take over fixing the Thanksgiving dinner for my family, my dad and step-mom, and step grandmother. So we only have about l0 people here. I always smoke my turkey and a brisket and ribs. Then I do all the other traditional stuff. I always ask ahead of time what each person wants for a favorite dessert and fix that too. It's tiring, but somehow rewarding. Plus, we LOVE the leftovers and there are always tons!

Oh, I almost forgot, one year my mil got a "combined" ornament for my son and his girlfriend. Yep, you guessed it---now have one ornament with one of the names scratched out:yup: My son laughs about it and just hangs it up anyway! So make sure everyone gets "their own" ornament.

Kansas City, Missouri, has the Plaza lighting ceremony every year. While we normally just watch the lighting ceremony on TV, we always go to the Plaza every year just to walk around and take in the sights. It's wonderful. And nearly every day at Crown Center there are different high school chorus groups performing carols. Love it!

I would buy a large vinyl tablecloth and wrap the whole tub in it. That way they could use the tablecloth and not have a bunch of wrapping paper to throw away.

We always kept all of our suitcases on shelves in our basement and I would stick gifts in them. The kids never thought to look in there--probably because they were always buried under other junk.