Dashing Through the Stores: Moms Talk

and may be over, but there are still 25 shopping days until Christmas.

Freaking out yet?

Some get their holiday shopping done early. Others have barely started. This year, a major car repair knocked out my plans to get most of my shopping done early. Other families are dealing with more serious financial stresses.

Today, let's talk gifts and shopping. Have you been to the stores after Thanksgiving, or have you let your fingers do the walking across the keyboard and shopped online?

Share your tips for shopping, cyber-shopping, and finding the right gift for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list.

Who is the hardest person to shop for on your gift list?

Remember the old Sears Wish List catalog of olden days? What were the toys that always captured your fancy?

What are the toys your kids are asking for this year?

Realizing that, for whatever reason, your child is just not going to get what they told Santa they want most, is a tricky part of Christmas. Maybe what they asked for is outrageously expensive, or age-inappropriate, or something that goes against your values. Either way, there could be a letdown coming. How do you help your child -- and yourself -- through this?

Talk amongst yourself in the comments.

Joining us, as always, is a Moms Council that is a true gift.

 is a freelance reporter with Patch. Julie a longtime reporter and communications professional, is a first-time mom of a son born in 2010.

 works in public relations. She and husband Timothy have a daughter, Amara. Monina is also a member of the Disney Moms Panel, one of 15 moms selected nationwide, advising people online about planning Disney vacations.

 is a mom of three children ages 5 and under with her husband, Bill. They are expecting their fourth child this winter. She also works part-time.

 is a native of New Jersey. She is a marketing professional who has worked in advertising, market research, vending and equipment companies. She and her husband live in Avon with their two children.

 is a mom to a Girl Scout and lives in Avon.

 is the newest member of the  and past president of Avon Early Childhood PTA. She will also be blogging for Avon Patch. If you're a parent and want to share your experiences raising children in Avon, you, too, can .