Oh Christmas Tree (+deals)

Hello my friends. Last night was supposed to be the night that our apartment transformed into a winter wonderland.  On Sunday we had a few friends over to watch the (terrible) Bears game and even some of the guys comments that they were surprised I didn’t have the slightest hint of Christmas decorations up yet.  Ben and I had agreed that since we were out of town for Thanksgiving and the following weekend that we should wait until this week to get out tree.

I love real trees - the experience of picking on the perfect tree and getting it set up at home, the scent of pine whenever you come home, etc.  It’s all wonderful.  This is our third holiday season in Chicago together and the past two years we’ve gotten our tree from the Menard’s parking lot.  A crappy location (not as majestic as the tree farm my parents got their tree from), but it’s the start of a tradition none-the-less.  So last night after a delayed dinner (due to Ben getting home 40 minutes late because of a lockdown on the north side of town slowing down all of the trains), we went to Menards and were thoroughly disappointed.  Not only did the move the spot of the trees from the center of the parking lot to the side, the majority of the trees were all bundled up all ready so you couldn’t see how full they were or where their gaps are.  The handful of trees that weren’t bundled up yet were terrible looking.  After 20 minutes of scrounging and getting poked by pine needles we left empty handed (or back-seated I should say).  We agreed to go grocery shopping and look at the grocery lot’s trees.

They were all gorgeous, but the prices were outrageous compared to Menards.  The cheapest tree I saw was $48.  Compared to the $12.98 prices at Menards, I’d rather have a patchy hole tree than pay four times more.  Thus, no tree for us last night.  Tonight I think we’ll head to Home Depot and if we don’t find anything there, then we’ll just have to settle for Menards.

·    AT Loft: $25 Cable Sweaters

·    Banana Republic: Online only 30% off entire purchase with code BRSAVE30, plus dresses are already up to 30% off

·    Gap: 35% off online only through Friday (12/9) with code GAPGIFT

·    J. Crew: 30% off all outerwear and free shipping; in store and online through 12/7

·    MLB.com: 25% off in stock items

·    Old Navy: Online only 25% off today (12/7) and 20% off tmrw (12/7) with code ONHOLIDAY

·    Snapfish: 30% off entire site and free shipping with code FRSH30 through 12/7 (plus get 20% back when you shop via ebates.com)