nikkilugi

SS gifts received I will post pics when I open both my SS and OE gifts. Thanks in advance - I love this tradition and I'm glad I got back into it this year. My family all pretty much know what I bought them as they are all older and I prefer to get them what they want. My husband needed clothes and he is picky so I made him go pick out his stuff, lol. I am so happy I was able to buy and wrap items that will surprise my recipient. Of course I pretty much know everything I'm receiving as well but I draw the line at wrapping my own gifts so they are waiting in their shipping boxes (Hubby is an online shopper) for my daughter to get home from college to wrap them. These gifts from the exchanges are a few I will have no idea of what I'm getting and that is always fun!!

I received my ornament box on Monday - sorry for the late confirmation. I followed directions and opened the first package right away and will get yummy use out of that - thank you my OE friend. I will hold off on opening the others but probably won't wait until Christmas - I want to hang the ornaments on one of my trees before then.

Mailman just picked up both my SS and OE packages - yay!!!! I love buying and sending gifts - it's my fave!!

I got a couple of bigger items online: Walmart - Airpods Pro 2 and a Ninja Creami Target - Ipad Gen 9 Yesterday daughter and I still wanted to keep our BF shopping tradition alive so we got out at 6 am and visited: Walmart - bought 2 towels and then regular items like cat treats and dog itch wipes lol and some protein bars. No lines at all although we did get there around 6:45. - Spent $50 Dick's Sporting Goods - bought 3 of their cozy socks as those are always good for team gift exchanges and daughter will have one soon with her college softball team. Also found a pair of sweats on clearance and of course daughter found a couple of items NOT on much of a sale, lol. However, she has to wear Under Armour branded items when she wears her team gear since they are sponsored by UA. She has always been a Nike girl so we are slowly changing over some of her items since she wears her softball provided tshirts so much at school. - Spent $110. Macy's - I found some items at 50% off for myself and a couple Hurley tshirts at 30% off - spent about $90 there. Bath and Body works - bought 12 wallflowers for their b3g3 sale. I had a coupon on my app for $10 off $35 and also had a coupon for a free full size body care item so also got a body lotion free - spent $40. Then went into the mall where most stores opened at 9 am. The mall starts to get busier and busier as the morning moves along so we definitely prefer to get there early to avoid some of the madness of the later lazy people, lol. Parking was nonexistent as we left at 11:30. Most stores at the mall had between 30-50% off the whole store so we spent random amounts at different ones. Daughter was thrilled I actually let her buy something at PacSun - which was still WAAAAAY too expensive but I was distracted and wasn't paying attention so that's on me.... JoAnn Fabric - spent $80 but I did get a Woobles kit which I keep seeing online and saying I want to try but never actually pulling the trigger and buying it it was full price but it seemed like fate - not everything we bought was on sale and I didn't have any coupons on me (facepalm) but I wasn't putting stuff back. Vitamin Shoppe - B1G1 protein powder for daughter who eats it like it is going out of style. Did spend enough to score a free backpack which the company will send through the mail. Maybe will get that by spring We found some stores ridiculously busy with long lines - looking at Aerie in the mall and Ulta especially. We opted not to bother with those stores as I could just buy online if there was anything we needed. Most stores were not very busy at all. If there was a line it moved fast as all registers had cashiers which was like seeing a Yeti - I do like that. Stores need to provide enough cashiers because most days we go shopping there is a line of 10 people and one or two cashiers. It's awful.

Thank Bo - I was on immediately at noon on my app and of course there were "technical difficulties" so I switched over to the webpage (on my phone since I was out and about lol). Then that had difficulties too but after about 5 min I was able to add to my cart and check out. I decided to just have them shipped because I didn't want to bother with instore pickup on Friday since I wasn't sure which store I would go to. My daughter has been hounding me for a Ninja Creami (dang TikTok) so I also bought one of those, lol. So..... $358 bucks broke now hahahaha.

I'm pretty confused and disappointed in general this year. Airpods are on my list and since I am a Walmart+ member I was going to get on at noon today and try and score the $169 deal. I was doing some research and am on the Walmart site right now and see that they are current unavailable for shipping and not available at any stores nearby for pickup and that is at the $199 price. Do we think that Walmart will update stock at noon or are they truly sold out already before the $169 sale even starts? This is not the only store that has sold out / unavailable items even at the higher prices. Ugh.

So I already responded I want Airpods Pro - I was waiting for the noon $169 price for Walmart+ members. However, I am on the website and even at the $199 price they are out of stock for shipping and not available at ANY of my nearby stores. Do we think they hold items back and they will be become available at noon?? Honestly I am very underwhelmed - another item that was in the Home Depot ad for their sale that supposedly starts tomorrow on 11/23 already shows out of stock everywhere on their website. What the heck? Are the stores just not stocking many items?

We have already put up 80% of the inside decorations, lol. We decorate for Halloween so we decided to just take those down and put up all the Christmas decor. The only thing we are waiting on is our main Christmas tree because our daughter is away at college and she wants to help put it up like we have done in years past. What is funny though - in years past I have asked the kids to decorate it and they complained the whole time, lol. Now that she is away from home for the first time she realizes that she really did like doing it - or maybe she appreciates the tradition. We have at least 8 totes that hold our inside decorations as well as wall art that we put up. We moved to the East Coast 4.5 years ago and when we did I got a tree to decorate in the nautical style. I put that up along with our main large tree. I have an obsession with nutcrackers and have at least 25 of those. We have an Angel that my husband and I bought at Big Lots our first Christmas we moved in together - 28 years ago. She doesn't light up anymore and is barely holding on by a pipe cleaner (what her arm is made with lol) but she is still hanging out even though most of our other decor tastes have evolved throughout the years. The weather has been warm so yesterday I wrapped our outside tree in lights. I haven't gotten around to the porch but it is supposed to be almost 80 tomorrow and I will be working from home so I might put up some stuff tomorrow on the porch. We don't hang lights on the house anymore - nobody wants to get on a ladder. I will put up our inflatables in the yard though. Christmas is my jam!

I have resisted the Airpod craze for years and years. First because I have to have earbuds with those cushions and the original airpods just weren't comfortable to me. However, my hubby asked for a pair last year and I got him the new Pro version on BF at Walmart. He doesn't ask for much specifically so I was thrilled I actually had some guidance and jumped on it. I never tried them until a couple months ago when I didn't have my pair on me while we were traveling so he let me use his - and I was blown away. Seriously how have I missed these in my life? Or was it my other headphones were just that bad??? So I am going to be looking to snag some Airpod Pro's this year - unless anyone has a recommendation for another pair that sounds even better? I'm gonna be honest - I have used cheap buds all my life and thought they were just fine - then I tried the airpods and realized that is exactly what those other cheapies were - fine. I want spectacular.

I just messaged. It has been a while since I have posted or participated, lurking all the time though. Ready to get going again, yay!

don't need anything deals are too good to resist Black Friday frenzy

I received my SS gift - I'm sorry I haven't posted about it yet. It came in an Amazon box and right now I am getting so many Amazon deliveries I just thought it was one of those until I opened it and saw the absolutely ROCKING gifts. Thanks so much for the Deadpool Monopoly game as well as the Venompool (which I did not have). I loved both so much - I honestly love Deadpool and those gifts just made my day when I saw them. I also received my ornaments and want to say they are wonderful. The snowman with the L is perfect for our tree for sure. I showed my husband the frame ornament/wall hanger and said this is the perfect reason to take an updated Christmas picture this year Now we just need to find the perfect spot. Thanks again!!

I know I am close to the wire. I am mailing out both packages on Saturday. My hubby has been traveling extensively these past few weeks and it just messes my schedule up something awful. Will send tracking ASAP after I mail them.

I have the Cricut Air and I really like it. I can't give any opinion of the Silhouette since I don't have that one - but I can say that I like the Cricut a lot. There are lots of Facebook groups for Cricut as well with lots of video tutorials,etc which I think makes learning the system easier in my opinion.

Just sent my pm - I am excited to participate again. It has been a couple years but I am stoked that I checked this thread in time this year.

https://www.amazon.com/BOXLOCK-Padlock-Deliveries-Packages-Carriers/dp/B07D8VB2SV/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1540999855&sr=8-4&keywords=box+lock I think this is a great idea. We have had so many people stealing packages off of porches. This lock can be unlocked by UPS, FedEX, UPSP, and Amazon workers and your packages can be secure inside.

I have the Series 2 and I love it. I did buy it for myself (as a gift from DH last Christmas) and I love the functionality of it. I can take calls on it when my phone is not handy. I can answer texts on it. These are 2 very important features for me since I don't always have my phone on me. The connection distance is great and if I am on a known wi-fi - my watch will even connect at work if I forgot my phone at home. It doesn't all the time but it has happened and it is freaky. I do wish the battery life was longer but I just take it off every night and put it on the charger and it doesn't seem to be a problem for me.

The ad is floating around out there because someone on a Facebook craft group I am a member of posted pictures of just the specific craft stuff our group members would be interested in. She said it was from the Black Friday ad - which she had in hand.... I need to see the whole ad!!

My area Kohl's stores have gotten very strict on accepting Kohl's cash and will no longer accept expired cash. I also have $20 right now and am holding out hope that maybe something hits by Wednesday at an amazing price

I didn't see this question. We have phones through Sprint on the lease (iphone forever) program. My son wants the i-Phone 7 and since it is a decent jump in monthly lease costs he is asking for us to just get it for him for Christmas. I am wondering - how does the phone return work if we do the upgrade through Target? I am asking because recently I upgraded to the IPhone 7plus through a Sprint Lifestyles store in my area. I received my phone and left my old iphone 6s at the store with the employee after we wiped it clean. Then a month later I receive a bill for $200 from Sprint due to "non-return" of phone. After spending almost a day on the phone and talking to 3 different Sprint reps we finally determined that the 6s was still sitting at that store and hadn't been returned to the Sprint warehouse. This was a nightmare to figure out and I do not want to go through that again. Does anyone know what you do with your leased phone that you are replacing? TIA

I don't see too much difference between the people who would shop and the people who go to movies - movie theaters are open on Christmas day.

I am actively shopping for one. DH wants one. I am trying to find one that won't break the bank but that has decent flying time outdoors. I saw one that holds a Go Pro which I have so am thinking I might go that route.

There have been times it has died on me - not gonna lie, because I would just forget to take it off and charge it. However, I would usually do one of two things, either take it off while at my desk at work and charge it for a couple of hours, or take it off at night and charge it overnight and then put it back on in the morning. I didn't think the smart features would matter too much either, but then when I had them I realized that I really love them. I am not super tied to my phone since I can see everything on my wrist. Yes you can wear it while swimming - no problem. There are different sizes - there is a small and a large. I, personally, like my watches a little loose so I went with the large. The small would have fit me but it would have been on like the last hole and I just didn't like that I wouldn't be able to loosen it up more if I wanted to. The large still has the different holes to adjust the fit and it works great for me. I don't think you can turn off the alert, however, it is not audible it is a vibration alert and once it goes off it won't just keep going off. But it will know how long you were inactive and once you do start moving you will have to move a little more to clear that bar.

But I didn't answer the heart rate question.... The only Garmin activity tracker that has the wrist based heart rate is the new vivosmart HR - which is only on sale at Best Buy until the new year. There are new Forerunners that also have the wrist based heart rate as well. You can pair an HRM strap with the devices though if your wife wanted to do that. I use one with the Forerunners when I was running regularly and as long as you get the premium one it is pretty comfortable. I wouldn't want to wear it all day though.

I had the original vivofit before I switched to the vivosmart. I did love the battery life and not having to charge it - and the vivofit 2 is even better because of the backlight which the original didn't have. I was able to put the vivofit into sleep mode and then I could go into Garmin Connect and see my sleep patterns. I don't think the vivofit 2 has lost that functionality and she still should be able to see that. The vivofit 2 has some great band options which is also pretty sweet! I prefer the devices that have the smart notifications though. I often go out and practice with my daughter and I can leave my phone over on the sideline - however, my vivosmart will let me know any text messages I get and what they say and also will notify me when I am getting a phone call so if it is someone important (like a kid or my husband) I can run over and answer the phone (I often keep it on silent for work and forget to switch it over). I actually now wear the vivoactive, lol. I should give full disclosure...... I work for Garmin, lol. I do love their products though, it just helps that I work there and get a discount.