What a title, huh?? :)

These little bells were also at the Dollar Tree again this year~they were in the ornament section, and I think they come 9 in a box? I know I should take a picture of what they look like at the store and what section they are in, but you're just going to have to bear with my pregnancy brain and find them. I liked the brushed silver ones because they remind me of the bell from the Polar Express. They are great fillers!

The Nester is having a show & tell with garland today~she is all about taking plain green garland and froofing it up with whatever you have about the house. I loved hers when I saw it and knew I wanted to fluff mine up. I took a plain green garland, added some clear lights, gathered some white berries that are on my mantle all year, some red sticks of berries from Target's global bazaar clearance last year, and some greenery garland from Hobby Lobby.

Do you remember the glass jar I got at a yard sale over the summer?
and the silver balls?

Maybe I should start calling this Melissa's Deal Blog, lol. I have to share good deals with friends though! I got in on this deal last year, and was so glad I did. Pottery Barn is clearancing out these
ornaments for $3.99 each, with free shipping and free personalization! (up to 8 characters!) Thanks to daves_wife over at FFD for the heads up on this deal! So, this is what I did last year:

ETA: It looks like most of the prices have gone back up, but if it's anything like the past few years, there will be more good deals to come! Good luck!

I am letting you in on a huge secret of how I get great gifts for my kids throughout the year for amazing prices. This is usually the best toy sale of the year, at the beginning of December! I have gotten crazy, crazy deals for the last couple of years that are even better than Black Friday. Even if all your Christmas shopping for your kids is done, think of the angel trees, toys for tots, birthdays, cousins, toys for the "gift closet," etc.

Here we go...back to the Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby! I have a shelf in my built ins on either side of my fireplace that needs something holiday on it, so we're going to come up with something without breaking the bank. I buy:

At the Dollar Tree:

Hello, and where did November go? Is anyone else trying to play catch-up on Christmas with such a late Thanksgiving?? I thought I was going to be all prepared, but it has completely blind-sided me. Why, oh why do we have to do everyday things like laundry, dishes, plan class parties, change diapers, make meals, and keep the house in a semi-functional mode during Christmas? Shouldn't we just all be able to bake cookies, sip eggnog and watch It's a Wonderful Life all day while some magic fairies take care of all the rest?? *sigh*