Someone informed me today that the Saturday before Easter is busier than shopping just before Christmas. It makes sense to me when I think about it. We spend MONTHS preparing for Christmas whereas Easter doesn't get as much marketing and planning attention.
Then, dammit, before you know it; it's Easter weekend and your days are suddenly filled with organizing family dinners, eating ham, turkey and so on. And....if you're anything like me.....you thought you were on the ball and got about 60% of your Easter bunny shopping done during the week, but alas Saturday comes much too quickly and you realize there are important things to buy! Aghhhhh!
I decided (of all places) to go to WAL-MART this morning. I figured it was a one stop shop so I would be good to go. And for those who know me will not be surprised it was not my only stop -- the sales of Canadian Tire lured me in ... My willpower couldn't muster up any fight against my yearning to wander aimlessly around the gardening department on such a beautiful sunshiney day.
As I sat in traffic, this is what I thought of.
How to survive shopping on the Saturday before Easter
1) Leave the children at home (this is absolutely the most important - if you do nothing else, do this)
2) Try really really hard to pay attention to the road. Don't follow too closely, and stop at red lights. No texting and driving please. (This becomes self-explanatory in rule #3)
3) Pull to the RIGHT of the road when the fire truck, ambulance and police are trying to get through to the idiot who rear-ended someone (outside the liquor store no less!) Emergency vehicles take precedent, I don't care how important you think your Easter shopping is.
3) Bring your favourite CD's (or if you're not a total loser like me you might have Sirius radio or some fancy Apple device) with you. Traffic may keep you in the car for quite some time. You might as well create some ambience. Enya anyone? Or, you can act like you're a reckless coolio teenager and blast Estelle & Kanye, Jay-Z & Beyonce. Oh yeah, I got checked out, I swear. hahahaha. Till they saw the 3 carseats in the back that is.
4) Don't expect miracles. Really, did you THINK that all the GOOD Easter stuff would still be there on the Saturday before Easter? Sorry about your luck folks, you're gettin' the no name chocolate today. Lindt is gonna be sold out!!!!
5) Smile at people. Even when they almost ram their cart over your new and hot little silver flats, keep smiling. It's infectious and people will really wonder what you're up to.
6) Be patient. Be nice to the Wal-mart cashier who hates her life more than you do in that very moment.
7) When people are trying to get out of the parking lot where you've been waiting for 15 minutes, let someone in. It's been 15 minutes for goodness sakes, is 15 minutes and 10 seconds reallllly going to make a difference? If you're nice to someone, it will get passed on. Remember: karma can be kind, or it can be a real bitch if you are.
8) I was going for top 10, but I'm stopping at 8.
For all your hard work, be sure to buy yourself something. NO, toilet bowl cleaner does NOT count. Remember, Wal-mart has a Wine Store strategically located at the exit for your shopping pleasure. We all deserve a reward for our hard work. Don't forget to treat yourself too.
(I got myself a new Kitchen Aid cast iron dutch oven, 70% off to boot!!)
Recent Comments