Christmas Shopping '09

[AngelBabyJana]

I don't blame some of you for not wanting to fight the Black Friday crowds (if I were to get slapped, I am sure I would feel the same way! that is horrible!)

Usually I am out at 3am on Black Friday, and always enjoy being one of the insane people standing in a long line (it isn't cold here in Texas though .... if I had freezing temps to deal with no way would I do that!). This year though, I decided not to go as early since there just wasn't that much that I really wanted to get (mainly legos!) So my DD17 and I left the house around 9am, stopped at Wendy's for breakfast, and then went to Target & Toys R Us. We still got everything that was on my list (minus one board game) including several sets of legos that were on sale.

Now I just need to sneak away without my DD17 and get her a few more smaller gifts ...... think I'm just about done with my younger ones.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hello everybody!!! I have been missing for a while!! I had family come in for Thanksgiving and been busy with family!! So....glad you brave people who like BF had a good time!!!!! I didn't go near ANY stores!!! ha!!! I went to Target and our local mall with a friend this evening...it was busy, but not bad...she had some stuff she needed so I just went with her. So...I missed it Friday, but anyway..here's our Friday Countdown!!! :

4 WEEKS

 

[Monny2AE]

Oh My 4 WEEKS!!!!

I'm now officially done my kids...although I know I've said that before.
I got online Friday- not brave enough for those crowds- and got Buzz and Woody from the Disney store for $15 each and for DD I got a baby Jasmine for $10. WOO HOO!!! I love shopping in my pj's!

Now all that's left on my list...

My Dad- He wants a song book so he can try some songs on his new guitar. That's going to be an online purchase so I better get moving on finding and ordering it!

My Mom- Movie gift certificates

My sister- No idea?

My BIL- No idea?

My niece- gift card for clothes shopping at her favorite store

My nephew- Harry Potter DVD when it comes out in a couple days

DH's parents- restaurant gift card? I'm leaving this one up to DH.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Kim~ Good for you!! I only need one more thing for dh..he wants a new shotgun--but he has GOT to pick that out! Also, my mom & stepdad....which is sticky..they have been having some issues,and I am not sure what's gonna happen between now and Christmas with them. So, I am not quite sure just yet what to do for them...that'll be last minute for sure!! I also need to order my Harry & David's stuff...but I will do that at some point this week...not in a big hurry there.We are gonna do our goody baskets today after I finish the Christmas cards I have a list as long as Santa for this year of things to do before I leave!!! Glad it's almost alllllll marked off!!!!Because we leave in:
5 DAYS

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Has anyone ever ordered from Omaha Steaks? Got a flier coupon in the mail the other day and thought that might be a good parents gift - save them money on meat.

 

[jacksmomma]

Black Friday marked the end of almost all of my shopping. I just have my in-laws and my husband's grandparents left. I still have to make a couple of gifts, but other than that I am done!

I was one of the loonies that was out at 2:30am on Friday, but I got everything I wanted and everyone was very civil.

 

[cjackearl]

Well, I attempted BF this year, at least at one store. Target was a big monster zoo though, and I'm not sure the hour long wait in line made my $19 savings worth it. I picked up a DS game for my DD and a board game for our family basket. I also bought the kids matching Christmas jammies. I've got my annual Christmas shopping trip with some girlfriends this Thursday night and I ordered a Burts Bees grab bag today to split amongst the stockings and maybe add to teacher gifts.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Well, I attempted BF this year, at least at one store. Target was a big monster zoo though, and I'm not sure the hour long wait in line made my $19 savings worth it. I picked up a DS game for my DD and a board game for our family basket. I also bought the kids matching Christmas jammies. I've got my annual Christmas shopping trip with some girlfriends this Thursday night and I ordered a Burts Bees grab bag today to split amongst the stockings and maybe add to teacher gifts.

I was wondering, what is your family basket? What all do you put in it?

 

[cjackearl]

I was wondering, what is your family basket? What all do you put in it?

The family basket contains things to promote time spent together, or things that we will all enjoy. This year ours will contain a board game or two (Apples to Apples, Jr. and maybe Blokus if I can find a good sale!), a Wii game, probably Wii Sports Resort, personalized cocoa mugs, maybe a movie or two, a couple of throws for cuddling on the couch, and fuzzy socks or slippers for all.

The family gift is the last one opened, after individual gifts, breakfast and stockings, and we all look forward to it.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

The family basket contains things to promote time spent together, or things that we will all enjoy. This year ours will contain a board game or two (Apples to Apples, Jr. and maybe Blokus if I can find a good sale!), a Wii game, probably Wii Sports Resort, personalized cocoa mugs, maybe a movie or two, a couple of throws for cuddling on the couch, and fuzzy socks or slippers for all.

The family gift is the last one opened, after individual gifts, breakfast and stockings, and we all look forward to it.

I think that's great!! My DD8 wants Apples to Apples Jr. this year.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

The family basket contains things to promote time spent together, or things that we will all enjoy. This year ours will contain a board game or two (Apples to Apples, Jr. and maybe Blokus if I can find a good sale!), a Wii game, probably Wii Sports Resort, personalized cocoa mugs, maybe a movie or two, a couple of throws for cuddling on the couch, and fuzzy socks or slippers for all.

The family gift is the last one opened, after individual gifts, breakfast and stockings, and we all look forward to it.

Hmmm, I think I might have to do this. I already have a toy story game I was going to give the kids to share. And, 3 eyewitness books. I was considering a wii game, now I think I should.

So, how do you do it? Is it in a big gift bag, or do actually use a basket? Who opens it, does everyone take turns? Do you feel like you're playing 20 questions?

 

[cjackearl]

I think that's great!! My DD8 wants Apples to Apples Jr. this year.

We played it at my ILs on Thanksgiving and it was so much fun!

Hmmm, I think I might have to do this. I already have a toy story game I was going to give the kids to share. And, 3 eyewitness books. I was considering a wii game, now I think I should.

Ooh, we love eyewitness books.

So, how do you do it? Is it in a big gift bag, or do actually use a basket? Who opens it, does everyone take turns? Do you feel like you're playing 20 questions?

Let's see, after stockings, depends on the items, mom or dad take things out and pass them around, and yes! No, just kidding. Last year, the family gift was a Wii, so it was hidden and one of the kids had a clue in their stocking telling them where to look for one last gift and it was unwrapped. Other years I've used a big gift bag, or I put everything in a container we'll use as part of the gift, like a huge popcorn bowl, and then wrap that in a plastic gift bag. This year ours will be in an actual basket because I want one to keep our throws in near the couch.

 

[jacksmomma]

I have good news on the gift giving front! DS was going to take a pottery class to make a gift for the extremely hard to buy for grandparents, but the class was cancelled. I emailed the instructor and he is going to fit DS into another class, but allow him to make the project from the original class! Can I say how much I love this teacher?! DS is so excited too!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I have good news on the gift giving front! DS was going to take a pottery class to make a gift for the extremely hard to buy for grandparents, but the class was cancelled. I emailed the instructor and he is going to fit DS into another class, but allow him to make the project from the original class! Can I say how much I love this teacher?! DS is so excited too!

That's great!! What a relief.

 

[bas71873]

Woo Hoo. All my Cmas cookie dough is made and in the freezer.....chocolate crinkles, M&M, white cookie peppermint and oatmeal raisen. All that's left is my sugar cookie snicker surprise cookies and my milk & white chocolate covered peanuts, both of which are easy enough to do closer to Cmas Eve/Cmas Day or when I need them for goodie tins.

Then of course we will do sugar cookies for Santa on Cmas Eve. But I cheat and use the already sliced sugar cookies from Nestle. I just can't seem to find a sugar cookie recipe that I like and actually works for rolling out and cutting cookies

Our neighborhood is hosting a breakfast with Santa this Saturday and then we have my FIL's bday dinner. We are waiting patiently for December 11 when The Princess & the Frog arrives in theaters . I just bought tickets to the Nutcracker ballet for DD6 and I for December 19 (buy 1 get 1 free ) and DD won a trip to Massanutten Ski Resort at a school function so I just booked our free weekend for the end of January

So, other than some last minute grocery shopping, picking up gift cards for DD's teacher, her speech pathologist, her dance teachers, her book buddy and her bus driver, I am finished with my "work" and can officially enjoy December. Yay Me

 

[jacksmomma]

Woo Hoo. All my Cmas cookie dough is made and in the freezer.....chocolate crinkles, M&M, white cookie peppermint and oatmeal raisen. All that's left is my sugar cookie snicker surprise cookies and my milk & white chocolate covered peanuts, both of which are easy enough to do closer to Cmas Eve/Cmas Day or when I need them for goodie tins.

Then of course we will do sugar cookies for Santa on Cmas Eve. But I cheat and use the already sliced sugar cookies from Nestle. I just can't seem to find a sugar cookie recipe that I like and actually works for rolling out and cutting cookies

Our neighborhood is hosting a breakfast with Santa this Saturday and then we have my FIL's bday dinner. We are waiting patiently for December 11 when The Princess & the Frog arrives in theaters . I just bought tickets to the Nutcracker ballet for DD6 and I for December 19 (buy 1 get 1 free ) and DD won a trip to Massanutten Ski Resort at a school function so I just booked our free weekend for the end of January

So, other than some last minute grocery shopping, picking up gift cards for DD's teacher, her speech pathologist, her dance teachers, her book buddy and her bus driver, I am finished with my "work" and can officially enjoy December. Yay Me

Oh chocolate covered peanuts...I might have to make those this year. Sounds yummy!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Woo Hoo. All my Cmas cookie dough is made and in the freezer.....

I am finished with my "work" and can officially enjoy December. Yay Me

definitely yay You!!!!! And I have a freezer question...can you freeze all cookie doughs? Just curious.. we love oatmeal cookies with raisins and cranberries...I might add white choc chips to half...but will that freeze okay too? I would like to have some in the freezer and ready to make when we get back from Disney...we LOVE these for breakfast!! It's the best way to eat your oatmeal

Oh chocolate covered peanuts...I might have to make those this year. Sounds yummy!

yes it does!! Can you post your recipe please?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

1 more question,...when you freeze the cookie dough, what is the best thing to freeze it in? A Freezer Ziplock bag? Shaped in a ball? Thanks for being so patient... I sound like a nut!!!!

 

[bas71873]

definitely yay You!!!!! And I have a freezer question...can you freeze all cookie doughs? Just curious.. we love oatmeal cookies with raisins and cranberries...I might add white choc chips to half...but will that freeze okay too? I would like to have some in the freezer and ready to make when we get back from Disney...we LOVE these for breakfast!! It's the best way to eat your oatmeal

I freeze all my cookie dough and have never had a problem. The only ones you can't freeze are meringue type cookies. OH, which reminds me, I have my Santa hat meringue's to make a few days before Cmas too

yes it does!! Can you post your recipe please?

All I do for my chocolate covered peanuts is buy the chocolate (and white) almond bark, melt it in the micro according to the directions, stir in peanuts and drop by spoonfuls on wax paper. Put in fridge to harden and then I store stacked with wax paper in tupperware in the fridge. Super easy!

 

[bas71873]

1 more question,...when you freeze the cookie dough, what is the best thing to freeze it in? A Freezer Ziplock bag? Shaped in a ball? Thanks for being so patient... I sound like a nut!!!!

I just freeze it in a big ball/blob and wrap really tight in saran/plastic wrap, usually twice, and then put in freezer bags!