ilikefree

My dad is 76 and is still (happily) working full-time, even though he doesn't have to. We tell him he should retire and enjoy life, but his response is always,"If I retire, then what will I do?" He works 3rd shift and tonight is the night my 2 sisters and I go to his house after he leaves for work and put up his Christmas tree & spend the night there. We've been doing this for several years now and he expects it every year but it's always fun to watch his reaction when he walks into the house in the morning and we're all there. We hide our cars so he doesn't know we're there till he walks in. It's always a good time!

Mine is going out in the morning. Bopeep, I'll get you the tracking number to you as soon as it's sent.

Just brought in the mail and my Secret Santa box is here! I was going to wait but couldn't! I opened the box and found a couple boxes of yummy chocolate and some wrapped gifts. Okay, I just might wait to open the wrapped ones. Who am I kidding?! They'll be opened before the end of the night, I can almost guarantee! EDITED TO ADD: Alright, so 10 minutes after I posted the above, the gifts were just sitting there staring at me, daring me to open them! I knew I couldn't hold out! THANK YOU, Secret Santa, for the amazing Kohl's Big One throw with all my favorite colors (now I see what all the fuss is about! It's soooo soft and a great size!) and the 2 different eos hand lotions! They smell great and, working in the school cafeteria where I'm washing my hands countless times a day, they really will come in handy, as will the 2 boxes of chocolate. You really do know what I like! Thank you so much! Your gifts are perfect!

So far, so good! Hopefully I can remember to post for the next year. I still have my bag from the last time and it is still in great shape, but I can most definitely use another one.

Just waiting for one thing to be delivered then I'll get mine packaged up and sent out. The shipping confirmation e-mail said I should have it by tomorrow so I'll hopefully have it out by the weekend.

I know! I really missed the $1000 shopping spree too! I look forward to it every year! Actually, I think that's how I won at least 2, if not more, of my GottaDeal shirts!

And did anyone ever find the random gift cards that were sent?? I was wondering the same thing. Just came here to see if anyone posted that they got one.

I have mine too and use it every year! I love taking it into Menards because they have limited carts and even if you do get one, it's impossible to get through all the people pushing it. With the bag all I have to do is fill it and lug it to the front of the store...easier to get through all the people carrying these.

I've started threads on this very topic several times, but never posted them. I feel the same way...I used to LOVE Christmas, my favorite time of year. But over the years it's just become less and less joyous for me and I don't know why. Four and a half years ago we lost my mom and she had been sick for quite a while before that so that has a lot to do with it, but even before she got sick I was having these feelings. I don't even feel like putting my tree up and decorating anymore. I do it just to try to boost my spirits and I do like the way the house looks when it is decorated but it just isn't the same. My husband was never big into Christmas decorating before we got married but he helps me decorate because he knows I like it. I just don't know what it is but I'm hoping we can all get over it. ajogg, I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine a loss like that. Hugs to you.

Thank you to all the people here who are posting great online and in-store deals and especially to Brad and his team for keeping the site running and up to date. You sure make shopping easy and convenient. You all rock!!!

My inbox is flooded with shipping confirmation messages! I've received a couple packages, but still have more coming. Online shopping is way to easy!

I did the same thing. Got up at 5:30 for work and everything was still in my cart except a pink flamingo throw, one of the things I really wanted. I was kicking myself because it might have been there had I tried when the sale first started. Got the sale prices and $30 in Kohl's Cash.

I'm trying to navigate the Kohl's website right now but it is super slow. Anyone else having this problem? I figure it's from people trying to do the same thing I am so it's probably mobbed with people preparing.

Sure, just slip her into your pocket! lol

Disappointed but not surprised. I was really hoping the ads would have all new things in them this year instead of the same things they have every year. So far I'm not impressed with any of them.

Totally not impressed. I definitely don't need a TV (there seem to be a lot of them). I was hopeful, yet not optimistic, that they would have all new things in the ads this year, but they all have the same old things they always have. I do need to pick up another set of the Rubbermaid containers from Walmart to replace my crappy ones and my son needs a new phone, but I'm probably the least tech-savvy person on the planet! I was eyeing the iPhone 6 on Walmart's front page, but am clueless as to Straight Talk and Total Wireless. Is that the card you buy every month and add to the phone? And is it unlimited everything? He doesn't use his phone for talking much, but he does text and uses the internet on it so I'd like to find something with unlimited plans. I'm able to see them.

I, too, have always spoiled my kids at Christmastime. They are older now, 25 & 19, and they don't really give me a list of what they want, I just have to guess. I also have 2 sisters and their families that we buy for, we're a very close family (my husband's family, not so much...we don't exchange gifts with his side). It is always a madhouse at my dad's house because there were always so many gifts being passed from here to there and across the room to everyone. While I haven't set a limit as to what I'll spend on my hubby and our sons this year, or the amount of gifts for them, my sisters and I sat down and actually set a price limit of $50 per sister and less for their spouses and kids. I do always try to get the kids the same number of gifts though. Hopefully I can stick to this since I always seem to be done shopping for them but then find that one "perfect" gift that they'd just love. That's what usually gets me in trouble...just one more!

Is there something you'd really like to have for Christmas but won't ask for it for whatever reason, whether it is too expensive, not really needed, etc? I'd really love a vacation to somewhere warm since I'm off work for a couple weeks over Christmas and the new year, but we can't afford it. Plus I really don't NEED it, just something I'd like to do for something different.

Just got my Secret Santa...let the shopping begin!!

Well, I did it...I can "legally" wear my BF shirt now that I've commented in this thread this month. Thanks for doing this, Brad! It's been fun and I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us for the next year! Now bring on the ads!!!

Okay, all this talk about the Kohl's throws has talked me into giving them a try this year, even though "I don't need anymore throws!"

I've heard the same thing about Wish...good enough products but shipping takes a long time.

https://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Water-Game-Rings-Colors/dp/B00BQJUDL0/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540316394&sr=8-2&keywords=wonderful+waterful I bought one of these handheld water ring games for my older son when he was little because we had them when we were kids and loved them. Both of my boys played with it all the time when they were younger. We got it out when my nephew came over recently and he just fell in love with it. The only problem is that I can't find the full-size version like the one we have.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054RD5JC?pf_rd_p=faa1d3e1-fadf-4279-ac2d-3096206e4690&pf_rd_r=B5EH8KG7WV9PSKHT07TT Country Music on Broadway DVD. My dad (and anyone loving the older, original country music) would love to have this. It is a movie that came out years and years ago about country music singers with original music by the original artists. My dad doesn't go to movies and never really has, but he did see this when it was released years ago and can't stop talking about it now. I'd love to be able to find an affordable copy to surprise him with for Christmas.

Do you do Christmas Eve? Christmas morning? After breakfast? When we were kids we would wake up before dawn, begging Mom and Dad to get up so we could see what Santa brought. After being told to go back to bed till at least 6 a.m., it was finally time that we could get up. We were too excited to eat breakfast but we had to wait for Mom to get her coffee and while we did that, we were allowed to open the gifts in our stockings. We all headed into the living room and gathered around the Christmas tree and Mom would begin handing out gifts. When we were done, we'd play with the stuff we got then went to get dressed. A couple hours later my dad's parents would come over and we exchanged gifts. After they left, we went to my grandma's on my mom's side. She had very little money but the gifts she gave us always came from the heart. It was always a full but exciting day. When I had kids of my own, I've had to wake them up every Christmas morning! We still kind of do the same thing...hubby goes to get his coffee while the kids would open the gifts in their stockings. Later in the morning we go to my dad's house, where my 2 sisters & their families and us meet up to exchange gifts.