Shopping Safely

     Hello fellow shoppers ! With the Christmas Holiday approaching so fast, let us make sure that safety is our first priority. I know that we all get excited about buying gifts for our loved ones, and we become relaxed while shopping. We must remember that there are people out there who are watching and praying for us to make mistakes. Be sure that if you are shopping in a store you watch your surrondings, keep your pocketbooks zippered and/or buttoned, and most importantly WATCH YOUR CHILDREN. If you are shopping online make sure that the browser you are using is secure. It is better to use credit cards opposed to debit cards. Fraudulent credit card purchases can be disputed and resolved, as well as debit card purchases, but debit card usage gives criminals direct access to your bank accounts. Remember that the holidays are not just the season to be cheerful, but also the season to be extra careful. Lock doors when riding in your vechiles. It only takes 5 seconds for someone to open a car door, grab your bags, and run into the unknown. Let us be smarter than them.



Pumpkin Picking

  I can still remember as a child going to Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pa and shopping for pumpkins with my grandmother. With the harvest season approaching I am getting excited about going to Linvilla Orchards with my 6 year old son. As a child, I knew nothing about picking a good pumpkin, only concerned with picking the biggest one. My grandmother would say, " Do you think that pumpkin will make a good pie? "At 5 years old, pie making was no concern of mine. I was only focused on carving a better pumpkin than my friends. I know that my son is not concerned with pie making, and to be honest neither am I. and to be honest neither am I. I just want pumpkin shopping to be a memorable event in my son's life. I hope that when he is older, and picking pumpkins with his child, the smell of pumpkin's ribs will cause him to reminisce about our times in the pumpkin patch together. As I make memories with my son in Linvilla Orchards, I sometimes smell the scent of pumpkin filling which reminds me of my late grandmother. Pumpkin shopping will always be fulfilling to my heart.

Shopping As Therapy

     They say " What does not kill you, will make you stronger." If you are reading this, then that means that you are interested in finding out how to defeat stress. So in that case, why not shop? The surveys say that shopping is definitely a stress reliever. The sounds of swiping credit cards, the smell of new clothes, and the feel of soft linen in between your fingertips can help you to forget about a rough day at work or a family spat. Shopping allows you to cope with things in your life that are out of order. How fun is it to look online and gain access to all the exclusive sales that are not available in the stores?  Imagine walking into a store, and the smell of new clothes overpower your senses. Just the thought of these events can regulate an elevated blood pressure. Remember that anything done in excess can be damaging, so remember to shop responsibly. (I know that is not an easy task) Shopping is only a temporary stress reliever, but looking forward to shop may help relieve stress even before you endure it.

Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

       Christmas tree shopping is always fun for me. I love looking for the biggest, greenest tree to purchase. I like to purchase my tree from Home Depot, because they have the most gorgeous Balsam Firs around. My heart beats faster and faster as I walk through the aisles toward the Firs. The closer I get to them the rich smell of pine gets stronger. I don't know what's more fulfilling the picking and choosing process, or the smell that is related to it. I look forward to this time of year just so that I can buy trees and shop for gifts.

Holiday Car Shopping

     Is car shopping near the holidays a good idea? For anyone using the Christmas holiday as an opportunity to purchase a new car, be sure to keep in mind the positive and negative sides of car shopping during this time of year. Car prices can be very reasonable during the holiday season, because it is so close to the end of the year. What does the end of the year have to do with car prices? Dealerships are known to increase prices, in order to decrease them. The change in prices will make the customers think that they are getting a deal, when in all reality they are paying regular price. In contrast, salespeople are determined to get all of the commission that they possibly can, so they are willing to negotiate the most reasonable prices possible. Car shopping during the holidays has its advantages and disadvantages; you just have to be sure to use your better judgement.

Toy Shopping

     What is the best way to shop for Christmas toys? Is it better to allow children to generate a list, or should parents get what they want their children to have? Let's look at both sides. Allowing children the opportunity to express what they want has its pros and cons. One of the pros to allowing a Christmas list is that you are almost guaranteed to not waste your money, because they will play with the toys you purchase. The children will give parents specifics of what they want(color, size, brand), and that keeps them from having to guess or assume.Parents deciding without the help of the child can also be positive. Parents will purchase educational toys: something that children may not do. While choosing for your child can be positive, it may also have some negative effects. Parents can waste money purchasing toys that their children are not interested in, and the toys may sit in the corner unopened. A combination of a list and parent's choosing their children's toys may be the best decision when shopping for Christmas.

Turkey Shopping

     Turkeys! With Thanksgiving approaching it is very important to pick the best turkey for your family. "How do you achieve that ?" one may ask. The first and most important step is to check the expiration date on the turkey's packaging.Be sure  that the date of purchase, and the expected preparation date is within good range. Your family's health is very important, and a spoiled turkey can be toxic.Next, be sure you purchase the right size turkey. Count the amount of people you expect to serve, and purchase the right size bird, accordingly. A little trick that I use, is to assume that each person will eat a pound of turkey.Most likely no one will eat that much turkey, but that ensures that I have enough food to feed everyone. Last but least, consider your finances. It will not be smart to purchase a turkey that is too expensive for your pockets. Shopping wisely is always the best policy. Gobble, Gobble !