Christmas Decorating - Ready, Set, Go!

We bought our Christmas tree decorations! Every year, we change the color scheme on our tree. Last year, it was purple.  The year before, it was blue and silver. We are using browns, golds, and leopard this year. My girls are getting a kick out of the leopard decorations for Christmas. I am going to do some online shopping at dept 56 north pole online and find more decorations. I am getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I think our tree will go up this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I smell my mother-in-law checking the turkey right now.  Smells great!

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Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Everybody!

The holiday break is over and it's time to go back to work and put the kids on the bus again. Oddly enough, I am not looking forward to the end of break. I wish we had another week or two. It's been a nice break and with my husband also off work (which rarely happens), it's been good to spend time all together again.

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Anybody Else Overspend?

We did. We overspent on xmas this year. We told ourselves we wouldn't do it and we did it anyway on our kids. They will love Santa xmas morning but our bank account...not so much.

We also have two of our kids' birthdays coming up in the next few weeks so the shopping isn't over with yet.

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Hard to Shop For People - Inlaws & Stepkids

Every year, there is at least one person who is hard to shop for. This year, it is several.

We don't have a single clue what to get my husband's parents this year. Usually by now, we know. This year, we've run out of ideas. No clue and we're three weeks away from Christmas and even less for shipping gifts to them. In the past, we've bought them digital picture frames, computers, digital cameras, etc. We've done all of it already. There's nothing left. We better figure out something soon. What do you get for a couple who have everything they need?

My stepdaughter was also a hard one to figure out this year. First it was all CD's. Then, she told us the other day that she wanted that Biscuit the Fun Lovin Pup. What does an almost 16-year-old want with a toy meant for 5 - 8 year olds? If it wasn't $149.99, I'd get it for her but I'm not spending that much money on a gift that isn't appropriate. She'd probably end up giving it away to one of her cousins. Good thing we decided not to rather easily because she just sent us another email saying she was joking about that. Nice joke. Just for that, I'm going to get her some luggage so she has something nice to pack her clothes into when she comes to visit. Seriously, we did figure out some good ideas for her and I have them on order.

That leaves my husband's parents. Any ideas?

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Great Gift for Three Year Old

I found this great new toy for my three year old for Christmas that she is going to love. It hooks up to the television like the video game systems the bigger kids use, but it's designed for younger kids with educational games plus has the regular (but kid friendly) keyboard and mouse like the "big kids" use so she'll learn computer skills. The cost isn't outrageous either! This is the one I got (it also comes in green for the kids who prefer):

Santa's got it going on this year!

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Black Friday Rush Results In Trampling & Death

A Wal-Mart employee was killed after the Black Friday rush of people broke down the door to get into the store! He was knocked down and trampled. Are you fricken kidding me? Where the hell are people's heads? There was also a pregnant woman taken to the hospital for observation.

What madness! I hate Black Friday. I went out ONCE at about 5:00 a.m. a few years ago. I was so irritated by the idiocy of some people store after store that I didn't buy one thing. I went home disgusted.

I went out today at lunch time because we have an unexpected party to attend tonight and I needed to buy something to bring. I went to two stores without too much problem. There were lines at the first store (Tractor Supply) but none at Wal-Mart (my second store). I walked through Wal-Mart's toy and electronic aisles to see if they had any better deals, better than I've found online at regular prices during normal shopping days, and they didn't. The crowd wasn't too bad at that time but I would never get my sleepy butt out of bed at 4:00 a.m. to stand out in the cold and wait for doors to open again.

Anyway, to read the article about the idiots who trampled and killed a store employee, click here.

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Feast For A Bigger Butt

The holidays are upon us. Does that mean the extra pounds are too? For me, most likely not. We are staying home for the holidays, which is always my preference. I certainly don't need the extra pounds right now so I'm good not packing a few more on.

We haven't decided if we are going to do the big dinner this weekend or the following weekend. We are waiting to hear from our in-laws on their driving plans. If they drive in, it will be a feast and I will probably pack on a few pounds and be wishing for Ephadrasil hardcore to help me out a bit. If they don't, my kids don't go in for all the variety so it'd just go to waste. They have their favorites and they're good with that. Their request will be pies and rolls. Mine is Honey Baked Ham and company potatoes (these are really, really good creamy, cheesy, potatoes).

I hope everybody has a safe and fun Thanksgiving no matter what your plans are.

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Hasbro FurReal S'Mores Pony - Little Girl's Xmas Present - Adorable!!

The price of Hasbro's FurReal Friends S'Mores Pony just came down to $199.00!

I wonder if it will come down anymore or if this is the lowest it's going to get? Wish I had a crystal ball and knew because my 7yo really, really wants this pony but this is too much money to spend right now.

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Top Xmas Gifts for 2008

I was wondering what the top xmas gifts were for 2008 and then said "DUH, look it up!!" So I did. Here are the top gifts for 2008:

I am a HUGE reader and have heard a lot about this one:

My kids are asking for this one:




One of my girls had this one (all the fun drawing without the mess):




This is the first I've seen this one:




Now this one is really cute and also expresses emotion (just a tad bit beyond our budget, lol):




I got one of these for a survey I did for a great company recently. It's pretty cool:




I can never get these back to its original form when I play with them:




I saw this one get a good review on tv the other day:




It also comes in blue: Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Waterproof Digital Camera Blue

We bought one version of Guitar Heros last year (I think 2 but I don't remember now). Here's another:




My son's personal favorite:




Of course, we'd have to get the PS2 version (I think it's coming available soon but the kids would love this one with their guitar AND drums).

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Santa Lists All Over The Place

My kids have wasted no time in making out their santa lists...actually quite a few of them. Is it Christmas already? But, but, splutter, splutter...I don't want to see xmas stuff in the stores yet!!!

My kids' lists include video games, Dora, horses, and everything they see on every toy commercial that the advertisers are already advertising. Those advertisers know exactly what they are doing to us poor parents.

I remember one year we bought our son a rc helicopter. That little thing was hilarious flying around the house. My husband kept flying it above my head while I sat on the couch. He thought he was cute. Come to think of it, he played with it more than our son did.

So, what's the "must have" toy for this season? I remember searching every toy store for months for those Furby toys for my stepkids (which I will never do that again...all that time spent looking for kids to get bored with it not long after getting it). I remember the big Elmo craze a few years ago. So what is it this year? I haven't heard yet.

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Happy Sweetest Day!!

Happy Sweetest Day Everybody!!

Hope your sweetie gave you something sweet. Mine bought me flowers and my favorite, dark chocolate, filled with all kinds of gooey treats. My first one out of the box, of course, was the one filled with cherry. Yum! I'll look for the other fruit filled ones next and then move onto the other ones remaining.

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Taking A Few Days Off

We have a lot of family plans to attend to over the next few days so I won't be around much, if at all. Going to spend some time with the family, relax, etc.

I hope everybody has a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! I'll be back regularly on Sunday or Monday but until then...enjoy!

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