Field Report

Halloween photo shoot gone wrong ...
(This photo doesn't really go with the post--I just wanted to include it.)

I love field reports. I guess it's the journalist in me. I love to call them in. I love to receive them. I love saying "field report."

I suppose it started when I worked at a ministry. The ministry often gave updates--also called field reports--to staff, donors and anyone else who might be interested. These reports kept folks aware and up to date on ministry projects and what was going on in ... the field.

Well, I guess the terminology resonated with me because I started using it a lot. And for various things. For example, some friends of mine and I started using it at a former place of employment when we were trying to find something out around the office. Information could be scarce, so sometimes we would send another out "into the field" to see what she could find out. This could be info on a fellow employee (as in, "Did you know that so-and-so just took another job?") or just general information about the company ("I just heard the news ... no Christmas bonuses this year."). When someone had some news, she would walk up to your desk and announce a "field report."

Nowadays, field reports are usually about shopping trips. I've been known to call my sister from Target with field reports on toys, children's clothes and holiday merchandise. Or I'll phone my SIL from Gymboree to give her live, up-to-date info on current stock. Field reports to both of them from Hanna Andersson have taken place, but my reception in there wasn't the best. I think it is better with our new phone service.

Just the other day, my friend Kristi called with a field report after she shopped a big ol' consignment sale in Knoxville. I loved it! As a matter of fact, she rang me just a little while ago with some very exciting news. She was in the field, and had just scored some Mr. Goodbars! This is big, people! These aren't just any Mr. Goodbars--these are whole bags of *just* Mr. Goodbar candy bars--a very rare sight, but one that occasionally happens around Halloween. I asked her to be on the lookout, and she was. Found them at Kroger! (I'll have to write about Mr. Goodbars in another post. They are definitely worthy of their own entry.)

Anyway, I thought I'd give you all a field report tonight. Here's the latest and greatest from the Atlanta bureau ...

I found these alligator-clip hairbows at Target--in the baby section! Guess what?! They were only $2.99 per card! That means about 50 cents each for the small ones, and around 75 cents each for the bigger ones. Score! These things usually run at least $3 each--that means per bow! (Special note: A friend said she had trouble getting these to stay in her daughter's hair, but they stay in Kate's hair just fine. So if you can somehow test one, you might want to do that to be sure. Or save your receipt. :o))

I know these are a summery treat, but I am loving these lately. I found some on clearance at Walgreens and snatched them up! Oh! Speaking of, I was in there the other day scanning the candy (looking for Mr. Goodbars), and the manager alerted me to the fact that he had *just* marked some of the store's summer toys and such 90 percent off. Those are magic words, people! I think my heart skipped a beat when he said 90 percent off! LOL! I stocked up on several shoe-box toys for Operation Christmas Child. Tanna was waiting in the car, so I couldn't go too crazy.

Tanna told me that now meat labels must include info on the product's origin.


I may not have any Mr. Goodbars (yet), but I have bought some of these! I LOVE the Reese's holiday products (the Easter eggs, Halloween pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.). Does Reese's make a turkey? If not, they should! Anyway, the peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio on these is so much better than the original. Don't get me wrong, I love the original ... I'm just sayin'. These are better.


Saw this Thanksgiving countdown calendar at Pottery Barn Kids and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. It's pricey at $69, but I am hope, hope, hoping it will get marked down. Each numbered thingy is a pocket. You and your family and friends can write down what you are thankful for on little cards and then put the cards in the pockets. I think it would be an excellent tool to teach thankfulness.

And another thing ... very random here ... I do not like to walk by the candle aisle at Target or the candle store at the mall. Tooooooo strong! Ugh. Can't stand all those scents. And I'm not even pregnant. (Smells were, like, a million times more powerful when I was expecting.)

There you have it. Hope you enjoyed this field report. I'm on the story. Got it covered. Live from Atlanta, I am signing off ...

Back to you in the studio ...