I just got all of my Christmas shopping done in about an hour.

[Droopy]

Plus two birthdays. I only had to brave one department store and one restaurant. Those were for gift certificates for the birthdays. For everybody else I went to a local gas station and got gift certificates. Everybody has to buy gas, right? I know it's not very Christmasy, but I always suck at buying other kinds of gifts and the gas gift cards are something that I think everybody can appreciate.

Happy Black Friday!

[murielm99]

1. Good idea.

I think I will get some gas gift cards.

I asked my kids to get me stuff that can be used up easily this year -- Soaps, perfumes, restaurant gift cards. We have so much crap in this house. We don't need more crap sitting around.

I asked one of my daughters to get me a couple of sturdy canvas bags to put my groceries in when I shop. She will keep her eyes open at her favorite resale shop.

She goes to a great resale shop, where she just got the nicest coat. It is a man's beige coat that is 100% wool and very warm. It looks great on her. She paid so little for it that she left the shop a donation. They are a place that raises money to give to HIV and AIDS patients who cannot afford their meds and food.

I will be baking again, as usual. Years ago, I started baking tons of Christmas cookies and freezing them for giving. My husband was going through a period of unemployment, and that was the best way for us to remember everyone. Now, everyone expects cookies from us at Christmas. It became such a family project that my grown kids now come home one Saturday in December so we can all bake.

[Droopy]

5. I love family traditions

It sounds like you've got a good one going. Any chance I could get some chocolate chip cookies? :)

We have a couple of family traditions. We all get together at grandma's house on Thanksgiving and help her decorate her house while eating holiday treats and turkey. I also get my mom a dated ornament every Christmas. I used to get those at a department store, but they stopped carrying them. I now buy them online.

[Sugar Smack]

2. In an HOUR?? Oh, Droopy. Don't make yourself unpopular.

:P Mine's all ahead of me. :o

[Droopy]

4. Hahaha

I hadn't thought of the backlash when I originally posted. I'm afraid I may just have made a lot of ignore lists. :D

[Sugar Smack]

7. No way, NEVER mine, buddy!

I also want to say thanks for the gas certificate idea. You're inspiring a lot of people, frankly, including me.:D

[idgiehkt]

3. That is what I do. It is blissful.

You know, getting the gas station gift certificate is an absolutely brilliant idea. :)

[Droopy]

6. Well, they used to tell me I'm a genius

That is until the year I got everybody books that they didn't want. :D I'm slowly gaining back my repectability.

[rug]

8. I too get sentimental this time of year.