While David and I was out running errands this morning I kept finding things for the #Holidays I wanted to buy. But I kept reminding myself its one Holiday at a time. Then I would remind myself as it got closer to Christmas or what ever holiday I found something for and I wanted it I would buy it then.

Because sometimes you don’t have to buy anything to go Christmas shopping. Sometimes you can just go look! That’s exactly what David and I did, and we had a lot of fun doing it. We started at Walmart, and oh, man, oh, man, oh, man!

They had aisles upon aisles upon aisles of Christmas decorations, Christmas gifts, holiday goodies, and things that made me think, “Oh, I like that!” Then David found them. A blow-up Donald Duck and a blow-up Snoopy.

And he told me I could choose one or the other. Now, that was tempting! But I was good. I didn’t choose either one because right now I need to finish cleaning the house and organizing the decorations we already have before I bring home anything else.

But let me tell you there was also a Snoopy Halloween decoration and I almost caved. But I didn’t and that’s one of the reasons I love window shopping. You can see something you think you want. You can look at it. You can take a picture. You can put it on your wish list. And then you can go home and think about it.

After you’ve had some time to think, you might decide, “You know what? I really don’t need that.” And that’s okay! Maybe the money you would have spent can be used for something else. Maybe you already have something similar at home. Maybe you decide that what you really wanted was simply to see it and enjoy looking at it. You don’t have to buy something just because you saw it.

Our Christmas window-shopping trip didn’t stop at Walmart. We moved on over to Dollar Tree and then went to DD’s. We looked at Christmas decorations. We looked at gifts. We looked at all kinds of things. And do you know what I brought home? Not a Christmas decoration!

I came home with a Halloween decoration of a Ghost with a dog. That little Ghost reminded me of Charlie, and the Dog Bear. I couldn’t resist bringing that one home. But no Christmas decorations. Just #Halloween because it’s right around the corner.

Again I wanted to remind you for me and my family, it’s one holiday at a time. I need to get through Fall then Halloween. Then we’ll enjoy Thanksgiving. Then I’ll be ready to really start bringing Christmas into the house. But window shopping? I’m always ready for that! How about you?

Now it’s your turn. Get out of the house and go Christmas window shopping. You can go to Walmart, Dollar Tree, a department store, a shopping center, a local downtown area, or wherever your family enjoys going.

And remember: You don’t have to buy anything. Your job is simply to look. See what you can find. Look at the decorations. Look at the toys. Look at the clothes. Look at the Christmas displays. Find something that makes you smile. Find something you might put on your Christmas wish list. And maybe find something you thought you wanted but decide you don’t really need. That’s part of the activity, too!

When you get out of the house and complete your Christmas window-shopping adventure: You earn 1 ticket! Then we’re going to add one more activity. Sit down with your child and read together for 10 minutes.

Parents, we’ve been asking you to do this throughout our seasonal guides. And Dads — put down that remote! Give your kids 10 minutes. Pick up a book. Read together. Talk about what you’re reading. Ask questions.

Let your child tell you what they think. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be time together. Complete your 10-minute reading activity = 1 ticket. That means you can earn: 1 ticket for window shopping +1 ticket for reading = 2 Christmas tickets! And remember, you don’t have to do every activity.

If you can only get out window shopping, that’s okay. If you can’t get outside to go window shoppping it’s okay do it online or just read the book today. There is no, right or wrong way to do the challenges as long as you do them. If you are able to do both, you will earn 2 tickets for this Christmas guide.

We’ve been carrying these activities through our Halloween, Fall, and Christmas guides. Each guide gives you the opportunity to earn 2 tickets. Halloween = 2 tickets. Fall Gift Guide = 2 tickets. Christmas = 2 tickets If your family completes all three, that’s: 6 TICKETS!

But you don’t have to complete all three challenges. Maybe your family did Halloween. Or you might not celebrate Halloween so you joined us for Fall and that is okay. Maybe Christmas is when you have more time.

Do what works for your family. The goal isn’t to make this another thing parents have to worry about. The goal is to give families simple reasons to get out, spend time together, read together, and make memories.

While you’re window shopping, use our free printable to keep track of what you find.

You can write down:

• Something you would love to have
• Something you’d like to give someone else
• A decoration you really like
• Something you want to think about before buying
• Something you decided you don’t need
• Something that simply made you smile

And here’s the fun part:

You don’t have to ask Mom or Dad to buy any of it. This is a wish list, not a shopping list to help Santa prepare his sleigh with what you want. Sometimes the best part of Christmas shopping is discovering what is out there and deciding what really matters to you.

And now I’m thinking… Would you like to go to Grapevine with me next week? I know there will probably still be plenty of Halloween around town, but we don’t have to make Halloween the focus. If you don’t celebrate Halloween, that’s perfectly fine.

We can simply go enjoy Grapevine. Maybe we’ll stop at one of the restaurants for a drink. And no, it doesn’t have to be an alcoholic drink! A glass of tea sounds pretty good to me. Maybe we’ll grab a quick snack.

Maybe we’ll go to Espinoza’s, because that’s one of Charlie’s favorite restaurants to eat Mexican food at in Grapevine off Main Street. Maybe we’ll see a movie at the Palace Theatre. Then we can walk up and down the streets, look in the shops, see what they’re bringing in for Christmas, and start making our Christmas wish lists.

Because this year, I’m helping Santa fill his sleigh! And we’re going to keep looking for fun ideas to add to our GreatfulMoments Interactive Christmas Gift Guide. So grab your walking shoes. Bring your wish list. And bring your imagination. We’re going Christmas window shopping! And remember: You don’t have to buy a thing to have a Greatful, Blessed and Thankful Moment

Grateful,Thankful, Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates