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The worst gifts… ever

By Hillary McNabb | Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 05:48 PM

You know you’ve gotten one at least once in your life. The ugly sweater. The weird, off-brand doll with the scary looking eyes, the movie or book that you would rather die than read, awful smelling candles.

I’m talking about terrible gifts. If you’ve gotten one, you know it’s one you’ll always remember. And you usually have to lie about liking it. I know I’ve gotten a few things I’d have rather not (gift cards people!) but I still appreciate the thought and the fact that someone cared enough to think “I should get her something.”

I think the worst things I’ve ever gotten were things that I didn’t need and that didn’t fit. For example I once got a scarf, gloves and hat set where the gloves were way too small and I wasn’t crazy about the colors. Plus, I didn’t need new winter accessories. So… I re-gifted. But I re-gifted smartly, I gave it to a friend in another state from the giver. No chance of them coming across each other again.

That being said, what’s the worst gift you’ve ever received and why? What did you do with it? Names can be changed or omitted to protect everyone’s feelings.

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Rudolph, The Grinch and more make for a busy TV week

By Hillary McNabb | Monday, December 1, 2008, 03:29 PM

If you’re looking to start your holiday viewing off right, you’re in luck.

The holiday specials get a full kick-off tonight, Dec. 1, starting with Shrek the Halls at 8 p.m. and Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas at 8:30 all on ABC.

On Tuesday (12/2), ABC will air Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town a 8 p.m.

And Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer airs Wed. (12/3) night at 8 p.m on CBS. In direct competition wit it, also at 8 p.m., is the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center live on NBC.

Apparently Thursday will be relatively void of holiday programming on network TV.

Friday (12/5) the live action Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will air at 8 p.m. on ABC and again, in competition with that will be NBC’s Greatest Holiday Moments: TV and Film Countdown at 8.

Watch them with the kids, watch them for yourself… either way they’ll put you in the holiday spirit!

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Black Friday 2008 recap

By Hillary McNabb | Friday, November 28, 2008, 07:04 PM

The shopping is finally over (or at least dwindling for some brave souls). Like many of you, I ventured out after nearly no sleep at 3 a.m. to be in line at the Beavercreek Kohl’s by 3:30 (store opening at 4 a.m.).

I made the adventure a lot more fun by going with two friends. It’s much easier to get everything you’re after if you are in it together.

By heading for various departments and picking up each others desired items in said departments, we cut down on wasted time and met up at the checkout. We were in and out of most of our stores within (and sometimes much less than) an hour.

I will note that while we didn’t originally plan to, we did head to Walmart for a quick look at their morning bargains. While definitely not as violent as the tragedy in a New York Walmart where an employee was knocked down and died in a stampede of shoppers, we did notice an air of hostility and overall atmosphere of people being rude and flat out mean. The employees were doing the best they could and trying to move things along and keep things under control, but at least in the electronics area, it was an instant roar of people pushing, shoving and yelling when the 5 a.m. “Let the shopping begin” announcement was made.

I finally got what I was after (1 item!) and found a line that didn’t seem too long. 30 minutes later I was rethinking that analysis. I did witness a young man who payed for a video game system (luckily his only item!) at least partially, with a bag of change. In hard economic times, I understand you’ve gotta spend what you can in any way you can, but good grief, way to slow the line down! To her credit (and that of those in line with him) the cashier did not react negatively, she simply counted out the change as quickly as possible. And really, aside from some grouchy people when aisles were crowded, we didn’t see or hear any angry or violent people the rest of the day.

Other stores I hit up for deals were: Target, Circuit City, K-Mart, Walgreens, Cardboard Heroes and Elder-Beerman. In most cases there were plenty of the sale items available and I was able to successfully check off nearly every item on my Black Friday shopping list.

I was a pretty happy (if not exhausted) shopper by early afternoon. How’d you do?

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Black Friday is here!

By Hillary McNabb | Friday, November 28, 2008, 12:00 AM