There was a thread about them a couple months ago. Everyone said they loved them but our sedona has been nothing but trouble. We've had it for 3 years (it's a 2004) and every couple of months something major dies on it.

Muppets for sure.

Just get some fishing line or string (if you can hide it) and loop it around the trunk. Pin to the wall. It'll never fall down again. That's what we used to do when we had naughty cats.

I used to decorate early in November and I've gradually moved the start date to December 1st. I find when you start the season too early it really dilutes the excitement. When you've been listening to carols, seeing stores full of Christmas stuff and have all your decorations up super early, then you have way too long to wait for the actual holiday and by the time it arrives it's an anticlimax.

Not until next Sunday. We get real and I don't want it up too early.

A puppy. I'm allergic so it'll never happen. I have been looking a toy poodles but the best breeder is a province over and charges $1200 for a puppy. I'd have to fly over just to hang out with it and see how bad a reaction I'd have.

:thumbup1:

I love gift baskets but only if they are filled personally by the giver.

Well, I just redecorated my entire living room around a new blue velvet sofa, so I don't think I should really ask for anything more.

Today I'm making a Christmas pudding. All the presents are bought and wrapped. The advent calendar is already up but officially we'll decorate on the first.

Every time I ask this question, I get no replies! I'm agnostic atheist and am always looking for Christmas novels that are heavy on description of Christmas activities and light on religion. Avoid Debbie Macomber books. I tried to stick through one but tossed it after the reference to the cranky town atheist who always trying to ruin Christmas. Her books are very preachy. I really enjoy The Christmas Pearl. I read it every year. The main character is religious and she gets an angel sent down to help her but it's doesn't seem preachy. Most of it is description of old fashioned New Orleans Christmases. It's basically about a dysfunctional family and the matriarch requests help to sort them out. The Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini is really good and I'm adding it to my yearly read. Lots of reminiscing of Christmas memories and traditions. Neither book is a romance. I recently read The Christmas Cookie Club. It was good but I found it little depressing although I guess it would be considered uplifting as it's about close girlfriends. Lots of description of food. I don't think it's a repeat reader. Christmas on Ladybug Farm was also a decent read. Some references to God and someone looking like an angel but nothing preachy.

I think most Christmas dresses for kids are horrid every year. This year I managed to find two gorgeous navy dresses. One is a high waist with full skirt and the other is reminisant of the 60's, A shaped swishy dress. Nice style, simple embellishment, no crushed velvet. Got them from Children's Place for half off last month.

I'm a gamer so I have nothing negative to say about them. They are not a waste of time if it something you enjoy (makes you happy) and they aren't necessarily unproductive either. I don't let the kids have free reign on them because it's easy to lose track of time while playing them and because they have other things to do. I tend to buy new systems after the current release has been out for a couple of years.

double post.

She's getting a dress, shoes, pyjamas, a graphic novel, ereader and a remote control truck. I bought some playmobil sets as joint gifts with her sister and brother.

I love Christmas. I don't have the issues with family because they aren't a part of our lives. If they were I certainly wouldn't put up with a lot of the crap I read about online about other peoples holiday disasters involving family. For those who find it so stressful, have you ever read Unplugging the Christmas Machine? It's a really great book.

My 4 year old is getting a dress, shoes, pyjamas, a book, a furby and a remote control truck. Her 7 year old sister is getting a dress, shoes, pyjamas, a graphic novel, ereader and a remote control truck.

Hubby buys for mine. I don't understand buying for yourself. I buy for his and this year it's a mix of candy and chocolate.

Candy and chocolate. I went to a candy store that sells lots of retro candy and I bought enough to fill all the stockings.

One real tree. I used to do a strict colour theme but then hubby and I started painting those little plaster ornaments that Michael's sells and we ditched the themes. I normally put white lights on but I found some multicoloured lights (the ones that have a the occasional pink bulb) and I'm going to use those as well this year. They're delightfully nostalgic. I don't use icicles but I do put red garland on.

We used to start decorating early in November but I found by the time the presents were unwrapped on Christmas day, I was over it all. It was just diluting the season. You can only keep the excitement going for so long before it gets boring. Now we start the Christmas season on the 1st and extend it to the 31st. No music, no decor, no Christmas movies until then. I made a 31 day calendar made of little cloth bags that are dated and tied with ribbon. The bags get a mix of treats and activities/events. We start decorating on the first of December. The real tree usually goes up a week later. We make sure to keep some fun stuff going after Christmas and end it with a party New Year's Eve, that way there's less of a let down after the presents are opened. On New Year's day, everything gets packed away.

I've had a lot of cats. Some climb, some don't. Most of them were smart enough to wait until we were asleep to do it. All we've ever done is anchor the tree to the wall or ceiling with string to keep it from falling. Not much damage was ever done from the climbing, just the toppling over.

It takes no time at all to learn how to use a mac. I own one pc for business accounting and I hate it. Takes up too much space with that big tower. I don't find it user friendly at all. They aren't exactly attractive either. That said, you are limited in software. Some software is both pc and mac compatible. Some will sell pc and mac versions separately and some don't offer a mac version at all. I've owned macs for around 7 years now and haven't had a virus yet. My old mac burnt out it's hardrive and I had it replaced for under $200 and it's as good as new. They keep their value longer than a pc. I love the plug and play aspect. I buy a new camera and I just plug it in and it loads the photos. No messing around with software and drivers. It's just a lot less frustrating.

There is no hypoallergenic dog. They may be labelled as such but it's no guarantee of anything. Neither are allergy shots. I've done a lot of research on this because I would love to have a dog but it's hit or miss either way. I personally have reacted to all the supposed hypo breeds I've met. Soem dogs I can spend an hour or so with (no touching) before I start to react. When I do I have to get away from them asap or risk a hospital visit. I wouldn't buy a dog unless you could return it for a refund. It would be sad but at least you wouldn't be out such a large sum of money.

My 4 year old daughter is getting a Furby and a small Playmobil set. My 7 year old daughter is getting a Kobo and an Iron Man costume. My 2 year old son is up in the air. I want to get him a Playmobil Take Along Farm but they seem be unavailable. I'm still looking for something farm related and a maybe a small play kitchen. They get hand me downs from a friend all year round so for Christmas they each get a new store bought outfit and pajamas.