Every year, my two sisters, Terri and Cheri, and I go Christmas shopping together. We try to go in early November, before it gets too busy, and hopefully before the roads are bad because of snow.
Our annual trip took place this past Friday and Saturday. We shop in our area, so things can be returned if necessary.
This is what I woke up to on Friday morning. The first snow of the season! It was a little slushy, but the roads weren't too bad.
We started out at 9 am, and shopped all day. We have a great time together, and if you had been near us, you may have heard a lot of laughter!
One of our stops was World Market, where they hide 4 bells in the morning, and 4 in the afternoon. I found one in the afternoon, which gave me $10 off my purchase!
After shopping all day, we went to a favorite restaurant for a nice supper.
Then it was time to check into our hotel.
Our luggage rack was filled with bags instead of luggage. :)
We sorted everything out, and went over our lists, to see if we needed to pick anything up the next day.
Then it's time for a yummy dessert!
After returning home, it's time to sort and wrap. Under all this is my piano... There are bags for each of my family members, and inside are the wrapped stocking stuffers, all ready to go when the decorations go up for Christmas.
This is something we all look forward too. We have so much fun, and accomplish a lot too!
What a fun trip. And I had never heard of the golden bell!! How fun to look for it. I am slowly amassing my gifts and doing a bit of early decorating. So far Marvin has not even noticed.lol
ReplyDeleteThat’s so nice, I wish I had sisters to do things like this. My daughter and I used to go to the World Market, on I believe Portage Rd in Kalamazoo, they don’t have any here in Massachusetts.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you a fun and successful trip as usual! I can't believe you already have snow! I was in AZ last week and the weather was beautiful. I was in a t-shirt and shorts all week!
ReplyDeleteYou are so organized and now all is in order. Nice you can do it with your sisters and make it a special time for all.
ReplyDeleteFirst...you have a piano? Do you play?
ReplyDeleteNext, congrats on getting the $10 off. (Do you get to keep the bell?)
Fun times, lots of giggles & goodies. I had fun too. NOW...where's MY DESSERT?
How fun, Mari! It must be so wonderful to have sisters. I don't have one by 'birth' but my sis-in-law and I have great fun shopping (except she has to look at every.single.thing in every store, hahaha).
ReplyDeletexoxo
Hello Sweet Mari, This sounds like such a fun tradition; I am sure that the three of you look very forward to it each year. Terri, Cheri and Mari how sweet . . . your mother gave you all these delightful names . . . there so special, I think :)
ReplyDeleteYour first snow . . . I love that photo of the fence and gateway, is that on your property? So pretty :)
Have a lovely day.
Connie :)
Yikes, that's alot if shopping...we woke up this morning to alot of snow falling--about 3-5 inches accumulated -none here though on campus, major disappointed. (38 miles north and it's own click ate, sigh).
ReplyDeleteIt looks like fun, Mari, smiles.
Oh, this looks like so much fun! What a great tradition you and your sisters have. I just love the bell idea and how neat that you found it.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you, Mari!
I always enjoy reading about your annual shopping trips!! I miss Christmas shopping. No one lives near anymore and it is easier to send gift cards now. Joe and I don't exchange gifts with siblings and our youngest grandchild is now 22 years old. All the fun has gone out of the day for us but we still celebrate the birth of Jesus and enjoy dinner with friends. Hopefully, my sister and her hubby will be able to come down again this year. Enjoy your little ones and your close family!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun tradition to look forward to every year!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! My brain just can’t think about Christmas before I get past Thanksgiving. And maybe even past my cantata on December 16th! Everything seems so complicated with so much of our family living far apart from each other. I did not know you have a piano! Do you play?
ReplyDeleteI bet that there is more going on in this shopping trip than just shopping. Do you get together and pick out funny things for those stocking stuffers? Also, how do you keep secret what you get from each other. I bet the three of you try to come up for the funniest gifts for the guys. I bet you have sooooooo much fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had success despite the snow and cold!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a lot of fun! That dessert, and staying in a hotel room together. Bet you three really did laugh a lot. Plus, getting all your Christmas shopping done. That is amazing. I'll be out Christmas Eve still hunting and searching for Christmas gifts. I am a terrible shopper.
ReplyDeleteYou girls certainly know how to have fun! I'm so glad that you have that time to look forward to each year, Mari. What really impresses me though is how you come home and wrap it all then!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a blast! I am nearly done with my Christmas shopping, most of it done online! But Brittany and I shopped yesterday and it was so much fun, we're doing it again today, and Audrey is joining us. I think I may get my tree up and all the gifts wrapped and underneath it BEFORE Thanksgiving Day! Then, that night we will have the children light the tree and exchange some preliminary decorating-related gifts. Why wait? Haaahahaha xoxo
ReplyDelete