Christmas Crazy!

This past week I've made an enormous dent in my Christmas shopping.

Yes, I'm one of THOSE people.

Typically I start my Christmas shopping at the inventory clearance sales in January. Got started a little late this year. Bought my first Christmas gift at the Hotel del Coronado in June when the team and I were out in San Diego for meetings. It was for my mom - she's going to LOVE IT!

Anyway, I picked up a piece of my dad's gift about a month after that. Hadn't done a thing since then. Life has been so crazy with the new job, keeping my son afloat, getting him started in school, his sixteenth birthday, school activities, and now my crazy idea to audition for the Christmas play at church. It just can't get any busier than this right now.

Did I mention that I'm still taking my son out driving - oh, and he's getting a job soon. Oy!

Last weekend when my mom and dad were here for my son's birthday, I commandeered my mother and we went Christmas shopping and looking around for ideas. My strong-arm tactics started to make headway with my sisters and I got some good ideas to work with. So from then through today, I've made a substantial dent in my Christmas shopping.

Can you say bargains??? Sure you can. Man, I just found some of the best deals today at Bed, Bath & Beyond! They have all sorts of stuff marked down to practically nothing. Picked up a Cuisinart rice/food steamer that was normally $80. Got it for next to nothing only because the box had a tear in one silly corner. That's all that was "wrong" with the crazy thing and they clearanced it for pennies on the dollar. Got a foot massager for my sister for a few bucks. Talk about bargain shopping! Can't even begin to run through all the incredible deals I came across. My pocketbook may be a little lighter, but it is still happy.

I only have four more gifts to purchase for extended family and then I'm done along that avenue. Of course my son found some things at BB&B that he wanted too. Need to go back later when he's not in tow and pick those up. Still far from being finished in the venue for my son but at least I've got the process started.

My favorite four-letter words have always been "sale" and "free". Can we classify "clearance" as a four-letter word? Who cares - it's my mantra so far for this year.

Happy Christmas shopping, everyone!

Chicago Frolicking

My dear friends and family - I will be out of commission the remainder of the week. Chicago frolicking is calling.

Nah, more like I gotta work early mornings and late nights. I'm attending and displaying for my company at the annual SBDC conference. It's always great to see old friends and make new ones, but it sure gets crazy. Usually by the end of the conference I'm hoarse and can hardly see straight from talking to over a thousand participants.

Really is alot of fun though, because I love interacting with people. Just wish things were going better on the home front, but we'll see where all of that leads.

My mom is coming up to care for my son until my return. Then it is a weekend of Christmas shopping. Yes, my sisters hate me. September is actually very late for me to start my shopping.

Well truth be told I started shopping in June when we went to the Hotel del Coronado. Heck, last year I started my Christmas shopping in January. Bought my son a leather coat at the big inventory clearance sales.

So maybe I'll find some time to check out some stores in Chicago. More likely I'll check out the food.

Have a great week, and as Arnold says it - "I'll be back!"