As a thank you and keeping the tradition, I am posting my experience.

Study Schedule.
I started studying for the exam 3-4 days a week for about 2 hours or so in September. I work full-time and have 2 small kids and a husband with very demanding profession so finding time at a stretch was my biggest constraint.
I took my date in Sept too so that I have goal and deadline to keep the pressure on me. I bumped up the pace around a week before thanksgiving because I knew I wont be able to study much during the week of thanksgiving. After Dec 1st, I had been studying 4-5 hours every day. I took my exam yesterday Dec 16th.

Material Used:
I started with PMBOK but it made no sense in the beginning. I stopped and started with Rita's. After each chapter, I would do the practice questions and also make notes and write down difficult concepts.
after reading the entire book once, I then read it again. This time I felt much more comfortable with the material and concepts. After 2nd read, I started doing practice questions (not the entire timed tests but questions available by knowledge area online) and along side I picked up PMBOK. This time understanding it came very naturally. I paid special attention to concepts not emphasized enough in Rita's or questions I missed in practice tests.
Doing questions helped me learn about my weak areas or concepts I missed and I revised them again.
Last week, I gave a final revision to all knowledge areas. ITTOs, notes I had made and took 4 paid practice tests by PMStudy. I averaged around 75% on these tests.

Techniques:
I had taken pictures of all process groups with their inputs, outputs and T&Ts. Any moment free, I would review the pictures on my phone. Revising the material multiple times helped me a lot. It all started to come together in a way I could understand it and remember it.
I had memorized all the process groups in each knowledge area in sequence. I had NOT memorized the ITTOs but did enough revisions to have a good understanding. I had memorized the formula's as well.
There is lot of material out there and I felt overwhelmed at one point worrying how I will cover it all and so I decided to just stick to PMBOK and 1 more book and try to gain expertise in that instead of being all over the place.
Also, making your own notes by writing them down registers it much better in your memory as opposed to just reading some one else's notes for me.

Materials Used:
Rita's 8th Edition, PMBOK, PMP exam resource iphone App and lots of pictures taken from study material on my iphone.

Exams: Take as many as you can.
Oliver Lehmann;s free tests
Scordo
Exam Central
PMStudy free test and 4 test paid package for 60$.
PMStudy exams are very good practice and are closest to the real exam.

Actual Exam:
I was very anxious and nervous before the exam. I reached there 30 minutes before and they said I can get started early. They check you for any cheating aids and stuff and no breaks are allowed as in the clock doesn't stop so drink water and use a bathroom break before u go in.
I put down the formulas I knew and the process groups in each knowledge area on the scrap paper. It helped in making sense of which phase the question is talking about when I took the exam. I used the 15 minutes of tutorial time for this activity.
Exam was very similar to PMStudy questions. I finished about 20 minutes early and then reviewed the questions I had 'Marked'. Once submitted, I said a silent prayer and I had passed :)

Exam Questions:
I had lot of CPI and SPI questions, Fast Track and Crashing questions, Group phase of Forming-Norming--Adjourning questions, Communication Channel, PERT estimate questions, Type of contract questions. About 15 or so formula based questions and rest were Situational. Most formula based questions were not very difficult.
Yes situational answers were very confusing and multiple revisions and sample tests helped me in thinking like they want u to think as a PMP. READ THE QUESTIONS CALMLY AND CAREFULLY. They test on how focused you are. I realized in practice tests that at times I am quick to read and assume the question and pick an answer based on my assumption as opposed to what they are asking. Process instead of project can make the difference.

Final Words:
If I can do it, anyone of you can do it. It needs at least 2 months of preparation, start slowly and understand the material first and then bump up to revisions, memorizing a few key concepts and practice tests.
If you think I can help in anyway with your prep or answer any question, let me know and I will be more than happy to.
All the best.