jbdinos

my youngest SIL will be 10 in January and she asked for Bratz stuff for Christmas as my DS8 drew her name from the drawing. Personally as a PP said, I didn't let my DD's have makeup at all until they were 14. Then it was a little blush, eye shadow, and lip gloss. then at 15 if they do it appropriately they get to add in mascara and at 16 they can have all make up. But I see other kids as young as 7 or 8 wearing makeup like it's no big deal. If it were me, I'd call the parent she lives with to see if make up is an appropriate gift. If it is, I wouldn't worry about the Bratz part and send it but if her rules are no makeup at age 11, then I would take it back and get something to show a unified front on rules, etc. I just think it would be too sad if she got a gift she couldn't use because of her age/rules. And if they try to return it, make up sets are generally put on sale right after Christmas and so she wouldn't get a credit for all the $$ you paid and may feel cheated.

This year our kids have 2 days a week they are home alone for about an hour after school due to DH and my work schedules. They are good kids, but I think it's normal that they think they can't wait and need to know right now. So of the 4 kids (3 are boys), we decided to trick them. Our DD only has 2 gifts that scream "I belong to a girl". Those I put in boxes that he can't open/reclose. I actually used a priority mail box on one of them that you seal and it has a zip strip to open. So then I switched names/paper on them. So if they snoop they won't be disappointed because they aren't going to get the ones they looked at. So the two boys that are home alone the longest will think they are getting what big sister and the youngest brother are getting. DD and DS8 will think they are getting what DS10 and DS11 are getting. So since DS8 still believes, we will wait till they get all their own gifts in a pile in front of them (we do this and then take turns opening each year), and then we will read the surprise letter from Santa that says he knows they have been snooping so he would like DS10 and DD13 to switch seats, and DS11 and DS8 to switch seats. We don't have to check to see if they are snooping, the looks on their faces will tell it all but no matter what they will still be surprised at Christmas. Next year they will know that snooping will do no good! I will do a different switch up or use numbers next year! But honestly, while you are disappointed she looked, she will learn her own lesson when Christmas isn't as fun and exciting as it's been in the past and I do think it's normal. I doubt there are many of us here that didn't sneak a peek at least one year.

It depends on the situation and the reason I dislike someone that could still be on my list. A few years ago we had some family that basically thought we "owed" them gifts at the holidays so we used the "we just can't afford this and are no longer going to be able to do gifts for anyone but our children" It's not been an issue since. The first year they still sent some gifts (although cheesy) to our kids and we ignored them. It's been wonderful to not buy for people we don't care for that much. On the other hand I buy for my staff at work and I don't like all of them, but I can't leave just a couple of them out either. So in that situation I do. Also in DH's family we do a name draw and I cringe if I get a certain name or if they get mine..... but I do it in that case because the rest of the family can't watch me put that one name back. LOL..... The last couple of year's we've been lucky on that and got ones we want to buy for so that is good. I also don't like having gifts from someone I don't care for. And normally it's a two way street so the gift is not something I would even enjoy because there is no thought put into it and then it either goes back to the store or I give it to someone that would appreciate it. I do have a relative that if they were to send a gift I would return it unopened though.

Was at ours last night and the poinsettias and trees were the same as the rest of Christmas.... 25% off.

We are one step up from you... we get 12/25 off and a HALF of a small ham. Not a whole one or even a half of a big one... I mean we wouldn't want the company to go broke from supplying more than 1 1/2 pounds of meat per person.... LOL

This year in your Christmas stocking you will get : A Bag of Fairy Kisses

Jolly Floppy-Feet

Muddles Cold-Bottom

Moodybeast Rascalshorts

I know what you mean, but I took it that these people work as much as they can but that they are not in the best of circumstances and that one deck of cards might be all they get for Christmas and in some cases one of the few things they get as a family. So for people who have nothing I think they will be thrilled with a deck of cards where those of us that can easily go buy a deck of cards if we want one wouldn't be as thrilled. Myself... I just love it when someone gives me a Christmas card because I feel honored that at this time of year and as expensive as things get that someone thought of ME :-) I did dollar store "relaxation" baskets that cost me 1.50 each for my staff 2 years ago and they are STILL wishing I would do it again.... so it depends on the circumstances of the people and some stuff like the baskets I did are really good quality from the dollar stores.... In fact I went to the dollar tree store and got a pic frame there for 1.00 and my DH thought I spent about 10.00 on it.... very nice quality... I am thinking of getting a few more to use as "prizes" at our Christmas program at work and finding some games to play. So, OP.. I think what you are doing is AWESOME!!!!! and just wanted to show the other side of the coin as I think I have been in as bad or close to as bad of circumstances as some of the workers you have..... let us know how it ends up!

and since she obviously loves you and your family so much, how about a photo calendar where you can do pics of your family, dad, etc on the correct months of the year.. like if it's someone's bday they get their picture on that month, at Christmas find a favorite christmas photo from another Christmas for December, etc.... We did a photo book for my sister one year with pics of my first granddaughter (her first great neice) and left captions and went from her birth to current at the end and she LOVES it.... so that might be nice too, a rembrance book of holidays with dad or a fun book with fun photos of the kids.

Last year they went 50% on Dec 17. I know this because I got a Lowe's gift card from my staff at our Christmas dinner on the 15th and that Sunday evening I stopped in Lowe's for something we needed for our home and bought the snowglobe that is in my yard at 50% off the lowest price. But they didn't do the 25% until about a week prior so I would look for it to maybe change as early as Sunday unless they leave the 25% for 2 weeks this year. Not all but a lot of markdowns at our Lowes does occur on Sundays. Year before last was the first year we had a Lowes and they went 50% the week before Christmas and on Christmas eve they went 75%. I found out the morning after Christmas when they were already picked over but still got a lot of goodies that year as well. I am also watching Lowes and will let you all know if I see it go lower as they have a few more things I would just love to have.... :-)

Our Lowe's went 25% off on all Christmas except storage, live trees, and live wreaths finally. And if there was a markdown price, it's 25% off the markdown price, not original..... happy shopping!!!

Search the web and see if you can find any gag gifts with the scrooge on them?

I sent a PM also

Did I miss Charlie Brown's Christmas already? Unless I skipped over it I didn't see it listed.

My kids perfer bbq on their meatballs so I do bbq sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and finely chopped onions with a splash of worchesterchire sauce..... but others have said my kids are weird... take them to a buffet and one of them always gets spinach, cabbage, and brussel sprouts.... lol .... and my oldest had a favorite meal at age 2 1/2.... 1 can sardines in mustard and a glass of buttermilk to wash it down... EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW......

Anyone in Indiana see these jeans?

Also CVS has them 9.99 with 6.00 ECB... use the 4.00 coupon and that makes them free! Limited to one, but one free razor, is better than nothing.

Word of warning..... My son started receiving sports illustrated for kids... I have never purchased it and I called and they said it was either a gift subscription or a free offer because I had no account with them. This was about 8 months ago. Today I was debited 31.95 from my checking. It said from magazines.com. I called and they said it was an automatic renewal that I agreed to when I bought the first subscription. However, they had my email address and gave me the pw they had for the account and under order history it shows nothing, not the first one and not the renewal. She said she would credit it and I said "the 31.95" and she would say "we will credit the entire renewal amount". Sounds fishy so I told her I was going to file a dispute with the bank and she got crappy and said to do whatever I wanted. Watch your accounts and be advised what they will do with your info if they get it. jbdinos

Word of warning..... My son started receiving sports illustrated for kids... I have never purchased it and I called and they said it was either a gift subscription or a free offer because I had no account with them. This was about 8 months ago. Today I was debited 31.95 from my checking. It said from magazines.com. I called and they said it was an automatic renewal that I agreed to when I bought the first subscription. However, they had my email address and gave me the pw they had for the account and under order history it shows nothing, not the first one and not the renewal. She said she would credit it and I said "the 31.95" and she would say "we will credit the entire renewal amount". Sounds fishy so I told her I was going to file a dispute with the bank and she got crappy and said to do whatever I wanted. Watch your accounts and be advised what they will do with your info if they get it. jbdinos

For girls what about "girly" things that go along with the outfit... like hair things, the lip gloss, etc.... For boys it could be a "theme"... football shirt with a nerf football for example.... a shirt with a car gets a matchbox car.... etc.... depends I suppose on what clothes you bought.... you might get lucky enough to even find a small book or coloring book for some cartoon character clothing and that would work for girls or boys maybe? At our house everyone loves to get new clothes, even the boys.... of course they don't want to get all clothes but if there are toys too then they are good with it.... my DGD3 gets overly excited to get clothes and has since her first birthday so we know she is a girly girl and good to go no matter what anyone decides... so they might surprise you!

She would probably also enjoy donations to an animal shelter given in her name. Last year my DS9 at the time was in 4th grade and his teacher sent a note home that they were not going to do a gift exchange or teacher gifts. Instead any parent that wanted to give the teacher a gift could donate money and each child that wanted to could donate money they or their parents would have spent on an exchange gift. That money was collected and after they had an idea of the total they took a field trip to walmart and split into two groups and bought for 2 angels from the angel tree. A boy for the boys and a girl for the girls and the kids picked the gifts. Each group split up based on what they needed (hygiene, clothes, toys) and was told how much $ they had. A good lesson in giving, budgeting, shopping wisely, etc. My son loved it so much he wants to ask his teacher this year to do it also. Last year we donated our teacher gift money and our exchange gift money. I also had a 29 dollar plug in play game that I had given 3.00 for on clearance and we donated it also to the little boy on the list. The teacher treated them all to an ice cream cone at McDonald's on the way back to school and they spent the rest of the day wrapping. I wish all the classes would do this. Especially if two or three elementary schools could swap names of needy families within their schools so that the other kids would never know and learn to give anonymously......

My mail lady is awesome too. Brings stuff to the door, leaves it where it is safe and dry if we aren't there, etc. We so far have a candle for her and we are going back and forth on leaving some homemade goodies, some boxed nice chocolates, or a giftcard for a restaurant. I don't personally know any mail carriers but I am going to assume that their "gifts" are few and far between and that they appreciate any recognition they get for coming out and bringing us all of our freebies and bills. Of course, she could keep the bills..... We are going to do the same for our daily newspaper carrier.... we had 3 bad ones and finally got a good one so we want to make sure she knows she is appreciated as well so she won't quit.

My problem with walmart is the rudeness you encounter when it's raining.... sound weird... our store no longer wipes the wet carts off when you go in to get a cart. A whole cartload of wet towels lying there you can use if you want to, but generally so wet they won't dry much. They just shove the cart to you dripping wet.... and when I grab the driest possible towel to do the seat and then the basket I get dirty looks for drying the inside of the cart... but If I am buying cereal or clothes I don't want them wet..... but they never offer to dry them anymore.... I guess I should write to corporate about this as it is annoying as can be.