Gift Catalogs - We're Open 24 Hours!

It is finally summertime! Time for fun in the sun with the kids and relaxation. Well maybe not so much relaxation. Finding things to entertain the kids, taking care of everyday issues, and the birthday parties. How were all of my children's friends born during the same month? Not sure how to fit a visit to the mall in between the dentist appointment and bank trip. Especially with the plumber showing up at 1! Thank goodness I just got my new online gift catalogs in the mail.

While online shopping is not new, it should not be taken for granted. A trip to local children's store requires gathering up all the kids into the minivan (and possibly a few stowaway neighbor kids as well), lurching through traffic across town and then the tugs on the sundress from the children begging for toys. Who needs it! Shopping with catalogs online is the perfect solution. I can send the kids outside with popsicles and kick back (still in my PJs), turn on the computer and shop until I find exactly the right item. It's a fun and satisfying experience and best of all the gifts can be shipped to me or I can have them sent directly the recipient avoiding long lines at the post office.

How many times have you planned a special trip to the perfect store looking for just the right gift only to find they are out of the only thing they asked for? How about showing up 2 minutes after closing when the party is the next day? Frustrating. Shopping online eases those headaches. Online gift catalogs don't have to worry about providing a nice in person store experience, instead you can breeze through their convenient websites and a place your order and assuredly they will have it in stock in their large warehouses. No more disappointment.

Don't forget about the variety you can find online. How many times have you found the perfect gift only to discover that the store doesn't carry the right size or color? Last year, I was shopping for my six-year-old niece and found the cutest raincoat, boots and umbrella set. The problem was, they didn't have purple - the only color my niece will wear right now. Sure, I could have bought her the yellow set and it would have gone over ok, but I wanted the present to be special. So what did I do? So, I went online and not only found the raincoat in the right color; I had my choice between different shades. I think it could go unsaid that Auntie Vickie's present went over gangbusters. Think about the time and frustration I could have saved if I had just started online.

If your summer is as busy as mine, anything you can do to take off the pressure is a good idea. Just think about how much more you are going to enjoy cookouts, little league baseball games, and afternoon poolside lounging knowing that you took care of all of your gift shopping using catalogs online.