Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Tuesday Morning Store in Tyler Offers Excellent Christmas Gift Selection

December 2nd, 2010

Tuesday Morning Stores TexasFor those like me that may have never heard of Tuesday Morning before it isn’t a big surprise. This store seems to open up when they want to and probably just during those certain shopping days that bring in lots of traffic. So they aren’t like Marshall’s where they are open every day.

I guess Tuesday Morning has a low overhead policy but it must work as I have seen their sign over by Cotton Patch Cafe for several years.

This store always looked closed and abandoned but one Sunday morning we were nearby and I yanked at the door and to my surprise the door opened and there were tons of Christmas gift ideas almost everywhere I looked.

I also found some pretty ridiculous white elephant type gifts to get as well. This store is like a cheaper Marshall’s but with more selection and variety. They aren’t necessarily like Marshall’s in the sense of having lots of clothes but they are like them in their never ending supply of odds and ends.

For instance, last year I was able to purchase from Marshall’s an alarm that would sound if a dog jumped and laid down on a couch or chair in your house. I saw this as both funny and useful for certain people in my family.

Tuesday Morning store has all kinds of weird stuff like this and good stuff too. They have toys, rugs, clothes, sheets, towels, furniture type items, Christmas decorations like big Santa statues and many things you would never buy but they are fun to look at.

I bought a few fun to look at items that will be white elephant gifts this year. So if you are reading this maybe you haven’t come up with any Christmas 2010 gift ideas and maybe your a procrastinator.

Tuesday Morning can come to your rescue and relieve your stress because they have everything for mom, dad, kid, toddler, sister, brother, emo brother, brother in jail, grandmother, granddad, and wife, and husband, I guess cousin too.

Santa Land

November 18th, 2010

As the Holidays are just around the corner one of the biggest attraction off of I-20 will open its gates November 1st. Santa Land is a drive thru display of Christmas lights. As you enter the magical land you are asked to turn your radio to their channel and listen to the music matching the light display.

Every time you drive thru Santa Land you discover something else. Santa Land has all different displays; your kids will love the tunnels of colorful lights, mermaids, elves, reindeer, and Santa’s workshop.

Santa Land has become a huge tradition for many families in East Texas. There is nothing like seeing a little kid’s face light up with excitement when they see the flashing, colorful lights. Many families will drive a truck out there, and after they park their other cars, their family will pile in the back of the truck with blankets and hot chocolate.

After you drive thru the first few light displays you will enter the displays of Precious Moments angels. Each “angel” is a remembrance of a child that had passed away. Santa Land has all different displays of the story of Jesus Christ from His birth, to His death on the cross, to Him raising from the dead.

You pay half way thru the display and pay either according to amount of people, or size of van or family car. After you have gone thru the light displays you can stop by the shop to find all different Christmas decorations and hot drinks. Santa Land is a great way to spend time with your family and celebrate Christmas together.

Atwoods Ranch and Home in Tyler Texas

February 17th, 2010

Atwoods Ranch and Home

303 N NW Loop 323
Tyler Texas
903-526-6030
Mon-Sat 7am until 8pm
Sun 9am – 6pm

Atwoods is a large store selling farm equipment and animal feed for the cowboys and wannabe cowboys amongst us. You may have seen their ads on TV ‘Come into Atwoods, its just like comin’ home’ However, I think that they would be better off spending some money on updating their store rather than spending it on advertising! It is very old fashioned and not at all family friendly (horrible restrooms, and no baby change) and not very well laid out. It would be a so much nicer experience if there was a café or some place to buy a drink or snack for the kids too. But if you’re a regular customer that might not be a problem to you. It seems that Atwoods does have a following.

Atwoods has some clothing – Wranglers, boots, overalls etc. power tools and garden equipment and chemicals and lots and lots of animal feed. They sell stuff for your truck, fencing for your animals and blocks for your patio. There are even a few ride on toys for kids and of course hunting equipment. They also have seasonal items like Christmas decorations, patio furniture and grills, plants and seeds and live poultry for sale.

The prices are not particularly great at Atwoods but if you catch one of the weekly specials – found in a circular newspaper delivered to most homes in and around Tyler – then you will be able to stock up on food for your cattle, dog or birds, or perhaps fertilizer for your lawn, at low cost.

Atwoods to me is a bit of a rural Texas experience. I understand that there are another 30 stores around here and that they have been in business for 50 years. I guess things haven’t changed much!

Trail Creek Farms

January 19th, 2010

Trail Creek Farm
18127 CR 4108
Lindale TX 75571
903 882 5746

www.trailcreekfarmfun.com

For 3 years now, a visit to Trail Creek Farm has been part of our Christmas tradition. Yes, you guessed it, Trail Creek is a Christmas tree farm!

When you arrive you jump on a hay ride to the tree field. You sit on hay bales on the wagons which are named after Santa’s reindeer. Some of them are covered in case it is cold or snowy (well you never know!) It’s fun. The helpers are good tractor drivers – I went the week my baby was due but the bumping still didn’t make me go into labor.

When you get to the field they arm you with a saw and it’s up to you to find the best tree. They are labeled in size and by price and are all shaped beautifully. It’s hard to agree on the best tree as there are 10 000 to chose from. They have Leyland Cypress and Virginia Pine trees. Everyone in our family seems to have an opinion so it takes us ages to pick the best one.

After cutting your special tree down, you load it onto the wagon and go back to the farm where they put it on a shaking platform to shake all the loose needles out of it. It is netted for you and they will even help you put it on the roof of your car for transport home.
Then it is time to relax. In the barn there is hot apple cider for all the family and popcorn – all complimentary and part of the experience. There are candles and Christmas decorations for sale, plus that all important magic stuff to keep your tree fresh in water. The kids can play in the maze, visit the animals at the farm, plus follow a short nature trail in the woods.

A visit to Trail Creek is a whole afternoon experience – your family will love it.

Prices vary, depending on how ‘full’ the trees are – from $3 to $7 per foot. They stay fresh for ages, we have ours up for about 6 weeks.

NOTE: if you visit the website you can print a coupon which will give you10% off the price of your tree. Returning customers are rewarded with the same discount – each year they send us a postcard with their opening dates and times and a10% coupon on it.

The Dollar Tree

January 13th, 2010

You know when you’re looking for something but you have no idea where to get it and then you are somewhere where you least expect to find it and poof there it is? For me that is what happens all the time at the The Dollar Tree on HWY 64 just west of loop 323 in Tyler, TX. Every time I go in there I’m hit with “Wow thats here too! Such a deal.” So many Christmas decorations, if you didn’t get yours there this year then man you missed out. Just the items being a dollar makes it so much more fun!

There is a wedding section with little trinkets, invitations, gift idea’s and bags… I know they’re cheap but come on, the point is to remember your getting married not what they get because you’re getting married. If you are looking for fake cockroaches for a practical joke Walmart does NOT have them and yes, The Dollar Tree does.

If you are cheap about the food you eat guess what! The Dollar Tree has food. Candy, canned food, bagged food and all kinds of drinks. Check out the kitchen section! So much stuff, and for only a dollar. Even while on the way out there is the option to give to the community and buy a bag that will be given to a boy or girl that may need a gift/toy, how awesome is that kind of opportunity huh?

The store closes at 9:00pm so you’ve got time to go! If you’re debating on throwing a party but don’t want to front the funds to make it look totally awesome go The Dollar Tree, it has everything. Cleaning supplies? Once again, The Dollar Tree has it. If you have never ventured into a dollar store in Tyler, TX then put it on your to-do list, at least your bucket list, because it is quite the novelty.