Christmas Is Getting Closer!! New Purchases?

[Mr. Griswold]

I have gotten my Halloween Display up and going and now I am so excited that Christmas is coming closer. I recently purchased a large lot of goodies for my display and I am curious if anyone else is already buying new decor? Anyone want to show off their new purchases?:)

[Elvira]

Well lets see!!! I wanna drool. Went to walmart today, not alot out on the shelves yet. A couple things but nothing "new" Not to excited yet.

[SPX]

Well lets see!!! I wanna drool. Went to walmart today, not alot out on the shelves yet. A couple things but nothing "new" Not to excited yet.

Am I the only one who thinks that Christmas stuff shouldn't show up on the shelves until after Thanksgiving?

[Mr. Griswold]

I think it should come out after Halloween. Retail companies do tend to skip over Thanksgiving, but I understand that they are wanting to push sales as much as they can in this economy. I do agree SPX I always think it odd to see Santa 1 isle over from Michael Myers.

Target seems to have put nearly all of their Christmas decor out! I also noticed they have some of last years items back with a little higher price :( I purchased the JOY penguins last year on sale from regular price of 59.99. I noticed this year the regular price is 69.99. I guess yard decor is somewhat like collecting baseball cards and they gain value over time:)

[SPX]

I think it should come out after Halloween. Retail companies do tend to skip over Thanksgiving, but I understand that they are wanting to push sales as much as they can in this economy. I do agree SPX I always think it odd to see Santa 1 isle over from Michael Myers.


I think unlike most people on the board here, I really can't do Christmas all year round. I know if I tried that then it would become too familiar, too routine. Instead Christmas is like the small pocket of the year that offers a little refuge from the other 11ish months that have a tendency to beat you up as best they can. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder so I try to keep it out of mind as much as I can throughout the warmer months. As soon as the temps start dropping I begin thinking in that direction though, which explains why I'm here having this discussion.

[Mr. Griswold]

I agree with you that you need to keep it in my back of your mind until it gets closer. If you dont it does seem to take some of the magic away. I think that is why I am also into Halloween that way as it gets cold in September I can start thinking Halloween and keep Christmas somewhat in the back of my mind. That still didnt stop me from buying a bunch of Christmas decorations last month :) I am cheap so if I can find it in the off Season at Yard Sales or Craigslist I will go for it.

[chris]

I think unlike most people on the board here, I really can't do Christmas all year round. I know if I tried that then it would become too familiar, too routine. Instead Christmas is like the small pocket of the year that offers a little refuge from the other 11ish months that have a tendency to beat you up as best they can. You know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder so I try to keep it out of mind as much as I can throughout the warmer months. As soon as the temps start dropping I begin thinking in that direction though, which explains why I'm here having this discussion.

Lol absence for me on my Christmas thinking is about 15 minutes if that! I have been shopping all the thrift stores, so far I have scored some blow molds. SPX my mind grew bigger when I first found Christmas Fan Clubidea:. So many ideas and help on achieving them. Working on christmas things all year around helps relax my mind after all long day at work. I do it for the kid in me and the joy it brings to authors:) For lots of people Christmas seems to be a drag down cause they have to get gifts with money they don't have and forget its a time to enjoy. I don't make a lot of money so I find inexpensive ways to build things for Christmas. I feel like the more work I put into my christmas display will bring more joy to authors:)

[SPX]

I do it for the kid in me and the joy it brings to authors:)

To authors?


For lots of people Christmas seems to be a drag down cause they have to get gifts with money they don't have and forget its a time to enjoy.

Isn't that the truth? I am often shocked at how most people just don't "get it." Don't get me wrong, I am all for gift giving. In fact, I don't begrudge capitalists their right to make money, and I actually think that gift giving is an important part of the whole thing. (In the past, I have been known to go overboard in this area.) But at the same time, there is undoubtedly supposed to be something more to it, something about charity and goodwill and hot chocolate by the fire and every other form in which the magic of the holiday manifests itself.

[chris]

To authors?



Isn't that the truth? I am often shocked at how most people just don't "get it." Don't get me wrong, I am all for gift giving. In fact, I don't begrudge capitalists their right to make money, and I actually think that gift giving is an important part of the whole thing. (In the past, I have been known to go overboard in this area.) But at the same time, there is undoubtedly supposed to be something more to it, something about charity and goodwill and hot chocolate by the fire and every other form in which the magic of the holiday manifests itself.
I second that SPX! :)

[SPX]

I second that SPX! :)

What do you mean by "to authors?"

[chris]

What do you mean by "to authors?"
At work I have customers that dont have the money to put up lights so I tell them to bring their little ones by to look at the lights and even touch the things I have made for the display. I donate to Child Protective services every year. A lot of the children come from broken families and I try to bring hope and joy for them around the holidays. :)

[Elvira]

I think he means "others"

I'm with you to Chris.. leaves me for about 15 minutes as well. :D I too find it very relaxing to pull out a project and work on it. To me it doesn't matter if its a halloween one, Christmas or something else. I just enjoy building something and of course the excitment of getting it completed.

I go overboard every year on the gift giving...seems like I always have to out-do the year before in that department. Thats just me tho, I could pull that back a bit but its me who always wants to go bigger. So, thats my fault. I even go overboard on giving to santas anonymous, and thats ok too.. several kids will smile this Christmas. For the wee ones Christmas means presents. Until they get older what else is there?

I bought 5 different pokemon toys for boys, a high school musical barbie and hannah montana barbie for girls yesterday... all for 20.00 My collection for santas anonymous has begun. :)

[SPX]

At work I have customers that dont have the money to put up lights so I tell them to bring their little ones by to look at the lights and even touch the things I have made for the display. I donate to Child Protective services every year. A lot of the children come from broken families and I try to bring hope and joy for them around the holidays. :)

Well that's nice. What do you do for work?

[chris]

Sorry about the miss spell lol. I sale cars and this will be my 10th year in it. This year has been really slow. I average about 30 to 50 a month and this year its been like 5 to 15 a month. The funny thing is I new it was coming 5 years ago when my boss was talking about it and he was right. Times will get better and its great that the car market is going thru a restructuring faze. This will eventually be better for the consumer. All I can do is ride it out.

[Sickie Ickie]

LOL I'm sure you mean others- not authors. :D

I'm guilty of thinking of what I can do for my Christmas and Halloween display all year round. If I don't do that, then the more elaborate stuff may never get made.

That being said, I haven't finished making many props this year for either because of my new family additions and very little money, but my mind still think on it almost every day. As it gets closer, it is more exciting for me.

[SPX]

Sorry about the miss spell lol.

I was a little confused for a minute, but it's all good. For a minute I was wondering if maybe you work in the publishing industry.


I sale cars and this will be my 10th year in it. This year has been really slow. I average about 30 to 50 a month and this year its been like 5 to 15 a month. The funny thing is I new it was coming 5 years ago when my boss was talking about it and he was right. Times will get better and its great that the car market is going thru a restructuring faze. This will eventually be better for the consumer. All I can do is ride it out.

I almost got a job selling cars once, but after going through the training course I realized that I really don't have the personality for it. Hopefully things will turn around pretty quickly for you. That's the economy though . . . it's ups and downs.

[Sickie Ickie]

some economists believe the new car stipend from the govt caused new car purchases- which is good- but will be bad for Christmas purchases because people are paying on new cars. There's a ying/yang in everything I suppose.

[chris]

some economists believe the new car stipend from the govt caused new car purchases- which is good- but will be bad for Christmas purchases because people are paying on new cars. There's a ying/yang in everything I suppose.
I agree Sickie, It will take some time to work itself out. I'm just not going to let it affect me and my Christmas spirit lol!

[putrid]

I pick up stuff for Christmas all year long. Mainly at auctions. This year Craigslist has been very good for me. I also hunt for Christmas music all year long. Just got two more CD's in today. I keep it balanced. For the better part of the year my attitude is more toward the results I'm looking for and not on the holiday itself. No way could i think of Christmas all year long. The actual holiday wouldn't be as special if I did.

As far as the overall economy goes I've heard so much propaganda, speculations, spins, provabilitys and out right lieing it's sickning. From all sides. All I can say is remember when the West Nile Virus was going to kill us all off? Congrats folks. Unless you live in a hypobolic chamber EVERY one of you has had that virus.

[chris]

I pick up stuff for Christmas all year long. Mainly at auctions. This year Craigslist has been very good for me. I also hunt for Christmas music all year long. Just got two more CD's in today. I keep it balanced. For the better part of the year my attitude is more toward the results I'm looking for and not on the holiday itself. No way could i think of Christmas all year long. The actual holiday wouldn't be as special if I did.

As far as the overall economy goes I've heard so much propaganda, speculations, spins, provabilitys and out right lieing it's sickning. From all sides. All I can say is remember when the West Nile Virus was going to kill us all off? Congrats folks. Unless you live in a hypobolic chamber EVERY one of you has had that virus.
I agree with you Putrid, PERCEPTION IS REALITY! I just don't let things like the West Nile Virus and the what the media has to say. I just live my life and enjoy my family.

[Elvira]

I think I'm gonna toss out the microwave today... apparently thats no good for you either. lol

[chris]

I think I'm gonna toss out the microwave today... apparently thats no good for you either. lol

Lol just got rid of my cell phone:)

[wrapping&bows]

I deff. get carried away when it comes to christmas!! I've been buying new wall decor for x-mas since July lol, we have a x-mas store in Kimmswick, MO that has NOTHING BUT X-MAS alllllllllll yeeeeaaarrrr llloonngg!!:deer: I LOVE IT!
I actually have my x-mas cards done, just need stamps, and I have 2 presents left to buy and I'm done! And I buy for 25 people plus my two toddler- sons!
So I'm pretty proud of myself :littlepresent:
What new decor etc have you got??? Do you have any christmas collections you like to expans or work on during the holidays??

[Elvira]

Thats awesome Chris!! Thank you for reminding me about that I'll toss that out right now!

OH! I would love to see what you bought wrapping&bows. Get pics... lots of pics.

[chris]

I deff. get carried away when it comes to christmas!! I've been buying new wall decor for x-mas since July lol, we have a x-mas store in Kimmswick, MO that has NOTHING BUT X-MAS alllllllllll yeeeeaaarrrr llloonngg!!:deer: I LOVE IT!
I actually have my x-mas cards done, just need stamps, and I have 2 presents left to buy and I'm done! And I buy for 25 people plus my two toddler- sons!
So I'm pretty proud of myself :littlepresent:
What new decor etc have you got??? Do you have any christmas collections you like to expans or work on during the holidays??

Sounds like you are way ahead this year for Christmas wrapping&bows totally cool!:)

[kimba]

My husband just got laid off - so I won't be buying any more new things - at least not until he's back to work. Luckily I have purchased some gifts for my girls, I still need to buy for my son though.

Even though we have had this little set back I'm still looking forward to Christmas and doing my best to think of/find free or inexpensive fun things to do at Christmas.
For example:
The kids love to get into their PJs, grab some hot chocolate and cookies and we take a drive all over looking at Christmas lights. Something free and fun!

[SPX]

My husband just got laid off - so I won't be buying any more new things - at least not until he's back to work. Luckily I have purchased some gifts for my girls, I still need to buy for my son though.

Even though we have had this little set back I'm still looking forward to Christmas and doing my best to think of/find free or inexpensive fun things to do at Christmas.
For example:
The kids love to get into their PJs, grab some hot chocolate and cookies and we take a drive all over looking at Christmas lights. Something free and fun!

Tough break! Things will improve for you though, no doubt. Sounds like you got the right idea about the true spirit of the holiday.

[Sickie Ickie]

I like your tradition. :)

[chris]

My husband just got laid off - so I won't be buying any more new things - at least not until he's back to work. Luckily I have purchased some gifts for my girls, I still need to buy for my son though.

Even though we have had this little set back I'm still looking forward to Christmas and doing my best to think of/find free or inexpensive fun things to do at Christmas.
For example:
The kids love to get into their PJs, grab some hot chocolate and cookies and we take a drive all over looking at Christmas lights. Something free and fun!

You don't need money to enjoy Christmas just need a hart thats full and the rest comes!:)

[Mr. Griswold]

Some of my best Christmas moments just involved hot coco and snow. Money should never be an issue to enjoy the holidays. In fact this year we are really doing limited gifts ourselves.

[wrapping&bows]

Thank all of you for the kind words and warm welcome! To KIMBA I'm sorry to hear of your situation especially close to the holidays. But you have the right attitude!!! Money doesn't buy a happy holiday! You will have a wonderful holiday- but I have my fingers crossed that a job comes up soon!!!:)