I love shopping. I love going through a store (any store) and imagining what I could do with things like, say, a cheese dome.
But what I have a hard time doing, these days, is actually buying anything. I'm so afraid of not buying the right thing, in terms of gifts, I mean, that I'll go shopping with intent to purchase, and wander the isles, searching in desperation for the perfect gift, only to leave disappointed two hours later, having talked myself out of every item I looked at.
It's even worse when I'm actually budgeting. (Just ask Kendall how much I don't like budgets.) Then I'm twice as worried about spending the money, only to find the true and everlastingly perfect gift later. Grrr.
So here it is, mid Novemeber, and the rest of the year on my calendar is black with the list of activities, and I have only purchased a handful of gifts.
And the worst thing is that we have a birthday coming up on Dec. 1st for Andrew. Talk about getting lost in the middle of the holidays. I have to keep reminding myself that it's coming up and I have to get on the ball. Of course, in his case I already know what the perfect gift is, and it seems to be the 'Tickle Me Elmo' of the 2008 Christmas season. The Tonka Bounce Back Racer. I watched him play with something similar at someone else's house for two hours, and knew that it would be perfect for him. It seems to be the perfect present for every other 3 year old boy in the world, as well. I have looked and looked, and the only place I can find it is Amazon or Ebay for twice, sometimes three times as much as I wanted to spend. At this rate I'll be lucky to find it in time for Christmas.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. But it still comes down to just one thing. I still love shopping, frustrations and all. ;-)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Halloween Come and Gone
I always have mixed emotions when Halloween comes around. I am thrilled that the holiday season has finally arrived, but I have so many preconceived notions about what each holiday is supposed to be like. And nothing ever goes as planned. I've learned to live with it, but I can't help but feel let down. And it's my own darn fault! :-)
I have to say, though, I don't like the direction that Halloween has taken. It's so difficult these days to find a decent costume, without making it, or having to modify it some way. Meri was Raggedy Anne, a costume we got a few years ago for Sarah, so she was covered head to toe, including a red yarn wig. (By the way, it was nice, for the first time in years, not to have to buy a costume this year. The most expensive purchase I had to make this year was $1.99. Yea!) I was looking at the adorable pictures of one of my neices that was dressed as Ariel. She had to wear a complete set of clothing under her costume just to keep covered, though. And I had a talk with my neighbor as we passed trick or treating. It was even harder for them to find something that wasn't designed to make an 8 year old look like a tart. Isn't it bad enough that everyday clothing is made to make little girls dress like a hoochie mama? Do we have to do it for Halloween, too?
So on the theme of no purchases for Halloween costumes, Sarah, at twelve, was off at her best friend's Halloween/birthday party, and was 'too old' to trick or treat, even though they did as a party. Andrew wore the costume size cowboy hat and a vest that Peter wore in second grade, and Benji wore a clown costume I bought last year for Andrew.
The best costume was Peter's, though. For a buck ninety-nine bottle of green tempera paint, we turned him into the Incredible Hulk. I painted him all over: belly, back, legs, even his hair. We also got to shred some clothes that were already destined for the garbage. Kendall did do some filming of the painting process, maybe I'll figure out how to post it at some point.
So we finally get everyone out the door, and mentally I'm thinking, 'Do we take a stroller, not take one? Hmmm....' But ultimately decide not to take it. Big mistake. We are only half way around the block and Andrew is done. I mean laying face down on the sidewalk, refusing to move, done. So in the end, Kendall carried him, I carried Benji, and Meri kept asking to go to one more house. I don't know why I keep expecting Norman Rockwell when I SO don't live there.
Now the serious partying begins....Christmas Shopping!!! (Got a real love/hate relationship with that, but that's another post.)
I have to say, though, I don't like the direction that Halloween has taken. It's so difficult these days to find a decent costume, without making it, or having to modify it some way. Meri was Raggedy Anne, a costume we got a few years ago for Sarah, so she was covered head to toe, including a red yarn wig. (By the way, it was nice, for the first time in years, not to have to buy a costume this year. The most expensive purchase I had to make this year was $1.99. Yea!) I was looking at the adorable pictures of one of my neices that was dressed as Ariel. She had to wear a complete set of clothing under her costume just to keep covered, though. And I had a talk with my neighbor as we passed trick or treating. It was even harder for them to find something that wasn't designed to make an 8 year old look like a tart. Isn't it bad enough that everyday clothing is made to make little girls dress like a hoochie mama? Do we have to do it for Halloween, too?
So on the theme of no purchases for Halloween costumes, Sarah, at twelve, was off at her best friend's Halloween/birthday party, and was 'too old' to trick or treat, even though they did as a party. Andrew wore the costume size cowboy hat and a vest that Peter wore in second grade, and Benji wore a clown costume I bought last year for Andrew.
The best costume was Peter's, though. For a buck ninety-nine bottle of green tempera paint, we turned him into the Incredible Hulk. I painted him all over: belly, back, legs, even his hair. We also got to shred some clothes that were already destined for the garbage. Kendall did do some filming of the painting process, maybe I'll figure out how to post it at some point.
So we finally get everyone out the door, and mentally I'm thinking, 'Do we take a stroller, not take one? Hmmm....' But ultimately decide not to take it. Big mistake. We are only half way around the block and Andrew is done. I mean laying face down on the sidewalk, refusing to move, done. So in the end, Kendall carried him, I carried Benji, and Meri kept asking to go to one more house. I don't know why I keep expecting Norman Rockwell when I SO don't live there.
Now the serious partying begins....Christmas Shopping!!! (Got a real love/hate relationship with that, but that's another post.)
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