1200 POSTS BY CHRISTMAS 2009

[Christmas_Eggnog]

I'm really looking forward to hitting some Christmas craft fairs/markets. I'm not sure if there are many people on my list who are huge fans of these kinds of things but I know I am...so maybe it'll be a bit of a Christmas present to myself to look around at them.

Is anyone else here planning on attending any special holiday markets this year? I believe they will be starting around November.

[mistletoe misfit]

I love the Christmas craft shows!
I don't get to them very often anymore. With three young children, 2 of which will be playing hockey in a couple of weeks, there isn't much time left. Hopefully I will get the chance to sneak off to one or two.

[CandyKane]

One of our local churches has a huge Christmas craft bazaar every year. They have everything from store displays, homemade gifts, even baked goods. It's lots of fun and I look forward to it every year. Last year they had it really early in November.

[CandyKane]

We have had rain all day, and with a high temp only in the 50's it's felt just like Wintertime to me. It's funny how the colder weather always puts me in a Christmas mood.

I saw an ad in the paper today for a store that is offering free Christmas tree decorating classes. I'd like to go to a class just to see if I'm doing it right!

[mistletoe misfit]

I used to really enjoy attending the Church Christmas Bazaars when we lived in town. DH sweet Grandma( who passed away in March) used to somehow for many years get most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as grand children- in- laws, to attend her church bazaar. It was always a wonderful time, and was followed by sandwiches, tea and treats prepared and served by the ladies of the church.

[mistletoe misfit]

I saw my first sort of Christmas commercial today. It was a Crayola commercial and at the end there was a little red bow and they played part of The Twelve Days of Christmas song.
I wouldn't have believed it , but the children witnessed it and we saw it again a second time.

[Stephanie]

I love going to the Christmas bazaars as well! Byron and I are going to the one here in November 22. I normally work that day, but I've already requested it off. WooHoo!

Byron and I went to a lot of stores and we found Christmas in a couple of places. Target had a small section dedicated to Christmas and Dillards had quite a bit out. The best part of the afternoon was when we happened upon a Christmas store in the mall! We were walking along and a Christmas tree caught my eye. I looked at the name of the store and it was named "Glad Tidings". I usually find Christmas stores overpriced and usually just browse, but their prices were reasonable and I bought a couple of votive holders. I also bought some Chrismas candles from Yankee Candle company b/c I had coupon for buy one get one free. So, I had a very nice day. My feet hurt now, but we had fun.

[ksrjreed]

It's here, my tree is finally up, a little late than what we normally do it but my christmas tree is up, there is such a warm feeling of Christmas in the house right now, I don't have my decorations on it yet but just looking at the tree with its lights on it is enough right now to get me through the next few days.

[Noel+]

Ya'll are already shopping & decorating for Christmas! Wow - I am so far behind! My work schedule changes weekly now, and was denied off the week of Christmas [everyone wants it - so seniority count] so I a struggling a bit to feel Christmasy.

Our temps dropped below 100F this weekend, so I am feeling like Autumn is coming -- and that feels great!!

[Pretjah]

My wife's birthday is in less than 2 weeks and after that halloween...once those two are done i really get into christmas mode.

i'm already measuring and thinking about different new arraingments for the christmas village and train set up

also watching a wonderful life at work today

[CandyKane]

We're expecting a low temp in the 40's tonight, so when hubby came home from work he fired up our heating system. Now the house is all toasty. There's a chance that we'll have freezing temps next week. I hope the forecast is wrong because I'm still getting tomatoes, squash, and okra from my garden.

I stopped by the grocery store today and they are putting out a few more things for Christmas. It's funny because the Christmas stuff is on the same shelf with the Halloween stuff.

[CandyKane]

It's time to start work on my outside Fall decorations. I have the hay bales and mums. Just need to buy some pumpkins. My hubby has a really old flat-bed truck that he sometimes uses for farm work. I thought it would be neat to park it in the yard and put the decorations on the back of it. Of course if I did that I would have to leave it there so I could decorate it for Christmas.

[Christmas_Eggnog]

There's still an empty aisle at the dollar store. I come every few days to stock up on little Halloween dollar items for the trick or treaters. I am eagerly anticipating the Christmas items this year! They should be coming soon.

[Christmas_Eggnog]

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW:

There is a Circle Christmas Craft Fair going on in Vancouver, Canada. If you arn't from there maybe you have one from where you're from...

But I am SO eager to go and see all of the awesome crafty items...I'm just hoping I'll have the time and cash to do so. There's one artist who makes handblown glass art...I bought two bracelets from her and I cherish them (paid $120 in total ). I read on her website that she will be selling at this fair, which makes me even more eager to go! However, I'm not sure if anyone on my x-mas list is into that kind of artsy stuff.....if you have any neat ideas of x-massy events I'd be really happy to hear from you.

[Christmas_Eggnog]

Wow, in case anyone hasn't been keeping track (I'm sure you are though) but there are only 79 short days until Christmas morning! Is everyone busy getting all prepared...or have you not started yet?

[CandyKane]

I went shopping at Wal-Mart today. They didn't have any Christmas things out. In fact, they are still clearing out the summer stuff. But I did buy the holiday Barbie. Usually the holiday Barbies have a special end shelf all to themselves, but there were only a few of them crammed beside all the other Barbie dolls. I also bought the Snow White dvd/blu ray that was released today. I checked out all the toys and they have a great selection of the $10 toys. I know this will help alot of families.

I bought some plastic shoe boxes for our Operation Christmas Child project at church. I thought the plastic boxes would be easier.

[Noel+]

No Christmas items in our stores yet either.........the dollar stores do have Halloween items out. It makes it hard to feel in an Autumn mood let alone Christmas. My Christmas catalogs definitely do that part!!

[nettescraps]

Target now has some Christmas decorations up, of course not too much because of all the Halloween items. I already spotted a jewel-toned table top tree I want to buy.
I have been doing well on the Holiday Grand Plan in terms of the house cleaning but now my husband wants to add some stress into my life because he wants to re-do the kitchen (new cabinets and floor tile) before Christmas! Yikes! I am trying to encourage him not to do it until after the holidays because I want my home to be decorated and ready by the first of December. I like to enjoy the decorations as long as possible.

[CandyKane]

I was in a dollar store today that had an aisle full of Christmas clearance--all the stuff that they had packed away last year. I looked through everything but didn't find anything. I did find dd a Disney Princess doll and a horse playset.

[CandyKane]

I'm bidding on some Christmas dvd's on e-bay. The one I really want ends tonight. It's rare and out of print.

As I drove home today I noticed alot of trees are really starting to change now. Lots of beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows.