The Kleiber Family Timeline

Category: Shopping

Shopping trips

  • Valentines Day 2017

    I think everyone will remember the election of 2016 as it was something I don’t think anyone expected. Unfortunately there were some sore losers after the election and when one of the major department stores decided no longer to carry Ivanka Trump clothing line, Mom and Dad just had to do something to protest in our own little way so our Valentines day consisted of going to Lord and Taylor and buying some Ivanka Trump clothing (for Mom). Afterwards we found out the clothing line had its best month in sales ever so we obviously weren’t the only ones who did not think what that other department store did was right.

    Later when James got out of school we all went out for a nice dinner. Mom and Dad commented how this had been probably the most “different” Valentines day since we went to see the Pistons about ten years ago at the Palace on Valentines day. That day it snowed so I guess we were lucky this year.

    (more…)

  • After Halloween Sale 2016

    I think that Halloween shops are getting wise to the fact that most of the Halloween are after Halloween and for half price. Lots of places did not have anything worth while left and we had to work extra hard to find what we did. We kind of saw this coming as items that were available in Sept were not reordered in stores. Fortunately we think we did ok, highlights were 80% off at Michaels on Halloween wreaths and two animated items that were store demo’s that we bought as is, but were allowed to try before bringing home. The demo’s were 65-75% off which made them worthwhile.

    Our main goal is to get items that are used every year but not reusable, such as invitations, scene setters, napkins, plates etc. This year we did not find any scene setters but we did get a box of Spirit Halloween backgrounds for a $15 donation to charity. It is rolled up in the big brown box visable on the back left of these pics. In our opinion, the day after Halloween sales and garage sales are by far the best bet for Halloween.

    (more…)

  • Haunted Garage Sale 2016

    This was a very busy day for the entire family as we left early for the annual Haunted Garage sale which took place at a new location in Westland on Cherry Hill near Newburgh. We don’t know if it was the new location or what but the place was packed and seemed to have many more dealers. We bought several signs for .50 cents and a buck and also picked up several items for Jame’s pirate room. We had to hurry through because we had to catch the Michigan game which started at noon. Luckily our neighbor gave us excellent directions on where to park and we made it to the pregame activities in plenty of time. On the way home from the Michigan game we stopped back at the garage sale just before they were closing and picked up a couple other items that the vendors figured was better to sell cheap than not at all. A very bush but wonderful day and a fun time was had by all.

    (more…)

  • Town Peddler Flea Market 2016

    This event has a special place in our hearts because we remember selling here for a couple years. This is why we bought our tables that we use at the Halloween Party and garage sales and also where the “pop up” shelter came from (to keep us out of the sun’s path on these hot June days. However this day we were buyers and shopped around. Everyone came away with something, Mary got two pictures to hang up, James got two hats and a few small items, and Dad got 4 Halloween lightups and 1 big Easter bunny blowmold. Our total cost was only about $12 or $13 dollars so we were very happy with the haul. The sun was so bright this day we could not tell how good or bad the pictures were that we took so please excuse the several that have a finger or thumb in them.

    (more…)

  • Historical Dearborn Garage Sale 2016

    Each year on the first Saturday in June Dearborn has its historical district garage sale. The main area is Edison street and surrounding blocks. These blocks are located between Beech, Nowlin, Military, and Monroe so for those familiar with our area drive down Monroe past Outer Drive toward Michigan Ave and turn left on Gregory or Edison which are a few blocks past Outer Drive (although you probably won’t be able to park on either street).

    James and I went last year as well, Mom was working our own garage sale that weekend so this year was the first year we went together as a family and while we did not buy much, we saw some interesting sights and had a great time. Plus all the walking had to be good for us.

    (more…)

  • Canterbury Village Memorial Day Weekend 2016

    This week the roads were kind to us. After last weeks construction everywhere we hit very little traffic all day this beautiful Memorial day Saturday. Our first stop was Canterbury Village in Orion Michigan, just a stones throw (about 3 miles) from the Palace. We stopped in at the cider mill, the gift shops, the Christmas shops, and the Department 56 store (which had some pretty good sales going on). The Merry go round store was open as well and its always interesting visiting a store with a huge merry go round in the center of it. We did make a few purchases at the Dept 56 store as they had two bins of items half off. A great start for the Memorial Day weekend.

    (more…)

  • Great Lakes Crossing on Memorial Day Weekend 2016

    Our next stop was three miles down the road to Michigan’s larges outlet shop, Great Lakes Crossing. Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is the market’s dominant retail outlet and entertainment destination, attracting customers throughout the Midwest and Canada. With 185 manufacturer’s outlets and traditional retail stores, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan’s only enclosed value-regional mall. With all that going for it I don’t think I have ever bought anything here, however James bought a hat and Mom bought some things at Victoria Secrets so it was a worthwhile trip.

    The place is truly gigantic (we walked from the aquarium entrance to the Saks fifth avenue entrance and back again) and despite it’s huge size, it was still packed with people.

    The new thing this year is the Aquarium which we will have to visit soon. The picture out front with the giraffe (James is beneath the giraffe to give you a perspective of the size) is actually made completely of Lego’s.

    (more…)

  • Frankenmuth Spring 2016

    What started out as a simple trip to the post office ended being a great time in Frankenmuth. After dropping of some packages at the Post Office James wanted to know where 1 mile is. He thought it was Ford road so we set the trip odometer to zero at Ford road and found out Ford road is actually zero mile road and Warren is 1 mile road. We kept clocking the mile roads till we got to Pontiac, then decided to head to Frankenmuth since we were already half way there. 75 North was closed so we picked up 75 in Waterford and had a great time. James bought several books at a book sale at the River Place Shops, Dad got a haunted train engine at Bronners, and Mom got to do some antique shopping. Afterward we at lunch at the Bavarian Inn (where James actually bought lunch for a horse). On the way home traffic on 75 in Pontiac again slowed us down but it hardly put a damper on a great day with great weather in a great little tourist town.

    (more…)

  • Bronners Spring 2016

    Our first stop usually when entering Frankenmuth is Bronners Christmas store. Bronner’s promotes itself as the “World’s Largest Christmas Store”. Designed with an Alpine architecture and operating year-round, the building is 7.35 acres in size with landscaped grounds covering 27 acres. Here is a little trivai – The electric bill alone is $1,250 per day – John Wayne ordered his Santa Suit from Bronners in 1976 – Over 100,000 ornaments are hand painted at Bronners each year.

    While primarily known for Christmas, they do have a large selection of the other holidays available year round which makes it a great place to stop for people who enjoy any of the holidays.

    (more…)

  • Abbotts Flea Market 2016

    Mary and James worked a table at the 2016 Magic Flea Market which is now known as the Hank Moorehouse Flea Market and Auction in honor of the man who started it almost 40 years ago. James loves this event because he enjoys both selling and buying. The event was very well attended and had many magicians show up either selling or buying magic. In the past we have found some very good values here and sometimes Halloween stuff. After the event we traveled to the Three Amigo’s restaurant in Jackson and feasted on a late Cinco De Mayo meal that tasted that much better because we were all tired from the long day. Once we got home, Mary found a package containing a shirt she won on Ebay so it was a fitting conclusion to a very fun day.

    (more…)