Someone in my family asked what I would like for Christmas and at the moment I couldn't think of anything I would really like until later - bulbs, plants, anything for gardening. As I was walking out of Lowe's this morning, I saw 6-pks of pansies for 10 cents ea. & spring bulbs 75 percent off. For the past several years, I have told my husband what I wanted so I didn't have to go back after Christmas and return the gift. This year I'll get some bulbs, fertilizer & panies.

We are definitely into the countdown & I have started - my DH is in food sales and gives each of his customers gifts (about 40 of them!). I start right after Christmas & get gifts for the next year on clearance. Usually we give books, candles, and ornaments and I try and stay under $5 for each. I have started buying for family too - all the grands - kids & neices & nephews (all 20 of them) get books. I purchase from a catalog/website that has on sale & clearance - I try to find books under $5 (for the customers mentioned above also). If you want the name of the website please e-mail me. For our 4 kids we wait until we get a list from them. I have bought items off the list & then got their list and ended up spending too much! For brothers & sisters & immediate nieces & nephews - I make jam/jelly & they each get a jar of wonderful goodness - we grow the fruit & then I make jam & jelly for them. I am about 1/2 way done on that... I don't post all that often - but I enjoy lurking - what a wonderful group of people. Thanks.

oh to have them all that young again...the 16 yo want's some fancy eyeshadow with chocolate..OMG the darn thing is her entire $50...are you kidding me?? worse is her sister wanted a $150 fitbit...well that isn't happening! with 9 kids to buy for I have to keep a strict budget...now the littlest one 3, wanted a glitter hair Barbie (another omg) but at least I had enough left for her safety helmet for her trike...her brother wanted a sta rwars art kit...had a coupon for that...kind of made me mad though...had generic one at Costco that was huge...but as dh said star wars is on the hot list...ds1 wh just got divorced this year hasn't sent me a list for his 2...as much as dh hates them, they love money...(and have a LOT less to spend these days, sigh)

I know i mentioned my love for Barbour products in a thread earlier this month.. i shared the wash bag (dopp kit) i gave as gifts last year.. and a lunch bag I just love. Here is another product I just ordered this morning.. I am a yeti girl but my family is split. Not all like the Yeti cups. I have ordered a few of these travel cups.. and as in the photo below, they also have a bundle that includes the ear muffs. and i don't think i mentioned this previously-- my guy friend does not like wool on his neck. That makes it a challenge to find handsome plaid scarves. The barbour acrylic scarf is by far the best non-wool scarf I have found. (The also have cashmere/lambswool for those who don't mind the wool on their necks).