The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

What’s In Your Mailbox?

I can tell it’s that time of year. You know the time…holiday season.

I can tell, not because all the holiday displays are up in the stores (though they are) or because Christmas carols are the muzak de jour in malls and supermarkets (it’s not even Thanksgiving, people!), but because of the mail.

Yesterday, my mailbox was crammed with catalogues. And I mean crammed. There were, count them, fifteen catalogues.

Fifteen.

It’s definitely Christmas shopping time.

The catalogues ranged from clothes (JC Penney [two of them], North Style) to food (Harry and David) to home materials (Lowe’s, Home Decorator’s, Domestications, Sam’s Club) to kid’s stuff (Lilly’s Kids, Highlights) to braniac choices (Discovery Channel Store, Smithsonian Catalogue). Then there are the random catalogues like Betty’s Attic, Potpourri, and (appropriately) Catalog Favorites (“A showcase of catalog best-sellers”).

‘Tis the season to shop.

Honestly, I don’t know how most of these companies chose to send their glossy pages to me. I’m not a big catalogue shopper, though there are some I do love like Red Envelope and Signals. I have to admit having all these catalogues around is tempting. It would be very easy to pick out a few things here, a few things there and be done with my shopping without even leaving the house. Very, very tempting since I don’t like crowds.

Luckily for me (and the checkbook), tonight is trash night, which means all fifteen (okay, thirteen—I want to keep the Smithsonian one and North Style for a closer look-see) are headed to the recycling bin.

Normally, it would be hard to let them all go, except I know that the mailman will be back tomorrow with more choices. I’ll try to control myself. After all, it’s a very long holiday season.

~heather

P.S.: What’s with the different spellings of catalogue (catalog)? Which is correct? The Smithsonian’s version (gue) or the everyday average “og” of Catalog Favorites? This inquiring mind wants to know.

14 Responses to “What’s In Your Mailbox?”

We got 8 catalogs yesterday. EVERY single one got recycled because I got the emails from the same companies.
One particular email caught my eye because it was an apology stating the “BIG SALE - FREE SHIPPING” email didn’t get out in time due to a technical glitch. Nice marketing ploy, eh?

My christmas shopping is half done.

And I don’t spell catalog with the “gue” cause I’m not french.

by debbie on November 9th, 2007 at 9:17 am
LOL on the gue, Deb. I do spell it with a gue, and I figured it was because I grew up in the Northeast, but you just blew that theory! I am part French…

I’m all for free shipping, btw. Just saying.

And how do you have half your shopping done???? HOW??????

by Heather on November 9th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I got 15 yesterday and tossed them all except for Crate & Barrel. I love their holiday photos and all the pictures of the food one “could” cook using their pots and pans. I asked my mailman if his muscles got any bigger over the holiday season and he mumbled something about hating those “slippery” catalogues. (yeah, I like the “gue” spelling. I thought it was very English, my chaps, but that goes to show you what I know.)

by JB on November 9th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
As long as you tossed the Elvis catalog, Theo doesn’t care about the rest.

by Theo Epstein on November 9th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I start shopping in early October.
It’s a sickness.
I’m seeking therapy. LOL

by debbie on November 9th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I can’t believe they’re pushing the holidays earlier and earlier. I ran into Macy’s yesterday to buy lipstick (yeah, I can’t find that color anywhere else). The entire store is already decorated with trees and tinsel and ornaments. Yikes!

by Maggie on November 9th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
JB, oooh, Crate & Barrel. Love their stuff. I’d have kept that one, too. And I’ve got a little English blood in me, too. I might have to do a search on the gue/og. Like I don’t have enough to do.

Theo, moo-ha-ha!!!!!!

Deb, you do need therapy. And not retail therapy, young lady.

Maggie, it does seem to be earlier and earlier, doesn’t it? Though time seems to be flying — Christmas is just a blink away. Sniff!

by Heather on November 9th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Before the days of clip art and the internet, any catalogue went straight to the ‘cutting up box’ in my classroom…
Now, it depends. As a single person (Catholic priest, as some of you are aware!) I draw the line when I get sent catalogues entitled ‘Shopping for Girls’ Gifts’…Someone may want me to use this for them, but I was not convinced!

by Rudolf on November 9th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Not too many catalogs here…just tons of packages. Our poor mail person! He/she has a lot more to carry since I discovered the joys of online shopping a few years ago. I got 9 packages in the mail this week alone…10 if you count the one thing I bought for myself (a rechargable battery kit). Only two more gifts to get and then I am done Christmas shopping.

by Traci on November 10th, 2007 at 12:33 am
HA! See Heather, Traci is as twisted as I am!

Nice to know I’m in good company.

by debbie on November 10th, 2007 at 8:50 am
LOL, Rudolf! I’m sure the catalogues were for the women in your life.

Traci, packages!!!!! I love getting packages! When they’re for me! Can’t say I’d be too excited over the rechargeable battery kit, though I do get tired of buying batteries all the time! I can’t believe you’re almost done shopping. Have you met Debbie?

Deb, LOL! I’m seeing a need for a support group!

by Heather on November 10th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Heather, I love getting packages when they are for me, too….Not too many of those lately, though…I’ve cut way back…and that isn’t easy for me since I discovered scrapbooking…I was SO excited over the battery charger. My camera takes alkaline batteries and I swear it inhales all the battery juice in a week…I can find non-alkaline no problem, but Alkaline….I’d have a better chance at finding Bigfoot here….Someone told me about this one type of rechargeable battery that supposedly lasts longer than others, so I thought I’d give the a try…One charger and 8 batteries for $26. Not too bad. I got it so I wouldn’t be stuck without batteries for the holidays. But I digress…sorry…

I agree…we need an online support group for us early shoppers. Believe it or not, I’m shopping late this year….I usually have my nephews’ gifts six months in advance.

*Waves to Debbie* Hello fellow early-bird shopper! If you find an online support group for us, let me know! My method of shopping drives mom nuts! The other day I ordered something for my brother because “it spoke to me”. And when I actually do go to the mall shopping, I will shop for a gift for someone until I find something that “speaks” to me and then that’s the gift I buy….I refuse to look any further for that person.

by Traci on November 11th, 2007 at 2:27 am
Hidee Ho Traci!

I don’t think anything has ever “spoken” to me, but I usually have an idea for those on my list. And I tend to have “themes” for a particular year. Last year was snowmen, the year before was snowflakes….you get the idea. And for my 1 friend that I exchange with (the rest is family) we’re doing a goofy exchange (my idea, that’s why it’s goofy). We can only spend $12 and whatever you buy must be pink. Makes things fun and then we don’t feel like we HAVE to buy a gift out of obligation.

Heather, dear sweet Heather, you must quit the procrastination club and join the “I must be done shopping by Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the whole month of December Club.”

by debbie on November 11th, 2007 at 8:34 am
Debbie,

The theme idea sounds good. I may have to try it. After I got my brother his gift, he called me to tell me what he wanted….I just listened and pretended to care instead of telling him I already got something for him. I have one friend I exchange with and the rest is family, too. My friend is pretty easy to buy for…Angels, dragon flies, Mickey Mouse or humming birds. I hate it when you feel like you have to buy a gift. That’s how I feel about my mom’s boyfriend. We’ve never gotten along, so I always feel like I have to get him something. She suggested last year and this year that I get him cologne. Um, sorry, but I’m not getting my mother’s boyfriend anything intimate. And his son…there is no way I will top last year’s gift…I made him a keychain with pics of his two sons. I was going to suggest a bet with you to see which of us could finish our shopping first…the winner would’ve gotten a book by one of the Cozy Chick authors…but then I remembered that online gambling is illegal. Besides, at this rate, you might beat me.

by Traci on November 18th, 2007 at 2:55 am

What’s In Your Mailbox?

14 Responses to “What’s In Your Mailbox?”

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