Free jeans

I like a bargain as much as the next person, but honestly, I don't want to work too hard for one. I don't shop thrift stores, flea markets or yard sales, and I hate plowing through piles of clothes to find one gem. But when stores are having sales on everything and web sites are offering free shipping, it is hard NOT to score a bargain.

Several months ago, I went shopping for new jeans that fit my 15 pound less body and found two pair suited for low heel shoes. I love wearing heels and wanted a pair of jeans that I could wear with my high heeled mules or these great patent boots that I have. Kohl's is having one of their two day sales that they have every week, so I headed over there early today to find some tall jeans.

I am not particularly fond of Kohl's for me; I am able to find good clothes at good prices for Aidan there, but not for me. Their basic jean selection, however, is pretty good. With the sale, the additional 15% coupon and the $20 in Kohl's Cash that James received last week after he did some shopping, I thought it was worth a trip. No lie, I tried on at least 12 pairs of jeans (plus several shirts and sweaters, and several pair of dress pants) and did find one pair that seem to fit well and work well with my tall shoes (which I had the good sense to wear).

When I got to the cashier and presented all my various papers, I owed a grand total of nothing. Nada. Zero. It was an hour of my time well spent to walk out the door with a pair of free jeans!

Whoosh

Whoosh is the sound of December to me...not carols, not bell ringing, not the ka-ching of the cash registers. Whoosh. Once the calendar turns to 1 December, time accelerates until 24 December, when everything slows down to half its normal speed.

For some stupid reason, December crept up on me this year. I know December arrives at the same time each year, but with the U.S. Thanksgiving falling at the end of November, the time between the two holidays is shorter than usual. So that extra week I thought I had to take care of tasks simply does not exist. Whoosh!

Don't get me wrong, I am not panicking about the holidays. As I wrote last year, I simply don't stress about the holidays - that is wrong to me. But I do know that I have a schedule of card writing, knitting, baking and wrapping that must be adhered to, which simply cuts into my free time. No big whoop.

For example, this morning after I work in Aidan's class, I have a list of about four errands I need to complete rather than coming back to the house for my usual Wedneday morning late breakfast and extra cup of coffee. And if I get them done today, I won't have to go out tomorrow - bonus!

So it all comes down to good time management. And whooshing!