[ can't sleep thanks to joann & debbie ]

I should be making my way to bed right now, but I just got back from the most amazing shopping experience of my life with my Mom-in-law, and I can't seem to shut my mind off and unwrap it from the savings I experienced tonight.


It all started tonight when I got wind of a conversation that Mom was headed out to Jo-Ann Fabrics to pick up something specific. Lately, it's becoming obvious that I just can't turn away an excuse to browse Jo-Ann's, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby. I think I'm becoming addicted to the fact that I might find a sheet of felt, or a button, or a new skein of yard I might want need. Anyways... while we were out she mentioned that she had a 30% off coupon for Kohl's if I wanted to use it on any Christmas gifts I needed to get. And she also threw in there that Kohl's is open until midnight. Seriously, Midnight. As we left Jo-Ann's, she said, Wanna go to Kohl's? The rest was history. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment-where-one-department-led-to-another-all-because-she-had-a-30% off-coupon kind of things, and it was so. much. fun! We had a BLAST shopping our little buns off until MIDNIGHT! We didn't stop until they closed up shop! The savings were UNREAL! Man, she a professional shopper and taught me tonight how to get the biggest bang for my buck! I'm talking, I heard a jackpot chaa-chinng in my head every time I saw the savings total creep higher with each scan on the checkout screen. To get my point across, I'll give you real numbers. Like, my total savings... are you ready for this? Was: $567.24!!! AND as if that wasn't good enough... I got a $10.00 mail-in rebate + $45.00 in Kohl's cash!!! I regret that I ever made fun of a store that hands out such large sums of cash. Whew! 

And now, at 1:12AM, I'm still thinking about the goods, trying to ignore the urge I have to go wake up BrettRyan and show him everything I got in order to compare it to the money we saved! But I don't think he would find much joy in the total saved or total spent right now since he's up stairs catching some Zzz's. Plus, I can't spoil the surprise of his Christmas gifts! It's going to kill me to watch him wait another week before he can really appreciate the savings. I will refrain from waking him up and just try to shut my mind off because I know a little boy who's mind is going to be waking up too soon in a few hours! 

[ sorry about that, thanksgiving ]

Maybe it's the wreath my mom and I saw...

Or maybe it's the fact that the only thing better than a 4 DVD gift set of Praise Baby is that our CHRISTMAS Joy To The World Praise Baby graced our front door step yesterday... 

(Thank you Daddy!)

Or maybe it was seeing Breck's face as he discovered the lengthy wall of Christmas ornaments at Hobby Lobby...

Or maybe it's that the Sock Monkey Mama wanted to get for Breck's Christmas stocking was 50% off this week at Hobby Lobby! 

I dunno, but something inside of me is ready to bust out the Christmas decor, music, and lights and start Rockin' around the Christmas tree together. I have a feeling that it has something to do with the fact that  it's our first Christmas with this little one. Seeing the wonder of Christmas through a new set of eyes. There is so much spectacular that will happen in the next two months... I can hardly resist decorating for Christmas tonight! But I'll wait, because we have a first Thanksgiving to celebrate with this new little guy in a few weeks! 

Favorite picture of the week... hands down. 

 Little message from the famous little dude, himself: rttba