Around the corner

Christmas is right around the corner and I'm so not pre-pared.  I do this every year.  Wait until the last minute to do any shopping.  I've only got a few things for the kids and that's it.  Haven't even thought about what to get my parents yet.  Or my in-laws.  Or my nieces and nephews.  Humm...what's one to do.  I think I might shop online some this year.  I've only ordered a few things in the past, but I might go all out this year.  My husband and I aren't buying for each other because we decided to get a new mattress.  We're going all out and getting something fantastic.  I'm very excited about this but also sad that I can't shop for him.  I love to shop for my husband.  I was going to get him a think pad and all the Dave Matthews Band CDs we don't have.  Then I was going to download all those CDs to his IPOD.  He would love that.  I also thought about getting him the Colts sofa he's only been asking for for years now.  But the shopping for him won't happen since we are sharing the cost of the gifts we would normally buy for each other and getting something we both need.  My concern about buying a new mattress is that we won't want to get out of the bed and therefore will be late for work much more often than we are now.  But I'm getting it anyway!

Back to online shopping.  My concern with this (I'm very concerned today, can't you tell?) is how do you return it and what if someone steels it off my front porch when it's delivered.  Also, do I really want to pay extra for the shipping?  Really?  Shipping can be expensive and since I live so close to the mall the cost of gas to go shopping isn't nearly as much as shipping can be.  Plus, as I've already discussed in the past, I love to shop.  And I really love to shop during the holidays.  I love watching people get mad because they can't find what they are looking for. I think it's funny. And I love it when someone spreads good cheer too.  For example, I was at the grocery store the other day and I had 4 items.  The man in line in front of me had about 15 items or so.  He looked at me and said, "really, that's all you have". I said yes and he let me go in front of him.  That was nice and made me feel all warm and cozy inside.  I then returned the favor by letting him use my discount card because he didn't have his.  He saved some money and I got out of the store faster.  Ahh...nice things lead to more nice things and good feelings. 
Anyway, I said I might do more online shopping this year, but I think I've changed my mind.  Yep, why would I want to shop online when I love shopping off line so much more?  Why would I pay for shipping when I live so close to every store I need/want to go to?  And why, for goodness sake, why would I deprive my shopping addiction during the holidays?  Once again I will pay a sitter to watch my kids while I head out in the cold weather to hit every store that has good deals on the things my kids want for Christmas.  I'm so excited!