Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

Happy December!  Ho Ho Ho!!

Happy December everyone!  I hope your holidays were merry and bright!  Mine was full of food, fun, and family!  Dylan came home from college last weekend (!) so exciting because then I have someone to share the blame with.

I started my week with a killer bootcamp class at my gym.  My gym buddy said, we should try it!  It looks like fun.  Since I was off from school on Wednesday night I went.  This woman killed me.  I mean I almost died.  I seriously felt like I was going to faint four times minimally.  (Ok...lies...six times) That to me, is the true measure of a great class.  If I don't start cursing out and yelling at my trainer in my head then I don't feel like the workout was worth my while.  Well, let's just say that this was a fantastic workout!  I'm going to another one of her classes tonight.

Thursday was fun because I couldn't sit or move without the memory of Wednesday's bootcamp class.  Thursday started out like any other.  I woke up, watched the parade, and watched as my mom put the Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in the oven (side note, we only have these delightfully gooey rolls from heaven on Thanksgiving and Christmas morning.  I don't know why this happens but it's true.  Some of my friends' families do the same thing.  Maybe it's a Jersey Girl thing?) Then we ate the most delicious meal ever...Nachos.  For real.  We had nachos for lunch.  I regret nothing!  Then we had dinner a few hours later.  In between lunch and dinner we participated in our traditional Friendsgiving!  Friendsgiving is the annual watching of all the Friends' Thanksgiving episodes.  Fantastic decisions!  Then came dinner!  Deb truly outdid herself.  Loved it!!  I think I had a food baby for two days.  We finished the night with pie and a little Charlie Brown and Glee.  I really realized how thankful I am to be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family and in my house just the way I like it.  It's just the four of us and that's the way we like it.  It's very relaxed and that's the best because we can all wear our jammies and yoga pants all day long.  Many people are not this lucky.  I always feel bad for people who do not get to celebrate Thanksgiving with the ones they love.  Then it was a power nap until BLACK FRIDAY!  FRIDAY FRIDAY GOTTA GO SHOPPING ON FRIDAY?  WHICH PRESENT WILL I CHOOSE?

Sideways Dinner.  Yummmm

Well Black Friday was kind of a let down I'm not gonna lie.  I got to the mall around 12 and shopped until 2.  I didn't see anyone diving for mittens, or ninja rolling for boots--nada.  I bought that blue sweater I wanted and a pair of fabulous faux emeralds.  I didn't get that red and white shirt because it was a little tooooo home on the range.  I came home slept, worked out and got ready for the parentals' anniversary dinner.  We couldn't go to the Walnut Street Supper Club because the singing waiter/resses weren't there.  Buzzkill!  If the Kitley's can't do kitschy then we won't do it at all.  We went to Toscana instead.  It's a dalish restaurant in Cherry Hill, but it's not as fancy as were thinking.  However, we still wore our fancy clothes.  Were we over dressed?  Um, yes.  Did we care that we were the best dressed there?  NO WAY JOSE!  We went to the mall after and Deb got me a fab top.  And the best part of Black Friday happened!!  I saw my favorite Loft sales associate there!  We met about 3 years ago now at Victoria's Secret.  I was cruising the yoga pants and we talked about how I was going to a Lady Gaga concert that night and we just hit it off.  So flash forward a few months and I was shopping at the Loft and I saw her again!!  We again instantly bonded and then I left with my purchases.  Then a few months ago I saw her at Loft in the mall by TCNJ and I was like OMG!  This is crazy!  We talked again and life was good.  Then this Friday I went to go shopping and she was there!  We chatted and caught up and are now FB friends!  See shopping is essential to friendships!  I love when she is working at Loft because she makes my shopping experience so much better!  She has always talked me into the purchases I'm iffy on and she's always been right.  I never regretted any of the purchases and have rocked them constantly and always secretly thank her.

Dylan And Me Before Dinner.
Dress-Old Navy
Earrings-Macy's
Ring-Macy's
Shoes-Louboutin

Thank ya Mommy For The New Top.
I'm Thinking I'm Going To Wear It To The Ballet.

Friday night was a little rough.  We came home from delicious dinner and shopping and then it was home for a Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta marathon that I'm not even a little bit sorry happened.  Then utter confusion set in for 3 days.  I'm just gonna call it Confusion for 3 days straight.  Then, Saturday night was Girls' Nite!  We went to a local bar and realized 15 minutes in that we were about 10 years too young to be there.  That's the thing about bars on Thanksgiving weekend, it's like high school reunions for the masses.  I've only been out 4 years so I'm still too young (and honestly don't want to) to reunite with any one I went to high school with.  It's all people trying to impress their high school loves,  show off new loves, reconnect with old friends, and find out what your lasting high school legacy is.  I got sad after about 10 minutes of watching this strange social interaction ensue.  We left and ended up at the Cheesecake Factory and split a S'mores Cheesecake.  Again, I regret nothing.  We giggled and laughed and life was fabulous.  We shared some great one liners "Wouldn't it be great if you could reproduce with your friends?  I mean how beautiful would our children be?"  Best Line!!  My friend said that to me and we were dying.  I think we'd have beautiful children, but alas we both love men.  Anyway, Girls Nites are always therapeutic after dealing with the 3 Days of Confusion.  Isn't that the best part of friend dates?  The eating of junk, exchanging of gossip, and laughing all night long.

Girls Nite!  We Probably Would Have Beautiful Children LOL

So that is a little holiday recap and I hope that all of your holidays were amazing and that you got to spend them with the ones you love!

Happy Shopping, Keep Warm, and Bake On!

-Erin

Black Friday Hopes & Dreams

Hey Loves,

So I think it's safe to say that the holiday season is upon us!  And Black Friday is just two days away!!  EEK!  Who's ready??  Well I'm going to give you some Black Friday tips and tricks to stay sane!  Take it from a Jersey Girl (so you know that this is legit) who has seen more than her fair share of Black Friday FailWhales and Fantasies come true.  My first Black Friday Survival Tip is:

•  Have A Game Plan-Just like in life if you don't know what you're looking for, you will wander aimlessly.  And let's be frank, while I get that not all that wander are lost...MOST are!  You need a plan people!  Here is my plan.  While I love me a deal, I also believe that Thanksgiving is a time to be with the ones you love.  Stores shouldn't be open on Thanksgiving.  It's just not right.  Thanksgiving is for eating with your family and drinking bubbly with your Lovies.  So I will be at the mall at midnight.  So here's my guide for making a plan.

• Know What You Are Going To Buy.  I always buy things for myself on Black Friday.  No, not because I'm self-centered, but because usually I have all of my Christmas ideas for my loves in my head and will pick them up when the sales really increase so I can get more bang for my buck.  Ok, so I want this sweater from Gap.  Isn't it cute, cozy, and cuddly?  Yes, yes, yes. It's being fitted into a fabulous outfit I'm cooking up for an upcoming holiday trip.  I'm gonna do navy blue.

My second buy is going to be this top from Old Navy.  For the same holiday trip but Day 2.

So cute and versatile!  I can wear it by it's self with jeans for a casual day or with work pants for a festive but professional look.  (Also good for public school where you can't wear your beloved Santa Accessories...tears)

My third buy is going to be a leopard print scarf.  GASP! A Jersey Girl without a leopard scarf?  Be still my beating heart.  Just kidding!  I own one, but it's more of an outdoorsy scarf and I need a more drapey every day one.  You know?  I don't have a pic because I'm gonna find a cheap one somewhere.  Maybe Charming Charlie's?

My final buy will be emerald earrings!  Aren't they fab and festive?!!  I love love love emeralds and I realized I don't have any emeralds.  Why?  Oh because last Black Friday they sold out!!  NOT COOL MACY'S NOT COOL!  I'm still looking for a great pair/style/size.  

• Have A Budget.  As a grad student who is working as a sub and saving every penny for her student teaching semester I have about a $100 budget for Black Friday.  I am going to leave the plastic at home on Friday!  By having a budget you will feel more in control of your shopping and life in general.  Take it from a reformed Spendthrift Suzie...budgets are the way to go folks!

• Have A Time Table.  I know that I want to be out of the mall by 2 am because a) I need sleep b) I have a jam packed Friday!  c) I will waste money if I'm wandering around being overstimulated by sales.  Just not a great place for a recovering shopaholic.  

• Have A Game Plan.  I know that I will first hit up the department store to get my earrings.  I will then head down to Gap followed by Old Navy.  I will then probably go look around for my scarf quickly but if I don't find anything I'll go home, sleep, try again in a few hours at an accessories store like Charming Charlie's.  

• Pre-Shop.  I can't stress this enough.  People think I'm crazy for doing this but I do it!  On Wednesday, aka Thanksgiving Eve, I will go to the mall and walk around and get a feel for my size (cuts shopping time 60%), how the item looks (I can't stress how important this is.  Not everything I want looks cute on me.  And that my friends is why God invented dressing rooms.  This way I can know before hand if I want to use my budgeted cash on it or if I want to find something new to buy), and most importantly WHERE THE GOODIES ARE!  I think this is the most important.  Geography!  On Black Friday efficiency is your best friend.  Know where the desired sweater is.  Chances are that if you go to the mall on Wednesday the item will still be in the same place when you return 36 hours later.  On Game Day, you can find it quickly and since you have already tried it on you can just bounce straight to the ever growing check out line.  

• Take Someone Else You Shops On Your Level.  This is probably the fourth most important survival guide (Budget, Plan, Pre-Shop in that order).  This is not Dane Cook's B&E.  Don't take someone who doesn't want to be there.  I love my mom but she is NOT my shopping spirit animal.  She is a great person to take a lovely leisurely Sunday shopping stroll with, not the girl you want in the trenches with you.  Take a friend, take your dad, take a sibling.  Know your people.  Side note, this is probably not the best time to introduce your Significant Other to the wildly combative warrior that is you on Black Friday.  You better be on a whole new level of commitment before you show him this side of your crazy.  I'm talking you've already shown him you sans makeup, you watching sports, you eating wings, you ugly crying because your jeans don't fit, you getting lost, a temper tantrum over something mundane, you during grad school, you in sweats, you with roots...ALL things that are you at your lowest.  Then maybe, after marriage, joint bank accounts, a few kids, and vacations you introduce him to Black Friday you.  Never before!  You're welcome for this little tidbit of advice.  Also, don't take anyone who utters the phrase, "I don't even know why people go Black Friday shopping.  I mean, the best deals aren't even on Black Friday..." This person isn't your Black Friday Significant Shopping Other.  This is a person who you maybe take with you to get your lamp rewired.  Not a shopping buddy.    

• Shopping Outfit.  This is a very important (vain albeit) aspect of your Black Friday shopping experience.  I wear the same thing every year.  Mall outfits are hard because it's -5353646 degrees outside but 10000000 degrees inside.  Add that high temp to the 2000 people at the mall and you are walking into an inferno people.  I suggest this outfit.  Black turtle neck, down vest, jeans, and Uggs.  This way you stay warm but you have mobility.  This is a great combo.  No heels ladies, come on.  We need full foot function to turn on a dime, run, fight someone who stole your deal, wait patiently in line, and remember it is going to be late and you're going to be carrying a few extra lbs from that dalish dinner you just enjoyed--not a stellar heels combo.  

So I hope this helps you enjoy one of my favorite holidays of all time!  Also I want to thank Smartphones because now I can stand in line with my phone and Pin, Tweet, Text, Facebook all my friends and deals!  Curing boredom since 2009!  So happy hunting!  

Do you guys have any cool tricks or tips for surviving Black Friday??!!

Happy Shopping!

Erin

P.S.  Here's a video of me doing my Black Friday shopping!! (Okay, it's not really me, but I think we can all attest that she is my Black Friday spirit animal)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wer7b29mreA

http://www.gap.com/browse/productImages.do  (gap sweater)

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/productImages.do (old navy top)

Black Friday Success Story

If anyone had any doubts Black Friday was a huge success!!


     I have been doing Black Friday shopping for a very long time and I have contingency plan.  The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I went to the mall and hid all of the things I planned to buy.  I tried on all of the things I wanted to buy on Wednesday at my pre-shop to ensure proper fit.  I do this at 9:50, 10 minutes before the store closes!  I know that none of the sales staff is going to readjust the store the day before madness starts!  Thanksgiving Night was capped off with pie and changing into my traditional Black Friday outfit:  jeans, black turtleneck, Uggs, and a white puffy vest.  So my dad and I arrive at the mall at 11:50 pm.  T-10 mins til showtime!  We join the other Varsity Level Shoppers outside of Macy*s.  The energy was high, the people were all psyched, and ready to go!  A random man came up to a woman standing near us, "Hey,  what's going on here?  Why are all the people standing here?" She looked at him and said,"It's NJ.  It's Black Friday.  The mall opens at 12."  He just nodded and walked away.  We were at a mall people!  Not just a random store in a city.  No.  A mall.  In a small town.  Why was he here if he didn't know...So now the Macy*s workers open the door and people start moving...slowly.  I am bouncing off the ceilings with excitement to get in and people are taking their sweet time!  Knees to Chest People!  Knees To Chest!  So I dodge and weave my way past the Sunday Strollers and grab my stowed prize...Black Jeggins.  I know...Dream Big!  And guess what?!  I was the first purchase at the mall!  Woo hoo!  The saleslady was like "Whoa, you know what you're doing!  That was so fast!"  I was like yep I was here on Wednesday getting the lay of the land.  So I dash upstairs and buy a faux camel leather jacket.  Super cute!  In love!  Then I got two bracelets from LOFT.  Really chunky, cute, bright pieces.  I love them.  They're the perfect chunky.  They're the Goldilocks of bracelets:  not too big, not too small.  Now it's time to go home and prep for round two.  I don't have a death wish so I will not be going to Target until 10 am on Friday.  So at 9 am I make my second rounds at the mall picking up some tops.  Then, I head to Target and buy...guess...CHRISTMAS MUSIC!  I need help.  I really do.  It's a sickness!  I bought Sugarland's Gold & White.  Then I bought Toby Keith's Hope On The Rocks.  So I had a jam sesh all the way home.

     I also have this belief that whenever you go to the mall for Christmas shopping you have to buy a present for a child who is in need.  Christmas was always a huge deal in my house and my brother and I are incredibly spoiled.  So I bought a game for my KDP toy drive.  I love buying games because I think they promote cognitive skills, teamwork, social skills, fine motor skills, and they're awesomely fun!  My family was always more like the Geller family in the sense that we were never allowed to play games because we were are too competitive!  Seriously in our house the LIFE game pieces are all bent because we'd fight over them.

      So long story short, I accomplished a lot and I had so much fun.  This is one of the highlights of my year!