leefamily23

Went to Walmart at about 8:10, luck was shining down because got an easy parking spot right away by the entrance. The place was packed but very orderly. First time ever I seen them do a line up for the video games and movies. Lines at the registers were non-existent. I was in and out in less than an hour w/ the most time being spent in the video game line. Was able to get: -Several Xbox games -Baby Alive Wets & Wiggles -2 of the Recipe tins -The Rubbermaid Storage Set Couldn't get the men's pajama pants those were gone & the 5 piece candle sets were gone. Going to bed in awhile and heading back out at 4-5am-ish to go to the mall , Penney's opening and then stopping at Office Max on the way home.

As of about an hour ago our Best Buy only had 8 people in line, no tents. Dh and I took a drive over just to look and see. I can't even imagine-it's cold here tonight. Everything is frosted over. We peaked at Sears too and there was nobody there.

Decided to go take a ride to take a peak at our Best Buy about a half hour ago. There were 8 people in line, that was in Blasdell, NY (a suburb of Buffalo). It's a cold one I felt bad for them.

I've been BF shopping for the last 20 years in a row. I went each of those years w/ my sister. That has changed this year, she originally told me she wasn't going. (though I did read on facebook she is going, just w/ her group of girlfriends-not sure why she lied, but whatever). Anyhow, dh has decided that he would feel better if I wasn't going alone and has decided to join me. Plus BF is my birthday and he feels bad that my sister is being sneaky and ditching me on it w/o reason. That being said, dh isn't too fond of shopping to begin with. Thinks it's crazy that we ever even went out into those crowds to save a few dollars and isn't the fondest of large crowds. Though he is insisting on going with me, which I know is coming from a good place,I just am not sure. I have been trying to prep him for what we'll be dealing with. Especially at Walmarts opening. He knows what to expect w/ the parking lots and such. About 10 years ago I had him meet us at Walmarts opening because I was buying a TV and wanted him to take it right home so it didn't take up too much room. Then 2 years ago we got caught in an unexpected downpour while waiting for TRU to open and I had him bring us a change of clothing. He has never done the line waiting or managing the crowds to get the items. Anyone else ever been in this situation? He has promised me he would be calm and "just deal" with the situation---for me. Just looking for some pointers to get him through.

Well, I went through all the ads again. I am still not pulling the all nighter. I tried that last year- and I was too exhausted and crabby. I didn't enjoy it and half the fun of BF shopping was just enjoying the atmosphere of all us crazies. I have to preface this by saying I have no make or break items, and I am not looking to score any of the big ticket or electronic items. So, gonna head to Walmart around 7-7:30-ish on Thursday. Have a handful of things on my list, then shot over to Sears. Then home to bed, hopefully by midnight. Going to head back out around 5am to go to Penney's opening at 6am and then do the rest of the mall. Then over to Office Max and maybe hit up Target afterwards to see if they have anything left.

Sadly, you won't find sympahty for your crutches I believe. Instead I think you will find more snide comments that you need to just be out of the way. Unforuntately, people seem to be ruthless on BF. Even if you are walking okay, all that standing will most likely cause a lot of additional swelling. That swelling could hinder the healing process. I'd be very leary of going only 36-48 hours out and would consider online shopping this year.

For Thursday high of 58 low of 32. For Friday we have a high of 51, low of 42. Not bad since we've gone BF shopping under blizzard warnings in the past and just plain old terrible snow storms. The worst was 2 years ago when it was in the upper 60's all day Thanksgiving. It was forecasted to be a mild night. We got in line at TRU and the temps dropped drastically and downpours moved through for hours. It sucked because nobody was prepared for that (they didn't call for it as of that morning). I called dh to bring us dry clothing and more layers, we were freezing.

With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas just a month away how do you divide up the time with your families for celebrations? With blended families being so common place (mine included) it almost seems difficult to make it to every event. I really want to put my foot down next year and spend a little more time at home w/ just my family relaxing. It's too late this year to start the trend, as I think it's going to need several months of ground work to ease certain relatives into the idea and not have them royally mad. Between making sure we see both dh and my immediate family, then the extended family get togethers, plus my son has his dad's and his partners celebrations to go to. It just starts to feel like too much.

So, I took dh shopping w/ me this past weekend and came home with a few stocking stuffers. Took him again today (we are both on "vacation" from work this week) and once again came home w/ only 1 stocking stuffer and 1 small gift. I told him I really wanted to concentrate on getting a lot of the shopping done this week because every year I am running around the week before Christmas trying to finish up and watching for the delivery trucks hoping my last minute items arrive on time. Anyhow, I realize it's not my lack of trying or having some money to spend....it's ME. I am constantly thinking I don't want to buy it yet because I can still get a better price if I wait a little longer. Though, I don't have anything to base that as a fact on.

Nothing yet. I think I am going to go w/ a small token type gift from Bath & Body works for the general staff, which makes up 31 of them. Then I have 3 supervisors who report directly to me and I am leaning towards getting them something a little more (they really put up with a lot from me). Probably a grocery or Target gift card. Plus there are 5 leads who I am still leaning towards Bath & Body Works, just maybe something a little bigger than I get for the other 31 of them. Or possibly a $5 Tim Hortons gift card to go w/ their B&B item.

I had 2 personal experiences: I got a Walmart doorbust 15 years ago....a husband . Ran right into him in the middle of the crowd the rest became history. Best BF deal I've ever scored. Then 3 years ago I was leaving my house at 2 am to go pick up my sister so we could go get in line (I miss those morning openings!). Anyhow, it was really dark and it's a somewhat rural area. So, I was going a little slow, I was worried about deer. Within a few miles I had a car get right on my back bumper and it seemed to have their high beams glaring right in my eyes. I was getting really annoyed with what I thought was a drunk driver, so I slowed down a little more (I was having a hard time seeing w/ their lights) and kept pulling my car a little more towards the shoulder so they'd go around me. This went on for a few miles-- and then that car was joined by 2 more w/ lights and sirens going. It was an unmarked police car and he thought I was a drunk driver. I explained about his lights and my thinking HE was the drunk driver, told him unless the few drinks I had at a 4th of July party were still in system then I was as sober as they come. He actually apologized over and over and ended up chatting about the ads w/ me and my just being "one of those crazy people who gets up in the middle of the night to shopping".

My son, now 19, went through this too. It was always a family affair to decorate the tree/house. The last few years, it's been just me. I stopped forcing him because he just wasn't into it. My dh does the outside lights while I do the tree now. I just turn up the holiday music and go to town. It's not the same, and I'll love all my memories of ds and I doing it together. Time just changes things though and I accept that (plus I am hanging onto the fact that someday--and I mean WELL down the road) I will have grandkids to share some new holiday memories with. Until then I just embrace the things he does still want to participate in and have learned to accept he's growing up and kind of has his own life in regards to the others.

We don't do Easter nor the Easter food. It just stopped a few years ago so I can relate on how you feel about Thanksgiving. It is a nice break, but on the same token it never feels like a holiday. It always just feels like a regular old weekend and now that it's been a few years I kind of miss it. As for FB-- you mentioned the chat. My adult step-daughter does that to me. I love her but I sometimes want to log in for just a few minutes and not spend the only moment I might have chatting w/ her. I keep myself logged out of chat at all times and only turn it on if I'm really interested in talking. This way I can enjoy my few minutes to myself and nobody feels bad thinking I blew them off.

I am another one that is not doing the all night shopping, they lost me with that. I plan on getting up around 5am to make my towards JCPenney's. Then I will make the rounds through the mall and over to Walmart and Target. I don't have any "must have's" for BF on my list. So, if I score a few bargains great, if not I will be fine.

I ordered this plus 2 shirts for dh and I had no problems w/ it . I wonder if it's because I had the clothing. Even at $19.99 it's $40.00 less than anywhere else I googled.

I also haven't seen them in BF ads. However, BONTON.com also has some marked down right now w/ an extra 20% off using code veterans12n. http://www.bonton.com/shop/handbags-accessories/facet-prodprom_clearance-items/?sort=price%2basc

The Sharper Image® Twist Bedside Alarm Docking Station Original: $115.00 Sale: $19.99+ use code VETERANS12N for an extra 20% off to get it for $16.00! http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/BonTon/437044?$ibm_large$ http://www.bonton.com/shop/home/the-sharper-image-twist-bedside-alarm-docking-station_437044.html#

Ironically if you google toddler girl thomas underware---it is quite the hot forum topic. Seems they'd get the hint and start making some!

I seen a few things that caught my interest. I think I found someplace I might actually go to .

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For the outside stuff we watch the weather and try to pick the warmest 2 days between Halloween & Thanksgiving. However, they don't get lit until Thanksgiving night for the first time. For the inside, it used to be the weekend after Thanksgiving. A few years ago we somehow transitioned to the weekend before Thanksgiving. I like having the stuff up for Thanksgiving. I am still planning to go that route this year, but w/ the holiday early this year I am wondering if it might be too early.