theboyzmom

I went to Kmart last week to specifically put stuff in layaway....I had a total of 5 items in my cart that would have totaled maybe $50 so I didn't do it...they had a few bakagon items, but not enough to get each of the kids the stuff they wanted and I couldn't find anything else in the store either...bummer I think layaway is a great idea...but you have to have the stock to offer as well... oh well

wait! it says the backpacks are in stock!!

can't find any bakugans here either...lots of empty spaces where they SHOULD be though... I wanted to get that back pack too...ugh

didn't I read just the other day on another thread that people were getting charges to their credit cards from artscow months after making a purchase? watch your card statements and don't store a card on their site...just to be careful

I always go through the boyz things and donate everything that hasn't been played with in the last 3 months...if a shelter won't take it, it goes to Salvation Army, St. Vincent's, Head Start, church nurseries, etc if NOBODY will take it, I put it up on freecycle or junk it I stopped hanging on to stuff just because so-and-so gave it to them or they loved it so much when they were 6...there are a few VERY special items that have been put away for when they are adults, but the rest is gone

I go back and tell someone... I've found that in the long run, honesty is ALWAYS the best policy... if you believe in karma, you could consider the 'freebie' a test and whether or not you return it could affect an actual better 'good thing' to happen to you later

bummer Although I agree with JollyGG...unless you are working retail or shift work, can you make it to some of the EARLY sales???

I hoping to find some potato or rice or pasta dish that might fit with a Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner. Here's my take on it....find something he likes and whether it 'goes' with the meal or not, make it! Thanksgiving is about being together and sharing, not about making a 'picture perfect' table for instance, in my family growing up, sage stuffing was the ONLY stuffing made...I hate the stuff...when I hosted my own Thanksgiving, I made sage stuffing the first year, cause 'that's what you have' and I didn't eat it. decided that was a bad idea and I make regular plain stove-top stuffing every year (I'm not the only one who hated the other stuff)

our stores NEVER get the books in...last year I got one mailed to me, but that was the very first time...this book tends to be hard to get sometimes...

WooHoooo!! Craftsman 35 LED Rechargeable Worklight! (bonniecamm)

in Port Huron last year I drove by Best Buy on my way to Meijer on Thanksgiving morning around 5am and there were already over 50 people in line....a full 24 hours early and freezing...

it may not be anyone's business, but the whole intent of the original post was to get other's opinions...so everyone has the right to post their own opinion, and honestly, I don't think anyone has been nasty (asking someone if they are crazy isn't really that harsh) let's keep this thread non-judgemental although I am on the side that won't take a child out and feel badly for the children who are out and look miserable, to each his own...each has to make a decision that works best for their situation (however, I managed to get great deals on lots of things without going to BF for years) let's just not attack or get mad...

not a coffee fan...but when the peppermint stick icecream comes out....OH MY GOSH!!!! I LOVE that stuff...I'll be loading the freezer up!

oh ya, I forgot....years and years ago (before kids) I was the manager of a movie theatre...open 365 days a year and BUSY on Christmas Eve and Day...I had to work too...what really sucked was trying to schedule high school students to work...they didn't want to and their parents didn't want them to and I didn't want to have to.... ugh

I don't have to work on the holiday, but as the parent of a child who has been in the hospital during holidays, may I say thank you? I can't tell you how awful I feel being there with so many people having to work when NONE of us wants to be there...but how wonderful to have so many people there taking care of my precious child and I...

several years ago I called my dh's brother and wife and asked if they would be ok with just getting gifts for kids and they said it was a great idea. They make less money than us and I was going broke trying to buy for everyone... come Christmas at the in-laws house and guess what....they bought us gifts!!!! I felt so cheap and lousy...and it made me really mad too! Now I buy for them no matter what...even if it's some cheap crappy thing (they won't tell anyone what they want and any money we give them doesn't get spent on the kids...I bought them a family gift last year to go out as a family for dinner and a movie...they didn't take the kids...grrrrrr)

we've always done stockings (my grandmother hand made all of ours...she's gone now, so it is a nice way to remember her when we put them out) my parents used to fill ours with chocolate coins, an orange and small toys...when I got older, my mom always filled it with nylons too for my boys I put in a toothbrush and toothpaste, favorite candy, special candy (this year I found 'glo bugs' which my kids have never seen before), small books, cologne and their yearly ornament to hang on the tree (they get a new one each year) sometimes I fill dh's with candy and nuts, but lately we haven't exchanged gifts, so unless I see something I really want him to have, we skip it

wow! our meijers doesn't price match anything...you're lucky!

lol it only took me 20 minutes, but I did it! I clicked on the link and posted a comment and did the rating THEN realized that my computer signed me in under my son's You Tube account! So I had to create my own account, but every user name I picked was already taken, then I couldn't read half the security words you have to re-type, so then I'd have to re-fill out half the form.... but I did it all for you Brad!

I am planning on getting the kids a PS3 (want to wait until closer), but other than that I think I'm actually done...ok, so if I find a good deal on Biscuit the dog, he'll be coming home too, but maybe I should start wrapping...

most of my BF experiences have been great...the first many years I was working, but it was fun (busy, tiring and frustraiting, but still fun). One year I decided that I was going shopping, so I offered to work the later shift at our store and I was approved, however after that the district manager put out a notice that ALL employees were required to work the morning of BF, even if you had to work that evening. I lied (a big thing since I'm NOT a liar) and said that I had family stuff to do that day (ok, it wasn't a BIG lie...I WAS with my sil...) and totally forgot about the job stuff. We were shopping at the mall (not until later that morning, like 10am), and started to walk by the store and then realized that I was supposed to be working and almost fell on my butt trying to back up away from the glass windows. Store closed shortly after that so I didn't have to worry about working BF anymore I have witnessed many bad things happen though...people taking things out of others' carts, pushing past real old people (not people dressed up as old people), I saw one woman get her arm broke in the crush to enter Walmart...

get plain shoes and then decorate for the person you are gifting...these can be VERY creative and the receiver usually loves them

many deals to get get up early and be quick grab it! got it! mine! some say I'm crazy then say 'get one for me too' crazy like a fox wrapping bought in June Gotta Deal keeps me informed Black Friday is here!

no way would I take a little one....early in the morning, bad weather, pushing and shoving people...my sil took her baby one year and it almost got pushed over IN A CART! you can sometimes not even FIND a cart or if you get one, you can't push it through the aisles...how are you going to hold items AND your child? Not to mention potty, tired, etc I missed out on BF for YEARS and YEARS cause I either had to work retail or I didn't have a sitter...believe me, you will find other deals...your child's well-being isn't worth it