Bopeep

HEY YOU GUUUUYYYYYSSSSS! Time's moving fast! Just 23 more days to get your info turned in. COME PLAY WITH US!

my grandson specifically asked for this, when he saw the commercial on tv. This is the first year he has asked for anything specific, so you can bet he's getting it. Praying for a sale! Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Isla Nublar Epic Roarin’ Tyrannosaurus Rex Large Action Figure with Primal Attack Feature, Sound, Realistic Shaking, Movable Joints; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5YBQ8C/?coliid=IVUMS5XK6RPH1&colid=3VHLSFABL98MP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Congrats winners! I enjoyed reading your entries!

The only cookies I make are basic sugar cookies with buttercream icing. I make several chocolate candies (peanut clusters, turtles, cordial cherries, peanut butter cups, peanut butter crunch, billionaires). I have started buying the ingredients. I order the chocolate and caramel, so that came in last week. I need about 12 more bags of powdered sugar, and a few more things. Here's my cookie recipe:

I don't necessarily stick to a budget either. It usually comes out about the same every year, but not by any set plan.

October! I'm stocking up on my ingredients for Christmas cookies and candy. 3 paychecks left to get everything I need. I'm ready to start baking!

I googled Jingle Jangle. Looks like it will premier November 13. I was hoping for a trailer, but from the article I read, it sounds like a good one!

As for keeping track of it, I keep everything on an Excel spreadsheet (password protected). And I keep the spreadsheet in Dropbox so I can access it from the office or home. As I make purchases all year (usually really getting started in July), I can update the spreadsheet from where ever I am. When it comes time to wrap, I print the list so I can mark them off. My spreadsheet goes back to 2003. My, how the lists have changed! *Edit to say - Maybe the lists haven't changed as much as I thought, after looking at them. Last year, I got my grandsons a Beyblade arena. For nostalgia's sake, I got my grown sons a Beyblade spinner each, to play with the kids. The first year I started this list, sure enough, they got Beyblades!

I used to keep as much as possible at my office until the last minute. Now, I just have 1 at my house and he's grown. If there is something special that I'm afraid he'll see, I move it around a lot .

Is Jingle Jangle a Netflix movie also? I'll have to look that up. Dolly Parton has a new one coming to Netflix this year as well. I think it's called Christmas on the Square. Something like that.

i don't shop at Best Buy much, but I agree when I do their staff is awesome! They take the time to explain things to me, and help me find the best solutions to whatever my issues are. When I was trying to get everyone at my office sent home with the right equipment at the beginning of the pandemic, they were a lifesaver for me. I don't shop at Target much either. I am a Walmart gal. But I always make Target purchases on Black Friday, so I'm anxious to see what the deals are on the 13th and 14th this month.

Can you believe October starts tomorrow?? 30 days to get your info in! For those interested in numbers and history, this is what participation has looked like the last 9 years: 2019 - SS 33, OE 12, Cards 11 2018 - SS 39, OE 16, Cards 16 2017 - SS 31, OE 14, Cards 15 2016 - SS 30, OE 15, Cards 12 2015 - SS 33, OE 16, Cards 11 2014 - SS 34, OE 19, Cards 12 2013 - SS 33, OE 19, Cards 13 2012 - SS 46, OE 28, Cards 21 2011 - SS 44, OE 33, Cards 27

I'm in the minority on A Christmas Story. I've never cared for it. I like It's a Wonderful Life, and I'll watch it if it's on and I'm not doing anything else, but it's not a must for me. My absolute must watch movies every year are White Christmas and Holiday Inn. I watch those while I wrap presents (unfortunately, the wrapping takes longer than the movies, LOL). Of course, I also love Miracle on 34th St (either version), Grinch, The Santa Clause (all of them), all the old animateds (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc), and so many more!

WooHoo! Thanks so much!

This was the one I tried last year. It was ok. I liked that I could record the movies, and didn't have to watch live. I just had trouble with the controls (ffw, rw, etc). I'm sure it was just user error. I might give it another go this year.

https://www.mylifetime.com/christmas-movies-full-schedule Here's the link for the Lifetime schedule. I've got them all typed up and ready to start recording. I wish I could do more than 2 weeks out! It would be great to be able to go online and just get them all scheduled .

I'm most looking forward to A Nashville Christmas Carol. My favorite Christmas movies are the ones that include fantasy, and I always love a retelling of A Christmas Carol.

Whatever advantage I can get . LOL

I was wondering about this too. The dog chewed up the bottom strand of lights on my tree a couple years ago, so I was thinking of getting a new one this year.

No, the priority insurance is enough.

We "cut the cord" several months ago and went to Hulu, so I didn't have Hallmark anymore. I had resigned myself to not getting to watch Hallmark movies this year, at least I had Lifetime on Hulu Live. College football kicked off last weekend though, and watching on Hulu Live was an awful experience! We have decided to plug back in and Direct TV will be here today to hook us back up. Now I don't have to miss any of the Hallmark movies and that makes me even more happy! *I know Hallmark has their own streaming service. I tried it last year to get the HMM movies, and didn't really care for it.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town And he’s coming early this year!! It is time to sign up for the GottaDeal Exchanges! If you want to join in on the fun, please send me a PM no later than Thursday, October 29. Please put "Secret Santa 2020" in the subject line. I will do my best to have the names picked and back out to you by Sunday, November 1. I did not move this date up, as I know some folks aren’t back yet. However, I am going to have to be stricter about the deadline date this year, as the shipping date is going to have to be earlier. Watch the names, and if you are missing someone you know usually participates, reach out to them! You know there must be rules, so here they are (please read before signing up): 1. Secret Santa is just like it sounds - a secret exchange of gifts! There's a MINIMUM of $10 before shipping. If you choose to spend more, please don't be disappointed if your partner doesn't. 2. Ornament Exchange is also just like it sounds - an exchange of ornaments! There's a MINIMUM of $5 before shipping. If you choose to spend more, please don't be disappointed if your partner doesn't. 3. Card Exchange is also as it sounds - an exchange of holiday greeting cards. Unlike the other two, however, you send (a card) to everyone who signs up and you get (a card) from everyone who signs up! If you have a favorite holiday recipe feel free to include it with the cards you send out. There is no minimum or delivery confirmation but please understand that you send a card to everyone on the list so if 50 people join the exchange you will be spending $27.50 for postage. (The current cost for a first class stamp as of the time of this posting is 55 cents). 4. Tracking (aka delivery confirmation) is a MUST. Please PM me the tracking number and how it is being shipped (USPS or UPS) so I can keep track of everything. If you send via USPS Priority it should be included at no charge, but it is always best to check for yourself. 5. Insurance from the USPS is also a MUST. Check with the post office nearest you for the cost. 6. Make sure your item(s) is/are properly packed and with plenty of padding. 7. Everything must be new/unused within reason. Used books, CDs, and DVDs are okay as long as they are in a like new condition that you would be okay with receiving. 8. The last day to sign up is Thursday, October 29th (you have until midnight CT). I should have names out by Sunday, November 1. 9. The last day to ship is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30. This is earlier than usual, while still being after traditional Black Friday. If for some reason you cannot ship by this date, please let me know ASAP and then ship priority. **Please remember in the age of Covid, shipping is taking longer. Please try to ship earlier than this date if at all possible. 10. If you are participating in the Card Exchange please feel free to mail them any time but make sure to keep holiday mail delivery times in mind. **Again, remember the mail is taking longer than normal. 11. You must be a member with some posting activity, to participate. This helps to make sure that only dedicated GottaDealers are participating and we have less of a chance of people flaking out. 12. If you participate in the SS/OE, please post when you receive your package even if you are waiting until later to open. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT 13. Any decisions made by the exchange host are final. Each case or question will be given fair treatment and consideration. Please include in your PM: 1. Your forum username, your name and address 2. Your email address, in case I need to contact you and can’t reach you through PM (I don’t include your email address with the information to your SS) 3. The exchanges you would like to take part in (Secret Santa, Ornament and/or Card) 4. The answers to the questions below if you are going to participate in Secret Santa/Ornament exchange Are you male or female? What is your t-shirt size? Are you married? Kids? If so, gender and age Pets? Allergies, diabetes, etc that your SS may need to know? Would you accept homemade food (such as cookies)? Any absolute dislikes? Anything you really don’t want any more of (i.e. coffee cups, knick knacks, etc)? Favorite Crafts or Hobbies? What do you do for a living? What is something you like to do with your family? Do you collect anything? Favorite Fast Food Establishment? Favorite Candy/Sweet/Finger Food? What is your favorite color? Do you like lotions? If so what kinds? Do you like scented candles? What scent? Any favorite sports teams or Nascar drivers? What's your favorite type of music? Who is your favorite musical artist? What's your favorite movie? What's your favorite holiday movie? What kind of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author? Who? What's your favorite thing to do during your ‘me time’? What is your favorite winter activity? Something that you wouldn’t buy yourself but have always wanted? Would you prefer your gifts wrapped, or no? If you had $10 to shop for yourself at Target or Walmart, what would you likely look for? What else would you like your Secret Santa to know? This is not an official GottaDeal.com event, so participate at your own risk. GottaDeal can't be held responsible if you do not receive anything. Speaking of not receiving anything, hopefully everything goes as planned and no elves are needed, but please let me know if you are willing to step up in case someone does not receive their SS/OE package. Secret Santa (24) BoPeep ilikefree tracy0504 hillbillyswife Coastiwife Reinholt1 Reinholt1sMom colemandawn4905 wittenlover HanShotFirst willandmel gatorburg msyves Kash BFAddict716 tyreejames racerfan sunni0913 stevierocks Illinoismom Jesusluvu ytmomof4 jendeere Pepper_Mint_Tea Ornament Exchange (10) BoPeep hillbillyswife bethed Coastiwife colemandawn4905 willandmel BFAddict716 racerfan sunni0913 Jesusluvu Card Exchange (10) tracy0504 bethed Reinholt1sMom packratfamily msyves BFAddict716 sunni0913 stevierocks carheel jendeere

So, seriously, what do y'all think of a November 30 shipping deadline? Is that too late? I'd like to keep it after Black Friday, but what say you?

I'll get the Secret Santa started this week, and make the deadlines earlier. Probably not shipping by October 17, but earlier, LOL.

I figure I'll stick to my usual. I'll probably do the bathroom right before Thanksgiving, and everything else Thanksgiving weekend. I didn't put up my traditional tree last year, so I'm looking forward to having it back this year (was going to get a new one from Home Depot, but now I'm wondering if they'll do their annual great Christmas tree deal, lol). I need to find a cute, affordable, gate to go around the tree though. My cat is old, and she has decided to forego the litter box about half the time (gross, I know). I hate to keep her out from under the tree when she's always loved getting under there, but I don't want to have to crawl under the tree to shampoo the carpet every day either.