Dear Universe (because I don't know who else to thank)

Dear Person Who Sent Me This Gift,

What a delightful surprise to come home this afternoon from Starbucks to discover your mystery package on my doorstep. You are very welcome for whatever it was that I helped you with, although I wish you had been a bit more specific on my helpfulness (or perhaps signed your name!) so that I would know whom to thank. I was having a spectacularly bad day and your gift was just what I needed to remember that there are nice people in this world, not just stupid ones.

love,
Sara

You Know It's Bad When...

...not even a massage could help after the day I've had. A total blackout is the only answer.

You Call THAT a Sale?

So I just checked my email and was jazzed to see an announcement that Baker's Shoes is having a boot sale this weekend. Immediately, my mind was dancing with visions of wearing these babies for my Black Friday shopping adventures next week as I bopped over the Baker's website to check the sale price. Imagine my dismay to discover that Baker's idea of a rip-off sale is $5 off! What the heck? You call that a sale?

Fortunately, my favorite store was feeling a little more generous over on their website. Enjoy!

A Polite Request

Dear Mother Nature,

There is snow. On the ground. In November.

Please check your calendar. Mine says that the first day of Winter is December 21. Please kindly refrain from snowing again until then.

sincerely,
Sara

Line of the Night

Serena: I need your word on something, Chuck.

Chuck: If you mean your hemline, then I say shorter.

Gotta love Chuck Bass.

Christmas is a Time of Sharing

And you can't argue with Christmas, so here I am sharing...(You see this Santa? Make sure I'm on the 'Good' list.)


Also, through Wednesday, save 20% at Container Store (best wrapping paper selection ever!). Coupon code: CLUTTERCREW

Got any bright ideas?

I have decided to outsource buy our Christmas cards this year. I know, I know, it's impersonal. But writing Christmas cards is right up there on my list of top 5 things I hate to do:

1. Cook
2. Dust
3. Vacuum
4. Christmas Cards
5. Shop (Wait, how did that get on there?)

Anyway, who really wants to spend Black Friday writing 'We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!' one hundred times? Not me.

So I have shopped a couple of stationary websites for card options but so far I am coming up empty. I can't believe that it is this hard to find a decent Christmas card! I don't want anything with photos, nothing kitschy or folksy, and I am not inviting people to a Christmas party or announcing the birth of my child via Christmas card. Do only old people and people with kids send out pre-printed holiday cards?

So far this one from tinyprints is the only half-decent option that I have found and I am not super thrilled about it. I was hoping for something bright and merry (perhaps red and green to stick with my theme?) and while this is bright, I'm not feeling very merry about it.


And so, dear blog readers who happen to be really amazing online shoppers, anyone know of a good website I can search or a good stationary store in the Indy area that I can visit?

I need to order in the next week or so in order to have them in decent time to address (I will at least do that myself. Good enough, right?) and send out before anyone else sends us cards. Why the hurry you ask? Because I somehow never got around to doing change of address cards. Did I mention how I really hate to do change of address cards, too...

Santa Baby....

Please hurry down my chimney with these ruffled beauties from Baker's Shoes. Love, love, love!


(In black, though. Size 7.5)

love,
Sara

Inspiration

So on the advice of Amy Grace (sister #2 for those of you who are not in the know already), I decided to go with the 'whimsical' red, green and white/silver tree. Although I had been planning something else, I really fell in love with this little ornament at Michael's last weekend and decided to let it be my inspiration.


After Kimberly saw my post about my Michael's trip, she was sweet enough to send along a coupon for an additional 15% off their ornament collections. Hello?! On sale for 40% off AND an additional coupon? It was all I could do to wait until Saturday to get back over there!

I patiently explained to Nate why a second trip in the same week was in order and tried to prepare him for the glut of decorations I planned to bring home. Yeah, he totally didn't get it. But at least he didn't stop me, and I was off to spend my Saturday in a crafter's paradise.

And here is part of my haul. I got about two dozen red, green and silver ornaments plus some basic silver pieces as 'filler'. (Excuse the ghetto shopping bags under the ornaments. I didn't want to glitter the whole floor up!)

So cute, right? I also got this great ribbon to put in the tree. I saw some green ribbon with red stitching that is the perfect shade of green to match my inspiration wreath. I am considering getting a roll or two of that one also and alternating the two different types.

So now I just need some good red and green 'filler' ornaments and maybe a few more 'special' pieces for the front part of the tree. I am so ridiculously excited, I don't know how I will wait another 10 days to get started!

Dear Mother Nature

Rain, rain, go away...

I'm tired of bad hair days!

I Have Arrived...Or Why I am a Blight on Humanity

And so has my Starbucks Gold card! I have been watching for it in the mail and it finally turned up just when I needed a little extra cheer in my day. The Gold card is the Starbucks version of a Black Amex. And the best part is that my membership fee was waived because of my Starbucks credit card. Sweet!

Cut to three hours later and I am in the check out line at Wal-mart....

____________________________________________________

Cashier (commenting on my purchase of Starbucks bottled Frappuccino): You know you could make this stuff at home for much cheaper.

Me (trying to be polite even if she isn't): Yeah, I do that sometimes but it never turns out quite as good as the real deal.

Cashier (when I hand over my Starbucks credit card): Oh. I guess you spend a lot of money there. You know people save hundreds of dollars a year by making coffee at home.

Me (As if this is any of your %@^! business): Yeah, I know it's overpriced but there's nothing else quite like it.

Cashier: Seems like a waste of money to me. You are what is wrong with the world.
_____________________________________________________

Seriously?! Did you just say that to me?

Apparently people like me (i.e. the ones who work hard to earn a paycheck and keep you employed at Wal-mart) are responsible for all the ills of the world. I'm sure that Starbucks somehow engineered the economic slump and the five-year war as part of their plot for world domination.

And who do they plan to steal the world away from? You guessed it - Wal-mart! Maybe, Ms. Know-it-All Wal-mart cashier, YOU are what is wrong with the world.

With.much.love for Milkshakes

If you haven't already tried Chick-fil-A's amazing Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake, then you must get thee to a Chick-fil-A immediately! Chick-fil-A has amazing milkshakes anyway, but this Peppermint holiday version tops them all. Sadly, they are for a limited time only. I am going to be one sad Chick when this baby goes away.

Tis better to give than to receive

So what's even better than just giving? How about receiving while giving? Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are letting you do just that this weekend! Thanks to Kimberly for sharing this with her blog readers; I'm going to pass the cheer on! Save 30% at any of the stores (coupon can be used multiple times!) and 5% of your purchase goes to charity.

And I promise not to make this blog all about shopping but when someone shares the love with me, I feel the need to pass it on. Some of these deals are just too good to keep to myself.



Also, here is a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at Kirkland's. And enter promo code 20FRIENDS when checking out at Bath and Body Works and save 20% off your online purchase through November 16th.

After the week I've had, some retail therapy is definitely on my weekend agenda.

How was your day?

It is a good thing for some people that I work from home.

A Spade is a Spade....and now it's on SALE!

Kate Spade is having a Private clearance sale this week, and now these items are an additional 20% off today and tomorrow.

Please let me know if you can't use the link and I'll be happy to forward you the email directly.