Christmas Shopping

As some of you know I am not a big shopper, it's one of my least favorite things to do. Today I had to take the plunge and get all my Christmas shopping done. So my first stop was the dreaded mall. As I entered the large concrete walls I immediately began feeling claustrophobic, hundreds of people, screaming children waiting to see santa, shopping bags hitting me from all angles, Christmas music seeping out of every store...... I had to take some deep breaths, collect myself and set some serious shopping goals! I quickly made a mental list and tackled the mall in a fairly efficient and relatively stress free manner. After stop number one I had to refuel with a large coffee and a little energy boosting snack, shopping really takes it out of me. Then it was off the the next place, I can't disclose I don't want to give away any of my gifts. I like everything to be a surprise..... it's way more fun when you open your gifts if you have no idea. The key to this is never asking what people want but listening to them as the holidays approach and giving them a quick scan to maybe what they need. For example.... complaining about cold feet.... ski socks, trouble finding shoes to match an outfit.... shoes or gift certificate to shoe store.... holes in the pit of their t-shirt.... new shirts...., turning underwear inside out for another day of use.... tighty whiteys, you get the point. You have a few more days to listen to those verbal and non-verbal clues. Happy shopping, thank god I am done!