We're guessing that the internet is brimming today with posts about how commercial Christmas is, how insane the marketing has become, and how you should sit around a nice warm fire all day knitting presents for your loved ones. But not here, my friends. Realistically, we know that sometimes a hard working spouse really needs an upgrade from his Gordon Gekko cell phone or a teenager could really use a computer of his own instead of having to borrow mom's all the time. And with the economy in the outhouse, saving a hundred bucks here or there could make a huge difference this season. So instead of admonishing the early bird Black Friday shoppers, we want to hear all about it!
So? Did you set the alarm for 4am this morning and hit the stores? Were they handing out free Red Bull and cranking in extra oxygen and Christmas carols to keep you going? Was it insane? Did you get what you needed? What did you buy?! And if you work in retail, we'd love to hear the inside stockroom scoop on the whole frenzy.
(image: Flickr member army.arch licensed under Creative Commons)
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HA! No comments. They must all be recovering!
No early waking for this 'ole gal. I am smart enough to know that nothing in this world is more precious than a good night's sleep.
I can never fall asleep before 3-4 am, so instead of tossing and turning in the bed, I went to the Mall at 2am (some stores at the mall opened at midnight, most at 3am). It was more for a cultural experience than for shopping. It was almost as much fun as being in a flash mob. :-)
I just bought a new pair of Converse and some clothing for me and my kid. I bought everything else, like electronics and toys, online.
I went out. I usually do. Last year I camped out at Toys R Us. This year, I wasn't even going to go, but we drove by Best Buy and I showed my 5 year old the people lined up at 10 am on Thanksgiving morning. For some reason, this made her really want to go. I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to take her out for a little bit at 4 am, lol. She got up surprisingly easily, and we took travel mugs of coffee and cocoa with us.
We got 2 electric blankets, a little vacuum, and some movies at Walmart and 5 $5 pillows, a steam mop, and some flannel sheets from Target. Nothing huge, just some warm bedding and cleaning stuff, but we had a blast. We got donuts and a coke in line at Target (EXTREMELY rare breakfast for mama...we even called it a "daddy breakfast" that morning) and sat on the bench outside the store at 5 am, playing I Spy and watching people. The weather was amazing down here (Georgia) and I wore a t-shirt and jeans...so sitting outside was nice. We went home for a few hours to rest before I had to work and watched one of her $2 movies. She was so amazed when the sun came up ("I stayed up ALL night, mom!") and she ended up going to Toys R Us with my mom after I left for work.
It was amazingly fun and I will probably take her again next year, if she wants...and I think she will.
I went out. I usually do. Last year I camped out at Toys R Us. This year, I wasn't even going to go, but we drove by Best Buy and I showed my 5 year old the people lined up at 10 am on Thanksgiving morning. For some reason, this made her really want to go. I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to take her out for a little bit at 4 am, lol. She got up surprisingly easily, and we took travel mugs of coffee and cocoa with us.
We got 2 electric blankets, a little vacuum, and some movies at Walmart and 5 $5 pillows, a steam mop, and some flannel sheets from Target. Nothing huge, just some warm bedding and cleaning stuff, but we had a blast. We got donuts and a coke in line at Target (EXTREMELY rare breakfast for mama...we even called it a "daddy breakfast" that morning) and sat on the bench outside the store at 5 am, playing I Spy and watching people. The weather was amazing down here (Georgia) and I wore a t-shirt and jeans...so sitting outside was nice. We went home for a few hours to rest before I had to work and watched one of her $2 movies. She was so amazed when the sun came up ("I stayed up ALL night, mom!") and she ended up going to Toys R Us with my mom after I left for work.
It was amazingly fun and I will probably take her again next year, if she wants...and I think she will.
Did anyone get trampled to death this year all in the name of consumerism?