A couple days after Christmas, I normally feel the urge to go out and score some post Christmas deals! As you know, I do not need any more decorations for the inside of my house, so I wasn't looking for that. I did want to replenish my bows and tags for wrapping presents. I also wanted some more Christmas themed plates for our holiday game night we are sure to have again next year! All of these items were 50% off, and I got everything pictured for less than $10 at Big Lots. Score!
I love buying wrapping paper, but unfortunately I have enough wrapping paper to last us the next ten Christmases... maybe more! I was "good" and didn't buy the cute wrapping paper I saw. But I did buy one decoration for the house. Sometimes Jelly likes to sleep in the linen closet. When he curls up in there, Paul and I warn each other, "Jelly's in the linner!" That way we know not to shut the door completely on him. Paul joked that we need an "occupy" sign to hang on the doorknob. Well, look what I found for $2.50 at Big Lots...
It's perfect!
While I was out and about at various craft stores that day, I also found something we can hang on the door that isn't Christmas themed.
Okay, so let's get to the MAIN reason I was out and about... I wanted to find more outdoor lighting! Come on, you knew where this was going, right?
I figured everything would be 50% off and I was correct! First I went to Big Lots. I wasn't sure what they would have but after a quick look around, I went back to the entrance and got a cart. Things were about to get crazyyyyy! Here's what I snagged:
Our neighbor has a bunch of these so we're copying.
We already have these outside but for $6 I need more!
Okay, we have never done the rope light thing but I have IDEAS! We could wrap it around the trunk of the tree we have in the front yard. We could wrap it around the "pillars" (whatever you want to call them) in our carport. Or we could outline our doors and windows. The possibilities are endless! Do you have any other ideas?
We already have icicle lights but I figure if we have some more, we can extend them in front of our carport and wrap them around the tree at the corner of our house.
I felt very good as I left Big Lots. Next, I headed to Michael's. I found something for only $25 that I have been wanting since last Christmas!
BAM!!!!!!!
OUR HOUSE IS GOING TO BE CHRISTMAS AF!!!!
Next, I headed to K-Mart. I know that sounds like a weird place but I remember getting some Christmas goodies there last year. I was happy to see they had some items that would work!
(The scary part was when I entered the store, I saw someone FROM MY PAST that I wanted to avoid at all costs! Luckily, the person didn't see me and I did not have to make awkward small talk while holding my inflatable snowman...)
Here are my K-Mart deals...
We already have nine of these awesome solar powered lights. They are multicolored and they twinkle! I got 5 more because... well, that makes things better!
There was only one register open at K-Mart and the cashier was going soooooo slow. It reminded me why I never go to K-Mart! Luckily, I have a smartphone now, so I am never bored standing in line!
Funny story: While standing in line, a lady on a scooter straight up cut in front of me. I was going to let her ahead of me anyway, but she didn't even allow me to make the gesture. She just slid in. No eye contact!
After K-Mart I was really feeling good, but I still hadn't found more net lighting for the rest of our bushes. I headed to Wal Mart and scored!
Finally, after shopping for four hours, it was time to go home and show Paul my loot! He was PLEASED and completely endorsed my shopping spree.
I hadn't eaten a thing yet that day so I refueled from my shopping extravaganza with a down home breakfast!
Later on that day I had to run up to Dollar General for cotton balls and ended up coming home with a 4.5 foot Rudolph for $10...
But now I am DONE SHOPPING. I know this is a lot of "stuff" and I don't want to buy "stuff". In fact, it's one of my goals in the new year to be less "stuff". But these Christmas decorations... they just make me so happy when I see them! They are so bright that they light up the inside of our house as well! The lights bring me joy and they will bring joy to people who drive by our house. And Paul will enjoy working together over the course of a weekend to put everything up next year. In fact, he even wants to make a blueprint so we know where everything is going. He's a guy after my own heart!
Do you think I went overboard?
Who's going to drive by our house next year?
Did you score any after Christmas deals?
Who's going to drive by our house next year?
Did you score any after Christmas deals?
I was a little disappointed in our big lots because they still only have 50 percent off when all other stores have 70 percent off Christmas stuff. I did end up buying 2 rolls of wrapping paper though. At Kmart I bought a new tree skirt and some different color ornaments for the tree ( which I really don't need any more but I figured they would match when I painted that room). Oh funny you should mention the scooter at Kmart cus I have a scooter story. When I was shopping there, there was a scooter left at the end of an isle where we were shopping. A lady came up to me and in a nasty voice said "Is that YOUR scooter?". Like she was mad that I had just left it there. No, it's not my scooter. Do I look like I needed a scooter? I understand here annoyance with the person who just left their scooter there but come on lady!
ReplyDeleteYour house is gonna look awesome this Christmas. My family all plans to bring some Christmas decoration to my pap's next year and decorate his yard for him. I'm anxious to see how much stuff we can get!
That is so awesome you're going to decorate your pap's house! :) Very good idea. I wonder if there are other older people who need help putting up decorations but don't have anyone to help them. I would love to do something like that!
DeleteWow, the woman overreacted about that scooter!
Wow...I am already looking forward to the photos of your house next year. I actually got rid of a lot of holiday stuff and got it over to Good Will a few weeks before Christmas so I hope it was able to bring joy to someone! I had stocked up last year on wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, etc. so this year on the day after Christmas, I was able to just relax and go get a massage. Oh, Kmart. Every once in awhile I will stop in there because it's convenient but then it takes forever to check out--no matter what the day and time! It's frustrating. I actually used to work there for a bit while in college and I LOVED it (being a checker is a super social job!!)
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize all K-marts were slooooooow, I thought it was just the ones in my area! I try very hard to not get mad at the cashiers. If there is only one line open, and the cashier and being paid PROBABLY minimum wage, why should he/she bust their butt and go super fast? They should get ANOTHER cashier.
DeleteI was a checker at Giant (grocery store) and loved it! I liked to "ding" the food.
I hope your decorations bring someone joy as well! I guess my nieces and nephews will end up with all of my decorations someday. THEY BETTER LIKE CHRISTMAS.
They better like Christmas! LOL. I just loved being a checker...in fact they "promoted" me to service desk and I lasted there like a week. I told them, I don't care about the extra .25 per hour, I miss being a checker...so they put me back where I belonged!
DeleteI just msged my SIL to warn her of the impending inheritance and that she better teach them to love Christmas. Awwww your heart belongs in the check out line! Some things are just more important than money.
DeleteI love how much you love Christmas! I do enjoy all the lights actually myself. This year I got a light up dog to put outside and I thought it was so cute!
ReplyDeleteWere you surprised at how easy it was to put up those blow up things??
DeleteWOW look at all of your new Christmas stuff! Your house is going to be Christmas Goals next year! I love your whole inflatable collection. Your house is going to be the one that everyone drives by to take pics of!
ReplyDeleteI don't think buying this "stuff" counts against your 2017 resolution because I think you purchased this stuff in 2016. It's all good :). Plus you are saving money in the long run by purchasing this stuff now! I went to Target the day after Christmas, but aside from the stockings, I didn't get anything. By the time I got there at around 11am everything was already picked through!
BWAHAHA I did purchase it in 2016 so thank you for noticing. :) And I agree, saving money. And also I FREAKING LOVE IT and it will bring so much joy. It's not like I'm doing it because I feel like I have to. Christmas is my jam. Wow I'm surprised Target didn't have much left. At least you got your stockings because I know you really wanted those.
DeleteYou got some great deals! Big Lots is always a fun store even if it's not for Christmas sales. You never know what you'll find there (they also have some neat international foods at ours). I bet your home and yard will be gorgeous this year with your scores on clearance sales.
ReplyDeleteThey have international foods at our's too! Must be a Big Lots thing. And I agree, it's a fun store to putz around in.
DeleteWell, wow! You're going to be "that house" next year! We put our tree in the front window and that's it...
ReplyDeleteI looooooove seeing trees in the front window! It looks SO HOMEY. That's where we put ours when we had one.
DeleteIs it bad that during post-Xmas sales I always buy myself things???
ReplyDeleteI love that you got Jelly a little sign for when he's in the linen closet! I bet he's been locked in there before. That reminds me of a few times I locked Archie in closets by accident! Once he flew into the main closet and fell asleep because it was dark, and I didn't notice he was missing for ages! Another time, he flew into a mini-pantry we have in the kitchen and was stuck! Matt had to take the doors off the hinges so he could get Archie out, and when he did he was COVERED in dust and hair LOL.
Omg the adeventures of Archie! Isn't it funny how curious animals are, to their own detriment? Yes Jelly has definitely been locked in the linner before. Normally he just sleeps the whole time. :)
DeleteHoly Moly!! You got so much stuff! That's awesome. I bought 3 more strands of outdoor lights at the sales, but I should have got more. I did buy a bunch of wrapping paper. I pick out prints that look pretty generic so we use them for birthdays! We have been known to just wrap with Christmas prints too. It still serves the purpose, no matter what is on the paper ;)
ReplyDeleteOne of my cats is always sleeping in my closet on my sweatshirt. Glad I don't ever wear it, because it's a big furry mess!
That is a really good idea to pick the neutral prints! I will have to remember that next year. I have many sweatshirts that are COVERED in hair, I know exactly what you're talking about! :)
DeleteHoly post-holiday haul Batman! We've got that star shower thing and it's awesome! Most of our neighbors copied so the whole neighborhood pretty much rocks. I feel kind of bad we were away so I missed loading up on cards/wrap, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you like the star shower thing. It seems like that should be super simple- plug it in, turn it on?
DeleteWow!! That is amazing!! I love your dedication to Christmas decorations! I can't wait to see what your house will look like next year!
ReplyDeleteYou will have to do a drive by with your son! :)
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