Calling for backup

BlogHer and JCPenney offered me a $300 gift card to buy holiday gifts at JCPenney. All I had to do was blog about it.

Um, OKAY!

I was super excited to do this. Shopping? I like shopping. Free? Oh, I like free. So on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I slipped on a dress (gotta look cute for the blog pics), grabbed the boyfriend/photographer and set off to frolic through the aisles to the tune of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.”

And then we got there.

Before this day, I hadn’t stepped into a JCPenney since I was like 7. I’ve never been a crazy fan of department stores in general — they’re just so … big. And I guess I’m what you might call a creative gift-giver. If you are my friend, I wouldn’t dare give you an Elizabeth Arden gift set unless perhaps we shared an inside joke about Elizabeth Arden gift sets. I like quirky little shops that carry quirky little gifts like Post-Its stamped with a picture of a rocking chair and the words “You Rock.” I’m not by any definition a power shopper. I stroll, I browse, I ponder.

When it comes to holiday shopping, clearly I’m an amateur.

The JCPenney near my home has three stories and a whole lot of stuff. Much of that stuff is more practical than inspiring. So I strolled, I browsed, I pondered. For an hour and a half, nothing really sang to me, except for these adorable sweater boots, which I snagged for myself. (Hey, this is how I holiday shop.) I was getting whiny and frustrated and thirsty. Matt was sitting on a chair in the shoe department playing Brick Breaker on his BlackBerry. Things were not looking good.

Help.

I needed a new plan. So I did what any self-respecting 27 year old would do. I called my mother.

“Hi … Mom? I’m here at JCPenney with a $300 gift card. I need help buying holiday gifts.”

“I’ll be there in 8 minutes.”

She was right on time and Matt couldn’t have been more eager to hand me over and flee. I looked at my mother in defeat.

“Well,” she said, handing me a bottle of water. “Let’s make a list.”

From then on, we zipped through each department like we were part of Amazing Race. Toys for the little cousins? Done. Secret Santa gifts? Done. We hit up the home section, breezed through electronics, made a quick stop in lingerie. With Mom steering the way, this seemed easy — and fun.

A list, huh? Why didn’t I think of that?

While you won’t find the most creative gifts at JCPenney, you will find some really great ones. There’s stuff people need, yes. We got a supremely plush bathroom mat and some super soft towels for my sister, who’ll be moving into the new condo next month. But there’s also stuff that people want. We scored my dad a Homedics Soundspa Sound Machine, which he’s been pining over ever since he saw a similar one at Brookstone.

The best thing about JCPenney, though, is the prices. It seemed like just about everything was marked down. Plus, I had printed out online coupons to receive discounts on the discounts. During these days of economic suckage, the savings were more than welcomed. Though one gripe is that it seems there’s a much wider selection online than in the store. Now that I’m browsing the site to write this post, I’m seeing all sorts of stuff I would’ve clawed at: this Charging Bulletin Board (want!), this Intone Jogger (um, majorly want! don’t know why!) and this Set of Three Tinsel Trees (I love these things). If only I knew.

But I’m satisfied with my gifts and I think the recipients will be too. What’s even better? I’m now closer to being done. Perhaps this year, I can quit strolling, browsing and pondering before December hits and get an early start on those New Years resolutions! (Fat chance.)

JCPenney is a great holiday shopping choice for those who want to check off everyone on your list under one roof — and have some cash left over to buy yourself a gingerbread latte.

Just make sure you have a plan. A Type A mother wouldn’t hurt either.

Me and the Holiday Shopping Queen with our loot:

The breakdown:

1) JCPenney Pillow, $14.99. For family.

2) Wrapping paper

3) Roshko 4 Piece Roasting Set, $19.99 plus $10 rebate. For grandma.

4) Fast Track Pinball, $17.99. For cousin #1.

5) Air Powered Face-off Hockey, $17.99. For cousin #2.

6) American Living Hamilton Cotton Rug, $12.99. For sister.

7) American Living Hamilton Towels, $5.99 and $9.99. For sister.

8) Linden Street Picture Frame, $12. For friend or secret santa.

9) Linden Street 300TC Sheet Set, $39.99. For family.

10) Cooks 36 Piece Flatware Set With Tray, $50. For family.

11) Cooks 4 Piece Corkscrew Set, $9.99. For secret santa.

12) Homedics Soundspa Sound Machine, $19.99. For dad.

13) Fox Sports Fitness Core Stability Ball with High-Volume Air Pump, $29.99. For family.

14) Arizona Durango Sweater Boots, $29.99. For me!

With my online coupons, the total came out to be $298.36. Not too shabby.

Get this: BlogHer and JCPenney are giving away a $300 gift card each week for the next five weeks. Enter the contest here.