Making a List...

        With Black Friday sales as gone as your Thanksgiving leftovers, it's time to get down to business.... Christmas shopping that is!
        We all know that IF you even dared to do the mall thing this past Friday (which we did), you hiked back to your car thinking about what new outfit you are going to wear out for the weekend, not crossing names off your Christmas list. We also know that we have only about two more weeks of uninterrupted shopping before all the fun holiday happenings such as the zoo lights, Christmas parties (more to come on ugly christmas sweaters), and let's not forget the crazy relatives that will be in town longer than we'd like (Hello cousin Eddie!). No need to fear, you have a planner and a procrastinator here to help you from raiding the gas station gifts on your way to Grandma's!
        There are only a few necessary steps to be on your way to being crowned the gifting goddess this year. First things first, make your list! Prioritize from the top who you need to buy for so that you have a clear idea of how many people you will be shopping for. Second, you will need to know your budget. We've found that prioritizing your list of people to buy for is much easier when you have decided what you can really afford this season. Coming up with a ball-park amount of what you have to spend on each member of your list will make your shopping much more clear and focused. Once you've done this, we've found some tricks to make the most of the money you have to spend. Next to everyone on your list, make a couple of notes about important events or changes in their lives. This is something that can really help you make your gifts unique and personal. Another tip is to network! Find out what other people are getting this person; linking your gift with theirs is easy and fun, and will make your gift all the more useful! Still at a loss? Try thinking outside the box. Our first inspiration is at everyone's fingertips; the internet! We've both been surfing the web for some fun ideas to prepare ourselves for the real world. Try looking in not just the malls, but small boutiques that you wouldn't necessarily go into; you never know, you just might find that perfect gift you didn't even know you were looking for!
        Get your lists ready this week, and come back next week for our gift ideas! We'll cover gifts for all the key players in your life, including those who thought to buy for you that you may not have on your list!