Words:

1. In fact, the only thing that tipped me off that Christmas was coming was when Rodrick put his wish list up on the refrigerator.

tip somebody off: to give someone such as the police a secret warning or piece of information, especially about illegal activities.

tip somebody off that~~

tip somebody off about~~

The police must have been tipped off.

My sentence:

Before they go into the factory to carry away machines, they have tipped off the police.

2. So I guess he'll just have to learn the hard way.

do something the hard way: to learn, achieve, or do something after a bad experience or by making mistakes.

He learned the hard way about the harsh reality of the boxing world.

My sentence:

Although you may learn the hard way, you will be grateful for your experiments. 

3. I just thought it would be a really awesome fort for my toy soldiers.

fort: a strong building or group of buildings used by soldiers or an army for defending an important place.

My sentence:

Some foreigners regard The Great Wall as the fort of ancient Chinese dynasties.

4. Dad told me to start my wish list over and pick some toys that were more "appropriate " for boys.

start over: (AmE)

to start doing something again from the beginning, especially because you want to do it better.

If you make a mistake, just erase it and start over.

My sentence:

Setve Jobs would ask his workmates to start over the design again and again till he is satisfied.

5. That's how I ended up in the emergency room two weeks later with a pink Barbie shoe stuck up my nose.

stick up: if a part of something sticks up, it is raised up or points upwards above a surface.

stick up from/ out of/ through etc~~

Part of the boat was sticking up out of the water.

My sentence:

The police found the girl eventually because they saw the her sticking out of the water.

Expressions:

One:

Tonight Manny was going through the Christmas catalog, picking out all the stuff he wants with a big red marker.

pick out... with a big red marker. 将自己认为需要注意的地方用红笔圈出来。 circle

My sentence:

Several years before, teachers need to pick out the mistakes of students' homework with a big red marker. But now, some teachers have asked students to finish work in internet so that they can check it in internet, too.

Two:

But Manny made out like a bandit.

make out like a bandit: (AmE) (informal) to get or win a lot of money

People making out like a bandit overnight may be too surprised to spend them correctly.

Composition:

Sometimes, I had better wait another day to make a decision. But if I have done it, I should not regret for it.

This afternoon, I got my salary of May and then I found that Eric launched a notice for the admission to July reading circle. And I can buy it monthly or two-month or three-month. In order to save my energy to buy it next month, I bought a three-month reading plan. About an hour later, Eric sent a link into which I can get coupon codes by clicking. I admitted that I was regretful and told myself that I should have waited for a discount. 

But only after 5 minutes, I laughed at myself. I paid for the reading thanks to my own interest. I will buy the three-month reading plan even if Eric does not provide the discounts. So if I have waited for the discount, I am finding an excuse to postpone my reading plan. I just did it according to my precious plan. The key point is that I will keep on reading and taking notes for another three months.

Once making a decision, I should not regret for it but to do better for myself.