pogiporkchop

I got some cookies from Ga. yesterday but they had a rough trip... still looks yummy though :)

OMG... thank you to my OE person! I was wanting to get DD a pickle ornament since she loves pickles so much... She took possession of the pickle ornament as soon as she saw it! (She's got a thing for pickles and has requested a jar of pickles for Christmas - which she is getting.) The two snowmen are also very cute and the kids are fighting over who gets them. Can't tell you the squeal I let out in the car when I saw that...

My cookies (spiced orange oatmeal) are chewy and kinda flat so they're easy to pack. I used entree sized food storage containers (green lids for the holidays), sealed each side with a bit of tape, wrapped it in shiny red wrapping paper and will be wrapping it double in brown package paper once I get the cards written. I figure this will save on postage a bit but recipients be assured that I did put lots of care into making them :) So... my suggestion would be to get some food storage containers, getting the smallest size that will comfortable accomodate however many cookies you're planning to put in each (in my case 8 or 9 cookies per container). Otherwise you might just try using ziploc bags placed in a box with lots of insulation (plain popcorn) or in a thick bubble envelope. I've got no problem with receiving mine that way if it helps you to save on postage

eve, I have a container with your name on it too if I can get your address... consider it a thank you for your efforts this year :)

My cookies will be going out tomorrow! They're all baked and packaged but I won't have the cards done before the PO closes today. Yum yum...

Mine went yesterday... I hope the recipients will like their items.

First... my things will be going out tomorrow and Thursday so don't worry they're coming :) Second... a big thank you to my SS who provided me with the only piece of mail today! I love it all... nice fleece throw, cinnamon apple candle and a boxed set of Little House books - everything needed for a nice evening at home in this bitter cold weather (OK, that and a nice plate of cookies and cocoa...). It made me very happy, and I know the kids will enjoy listening to me read from the books

Trees are in the seasonal section. Other items are on pallets down the main aisles. Certain items will only be brought to the floor when the sale officially starts. I say go early, get as much shopping out of the way as possible and be in a checkout line at 5am unless you need to get one of the doorbusters that won't be on the floor until then. That's likely what I'll be doing seeing how (for once) I don't need to be in line at BB!

A great big THANK YOU to you debnmark! I should be able to do all of my shopping there on Thursday, giving me time to hit other stores on Friday!

We certainly appreciate the effort! :)

I can't wait to see the pics when they're on here nice and clear!

I would just like to see their ad!

"I guess we'll see you on Friday..." Give me a break! My reply would have been "no you won't, and you won't see any of my money again!" I hope you complain to someone higher up.

SS, ornament, 10 cookies, 1 private exchange, DH's family (already shipped), three to friends in Japan... I guess that's 17. So far.

No, but this Sunday they have 15% off your entire purchase (with coupon) for four hours only :)

I just paid a visit to a Michaels near me and one of the associates volunteered the info that the only thing they've been told about the ad is that there are no turkey bucks this year. Wonder what they're going to do instead...

The one where I usually shop on BF closed earlier this year. There is another one kinda close to where I live but I've never been there.

Michael's and KB Toys, the latter only because my location is one of those which will be opening at midnight :)

I'm quite sure they do. I'd like to see their ad, though; it's the last one I'm waiting for.

Here's hoping to some great deals from them, for the one where I'm going shopping is one of those lucky ones opening at midnight! Happy happy day...

I have only just started my plans and lists; I have no idea what I'll be able to spend (depends on what DH says) but I'm not stressed about it. I figure most will be getting homemade treats, and if something I'm looking for is out then it wasn't meant to be. The kids, however, will need to help me out and narrow their lists down to something like a top 10 or so. The better idea I have of what they'll really spend their time playing with or using the less money I'll spend

DS7 and DD5 still think it's all Santa too. They are always happy with whatever they receive, but this year DD has gotten the "I wants" and has completely forgot why we celebrate the season (which I've explained to both already). Now a few nights ago we were in a WM and they asked what the tree with all the tags on it was. I told them how some kids might not have a Christmas without the help of others. Almost not a single peep out of them for the entire time we were in that store... they were deep in thought about what I had said. So I find out about a Christmas wish contest via an area radio station... when asked what they wished for (because I wanted to make the wish for them) they said they wanted to go shopping - so others could have a good Christmas. I hope their wish is one of the selected ones. Even so, they're still looking forward to putting coins in the kettles and just maybe we'll be able to get a couple of tags off the Angel Tree. They are now immersed in the true spirit and meaning of the season :)

Definitely going all 3 days... how I will coordinate schedule and budget I don't know but you better believe I'm going to so some serious number crunching and list making during the next week!

My DD5 also wants Hannah Montana anything... I'm still figuring out how she learned about her since we don't have cable TV and I never told DD her about her! Anyway, HM is encouraging her to sing and write her own songs so I'm not complaining. She also wants that cupcake maker and a lot of other toy cooking things, but for the cost I may just get her real cooking items and start teaching her myself in the kitchen. DS7, I think, is being quite reasonable in asking for board games. I've been writing their wishes on post its and other various pieces of paper so it's time to compile those lists, narrow them down and write those letters to Santa!

My dad's birthday was Christmas Day as well. I always think of him while I'm up late wrapping gifts and watching mass on TV.