I know there are a lot of men here... and you guys probably leave all the shopping in the hands of your wives...

I told DH that I wanted to do ALL of my shopping on Dec 24 this year to get the best bargains. He says I'm crazy. But I swear... the process can be streamlined with the right list-making and organizational skills.

So... anyone else thinking about the holidays yet? Or am I the only crazy one?

Well our Holiday Season started over the last weekend, with DW having me get all the Halloween Lights (and yes there are many) out.

That begins the fun.

About the 1st week of November, Halloween comes down, Thanksgiving goes up, not to many there, yet.....

Right after that, the thousands of Christmas lights go up.

As far as the shopping goes, DW does most online. I will take our daughter (2 1/2) out to help me with shopping for mommy.

I personally am looking forward to this years Holiday season, with spending last years in the Desert.

PF -- That's a sexist attitude! I do much of the Christmas shopping for our family as well as for some needy children in the county that we sponsor, and I even help with the wrapping, while admitting I am not a "gifted" wrapper. (I wonder... If Santa were a rapper would he say "Yo yo yo"???)

If we see a particular bargain Christmas gift during the year we buy it whenever. If I hear someone mention something they want I'll make a note of it, even if it is July.

But the stores putting their Christmas trees out already make me sick.

90 days... yikes.

I am shopping 90% online this year. ...and the rest at Marshall's. lol

I used to do a lot of shopping online... but I'm getting tired of collecting the cardboard boxes. Also, the UPS guy is starting to hate me.

Personally, I want to send out an email to all my friends/family that reads:

"This year Peacefrog and her husband are giving out a choice of gifts for the holidays. You may choose to receive a Hummer Shake Flashlight from Sharper Image, the flashlight that never needs batteries. Or you may choose to receive gift certificates for free admission to your local movie theater. Please reply to this email and indicate your choice so that we can ensure on-time holiday delivery. Thank you!"


Another one of my great ideas that DH thinks is not-so-hot.

...two words on this subject:

bah.

humbug.

I'm usually one not to start out shopping too early, but I did pick up a couple of things for my sons while I was away last week. I was going to give them to the boys when I got back but then figured I'd better hang on til Christmas. What with gas prices the way they are, I may not be able to afford anything else for them come December!

Cfulmor...I bet you'll really be enjoying the holiday season this year!

You got that right Naomi.

Although, I do have one request for the ENTIRE Forum population please keep in your thoughts those soldiers who will not be with loved ones at anytime of the year.

Yoss! Shame on you! Maybe I need to send you a Christmas present to improve your outlook.

naw... presents don't do anything for me, but thanks anyhow.

Every year I expect to be visited by those three ghosts of christmas...

Hmmmm.... Well, maybe you will be after all. But the "ghost" that visits and changes your outlook won't necessarily look like you might expect from TV

What a cheery thread! Such a nice breath of fresh air from the discussions of late.

I'm with TB - Christmas is in the back of my mind, but I don't do anything about it because I keep thinking it's too early. Besides, I HATE shopping. I may be one of the only women in the world, but I truly hate it. If it were more practical, I'd do all of my shopping online, but the shipping costs make it way more expensive. Although, with the cost of gas rising......

I've bought one present so far for Christmas.

Ah the Christmas season, my fav time of the year!
I have a huge walk in closet under the stairs in my home and at least half of it is full of storage bins filled with decorations. I prefer more of the old-fashioned look when it comes to decorations though, you won't find any 8 foot tall Santas in my stash of decor lol.
As for the shopping, I usually start on Black Friday. I could never start any sooner, I can't keep secret what I bought! It just eats at me and I end up giving people their presents early

Aw FIB, you mean you don't have a Mr. & Mrs. Claus waving on your front porch?

LOL nope!
Evidently that's what it takes to win a decorating contest though!
Every year my apt. complex runs a contest with prizes of $50 to $100 off your rent for the month of January. I always go all out with lighted garlands and ribbon, candles in the window, and a nice wreath on the front door. It never fails though, the townhome or apartment that looks most like the Grizwold's (sp?) wins!

Start shopping.. you have to be kidding... The Thanksgiving sales have not even started yet..

Actually, until I know how good MY sales are at the Farm Market in November and December, I won't know how much disposable income (don't you just love that term... like we can really afford to dispose of it) there is for extra nice presents... instead of the standard stuff...
Of course my little girl will still get the best stuff... Mommy and Daddy will make due...

What Farm Market griz??!! Where?!

We celebrate starting on the 21st. until the 3rd. We don't buy presents for anyone anymore. They were never good enough apparently.
We give each other something we made.I'm hoping that hubby will make me a plaque for on the Alter I haven't decided what to make him yet tho.
All decorations are of the natural kind mostly.Since my son died I havn't put up a tree but I'm thinking that maybe this year I'll put up a small(3ft) one on the dining room table for the kids.maybe.see how I feel at the time.

Our tree is approx 5 inches tall and sits on top the TV. We have two very curious dogs and one very curious cat. A regular tree wouldn't make it 60 minutes in our house.

You aren't the only woman who hates to shop, Phish; I do too!

I was at Cbg Mall on Saturday - first time since last Thanksgiving. My friend always drags me on Black Friday, but BF in Cbg is no worse than a weeknight at Tyson's in Northern VA. I usually hit Cbg on Black Friday, then don't go to any mall again until February. This year, her daughter is due to have a baby on Black Friday, so I'm off the hook.

I have a few gifts put aside already, and purchase most of the rest off of the internet. Ladies, if your hubby likes Chamois shirts, see LL Bean. They're $40 apiece, but they are nice and heavy, and wear like iron. Plus, LL Bean puts money in my grandsons' UPromise accounts. I don't worry about the shipping boxes. I put them aside and then use them in the spring when I auction my daylilies.

I did break down and buy a fake, already lit tree. Untangling lights and then putting them on a real tree usually gets me so frustrated that I end up throwing the whole mess out into the front yard, so it works better for me. I have some old wooden ornaments of The Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker Suite, Mother Goose, and the Wizard of Oz, some nice plastic (Hallmark) ones, and only put a few shiny glass ones on. I could do a whole tree in the Wizard of Oz!

But it was lots more fun when I had a kid at home. My son and I would spend a whole Saturday afternoon making and decorating cookies, then packaging them up for gifts, and eating them! Maybe when my grandkids are older it will be fun again.

Hagerstown Farmers Market on Church Street just off Potomac Street.
It is the oldest continually operating farmers market in the country, 220 yrs and still going
http://www.hagerstownmd.org/CityFarmersMar...arket_index.asp
Every Saturday morning from 5AM-12:30PM with some extended hours for the holidays... I am there in November and December...
Come by and say hello, you don't even have to buy anything... .. of course I won't complain if you do...
The crafters are usually in the back room directly across from the front door...

Oh yea.I know about the city market!
hmmm....if I can give you a picture can you make me something?I need something for my Alter and I don't think hubby would mind if someone else made it.