AuntJamelle

We average about 4 hours, no more than 6, tops. We are typically home by about 11AM. We always stop for breakfast somewhere in the middle of going from store to store, otherwise we would be home earlier.

I run to hide the presents I've purchased for DH. Then I collapse on the couch with DH and zone out by watching TV for a while. Then I gather what energy I have left and get up to go through all of my purchases again - to remind myself what I've gotten. This usually gets my energy level up again and I continue working on decorating the house for Christmas. (I usually start on Thanksgiving night or a couple days before)

We have 7 parties/gift exchanges to go to this year. They range from extremely formal to extremely casual in nature. We are also hosting a birthday dinner! We are definitely going to be busy this holiday season!

I am a little disapointed that BF is over already. I had planned to get ALOT of Christmas shopping done on BF and although I did get alot accomplished, I still have quite a bit left to do. It's a big reality check to realize that we are less than 30 days from Christmas and I have to go out and fight the crowds some more! Next year I will have more of my shopping done ahead of time - you live, you learn, right?

I'd have to vote for Menards as well! We have two in our area and we tried to go to the smaller one on our side of town at about 8AM. We lucked out with a parking space right up front - but it didn't do us alot of good as when we walked inside it was chaos. No carts left - none - and the lines of people with carts and flatbeds stretched to the back of the store - at least! We turned around and left - we went to Walmart on the busy side of town instead and had no trouble! Go figure!

My must have item is the Palm Tungsten E PDA from Staples! I want to surprise my DH on Christmas morning!

Just FYI - I don't know if the time posted for Best Buy is earlier than they open or not... But I have it from a reliable source that Best Buy is planning to open earlier than normal this year. Shhhh...don't tell anyone! :) Don't know if it really makes a difference or not though, since everyone is talking about being in line so early!

I haven't been as excited at the ads either. But I still am excited for the challenge and just the fun of spending, spending! I have a PDA to snag at Staples for my DH - that's my most important item on this year's BF agenda. If I happen to spot an opportunity to grab a $30 DVD player without losing a limb, I probably will. Other than that I will be trying to get some of the deals on clothes and homegoods.

I love to use wrapping paper! I have quite the collection too - I keep buying more each year and I don't use it all! Once in a while I will use a bag - depending on the item - but I prefer the process of wrapping and then decorating a package. I like to have fun with wired ribbon and also to tie on little do-dads to make everything look pretty! :)

It would have to be Target - I would start in the DVD and Book section. Give me 2 minutes and I'll have a haul! Then I would sprint to the homegoods section and start snagging sheets - the highest thread count I could find. They make great gifts and we can always use more! Towels would be a good grab too! Lots of fun to imagine!

Hardest = Sister in Law that lives here in town I never know what to get for her! Easiest = My best friend. Our tastes are similar and I always see things that I know she'd love.

I have one tree done in country type or woody themed ornaments. I have one tree done in snowman and snow themed ornaments. The only theme on the other two trees is the colors I use for the ornament bulbs. The rest of the ornaments may stay in the same color family but theres no rhyme or reason to what they might be. I love ornaments and can't stop buying! I get more every year!

Sometimes I will wrap a stocking stuffer if it is a special gift that just happened to be small. I also wrap all stocking stuffers that I send to my dear friend in Texas - if I don't wrap she will be forced to peak when she fills her own stocking.

I try to have cards ready to mail by Dec 1st every year. I like to wait until they can be sent out with a December postmark.

I use white lights on the inside of the dining room tree, closest to the trunk. Then I put red and green lights around the outside. I am using blue and yellow (gold) lights on the inside of the living room tree, with multi-color lights around the outside. White lights on the other two trees.

There is no way I would go anywhere near our mall on BF - the traffic is backed up for miles! Maybe if you went super early it would be better - but when you try to leave - look out! I am very thankful to have stores on my side of town that I can go to instead - they will still be busy - but hopefully not the insanity I've seen up on Grape Road.

I don't plan to get any clothes for myself on BF - but I always end up with something. Usually from Target - although I will be probably be hitting Kohls this year and I like their things too.

I am planning on picking up a couple of McDonals gift certificates for MIL's stocking this year. I know she goes there for breakfast alot on the weekends. I will also be picking up GCs from Starbucks for DH and my best friend. I like to put the GCs in their stockings! :)

My plans for DH this year include... - Palm One Zire 31 PDA - New leather coat (if I can find one wide enough for his shoulders!) - DVD Boxed Set of Firefly series - DVD of Battlestar Galactica mini-series - Dress shirts, undershirts, dress socks - New CD Those are the main items I've planned on - hoping to find a deal on the PDA on BF. Not sure if I'll be able to find the coat - may put that $ towards a new dress suit for his company Christmas party this year.

This is one of DH's fav places to shop! We have one - but its on the other side of town and not somewhere I was planning to go on BF. I'm going to have DH look at the list anyway - maybe he'll want to go early before he has to be to work on BF.

We just had another Kohl's open up in our area and it's right by my house. Its very likely that I will be visiting the store on BF. Will ultimately depend on their sales ads though.

I start seriously shopping/thinking about Christmas in June or early July. I like to spread the spending out over a greater time period - plus if I decide to make any gifts that gives me plenty of time to pick up supplies and create! I rarely buy gifts at after Christmas sales - just wrapping paper or maybe a new decorative item.

This has never happened to me - nor have I witnessed any crazy behavior. I have noticed people eyeing the contents of my cart before. But I've always gone shopping with hubby and at 6'1" hes no lightweight. Anyone tempted must have changed their minds. Or they just didn't like what I had in my cart! :) This year I'll be on my own - so we'll see how it goes. It may be on like donkey kong! Of course I would never get into an actual fight - just not worth it to me.

I love to wrap presents and always do it myself. I wrap the boxes in paper and stack them in spare room until it gets closer to Christmas. Then I will start decorating the boxes with ribbon and pretty tie-ons or bows, etc. Most places don't seem to offer that service around here and even if they did, I'm sure they would be swamped! I'll take the peace and quiet of my own dining room over fighting the masses any day!

I usually type up a list on the PC in Word of everything we are looking for - organized by stores. I'm hoping to just print out my shopping list from this website this year - much easier! I'll have one piece of paper to either carry in my hand or shove in my pocket as needed.