Gator Pam

Since Beorn and I are Jewish, whereas Paul and his Dad are not, I read a story called The Yule Fairies on December 21. On Chr-stmas Eve our only traditions are turning on the tree's lights for the first time, drivng around looking at neighborhood decorations, and hanging stockings. After Beorn is asleep, Paul and I indulge in some of Martha Stewart's eggnog, which puts me out like a light, LOL!

We have a gorgeous St. Nickalaus tree topper made of cloth over a large cardboard cone. I use glass candy canes. Gives me the look without being tempting to anyone. We use a real tree, so I don't hve to pick it off. I love the look of tinsel, and apply it slowly one strand at a time for a filigree look. But, I'm particular about my tinsel. Some brands are cut way too wide.

We don't here. But I have friends who do.

Week before Chr-stmas at FIL's, but the lights aren't turned on until Chr-stmas Eve. But it doesn't come down until after Epiphany/Three Kings Day.

Beorn still sorta believes, even at 12 years old. I think he thinks Mrs. Clause is the tooth fairy! Hmm... I know a 12 year old boy who would love to take those cards off your son's hands...

Chr-stmas morning here, although we wait for FIL to arrive first, if he's working the graveyard shift that morning. He usually arrives about 11:30 AM, we open gifts, he crashes and wakes up to a festive meal around 5:00, and then he leaves to drive back to work around 7:00 PM, if he's working graveyard that night. Stocking gifts are the only gifts not wrapped here.

My Kitchen Aid 5-quart stand mixer from FIL! Although the Showtime Rotisserie he got me the following year is a very close second.

We go to FIL's for both T-Day and Chr-stmas. My folks are gone, and my FIL is much more himself when we're around than when we aren't. We live about 7 hours away from each other most of the year, and when we're not around FIL drinks. :::sigh::: When we're with him, he's cold stone sober and alive, if you know what I mean. Beorn adores him, and I think he's pretty OK myself. I am hopeful when Paul is finally finsihed with school and we get our own place that we can build an apartment on to our home for FIL. That's my dream regarding him, anyway...

That's generally the response I get from the other teachers at Beorn's school...

I've also done cookies or hot cocoa in a jar gifts, but found that many teachers also constantly diet. So instead, I put together bath salts in a jar, tinted to look like a big candy cane. Candy Cane Bath Salts 2 cups epson salts 1/2 cup sea salt 4-6 drops peppermint oil 2-3 drops red food coloring Place one cup epson salt and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil. Place remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix well. Layer in a clear jar, red & white. Cover the lid with matching fabric and tie. I like to add the following poem to the jar. Poem To Go with Teacher’s Gift I dreamed I stood in a studio, And watched two sculptors there. The clay they used was a young child's mind, And they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher, the tools she used- Were books,music and art. One was a parent, with a guiding hand, And a gentle loving heart. And when at last their work was done, They were proud of what they had wrought- For the things they had worked into the child, Could never be sold or bought... And each agreed she would have failed, If she had worked alone. For behind the parent stood the school, and behind the teacher stood the home. Author: Roy A. Lingenfelter

Does Joann's sell adult costumes?

Beorn had gotten several of the anime series for GBA last year. They work great, but the volume is so quiet it's hard to hear what's being said when watching in a moving car. If you plan to use them in a car, I would still go with the portable DVD players.

Eeeek!! I was just told on the AOL Target board by a Target team member that starting with the Hallowe'en clearance, seasonal clearance will no longer follow a set schedule, such as the one posted above. I hope that's not true; we'll just have to wait and see.

You can also go to the Target UPC Clearance list and see if there are any items that usually retail for around $30 that you figure they will like on 75% off clearance. If so, you'll only pay around $7.48 for each item. But they don't need to know that.

The section with the dollar merchandise is called The One Spot. As far as I know, all Targets have it, but I have heard some of the stores that are currently undergoing remodeling may not have it until the remodel is finished. It is located behind the shopping carts and across from the snack bar right by the front doors at the Gator Town Target. I have heard of them being located in various locations, but that is the most common location I have heard about. TY! TY! TY! Me too, as soon as I cash my paycheck! From what I have seen, corporate markdowns only happen on 'seasonal' items. The One Spot is considered all seasonal, but they will put out the new merchandise before the old stuff gets clearanced, so you may have to scan several items to see if any of the One Spot items have been clearanced. As far as other departments go, as I explained in the Newbie Guide above, different Targets do mark down percentages at different times, depending on how well the item is selling at it's current price. My store tends to run a month behind on mark downs that are not done by corporate. But if they don't sell out after about a month, they do eventually hit the 75% off clearance. Thank you! It's nice to be appreciated. Welcome to the gottadeal.com forums! I hope you can find the items you're looking for on clearance!

But what about taking door busters out of lay-a-way during blitz hours? If you can find the exact model before BF...

Ooo! UPC or model number please? How heavy duty is the mixer?

Me too! But I knew I would. I just wish someone had pm'd me while the chat was on to remind me. :::sigh:::

Well, I've seen so many 'team members' shopping the clearance deals while on the clock that they don't leave any behind for customers that I do sometimes wish I worked there to be able to do that. But, the sources I have gathered over the three years I've been Perimeter Perusing constantly say the employees are not supposed to even say when a department is going to be marked down or anything. I enjoy sharing the clearance deals at Target, once I've gotten my own. I think I would be very unhappy knowing about a good clearance coming up, and not being able to share aobut it.

I thought the no temp control crockpot was only meant for potpourri...

Teri, all last season's dollar spot items should be ringing up 30% off. The Dollar Spot is one area that's usually done corporate wide. Even if there are no signs are clearance stickers, take an item to a scanner and see if it's scanning at 30% off. I've heard rumors the items that are on clearance in the Dollar Spot may go 50% off of Mondy corporate wide.

Amber, was it a migraine both years? Could you be eating something at Thanksgiving dinner which might be triggering it? Perhaps taking a preventative dose of Immitrex before sleeping might help.

For some reason I'm thinking March/April, but my son is 12 years old, so I may be wrong.

From the above list, I chose America's Second Harvest and Habitat for Humanity. I feel these are organizations where donations go more to benefit those they help, and less to adminstrative cost.

Welcome to the gottadeals.com boards! I am also fairly new to the site, but my understanding is as soon as Brad and Ross get a confirmed ad for either BF or T-day, that they post it to the site. I'm looking forward to Kmart's and Big Lots!