Recently, BlogHer and HomeGoods sent me a $25 gift card so that I could do a little bit of Christmas shopping. Yay! I love shopping for free.
I haven’t been inside a HomeGoods for years and years, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was pretty impressed, though…the one I went to was neat and organized, and it had a lot more selection that I’d imagined it would! There were the usual home things…dishes, towels, sheets, picture frames, and so on, but they also had a very decent selection of toys, holiday food gifts, and holiday decor, plus a section with some lovely little pieces of furniture. The prices weren’t quite as nice as Goodwill’s, but the shopping experience was definitely more upscale. 😉
BlogHer said I could shop for a gift for someone else, or for myself, and since pretty much everyone on my gift list reads my blog, I mostly bought stuff for myself. 😉
The first thing I picked up was a package of chip clips. I don’t use these for chips so much, but I love having them around for closing bags of nuts, and for sealing the re-used cereal bags that I freeze produce, bread, and meats in.
The second thing I bought was a package of truffles for Mr. FG’s stocking. That man loves him some good chocolate, so I always try to get some Lindt for his stocking (that, and some Dove chocolate).
At this point, we had about $13 left to spend, and the kids and I vacillated for a very long time between a gingerbread house kit and a throw (the kids were pretty much as conflicted as I was!). In the end, we decided that a packaged gingerbread house doesn’t give you a lot of bang for your buck, and we went with a fuzzy blanket, which is very handy in our sort of chilly house.
And amazingly enough, my children have been having a blast with the blanket. They’ve discovered you can make footprints in the fleecy surface, that it makes a lovely cape, that it works for tent-making, and for zillions of other things. I think they’ve had more fun with it than they would have with the gingerbread house (it reminds me of the cardboard box phenomenon, really!).
So, there you have it! Are you a HomeGoods shopper?
Erin
Tuesday 14th of December 2010
Psst.. frugal idea! Use binder clips instead of chip clips. 12 binder clips are about $1.50. They work wonderful, aren't affected by the cold in the freezer, and have a variety of sizes.
Cheryl
Monday 13th of December 2010
I am with Franci - I was floored that you were considering a gingerbread house kit! ;) You can make separate houses for all your kids that taste wonderful, for less than the cost of one kit. It has been our family tradition for years. If you do not have a good recipe, email me and I will share mine. I have a great frosting recipe also.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into your blog. It is a huge blessing in my life!!
Franci
Monday 13th of December 2010
You know, I find it hard to believe that you actually wanted to buy a gingerbread house kit!
priskill
Monday 13th of December 2010
Oh wow -- I've been so busy and tired and out of it that I forgot to keep reading for the last few weeks. Then, i came back today and scrolled through your lovely blog and was energized and -- dare i say?? -- happy! Thank you for this inspiring, charming, entertaining blog. I firmly believe that it was reading it all last year that got me to actually move on some "giving" projects recently-- food for shelters and joining a group in LA with my daughter to prepare dinners for homeless on Thanksgiving morning -- and we had a blast! Just love that your children are so effortlessly taking on Heifer. You are inspiring them -- and us! Thank you!
Sorry -- way off topic!
Dmarie
Monday 13th of December 2010
what fun to get to go on your shopping trip with you. this post seems so lighthearted...like you wrote it while laughing! thanks for sharing.