MOMania

By catlady

November 28, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

I LOL in a sad way at the woman profiled in Friday’s AJC—the shopper who spends $500 and innumerable hours shopping for herself but gives her friends and family gift cards “because they are so picky.” Maybe she should turn some of her effort into THINKING about the gifts for them, instead of planning for herself. Good grief! What a self-indulgent fool!

By sad!

November 28, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

All your worried about is competing against the other mom’s in your family, then using your blog to display the results, oh, and to shop for used toys for your baby!

By motherjanegooe

November 28, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Morning all…

Does anyone remember the poster who railed on Theresa ( a posts ago) for thinking about having her last year’s Thanksgiving dinner out out the screened porch? Well, I was thinking about that yesterday and looked at our thermometer around 4:30…it was 62 degrees…just a reminder that we do have lovely weather here in GA! We were so hot in our kitchen that wanted to step outside.

I used to be the “have it all done by Thanksgiving” shopper but now that I am out of town most weekends in thefall for business, that goal has dropped by the wayside. I am about halfway there and am off M/T so I plan to access what needs to be done and make a schedule for myself.

Today, I am purging closets to drop off at Goodwill and also some Christmas sweaters at the consignment store.
I have too many and am a sucker for buying new ones!

You would not catch me out in the crowds if they were giving away FREE DVD players or cameras.

I stopped in at Books for Less near the Mall of GA on Wednesday to trade in books and get some new titles. They are having a buy 2 books get one free sale today and I laughingly told them that I would NOT be in as I cannot stand being out with the morons… I was reminded that the morons are generally not the ones in the bookstore buying books…HAHA…this is true…they are all at Wal Mart, and the Electronic stores buying their children electronic babysitters… Just my opinion!
Have a super weekend!

By theresa

November 28, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Here’s the theory on the Little tikes Playhouse — the new ones are $250!! I think that’s crazy —- however, my girlfriend points out that the bigger kids would probably notice that it was used even if the baby didn’t soooo I guess that plan is out.

By theresa

November 28, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

hey Motherjane — michael came in yesterday and made exactly the same joke — I’m like we’re eating inside!! however we did have a lovely three on two football yesterday with the grandfathers (who were pretty spritely) in the backyard— the turkey turned out great and we served within minutes of our goal time and per everyone’s suggestions I went with a smaller turkey and had several appetizers out.

By new mom

November 28, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Personally, I am sooooo over all the stuff that Christmas seems to center around. Disgusted, actually. We are still getting our family things, because that’s what they prefer, but that’s not for us.

Like I posted earlier last week, we gave out letters to our family requesting donations as our gifts. That went over yesterday as well as it did last Sunday—although I think my family is really warming up to the idea. It is really fun to shop for toys to give to other children, and imagine them getting excited over them.
My husband and I made the same suggestion to our family as well—we don’t need more crap. World vision has a gift catalog where you can give a family a goat, sheep, chickens, or even provide a child with an education. I’d much rather see something like that happen then for me get one more sweater.

Another thing that’s easy to do is send letters to soldiers and their families to thank them for their service and sacrifice. Just don’t fall for the incorrect email that says to send them to walter reed, please go to the Red Cross website and click on ‘holiday mail for soldiers’. You can send up to 25 per person, and you likely have leftover cards you can use. Just be sure to follow their directions-like how to send them, and not to include personal info, etc.

Christmas means so much more than getting and giving gifts. You will have a much more meaningful Christmas if you go to church, hear about the true reason we celebrate, and turn that love towards others. :)

By new mom

November 28, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Sorry, that should have been ‘holiday mail for heroes’ on the red cross website. :)

By Headbanging

November 28, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

So what if the playhouse isn’t new? Is there a law that says gifts have to be brand new? Why wouldn’t Santa be environmentally smart and recycle toys? The value your child receives from the playhouse is in no way diminished by the fact that another child enjoyed it first. If you are interested in raising children who look beyond price tags and designer labels, this would be a good way to start. If you are interested in raising greedy, materialistic children who have no money sense, spend the $250 to reinforce a warped value system.

By motherjanegoose

November 28, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Theresa…playhouse on Craigslist Atlanta…do I get a finder’s fee LOL? sale-935055333@craigslist.org

By new mom

November 28, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

A way to play the ‘preowned’ playhouse—you can say that another child had outgrown it and gave it to Santa, so he could deliver it to us so we could enjoy it too. That Santa doesn’t like to waste good toys, and doesn’t want them to go to a landfill!

You could follow that up by having your kids go through their toys, pick out those that they have outgrown, and donate them to a charity that accepts gently used toys. (not all do) Just an idea!

By theresa

November 28, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Hey — i looked at craigs list before and there wasn’t onje but I will look now!! new mom — that is a great way to frame it!!! thanks guys!!

By theresa

November 28, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Hey — i just emailed for more info —- thanks motherjane!! that one would be perfect for her!! thanks!!

By theresa

November 28, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

Guys — how does craigslist work? I emailed them on the site — how do they email you back — where do i look for their response back? I’ve never used it before — thanks!!

By catlady

November 28, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Worker trampled to death at a walmart up North! Sick, sick, sick!

By new mom

November 28, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

I’ve never used craigslist, sorry i can’t help!

catlady, I was about to mention that terrible MURDER at a walmart this morning. Poor guy went to work early, got trampled. They should examine those surveilance tapes and charge the people who broke the doors off the hinges and trampled him to death with murder!!

By motherjanegoose

November 28, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

catlady…I read that and am so with you!

Here is a similar story..we are heading towards the Mall of Ga to take our little neighbor out for pancakes on Wednesday ( read a previous post). The traffic is crowded in the right lane ( on the mall side) and a emergency vehicle is coming up the left lane. Everyone is squeezing right to make room for the sirened vehicle on the left and while we are all crowded in, an SUV pulls out into the open lane…right in front of the emergency vehicle, to make a quick getaway from the traffic….while there is room. The driver almost got hit, I am so sick of this rude behavior, I am beside myself. Our society only has NUMERO UNO in mind and nothing else.

It would be fine with me if I did not get one single Christmas present but the gift of being with my family and sharing a meal and playing games ( which is what we did yesterday).

Theresa…you will hear back about the playhouse as soon as that person reads your e-mail..that could be today or Sunday…depends on the person. I discovered Craigslist about 3 years ago and have bought /sold items on it. You have my e-mail and phone number if you want to call me today…I am hanging out around the house all day….wonderful!

NEWMOM….great idea… if parents told their kids that Santa is trying to redistribute toys that are no longer being used by some families who need money, maybe this would be an idea? I have not done the Santa things in YEARS and kids may be smarter.

OH, FCM…I believe you asked about your daughter with her Math class…am I remembering correctly? I spoke with a friend who has experience in this area and he agreed with me that Math may not her strong subject or she me not click with the teacher. His other recommendation is that the new math curriculum that has just been adopted is really in depth and this could be part of it. I would not worry if she is pulling a B but that is just me.

By new mom

November 28, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

MJG—I got that idea from the passy trick I’ve heard about from other moms. They tell their little ones (who are old enough to know what you are telling them, too old to use passies) to leave all of their passies out for Santa, and he will take them and give them to babies who need them. They aren’t old enough to realize how gross that idea is! ;)

By Erin

November 28, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

Theresa, have you ever gone to freecycle.org? Someone there may have a playhouse … it’s worth checking into!

By deidre_NC

November 28, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

i think that all the materlistic crap at christmas is just that-crap. case in point-1 guy killed at a walmart in NY—2 people shot to death at a ToysRUS somewhere..it sickens me. and as far as hand-me-down stuff—what a great time and way to teach the kids about saving the earth—the playhouse you buy could otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere-way too much disposable stuff in this world. sorry to be bah humbug-i am just so tired from working all day and to terribly disheartened to hear of the deaths involved in a quest for people to just go get some stuff.

By tracher

November 28, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

diedre- i’m with you. Isn’t it tragic that an employee was trampled to death at a Wal-mart? Christmas is about presents - I get that, but that is truly heartbreaking.

By catlady

November 28, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

31 years ago Santa took my daughter’s “bo-bo” (pacifier) and gave it to the Baby Jesus because He needed it. Santa brought her some big girl toys. She was pretty mad at Santa for a few days(although we had prepared her for it), and then drew her bo bo in the mouth of pictures of the Baby Jesus for a few months afterward. The folks at church could not figure out what she was doing.

My other 2 were thumb suckers and unfortunately Santa could NOT take those to the Baby Jesus.

By motherjanegoose

December 1, 2008 6:36 AM | Link to this

tracher…Christmas is NOT all about presents and this is the reason why we have the greedy fools who ( I read) were mad that the Wal Mart was closed after the death and complained that they had been waiting there for hours and could not shop. HELLO…this Wal Mart is now a crime scene. I worked at Wal Mart all through high school and college and the Christmas season still gives me nightmares!

By JJ

December 1, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this

That tragic WalMart killing is the NUMBER ONE reason I don’t leave the house the Friday after Thanksgiving. Its just crazy out there.

And the lines, no way am I getting up at 3:00 a.m., driving to the mall to stand in line for hours to save $20. Maybe for $100 or $150, but not a mere $20.

Besides, most of my shopping is done. I made a bunch of bracelets this weekend, using swarovsky crystals. They turned out beautiful, and several girlfriends, and nieces will be receiving them as gifts.

I started my Christmas shopping in July, and I’m about 3/4 finished.

By Becky

December 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Amen, MJG..I also think that even if Christmas was for the gifts, it should be for the kids only…

I shop all year long, so the only gifts that I have to buy are for my husband & a couple of things for my grandbabies..

By SAR

December 1, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

I think the long drawn out election, bad news about the economy and other things have me really dreading the Christmas season this year. I don’t think I am sharp and rested enough this year to care. I dread my sister-in-laws beating their cchest and prouldly declaring how they have finished all their shopping and decorating and all their is to do now is to wait with baited breath to show how hoilday superior they are. At the end of the day their purchased in September gifts will be as discarded and useless as my bought on the December 23rd ones will be and in the big scheme of things, no one will care. Now, if I can only prepare myself for the hideous Christmas sweaters I’ll see women wearing………..

By new mom

December 1, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

SAR, I am in agreement with a lot of what you said. I used to be that ‘get things done before Halloween’ person, but since having a baby, I’ve seen my time shrink and priorities shift.

I am not going to repeat all I have previously typed, but I am trying to stay calm and focus on the real reason we celebrate. Last night we helped with our church nursery, and one teacher told the preschoolers that the reason people started putting lights on things was to symbolize the star that guided the three kings to Jesus. What a nice reminder!

I don’t want anymore stuff. Don’t need it, don’t want to deal with it. I’ve asked my family to donate in my name for Christmas. I can’t control what others do, how they behave, etc., so I will still shop for who I’m expected to buy for. But I want Christmas to mean more to me and my family. I get teary-eyed just thinking about someone possibly giving a family in Africa a goat as my present. How cool will that be? :)

By Becky

December 1, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

Sounds like someone needs to drink some eggnog & worry about something that is worth worrying about..

By motherjanegoose

December 1, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

new mom…we could so be best friends. Are you up for Dominick’s??? I am getting rid of things around here as we are bursting at the seams. We do NOT need anything! THINGS do not make you happy! I have seen some church groups buying chickens for poor folks in other countries as they would have eggs and more chickens…awseome!

SAR….ooops, I am of the Christmas sweater collection…I love them but now give one away when I bring one home as they are breeding in my closet. Sorry for the faux pas!!!! I also wear fall sweaters and summer ones too with lady bugs…LOL!

By new mom

December 1, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

MJG, it would be fun to go to dominicks with you! We’ve talked about it before—wait, do you have a coupon? ;)

Don’t worry about the Christmas sweater thing, when I was a teacher I succumbed to the pressure. Mainly cause my fifth graders thought they were fun! As a bribe for the day before ‘holiday’ break, I told them that if they were super-good, I would wear a pair of reindeer antlers for the last hour of the day, and make sure that other teachers saw me. I think they liked the idea of me embarrassing myself, so the bribery worked! They were actually pretty calm that day and that helped me stay sane. Who knows if the administration liked it or not, I left teaching after that one year. (a whole other topic for another blog!)

By JJ

December 1, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Sweaters - UGH. I can’t stand them. They are beautiful and look great on other women, but I cannot wear them. Atlanta just doesn’t get cold enough for me to wear a sweater all day long. I can’t even stand to look at them in the stores.

I am a jeans and tee shirt person. Right now, at work, I have on a sweatshirt, and jeans, and I am dying. I have a fan on next to me, and I have to keep getting up and going outside to cool down.

I am normally hot by nature, and this menopause and hot flashes are killing me. I am personally responsible for global warming. Ha HA.

Had to pipe in on sweaters. Sorry. I wish I could wear them, but I can’t.

Oh and NewMom And Motherjane Our Christmas luncheon is at Dominicks. Are ya’ll talking about the one in Norcross? That’s where we will be.

By motherjanegoose

December 1, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

If you are hot today JJ then you may have a problem. I wore my sweater and a cotton turtleneck all day today and I am 49! HAHA!

Either Dominick’s is great. Our family has eaten at both …the portions are HUGE! We always order a lot and take it home for a few days.
NEW MOM….I always have a coupon…haha! I shopped at Kroger’s last week and cashed in my change bucket for $45 and then had $37 worth of coupons…I was pleased.. LOL!