For the past 10 years, I've been braving the Black Friday sales. I've waited in line and actually run alongside other wives in a race to grab Craftsman drills at 60% off for the men folk. I've braved lines at 5 a.m., to get a $4 tote of play-doh for my daughter and you bet your a**, I'll be in line at 5a.m. this year to grab one of those $3 coffee makers at Target. Hey, we've got a 4 cup now and believe me it's just not cuttin' it! Okay, it's true...I've pretty much mastered the art of Black Friday shopping. After this long, I've got it in the bag. And, because you are all so sweet, I thought I'd pass along some of my tips. Here goes...
1) Obtain All Wish Lists: Family Wish Lists are in my possession on/before Thanksgiving Day. The rule is if your list isn't to me by Thanksgiving day, you may just get a tacky, blinking holiday sweater :) Seriously, having the list helps me plan out my shopping adventure.
2) Use Your Resources: Scour the Internet for online sales, coupons and ads.
Visit
Black Friday Ads to browse online and in-store ads. Don't forget to look through your Thanksgiving eve newspaper. Don't just pull out the ads, actually look through the paper. Sometimes you'll be lucky enough to find some extra coupons to cut out.
3) Compare Prices: Now that you've got an idea of what you'll be shopping for and the upcoming sales, it's time to compare prices. Grab a notepad and jot down your comparison notes. Obviously, you're looking for the best deal. Make sure your trip is worthwhile. Look for early bird specials and door-buster deals. If you hit the door-buster sales sometimes you can find a worker handing out extra coupons upon entry.
4) Map It Out: Map out your shopping extravaganza. Pay special attention to door-buster sales, early bird specials and coupons. Often times, the FANTASTIC deals are had between 5 a.m. and noon.
5) The Big Day: Wake up early, as you're likely going to want to be in line around 4 or 5 a.m. Whenever possible, leave hubby at home with the kids. Mrs. Claus will never finish up the holiday shopping while toting tired, hungry, bored children along. Trust me on this one!!!
6) Dress For The Occasion: I can't emphasize enough how important sneakers are at this point. Yes, heels are often worn when without children but this is not the time for such antics. You must be able to out run the other woman waiting in line to buy play-doh and cabbage patch kids {remember that craze?} Dress in layers. It's likely to be chilly at 4a.m., however, it will warm up after you throw a few elbows. Being that it will be 4 a.m., I'm likely to have my hair in a ponytail and minimal, if any make-up. Although, if I'm feeling up to it I may go retro...red-lips and big-glasses. Always works for faux, early morning glamour.
7) Pack Up: Bring a small purse with only your wallet, keys, phone and lists. You're not going to want to carry around that large hobo this time. Just the basics, ladies. All joking aside, make sure you keep everything within reach. Theft does increase around the holidays and you want to make sure you do not become a victim.
8) Snack Attack: Bring a high protein snack {think protein bar, here} and a cup o' Jo. I usually make a pit-stop at Starbuck's before braving the lines. Not only does my gingerbread latte put me in the Christmas spirit but it keeps me toasty warm too!
9) Tune In: Turn on some Christmas music while traveling to and from shoppes. Beltin' out "Blue Christmas" by Elvis never hurt anyone, right?
10) Let The Fun Begin: Okay, we've gone through everything...make a list, price compare, map the trip out, sleep {brief}, up and at em', snacks and coffee, tunes...oh, yeah don't forget your red-lipstick {or gloss} ladies and have fun!!!
I love the pretzel fence on this one.
A gingerbread community.
We usually make the traditional gingerbread house like this one.
I made a super cute headband and got to snuggle and kiss on this little bit.
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