pogiporkchop

"And the only thing that is kind of sitting out in the open is for DS11... he wants to join the middle school golf team so DH found a deal on a new set of clubs for him. 160 dollar set on sale for 25... so it is just sitting in the middle of my big closet. DS has seen it. BUT he knows that if DH gets a good deal on sporting equipment he will buy it to try to trade for other stuff from a softball board he frequents so he has absolutely no idea they are his... I will make them disappear around the beginning of Nov (not sure where) and then he will not have a clue once I find a box and wrap them in December." Have you considered wrapping each golf club separately? You could make each look like a candy cane... that would be fun. As for where I hide my presents, I'm trying to get one closet cleaned out now but I really have nowhere to hide them. :)

How about a gift card to an area day spa or salon? What girl wouldn't enjoy getting a manicure/pedicure or facial or even learning how to put on make-up the correct way? You could even pair that with a gift card to her favorite store so she can get a new outfit. Or you could just give her cold hard cash... make up a tray or two of ice cubes with money inside of them and put the cubes in a mini cooler, oversized mug or something similar. Nobody can complain about getting cash :)

Last year in DK (PreK or whatever else you want to call it... too many names these days) my son's class had a small gift ($5) exchange and a party. Everyone chose a name (boys got boys and girls got girls) and certain people were designated to bring certain items. Since there are three class parties each year (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's) everyone had a turn to bring something to a party. But now that his class consists of 20 students instead of 14 I wonder how that's going to work. Anyway, I like doing the gift bags too and am already planning for them.

Seeing as I'm full time stay at home mom now I guess that makes me my own boss so I'll have to buy something for myself! :) Seriously though, there's always my husband's boss who happens to be a very nice lady and any other number of people he decides to do something for. That means it's my job to come up with something; his idea is always gift cards. Me, I'd prefer to make some of those recipes in a jar unless something pops up on BF.

I've sent my pm. Can't wait for the exchanges to begin!

I use a mix of things including newspaper. With my son in school now I know that soon it will be time for fall fundraisers and last year there was some very nice paper in the catalog along with a bag assortment. Still end up getting one or two rolls of paper for larger gifts but I'd rather help support my son's school where possible.

Count me in for this year too! Last year I ended up with an extra gift (and a very nice one at that) because it was thought I didn't receive one when it was just a case of forgetting to e-mail the DC, and since then I've been thinking of how I could return that kind gesture this year. Suggestions will gladly be accepted :)

Usually, and this year will likely be the same. I have 6 nephews and 1 niece now, but any day now my newest niece will arrive. I have to get a box ready to go overseas by middle of next month (surface shipping) so I'm having a hard time shopping now. And my niece has been through a lot since last Christmas (family problems, poor little one) living in foster care temporarily... now that she's home for good I want to try and make it special for her. Thank goodness she's easy to shop for!

I have a never ending list. By the time I'm done it's doubled in size :)

For once I might be fortunate enough to have someone with me so I can actually get in line super early. If so I think I'll find myself at BB first :)

I am SO glad that I hasn't shopped for my kids... last two days I've gotten about $300 worth of toys at Meijer for only about $100. I think it goes without saying that my kids - who were with me while I did all the shopping and believe everything is for their cousins overseas whom I'll be visiting early next year - will go bonkers when they see their tree decorated with a load of presents under it!

Mmmm... that reminds me I need to do some baking today. Orange oatmeal cookies and peppercookies, the latter being my grandma's secret recipe :9 She only made them at Christmas because they are labor intensive; when she grew too frail to keep tradition up I took over. I've even managed to improve them - hers would always turn rock hard within 10 minutes of coming out of the oven and mine stay nice and soft even after a week. Enough chatting, time for me to get baking! :)

Mine is on order too, I was lucky with the line that was to be had.

Oooooh, Wood TV8 (Grand Rapids, Mi.) got a quick clip of this site in with their report on the holiday paper! That was cool to see!

I'm getting mine (Grand Rapids Press) very early tomorrow as well, but one of the GR TV stations just did a feature on the Turkey Day paper and said it weighs a whopping 5 pounds. Looks to be as thick as a weak Sunday paper... can't wait :)

Hmmm... how about a hand-held electronic game? Maybe a pass to a movie theater? I'll try to give this some more thought.

That's how I do it - go by the regular retail price. My exception may be for my son's class gift exchange, which I just found out about. He's buying for another boy and has a limit of $4.

I may be stopping in just to get myself a little something, but that depends on what I have left after all the other shopping! :)

Ooooh, sounds good. :) But watch, any shoe my husband would be interested in won't be included

Somebody just beat me to mentioning WOOD TV :) But yea for seeing the link to this site! :)

Me! And my husband will likely encourage it after seeing the extra deals, he's wanting a laptop. Otherwise he thinks I don't need to leave any earlier than 4am

Take a chance and make friends with those in front of and in back of you. I'll be in the same boat now that I've seen the last minute BB additions. I know, however, when I'll have to stop consuming food and drink. Did the same thing earlier in the year when I did a flea market and had nobody to watch my space... Of course the potty idea isn't bad either :) I don't know of a store that sets up porta pottys.

I actually miss not having my in-laws around at this time because they're all so wonderful. Too bad they live 9000 miles away... haven't seen them in five years, never will get to see FIL again...

My son is asking for Thomas too, but I think he actually likes the $15 Kid Connection set at WM better. If I'm going to spend big $$ i'd rather do it on books or some other educational item :)

In no particular order... 1. My family and friends, both here and abroad 2. That my brother has finally started acting like a responsible adult :) 3. That I live here 4. The men and women who bravely defend (or have in the past) so we can enjoy our freedoms 5. Finally having no debt (other than a normal house payment) 6. Finding this site just in time :) ... among the many, many things these are just a few. 6.