Have you seen the oh-so cute, fluffy-looking light-up pink Christmas flamingo that Target is selling in its seasonal section?
You know; the one that all the kids are drooling over, including my 8-year-old.
You know; the one that is not on sale.
Yeah. That one.
What parent can rationalize paying nearly 50 bucks for a knee-high bird wearing a Santa hat? Sure, he lights up, but so does the inflatable snowman at the Dollar Store… if I place a string of LEDs on him.
Newsflash: I did not win the Powerball jackpot.
In other news: My kid doesn’t care. She just wants to erect the overpriced, pink, skinny-legged bird on the part of our lawn that faces her bedroom window so she can fall asleep soaking in his cuteness.
I’m having flashbacks to the blue Christmas tree.
The first week in December is not the time to be purchasing illuminated holiday-themed items. If you are a savvy shopper you will stock up on the festive eye-popping objects on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or the day after Christmas when their prices are slashed up to 75 percent.
Ditto for holiday inflatables. My daughter wanted the one featuring Snoopy dressed as Santa sitting on his red dog house, but one glance at the price and I about flipped like Charlie Brown post-Lucy yanking away the football. And that’s not counting the cash I’d have to fork over to keep Snoopy powered up from now until the Feast of the Epiphany.
During our trip to Target, I also learned that dripping icicle lights are all the rage this season. But, they don’t come cheap either. In fact, I couldn’t even find traditional icicle lights for less than $10. If you don’t live near a major metropolitan area that offers a slew of different retailers, you’re better off shopping for holiday lights online.
While trying to find the light-up flamingo for less, I discovered that ChristmasCentral.com offers discounted lights, as does ChristmasLightsEtc.com. Overstock.com is another option if you are cash-strapped but still want to add a bit of illuminated merriment to your lawn.
Just remember to read the fine print regarding shipping costs and return policies. Some of the sites I visited required footing the shipping bill on returned Christmas lights.
How often do you add to your collection of light-up holiday lawn ornaments?