One of My Favorite Places to Shop ...

I'm taking a little time out from decorating and want to talk about one of my favorite places to shop year-round, but especially at Christmas ... and that's Barnes & Noble.

You can save a good bit if you become a member, and they periodically offer additional savings through coupons which you can use online or in their stores.

One of my favorite services (especially during the holidays) is their "Store Pick Up" service. You can place an order on their web site and they will assemble your items at the store nearest you and hold them for three business days. It just doesn't get any easier than that!

I love books and love to read to our granddaughter Avery. Here are some books I picked up today that I had pre-ordered for her, along with a few more I found while I was there ...

I also found these two workbooks for her ...

And this beautiful calendar for me ...

Another thing I like about Barnes & Noble is their reading areas where you can sit and browse through as many books as you want for as long as you want, without being disturbed or being obligated to buy the books.

We have a new store about an hour away from me that opened a few months ago, and any time I go to Jackson to shop, I save the best for last and stop at Barnes & Noble. It's a nice way to unwind before starting the trip back home.