He Loves Me, Therefore He Shops

Last Friday Doug and I took the day off for the sole purpose of going Christmas shopping. Specifically, we planned to start and finish our shopping all in one day.

Now, this Day of Shopping was especially noteworthy because shopping at any time of year, let alone on a Friday during Christmas Season, is so far down on Doug's list of things he likes to do it can't even be seen with the naked eye. The only thing lower on that list would be spending any amount of money with more than one zero at the end.

So you can imagine my state of bliss when, for six glorious hours on December 7, my Red Hot Smokin' Husband became my Red Hot Shoppin' Husband.

Early Friday morning we plotted our course, made our lists and left the house about 9:30am destined for Target. We chose to go there first because we could also get double-huge-triple-caff-coffees to give us some much needed shopping endurance.

In addition to toys, games and clothing we also stocked up on nearly every kind of over-the-counter remedy known to man. This is also known as the "Annual Spend Down the Medical Savings Account Extravaganza". If you need fleece, Transformers, pain reliever or dental floss, let me know. I have a stash.

Two hours, two cart-fulls, and many zeros later we headed for the outdoor shopping center.


When we got there Doug said he could see I was really beginning to hit my shopping stride. I had to agree. I'm like a distance runner when it comes to shopping. I've been sharpening and refining my skills for years. It takes awhile for my heart to get pumping and, when it does, I can go for a loooong time. Doug, on the other hand, is like a sprinter. One quick run through a store and he's at the finish line.

This year everyone in the family is getting pajamas, which we will open on Christmas Eve and mostly likely lounge around in most of Christmas Day. Everyone's pjs have been purchased except mine. So I thought it might be interesting to give Doug some shopping incentive see what Victoria's Secret had to offer for 40-year old mamas who don't like to show a lot of skin.

Ummmm... no...I don't think so.

Ummmmm...no....doesn't look very comfy.

ahhhh...yes! Perfect neck-to-toe coverage!
Our next stop was Sports Authority, which was a nice respite for Doug. I don't think he minded shopping there. We went our separate ways. He was looking for an in-ground basketball goal and I was looking for cold weather work-out gear. I freely admit it's as much about the look as the work-out. And, as far as cold weather goes, that one is still up in the air since it's nearly 80 degrees as I'm typing this.

It took Doug all of 10 minutes to find the goals, choose one, and get the paperwork completed. By that time I had barely begun to hone in on all the various choices in thermal layered jackets. Not only do I have to hem and haw about the style, I also have to carry on and on about the color. He was patient - oh so patient - and helped me decide on a black pair of pants, a celedon green turtle neck and white jacket.

After that, the only possible choice was sustenance in the form of food and drink at Cheeseburger in Paradise.

"Wanna go back to Victoria's Secret?"

"Maybe next year after I put that workout gear to good use. Now, I wish she'd hurry up and bring those onion rings."

Happily fed and watered, we headed home to unload. It was quite a haul, if I do say so myself. And, after Adam went to bed that night I wrapped every single thing in pretty paper and frilly bows made a cup of hot tea, heated up a cinnamon scone and laid on the sofa until I fell asleep.

How's your holiday shopping going?