Oh god I went shopping.

[Chicken lady]

I had to go to the mall too.

I am still in shock. I bought clothes for a dog. I think I'm crazy. But the dog belongs to a girl who sort of belongs to my ds and the dog is not a farm dog and when it goes outside here it gets cold and wet and muddy. And I wanted to get something for the girl and have no idea what she likes besides jewelry and the dog. So now the dog will have a sweater and boots. I'm afraid the girl will make that squealing noise when she opens it, which I guess will please me because I did ok, but also make me sigh because....well, I bought clothes for a dog.

I also bought shoes and books and drawing pencils for dd2. And a cool handmade basket from an artist consignment store for my mil. And when I went in the last store I asked about earmuffs and the guy said "we have a horrible selection of ear muffs" and he led me to the rack where they had seven pairs of simple black ear muffs that coil up and go in your pocket. And I said "perfect. You have made my day!" and bought them.

It took me 4 hours to buy all those things. I could have had amazon send most of them to my house, but I waited too long to be safe.

[rodeosweetheart]

you did very well! Doggie will be warm.

We walk in the mall and I wanted to buy my granddaughter (age 1) a party dress and I called my son if she was perchance going to any parties and asked her mom to text me before I bought a dress if she had nowhere to wear it. It is red, organza, and if she likes it, I told him, he is in deep trouble because she will be a clothes horse, any reasonable one year old will hate the way it feels.

So far no word from my very tactful daughter-in-law, so I haven't bought it yet.

We both showed restraint!

[JaneV2.0]

I have only to mail my gifts; will do that tomorrow.

I continue my yearly tradition of buying myself gifts, so that I will be sure to get something I want for Christmas. :thankyou: I've done that as long as I've had my own money. I love traditions. :devil:

[Chicken lady]

I showed courage, not restraint.

I hate the mall. Going in the mall by myself at Christmas time was an act of desperation.

This is what I would choose to buy: nothing

Well, not really, but by the time I get done shopping I hate even the things I specifically went to buy. I was so happy to see the nice plain earmuffs with no choices.

I do love the little store where I bought the basket though. It's overflowing with shapes and colors and textures and there is music and Christmas lights and lots of decorations, but somehow it is warmer and less overwhelming. Maybe because there is so little plastic?

[freshstart]

I have not been in the mall at all since a disastrous attempted after Christmas shopping trip that was DD's gift last year. Then I went to 3 places to return stuff the Mon before Thanksgiving and had to wait in 3 very long lines, lost my whatever it is I lose and face planted in the last line. That was a clear reminder of why I hate the mall and helped solve the buying on too much stuff on the internet that I would regret and want to return to the bricks and mortar store. I took an Apple class the other day, they moved to a temporary smaller place, OMG, the noise, the number of people at 10 am on a weekday, horrible, horrible, horrible. I will happily give up the mall for another year.

I have to tackle Ocean State Job Lots and Dollar Tree to fill in some holes tomorrow. Dollar store is holding 2 giant Christmas sacks for me, so that's a run in and run out. Ocean State I am expecting a ton of people and I probably will take one look and not go in. Except that is one of dear Dad's fav places and he likes hitting every aisle.

Do you have a Ten Thousand Villages store? It's small and everything is handcrafted by poor people in underdeveloped countries. They help set up their business with the store and give them a fair price for their work. You might like it there, very peaceful.

[Chicken lady]

I do. And I do like the ten thousand villiages store. Again - very little plastic? Or maybe it's not having piles of the same things?

[lessisbest]

Joann's Fabrics is in our mall and I have been getting 50% off one item coupons at the grocery store when my receipt is printed out, so I've been redeeming the coupon on only ONE thing (cotton yarn for knitting dishrags). Get in, and get out, don't be tempted by all the other things in the store, nor do I go ahead and wander into other stores. Thankfully it's right next to the mall entrance. I HATE going to the mall!!!

Last year I was desperate for a pair of flannel pajamas. Plain old flannel pajamas with a collar - nothing fancy. I wasn't going to pay $40 for a pair, either. So hubby talked me into going out to the mall and looking there. I finally found a pair at Sears that were on sale in the women's department. A pretty pink/gray plaid. When I got them home and tried them on, they were obviously cut using a man's pattern (low narrow waist on the bottoms, and no room for a female body in the top), so I had to take them back. I finally found some really nice flannel pajamas at the Salvation Army Thrift Store -- YEAH!

[Chicken lady]

I don't get tempted, i get distracted and overwhelmed!

Yesterday I was having a terrible time finding dd's shoes - specific brand and color. I finally spotted the color I na store and looking up the display realized it was the right brand. The salesperson greeted me with "how are you today?" and I said (not slowing down) "better now I think.(lifts shoe) women's size 8?". He went to the back and I met him at the register with my card out.

[catherine]

I don't get tempted, i get distracted and overwhelmed!



Me, too!! I hate malls also, but sometimes a necessary evil at Christmas. Haven't gone to one yet this year. I've done a lot of online shopping, and I'll probably do my annual meander through Princeton--such a fun place to shop for real and "just look" (including "just looking" for DH in one of pubs in town)!

[Float On]

I....haven't even started shopping.

[mschrisgo2]

Chicken Lady, sounds like you were very successful!
I live close to a major mall, and I very seldom go in there. In past years the traffic around it has been horrendous, not so this year, in fact, I haven't had to avoid going past it at all. What I have noticed is that everywhere I go traffic is slowed by UPS and FedEx trucks stopped in the way!! I think everyone around here shopped on line.

[freshstart]

Fail at Ocean State Job lots. The parking lot had people circling for a spot, I could see the lines inside and I just could not do it. Totally overwhelming and very likely to drive me nuts trying to find the stuff I wanted. There was nothing I needed that badly.

Dollar Tree was interesting. They hadn't held the big bags for me, as I waited in line to ask for them, an old, old man was talking about being a veteran and how proud that makes him. The young clerked thanked him for serving "because your actions made it so I could be free to work in this store," and then tearily said her brother died in combat last year. By the time she gets to me, she's crying, I tell her I overheard and I am sorry. Then the manager came over to switch out her drawer so she is trying so hard to hold it together, it was so sad, I just wanted to hug her. I gave her $10 and said maybe she could put it towards something that would make her feel good. It was probably wrong to throw money at someone grieving but I thought maybe she could get lunch or something. We hugged and I left crying. Still hands down beats the mall.

[creaker]

I went to the grocery (a grocery) store around noontime today (Friday) and the parking lot was full. Crazy.

[Williamsmith]

Fail at Ocean State Job lots. The parking lot had people circling for a spot, I could see the lines inside and I just could not do it. Totally overwhelming and very likely to drive me nuts trying to find the stuff I wanted. There was nothing I needed that badly.

Dollar Tree was interesting. They hadn't held the big bags for me, as I waited in line to ask for them, an old, old man was talking about being a veteran and how proud that makes him. The young clerked thanked him for serving "because your actions made it so I could be free to work in this store," and then tearily said her brother died in combat last year. By the time she gets to me, she's crying, I tell her I overheard and I am sorry. Then the manager came over to switch out her drawer so she is trying so hard to hold it together, it was so sad, I just wanted to hug her. I gave her $10 and said maybe she could put it towards something that would make her feel good. It was probably wrong to throw money at someone grieving but I thought maybe she could get lunch or something. We hugged and I left crying. Still hands down beats the mall.

I was investigating an arson/homicide in a rural one horse town. There was one grocery store and a gas station slash convenience store in the town but that is all. I went inside to ask the clerk for assistance getting the surveillance tapes as it was thought the suspect might have come into the store before or after starting the fire a few miles down the road. The clerks face looked familiar, still I couldn't place it.

She got her coworker to mind the cash register and we went to the office to review tapes. I kept thinking I knew her somewhere but held back asking because usually it meant something bad not good had happened and we had met before through an accident or a crime.

When we were done I of course got her name, address and contact number for chain of custody and subpoena services later. And that's when she said, "You know who I am, don't you?" and just at that moment I did realize who she was and I said that I was sorry for reminding her about that day. You see she was a very young child at the time when I first met her.

Unfortunately, her father was an abusive man. And on one terrible night her father lashed out at her mother again waking her up from her sleep. She did as she always did, tried to get them to quit arguing and get him to quit threatening her mother. Her father beat her mother in front of her, so she called 911.

Two Troopers responded and while they were entering the home, her father drew a handgun from behind his back and attempted to shoot them. One of the troopers had been prepared and had his own revolver drawn and hidden behind his back. He shot and killed her father in her presence.

I was called to assist in the investigation. She remembered me.

I don't know why but she hugged me......she told me to please tell the trooper who shot my dad not to let it bother him. That it was something that had to be and that she understood and had come to grips with it. She said to tell him, "Thank you."

[freshstart]

wow, William, just wow. That is powerful. I am sure you were very good at what you did. Poor kid.

[pony mom]

There are only a few malls near me; one is very depressing, as so many stores are closed and hardly anyone goes there. Another one is very upscale and filled with people dressed in labels from head to toe, talking on cell phones, carrying expensive purses and coffees. Sometimes I'll pop in there to run into Sephora to try a sample of something I may purchase but the other stores are too expensive.

Now that I shop for clothes in thrift stores and other essentials in Target or BB&B (using coupons) I rarely have a reason to visit a mall. A lot of the enclosed malls are being torn down and turned into strip malls with large popular anchor stores.

[Williamsmith]

wow, William, just wow. That is powerful. I am sure you were very good at what you did. Poor kid.

I was raised by very humble parents who instilled in me never to accept accolades or praise as it had a negative influence on ones commitment to excellence. In short..a big head makes you lazy. It served me well in my profession because mostly....a big head makes you lazy and lazy gets you killed.

More on topic.....I took my granddaughter to the local mall tonight and got her to ride on Santas train. She wouldn't sit in Santas lap. Sometimes participating in the madness just seems like the right thing. Usually the mall is the last place I go but I seemed to enjoy it. I don't get to see her as often as I would like due to a difficult divorce, contentious custody and other bullcrap I can't explain. I'd like to take both sides and wring they're damn necks. Live now Please. The poor kid has to process all this turmoil.

[iris lilies]

I was raised by very humble parents who instilled in me never to accept accolades or praise as it had a negative influence on ones commitment to excellence. In short..a big head makes you lazy. It served me well in my profession because mostly....a big head makes you lazy and lazy gets you killed.

More on topic.....I took my granddaughter to the local mall tonight and got her to ride on Santas train. She wouldn't sit in Santas lap. Sometimes participating in the madness just seems like the right thing. Usually the mall is the last place I go but I seemed to enjoy it. I don't get to see her as often as I would like due to a difficult divorce, contentious custody and other bullcrap I can't explain. I'd like to take both sides and wring they're damn necks. Live now Please. The poor kid has to process all this turmoil.

You parents and grandparents who take children to the mall to see Santa are providing entertainment for those of us without progeny. Yesterday while I was at the movie theater which is in a small upscale mall, I watched kids with Santa Claus for a few minutes. Nice. The crowds were not horrific and the line for children seeing Santa seemed quite short.

[pinkytoe]

For now, we escape the gift-giving madness. I flat out told various relatives that there was no need to exchange gifts. If there are ever grandchildren for us, I guess that may change. DD was telling me how her new in-laws do Christmas. Her MIL who has nothing but time and money makes the lists, buys the gifts to give from everyone to each other and lets them know what they cost so they can pay her. I have never heard of this before but DD says to keep peace with her new hubby she will play along as it makes MIL happy to do all the shopping.

[CathyA]

I don't think I'd ever go to a Mall around christmas. Just too much insanity.
I've made food gifts for relatives for years, and it's wearing me out. Most everyone else just passes out plastic gift cards. That would be a WHOLE lot easier........but sort of empty. Plus, think of all those plastic cards going into the earth,. I was bummed when everywhere quit issuing paper gift certificates. Last year I did give a couple nieces and nephews some money......but it was cash.....not plastic. It's silly to think that a gift card from a particular store is more thoughtful than cash.

[sweetana3]

Nicest gift we have gotten so far is a bag of homemade peanut brittle. Didnt last long and loved every piece. They make enough to buy $85 in peanuts from the specialty peanut store here (which I did not know even existed.)

Enjoyed, now gone, and that is also good. Dont need any more stuff around the house.

Brother got us an Omaha Steak asst. and we are going to make
other families happy. Our neighbor will get the steaks and we will share the pork chops with mom. Husband's best friend will get the other meat items.

[iris lilies]

I don't think I'd ever go to a Mall around christmas. Just too much insanity.
...

Oh I know, but this is a small mall and I went to a film that started at 11 in the morning, so I figured the crowds would not be crazy. And I was lucky! The crowds were not crazy. But granted, the parking lot was rather crazed when I came out of the mall around 1:30.

And I found My People. They are senior citizens who go to the art films in this mall and who are not Fashion Mavens. We shuffle through the ticket line in the thick of the mall, wearing our tennis shoes and soft stretchy clothes while the chichi Mavens stride along towards Saks to drop $475 on a "bag" or something like that.

I will admit to checking out the first floor women's bathroom to see if it was as lovely as I remember, and it IS! It has art deco cabinetry and it is attractive. Not many go to a mall to visit the bathrooms. :)

[rodeosweetheart]

I will admit to checking out the first floor women's bathroom to see if it was as lovely as I remember, and it IS! It has art deco cabinetry and it is attractive. Not many go to a mall to visit the bathrooms. :)

IL, my son and I visited your fair city with my grandson last summer and visited the cquarium/museum. I went nuts over that musem--the doorknob collection alone is worth the price of admission. SO cool.

[Ultralight]

I went to Barnes & Noble to do some free reading yesterday evening. It was a madhouse!

[iris lilies]

IL, my son and I visited your fair city with my grandson last summer and visited the cquarium/museum. I went nuts over that musem--the doorknob collection alone is worth the price of admission. SO cool.

That was City Museum, best place to visit is St Louis. It's unique. The mad genius who built it lived in our neighborhood and there are lots of stories about him and his craziness. He's dead now, he died suddenly in an accident while building another mad crazy venue.

[rodeosweetheart]

That was City Museum, best place to visit is St Louis. It's unique. The mad genius who built it lived in our neighborhood and there are lots of stories about him and his craziness. He's dead now, he died suddenly in an accident while building another mad crazy venue.

I remember that; he was a close friend of a friend of mine in SC and she went to his funeral.

[CathyA]

Oh I know, but this is a small mall and I went to a film that started at 11 in the morning, so I figured the crowds would not be crazy. And I was lucky! The crowds were not crazy. But granted, the parking lot was rather crazed when I came out of the mall around 1:30.

And I found My People. They are senior citizens who go to the art films in this mall and who are not Fashion Mavens. We shuffle through the ticket line in the thick of the mall, wearing our tennis shoes and soft stretchy clothes while the chichi Mavens stride along towards Saks to drop $475 on a "bag" or something like that.

I will admit to checking out the first floor women's bathroom to see if it was as lovely as I remember, and it IS! It has art deco cabinetry and it is attractive. Not many go to a mall to visit the bathrooms. :)

That sounds like "My People" too. :)