Candy Canes in October?

Like most of us, I work all week and run errands on the weekend. (You know, I keep promising myself to run those errands early in the morning to avoid the crowds, but that hasn’t happened yet!)

This weekend, I stopped in at a local store to pick up a few items. Because the store was mobbed with Saturday shoppers, I took a short-cut down one of the side aisles. The aisle was marked “Seasonal Items” so I expected to find children’s Halloween costumes and those sad plastic pumpkins. But no! I was stunned by Christmas items! Candy canes in October?!

What is going on here? When I was a kid, the first “official” date for holiday shopping was the day after Thanksgiving. Department stores decked their halls with red and green, lots of holly, and good ol’ Santa Claus made an appearance, too.

Over the years, holiday items have shown up earlier and earlier. But this is October, people! We should just be outside enjoying the foliage, not stocking up on candy canes.

I wonder if the advent (no pun intended, really) of Internet shopping has sped things up for brick-and-mortar retailers. In fact, it doesn’t have to be this way. Shopping on the Internet should make our lives easier, a little more relaxed, and even more organized. I use free online tools to stay on top of my to-do list. I look for bargains online and then try my best to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

Until next time,

Conna