Surviving Black Friday

Black Friday has got to be the only day of the year I actually love to shop. I get a thrill from getting great deals and getting done with all my Christmas shopping in one day. What adds to my excitement is seeing how fast I can get in and out of a store. I typically try to go to just 3 stores, Lowes, Michaels, and Walmart. Lowes has the best deals for gifts for The Doctor. Michaels is of course for me. Then walmart I price match all the deals at the other stores plus take advantage of their deals. Here is how I survive Black Friday.

Thanksgiving day I lay out all the ads. I place the ones advertising items on my list in one pile and toss the others. Then I go through and see which store has the best prices on items. I will make a master list of the things I want, how much they are and at what store. When I go to Walmart I have all the ads with me and know which ad to price match for which item.

Once I know what I want I will coordinate with a buddy. Last year it was The Doctor and we had a blast. This year we will be with  more family so there will be more of us which should make things easier. We divide up who is responsible for getting which items and then we meet back at the front to check out.

I usually arrive to Walmart an hour before their sales begin. I grab a cart and place all the items I am price matching in the cart and then I stash the cart down some aisle, usually cosmetics or even bedding. I carry with me a big bag that I can carry on my shoulder. Trying to push a cart through the crowds on black Friday is insane so I just put my items in the bag. I can weave in and out of people much faster. As I am making my way through the store I seek out the "hot ticket" items on my list that are sure to go fast. I then station myself by the most wanted item but in a way I can grab and go to the next place as fast as possible. Meanwhile my partner is at the other side of the store doing the same thing.

While we usually have the cheap movies on our list we don't stress if we don't get them because they can be a time warp if we try and maneuver around the hoards of people digging through them. Typically we have everything we want with in 15 minutes and are checked out in another 15 minutes giving us plenty of time to get to the next stores before they open. The last 2 years I have been in and out of all my stores and home in 2 hours. This gives me plenty of time to stash the goods before the kids wake up.

Black Friday holds the excitement for me that Christmas morning did for me as a child. I get such a rush and I enjoy picking out all the gifts at most excellent prices. This year I may even get in on the cyber Monday action.

Talented People

I have found I am surrounded by talented people. Some I know some I do not. It is a little overwhelming to visit other blogs and see what these amazing women are doing. I am not uber crafty but I can craft. I enjoy doing them. I paper craft, knit, crochet, rubber stamp, mod podge...you name it I have probably tried it. Sewing is a talent I need to increase. One day I will get a new sewing machine...or fix the one I already have. Here are some blogs I have recently visited and they leave me feeling a little inadequate in my crafting/baking projects but they also leave me inspired wanting to do more. If only I had the budget and time to do them in.

Life Frosting
The Dainty Daisy
WhipperBerry
Prepared Not Scared

Still Here

I'm still here. I have had a busy past couple of weeks and have not been able to blog as often as I like. I'm in the middle of a few projects too. I'm currently participating in this and have people coming over twice a week to work on it with me. I am also working like crazy making baby blankets and such for all the new babies my friends are having. So far I think this pink blanket has been my favorite.

I just started chaining until I felt the blanket was wide enough and then did a sc row followed by 4 dc rows then another sc row. I repeated the pattern until it was long enough. The flowers I got from this book. The hat pattern I got from McKinley's Closet. I think it is my absolute favorite hat to make. I attach the flower to a french hair clip so it can be removed and added to a head band, or other hats.

I also made this pumpkin hat for myself. I needed something to wear to my church's trunk or treat so I found the pattern I loved and bought it. Sorry for such a bad picture but you get the idea.

Hopefully I will get back on track with things but seeing as we are heading into the holiday season I think things are only going to get crazier.

Be Respectful

I was looking through blogs in my google reader account and came across this post in a blog I follow and it got me thinking about bullies. There is so much hatred going on in the world today.  I don't like it. I don't like how it makes me feel and I don't like how it makes others feel. When I think of all the bullying that goes on in school because a kid wears glasses, is too fat, is poor, is not athletic enough etc. it makes me sick.  I hate when I get treated differently just because I'm a "Mormon". When people get to know me they see that I'm an nice, genuine, and honest person. Before you judge someone take the time to get to know their true colors.
While I may not agree with the homosexual lifestyle the men and women who live this way are still human beings. They have a right to be treated with respect just like anyone else.