Riveroflifelisajoy’s Weblog
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for Holiday Traditions and Fruit Baskets
Six Foot Christmas Tree for $10.00!!! Never go Tree-less AGain! You can’t find this in the 99 Cent Store!!!!
$10.00 Christmas Tree Bargin
King Kullen saved my Christmass!~ Hallelujah! I bought a 6 Foot tree for $10.00 in Valley Stream New York. I think there is one left! Hurry up and catch up to the drive! I am so excited. I am short of cash as always! But Ifound a tree that can get me in the know of it all!
It has a detachable top. But it stands a full six feet tall. Oh! by the way the tree is fake! But who cares? I needed a tree. I was afraid that I would not have the money to buy my traditional LIVE tree…so I decided to pick up this tree instead! I might still go to my favorite LIVE tree place…a little florist on Linden blvd. just over the “bridge of the CrossIsland Parkway in CambriaHeights….in Hempstead. Go down Linden Blvd. pass the Hess Gas Station and you will find this florist place built like a shack and with a “back yard” I always get the best Christmas trees there! My tree stays up for about a month! And it lasts a long time. We put up our tree two minutes before Christams! So we basically keep it up for the month of January—you know the 3 Kings time period! Plus we are just loving the look and smell of a live tree.
But I purchased this 6 foot fake tree because wanted to really bring the holiday spirit home.
Tonight I wrapped presents for the Youth and Tennis Academy children -Santa program scheduled for this morning—Saturday. I took my son to practice and found myself enjoying the art of gift wrapping with other parents. Great! I think that is what got me inspired to buy that 6 foot tree. It was 10:00 last night when I decided to run to King Kullen off of Central Avenue in ValleyStream New York. I am so glad I got it. I also picked up some great tasting heat up chicken fingers, chop meat turkey, pop corn chicken, eggnog, green tea, lime tea, diet cream soda, and diet black cherry soda, and some goya yellow rice. I had a great night.
So go look for a bargin in King Kullen! YOu never know where you might find holiday bargins!
MY GOBBLE GOBBLE POST NOW HOBBLE, HOBBLE—TREK TO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPREE! AND WHAT TO DO WITH THAT OLD LEFT OVER TURKEY?!
I had so much holiday fear that my little family would not enjoy the ThanksGiving Holiday like I always liked to. One day at work just before the holiday I was outside my job early in the morning and I began wishing my co-workers “Happy Thanks Giving!”
A friend of mind walked up to me and stated….”I guess you forgot…..I do not celebrate Thanks Giving!” She leaned closely and whispered it so that no one else would hear. But I felt that she had shouted that at me.
Here I was so excited because my church had donated a turkey and all of the trimmings to me for my family, and because I felt like that old Lewis Carol Story about Scruge….I wanted to shout HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE ROOF TOP!!!! My friend has a different financial situation than mine.
But she does not celebrate that holiday because her religious beliefs at her congregation told her that it is kind of “sinful” to celebrate ThanksGiving! I looked at her hard and I said in a determined voice, “So you are telling me that my soul will be condemmed to hell for celebrating ThanksGiving?
She hesitated for a minute and then said, “Well, know…because God recognizes that you have suffered alot in your life and that you have helped alot of people and so he will wait until you understand that you should not celebrate that Holiday because of all of bad things that happened to the Indians. (my friend is not Indian, or black)
So I said….I am black, I have American Indian and European in my geneaology too….so I can relate to all sides of this issue. I have celebrated the Feast of Thanks Giving all of my life. I do not feel the need to stop celebrating it.
But I do respect your opinion and religious beliefs…..I have to. I believe in tolerance….it does not mean I have a total understanding of someones’ culture or lifestyle to be tolerant.
My friend gave me a hug….told me that on ThanksGiving she would be spending it on bended knee in her church, and praying. I told her I would be cleaning the house, as is my regular for the past NINE years since my husband left my son and I due to his catastrophic illness.
I always clean the house and then I put the turkey and the trimmings together. So we have really never ate the actual feast on Thanks Giving Day! My friend said great and then she gave me a hug. She said Good! God knows your heart.
You will be blessed for not actually eating on the actual day that PEOPLE OF THE WORLD are eating. I looked at my friend as she walked away from me that day, and my ThanksGiving Spirit had practically died.
I felt a deep sickening feeling in the pit of my stomack. I just did not know how to call out—HAPPY THANKSGIVING as my co-workers arrived to work, safe and sound. I still believe in ThanksGiving—don’t you?——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————please commment:
My next little blog is about my left over ThanksGiving Turkey.
I have placed it dismantled into a big roaster pan after we had our first two or three helpings of it. Then I would take out whatever pieces I wanted and made a type of chopped barbeque without the barbeque.
I put butter, seasonings, and let it simmer until crispy! Great tasting. I put some brown rice with it! My son ate the rest of his macaroni and cheese, and baked ziti. But now, it is 12/02/07 and the it is time to say good bye to my HAPPY THANKSGIVING!~
Sorry little 16 pound promise of a pleasant turkey fragrance throughout the house. ALL DONE…ALL GONE…..—nOW the next phase is to go toward the birth of the Christ Child. Christmas Carols and presents gallore! And of course Hannukka! I have a friend who celebrates both holidays because their is an adopted black child in the family! I think that is SOOOO COOOL! WE ARE REALLY ONE FAMILY—!!!!
I purchased a Fiber Optic Light Christmas Village for $24.00 in CVS store. It is so pretty. It has a bunch of little buildings attached with old fashioned gas lit street lights and people walking in the snow and a man and woman on a full size horse pulled sled. and I put it on the diningroom table.
I always get my tree on Christmas Eve, or a few days before. My son really likes that to be the begining of his Christmas Holiday and celebration of the Christ Child and me singing for the Church during this time of year. Last year I sang the Christmas song from Charley Brown cartoon.
I then sang O’ Holy Night, and Silent Night. I had a full card of songs. They never pay me for those opportunities to sing…..but I always believe if I do things like that when I really need a miracle I will receive it from the One Above!
I have seen it happen in my life. I will do a blog on miracles soon!
So tonight I say good bye to left over turkey and I will run to the supermarket to pick up some salmon, whiting fish, and chop meat turkey! I will probably do another bit turkey for Christmas!
please comment what you do with your left over turkey!
till next blog:
riveroflifelisajoy!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING! DO YOU WANT REAL BLING BLING OR THE FAKE DING DING?!!! I CAN TELL YOU WHERE TO GET THE DING! DING!
December 27 2007 update____I was able to purchase housecoats, and silky rayon nigthies for 3.99 a piece!
I got all of this for $67.00!
I even purchased 5 SETS OF Queen Size Sheet sets on Jamaica Avenue in a HouseWares store next to Modells for $3.99 also!
Hurry up and get there. All different styles and colors. My mother loved hers! It was used on the full size bed.
I always buy a size up to make up for any type of shrinage!
The colors are clear and the designs are crisp!
I got my son some great thermal design shirts for $10.00 in Modells too!
I really saved loads of money on Jamacia Avenue for this holiday Shopping.
I really buy things that the family needs…never the pricey jewelry! The house wares also had 3 large bath towels for $10.00.
I brought five sets of sheets and I am going back for more!!!
AT $3.99 how can you go wrong? I am so excited….I love Valley Stream….but you will never get prices that cheap on houseware items….I know….I am a window shopper for life!
Till next up date! RIVEROFLIFELISAJOY!
I was on Jamaica Avenue the other day( I usually go to Green Acres Mall) but I had some business to take care of regarding my utility bill. But as I was walking I noticed alot of things on sale that were very cheep.
Skirts, dresses, jeans, sweaters, pajamas, table clothes, housewares, and suitcases galore! I love the flea market, but suddenly Jamaica Avenue was starting to look quite appealing!
I have various reasons why I did not shop Jamaica Avenue but to be honest, the area has turned over a new leaf! It has government buildings, city buildings, the Long Island Rail Road, the Kennedy Airport Tram and a whole host of stores from furniture, baby needs, and concept stores too.
Of course the well known slightly larger than a boutique stores like the “Avenue” for large women, and a food court for food lovers hides down a quiet side street around the corner for White Castles. My new Hair Dresser is down a quiet street off of Jamaica Avenue also.
But my purpose of this rit–is to discuss the “jewlery stores.” I did see a ZALES Jewlery Store on Jamaica Avenue! I was shocked!
Look, I do not buy jewlery, because I have never had the desire to spend my rent, utility bill, car insurance payment, or grocery money on a tennis braclet, or even a gold plated 14K gold necklace.
I believe that such purchases are for those who have it ALL!! Don’t get me wrong, I know you can put things on “layaway”– but for me….something always comes up that interferes with my making payments on that layaway and then I get the phone call or letter that informs me that I am about to lose that $100.00 that I put down on that item.
Two times that happened to me in Green Acres Mall with jewlery store. All I wanted was a GOOD watch….an adult watch for a lady, for a church going lady, for a mommy who works hard to care for her family, blah, blah, blah,—of course I had to talk myself into this investment—because I always feel guilty if I buy something for myself!
–So, anyway, I purchased this Citizen watch for only $120.00! (It was on sale from $170.00) That was a lot of money for my limited funds.
But I had convinced myself that I deserved it. So I put down my deposit and then I fell behind on the payments because of family and home economic problems.
I finally picked up my watch with the positive inspirational statements from the sales clerk, on how pretty it looked on my rather chubby brown arm! I admired it and stared at it so hard, ( because no one ever purchased any expensive watch or jewlery for me in my entire life!)
I thought that I had finally grown up at my early years of 42! How sad, isn’t it? —I wore my watch with pride at work
I received the usual compliments and then one day, getting into my car I noticed that my little friend was missing from its perch on my chubby brown wrist.
It was fall weather and I had not raked the leaves infront of my house.
I kicked, and kicked until the yard looked worse then ever! I was so very lazy about raking leaves!
My son came out of the house and must have thought I was reliving my childhood! I was swinging my arms and kicking the leaves frantically!
I almost fell on the ground because of this non sense! I grew exhausted from my wasted efforts.
I could not find my watch….my beautiful, gold tone, link watch! I did notice that the clasp had become loose. But it was not that severe to me.
However, after that final day with my friend, my dearly departed grown up lady, church going lady, hard working mommy Citizen Watch, almost seven years ago….I have not laid another deposit on any jewlery!
So I chose to purchase cheap $10.00 funny looking watches that I don’t even take a second glance at once they are on my cubby brown arm! Just tell me that time is all I care about.
No more attempts at Bling Blining it! So if you want to Ding, Dinging it with me….go to Jamaica Avenue….there are plenty of shops that offer such items that are not pricey and will not break your heart if they have an untimely departure from your neck, wrist, finger, or ankle!
And for those who can afford the pricey….go to that Zales!
I also found a great Army color design sweat suit for my son! It only cost $15.00! It was great! My son is tall but skinny!
He is athletic in build so he can wear anything! I found those “mink” blankets for the bed—also those beautiful over the top bed spreads with matching bed skirt, the whole shabang for $25.00 to $30.00.
There were “heavy comforters” for sale for $14.00 in the various stores ( one in particular called ALEXIS) as I walked down Jamaica Avenue!
I thought to myself that if I had atleast two to three hundred dollars I could purchase several good gifts for my family and a few friends!
So I got so excited. I can’t wait to get back to that street. I will park car and stop being so lazy to walk. I will pick up the not so Macy’s, not so JCPenny, not so Marshalls items and give my little family something to unwrap under the Christmas Tree.
I do not have a credit card ….so I cannot afford the big name stores! I only can buy cash! I love Macy’s women’s department!
But do you know that women who wear a size 22 or above cannot buy a coat in Macys for less than $200.00? I saw a FAKE….FAKE….Lamb Skin Coat for $400.00!!!
What did they put in that thing? Did they sew it with Gold thread? It is fake lamb skin! Who is wearing size 22 and can afford a $400.00 coat?
What makes it worse is that the stupid coat will never be at a price I can afford. Even if they lower it to $200.00 —I have a car insurance that is $218.00 every month!
I already told you that I feel guilty to purchase anything pricey for myself. I will spend good money in Marshalls for my son….but for myself, unless I am going out to perform (which I will be singing next week, to start off this holiday season) I do not buy beautiful clothes for myself.
I buy for my son first and myself last! I feel joy when I see the happy look on my child’s face when I give him something that he truly wanted or enjoyed for Christmas!
So if you do not have alot of money, but want to give nice gifts that look good too….try Jamaica Avenue in Queens New York! Oh, and there is a movie theatre there too. The buses, and trains are all central to that location.
Happy Holidays, and Good Bargin Hunting!!! And look, it is the thought that counts! So pick up some Ding, Ding if you cannot afford the expensive stores like Macys and JCPenny!
Just get good boxes, good wrapping paper and pretty bows! —Okay, Okay, for those of you that must have the Bling, Bling, run to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Fashions for Less in Valley Stream. Also check those stores for the good clearance items.
You might be surpised at what you find! You might like the sales.
Another good gift giving item I like is the fruit baskets! I used to make them myself. I liked do that in my mothers old neighborhood!
Certain elderly neighbors who were not family, just community friends for years—I would make up a basket of brownies, and cupcakes, and fruit! They would love it! I remember an elederly lady named Granny that used to babysit me for years.
I would go to the house with my son when he was six or seven and have him learn the value of “giving to the less fortunate and the lonely during the holidays! Granny looked forward to my little holiday baskets.
I enjoyed the look of happiness on her face, and the look of quiet shock and affection on my sons little face when Granny would reach down and give him a kiss on his forehead and “thank him” for giving her such a lovely gift for Christmas.
She would then invite us inside and we would sit and talk while my son would play with her grandchildren.
The holidays can be beautiful if you keep the real meaning for the season in your gift giving! I will write more if I find more bargins!
riveroflifelisajoy!
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