Birthday Presents for my Friend's Daughter Rachel

Rachel loves Hannah Montana - so, I got her a Hannah Montana B-day card.

She's going to be 7 years old in a few days. :)

I originally went to the bookstore looking for a Hannah Montana bookmark. I didn't find one - I went to Barnes and Nobles, but maybe they have them at Borders. Not that it matters anymore, because...

...I found something different :)

The Secret Garden. Anne of Green Gables. A Little Princess.

I came across these three books while looking for the bookmark (pictured above).

They are classics, re-written so children can read them (yay!) Their were a lot of different stories to choose from- at least 20 stories - I picked my 3 favorites.

I love these stories. So, because I love them so much - I got 2 sets of them, one set for Rachel and one set for my cousin Jamie (who is 9 years old).

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Barbie: Island Princess.

A Little Princess & The Secret Garden (2 in 1).

Barbie: A Diamond Castle.

I also got these dvds for Rachel. I had called Rachel's Mom (her name is Michelle- like my sister, believe me it can get confusing when we are all together) earlier in the day to ask her which Barbie dvds Rachel still did not own. I new Rachel had a few of them. Michelle said she knew for sure, that she hadn't bought Rachel "The Island Princess" or "A Diamond Castle". I told her okay, and that I was going to get them for her for her birthday if I found them.

I went to Target - Target had "A Diamond Castle" - They did NOT have "The Island Princess". However, there was a coupon on the "A Diamond Castle" dvd case for $5.00 off NOW if you purchased them together.

So, I took the coupon and went to Walmart. They had "A Diamond Castle", and they had a "three pack" with both the Diamond Castle and Island Princess in it, with another dvd that Rachel already owned - not what I was looking for.

I was irritated that they didn't have "The Island Princess".

But while I was looking though the movies -I noticed they had a "2 in 1 dvd", featuring "A Little Princess & The Secret Garden" for only $7.50. I got 2 sets of those - once again, one for Rachel and one for my Cousin. (I have my own copy already at home, I bought it a few months ago. hehehe.) I thought it would be cute to have the dvd to go with the books I got for them eariler. :)

Since they didn't have the Barbie movies at the Walmart I was at - and I didn't want to drive all the way to another store, I got the phone number to another Walmart in the area and called over. - That Walmart said they had "A Diamond Castle" and no "The Island Princess".

About ready to give up, I decided I would try one more place. The K-mart on the way to my house. I went in - guess what they had.

I said guess.

That's right. They had "The Island Princess" and no "A Diamond Castle".

I now know what it's like shopping for children at Christmas.

I gave up on the coupon and bought "The Island Princess" (knowing it was highly unlikely I was going to find "The Island Princess" anywhere else.

I got in my car and continued heading for home - when I spotted Hollywood Videos.

Hollywood Videos sometimes has NEW dvds for sale.

I figured since I've gone to and called so many stores anyway I might as well look in there.

I went in - I find "A Diamond Castle" -WITH the coupon on the front of it for $5 off with the purchase of The Island Princess".

I look through all the movies - thinking, "if they have it here I'll buy it and return the K-mart one".

GUESS WHAT.

They did NOT have "The Island Princess".

I have come to the conclusion that stores do not have both items on the shelves at the same location when advertising the coupon.

(j/k --> maybe.)

P.S. I bought "A Diamond Castle" from Hollywood Videos and paid $2.00 more for it than I would have if I'd bought it at Target (however many stores before) + however much it cost driving around all over town trying to save $5.00

Lesson learned - screw coupons.

But, I'm happy about the gifts - I think the girls will love them! :)