Black Friday and Christmas Sales

Holiday shopping oh how I love it!! Today during my lunch hour I decided to visit a few stores just to find the exact locations of the Super Sales items for Saturday morning. Oh My Goodness! The store was holding a Secret Sale today on tomorrows items PLUS so much more! I have signed up for emails of Secret Sales and Weekly Ads for All the major stores I shop at or think might have something on my shopping list.

Thank Goodness I went to the mall during my lunch hour today! I bought my mother a 1.5 ct sapphire with 0.5 ct tw diamonds at a fraction of the regular price!!! (HUGE SAVINGS! HUGE!!) I bought one for my wonderful mother and Santa even had enough to add one in his bag for me. I also bought bracelets for my nieces, sister -in-law, Grammy K and one for Santa’s to put under the tree for me. Since I purchased an obscene number in pieces of jewelry (high volume low comparative cost) the sales woman gave me a discount card , which resembles our library card, for repetitive use from now until mid December. A bonus gift of free Disney toys was also given. Since the toys were very age appropriate for my Ex’s son who would truly LOVE receiving them, will have them under his tree. No, he is not my son but he is a wonderful part of our lives. Super savings on jewelry plus a free gift for someone who would love it is GREAT!

Lesson I learned today, just because the ad says the sale is tomorrow does not mean you should wait until tomorrow to visit the store. A few of the items I purchased were advertised via TV and emails specials for tomorrow morning. If you went to the store today and asked about tomorrows sale items specifically, you were given the sale today! Another way around the secret sales and to get you in their stores shopping before the advertised events.

What has changed for Black Friday this year? Well, a few years ago in Indiana ( I was there at the time) you only received the Black Friday sales flyer from Walmart IF you were already signed up on their mailing list. The sales flyer did not go out in the regular edition of the news paper with all the other store flyers. I was only on there for a 6 month project so, um, no. I was not on the Indian mailing list at my temporary living quarters. Thank goodness my cousin was on the mailing list! Otherwise I would not have found out about the 20” TV for $79, $60 Dirt Devil all in one vacuum cleaner and many, many other items. My cousin’s mother-in-law laughing said “Your poor children.” True, nothing was on sale at super savings that my children wanted. They are just not the type who crave the “Gotta have it now, newest, latest greatest creation of all time, right now.” They want things that no one else usually thinks about wanting for Christmas or for a gift of any kind. Black Friday sales have never assisted me in purchasing their rare requests.

Although Black Friday sales usually have no effect on my children’s wish lists they do come in handy for items other family members wish lists or house hold items I need or want for my own house.

I do have to wonder with each year Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping displays over lap each other more and more. Sales that resemble “Black Friday” special hours and “Super Holiday Savings” sales are now peeking before the normal Black Friday. This year the holiday bargains are more like musical chairs. The music plays, sometimes on TV, sometimes on the internet and sometimes only in the actual store.

Millions of shoppers are preparing for the holiday sales events. I am really loving the idea of finding Super Deals before they normally happen. Mind you, if I find out you saved on a Nintendo DS, Leapster and Bratz Math Game, Princess/Bratz TV or a 19 in dual AV outlet TV and I did not know about it in time I would be pissed….extremely as these are my Black Friday targets. I think I would be so upset by it I might even go so far as to boycott that particular store for a full year. After all, they did not notify me of their sale when I tried so hard to make sure I was on every list possible, so why should I bother with at all with their store?

I wonder how many people will miss the Pre- Black Friday Super Sales. How many of them were actually planning to spend and save before Black Friday this year? I was actually making out a budget to follow the Black Friday sales and not the Pre-Super Sales. This resulted in my missing a few huge sales last weekend and the previous weekend. I was not planning to shop on those weekends nor will I be likely to make the jump start on my Christmas shopping so early next year. The normal path of my monthly bills and my repetitiveness from years and years of Christmas shopping just will not allow me to be sucked into the retailer’s and wholesaler’s who would like to make this a new trend. Extra savings is always nice but where do we draw the line on the calendar to end Christmas Savings accounts and budget for the spending feast which usually happens during that special time of year?

It's Official! It is now my Birthday!! I am 40 today! I can now wear my huge rings and red nail polish!! I have this thing about rings. I love to buy jewelry but especially rings. There were a few times I found a particularly large stone I wanted in a ring and I bargained the price. They have been sitting in my jewelry box for years, just waiting for this day!

No I am not some super rich woman. I have always saved up for the things I wanted and put my children's needs and wants well before my own. There were some rough times in our past where I had to sell pieces of my jewelry and very thankful I had something to get us through. I also pick stones I think my children will want when I am gone. When I am selecting a ring I think first about the center stone and then about the setting. After all, I do have a son. What might look great on a young woman, a Mommy then an older woman might not be the look my son wants. I do plan to leave my jewelry to all of my children.

When the children wanted to go to the mall today I went with them. Snow White stuck with me since she was not interested in the movie or participating in the Dance Dance Revolution game. She was ready and willing to critic my jewelry purchase for today. I informed the sales women at each of the stores that I have plenty of Rubies (everyone knows it is my birthstone so I have plenty). When I said to the first sales woman that I had enough diamonds I gasped! Am I allowed to say that or even think that? I have still have four diamond rings and one pair of diamond earrings but no diamond pendants. I was not thinking about necklaces today so everyone breath a sigh of relief. Apparently I do not have enough diamonds. So the saying still holds true, a woman can never have too many diamonds. Will I ever get more...maybe as a surrounding setting. Snow White hemmed and hawed at my preference for a large stone that did not entail the color pink. She so loves the color pink. I explained to her that I am not a teenager, I will be turning 40 tomorrow and I wanted something to celebrate my turning 40. She fell in love with a 1 karat pink, marquee cut, sapphire surrounded by bands and bands that went this way and that full of baguettes and round cut white sapphires. If laid flat the setting would cover a half dollar so she did understand I was looking for a BIG ring.

I shopped around but nothing leaped out at me. I thought about what I really wanted for my birthday after my children prodded and prodded me. Something I needed came to mind...a backscratcher! It is simple and I really have thought time and again how much I really wanted one but did not have one. When the urge hits I have resorted to lingering in doorways with my back pressed up against frames moving slightly from side to side or leaning against the corner of sharp furniture. I would love a backscratcher for my birthday. It would be much more appreciated than jewelry.

What would I love to get for my birthday that would be better than jewelry and as wonderful as a backscratcher?! A photo Album! I am in such need of photo albums. My New Year's resolution for this year is to write on the backs of all photos and put them in either frames (I have tons of frames) or put them in photo albums (I only have a few empty). I have boxes and envelops of photos from years ago. I do not want my photos to end up like the Rubbermaid yard tub my Dad received from my aunt when my Grandma passed away. No names on the photos (some are tin and lithographs) so the tub is being passed from relative to relative to see if anyone recognized the people or the backgrounds of the photos. I work on my photo boxes when I sit down to watch TV. I do not watch much TV and my usual TV routine involves me running on my treadmill. Maybe I just need a few more empty photo albums staring at me to get me motivated. I really do want to put all the photos we currently have into albums so I can develop the film sitting around the house before I forget all the details of those photos.



Another plus for my birthday....I have a new car! Yes, after three weeks and the dealer from heck, I have a new vehicle. I could feel sort of odd about it not being a mustang or some hot convertible. Some people have rattled off statistics saying I should drive a sensible sedan. When ManSon and Oldest Daughter were toddlers people looked at me funny when I drove a Minivan. I looked like a teenager but it is not my fault our family genes make us look very young. This time around I look like a Mommy and I feel like no one can tell me driving a Minivan is silly. In actuality it is usually just Snow White and I when I go most places since ManSon is 19 and Oldest Daughter is 17. Still, I like knowing I can tote just about anything in the Minivan. Our new arts and crafts can be bigger than they were before (ok laughing myself as if I would be hauling large bits of wood). At least now I can be the girl with the large moving capacity in the family instead of the girl with a strong son. Hey, I can move people from one house to the other and even help lift things but in my family that is men’s work, women are treated like queens.

While at the mall I started to think about the perfume that was taken during the airport security screening on our way to Nashville. Yes, I have a replacement but not the super expensive perfume that was so sadly taken from me on that trip. Did I mention I save up for the things I want and I pay in cash for everything? It was an $84 bottle of perfume and not a large bottle. Anyway, I found a new sent I like called Ralph Lauren by Ralph Lauren...just like the other 4 bottles with different colors. I picked the blue one but wanted to sleep on it. I am going back tomorrow to pick it up. The sales girl at the Bonton beauty counter was very helpful. She took an hour of her evening to help me find my new sent. Just as I was thinking about leaving to have Oldest Daughter's opinion on my new sent I asked about a make-over. Yes, they do make-overs at the cosmetic counter and she would love to be the one to help me! She is the Elizabeth Arden make up artist and shows me the latest new gift. Unfortunately you must wait until August 1st to pick it up. I am saddened by this news as most of the items included with this free gift are items I need. Along with my perfume the airport took my liquid make up...even my mascara! How much liquid could mascara possibly have? I ask about the large yellow tote bag and accessories but she explains it would not be a free gift. It would cost $17.95. I am thinking on it and might opt for the yellow bag but free sounds really good even if I have to wait.

What is a make over without a having your hair done? I dread the hair salon. I am more afraid of having my hair cut than I am of the dentist! I would opt to have a dentist appointment and my OBGYN yearly done every day for a year rather than have my hair cut by someone new, in a new area, in the COUNTRY! You know I have said over and over again how they do things differently out here in the country so this makes it a bit more terrifying for me. I take a deep breath and leave the mall with ManSon and Snow White. Oldest Daughter and her friend (from out of state whom I drove 3 hours round trip to pick up) opted to stay at the mall longer. I thought long and hard about the hair salon. Eventually, I would have to try a few places and finally pick someone. I wanted the make over but it would be so much better with a new hair cut and I was so due for a new cut. My last cut was a year ago in DC. I had a bob cut that turned out so well! The lady in DC who did my hair was so wonderful she branched out to her own business in another state then retired after only a few months.

When I was home I gathered the magazines I had earmarked with styles I liked. I reviewed them and reviewed them for a few hours. I finally picked one that still had length but a definite style. Something I could blow dry straight or walk out of the house with wet hair and still dry nicely with my texture, body and curl. ManSon and Snow White opted to stay home while I bravely went back to the mall. I was going to have my hair cut at the dreaded mall.

I was out the door and off to the mall. I should be confident. I have the hair style in photos from different angles and I knew exactly what I wanted. Drive back home, ask ManSon to take a photo of my hair so I have something to compare it to when I get back. I needed something to say this is where I started. If I do not think the hairdresser did a good job I can at least say, it is different.

I drive to the mall with my favorite mixed CD playing the techno remix of “Listen to Your Heart”. I arrive at the mall and walk straight to the hairdressers. I pause. I call Oldest Daughter on her cell phone to tell her I am back at the mall. She is doing just fine. No emergencies and she is not in the least bit concerned that her hair cutting phobia Momma is about to have her hair cut. I pace around the outside of the hairdresser's a few rounds then I take a deep breath and head for the door. Just as I am about to step one foot into the doorway ....My cell phone rings! I must have jumped two feet off the ground! Embarrassed I run out of sight. It is my sister (Auntie D) calling to see what I am up to today. I tell her all about the hairdresser and she understands all my fears about having my hair cut. We talk for a few minutes. She gives me a pep talk then sends me on my way back to the hair dresser.

I did get my hair cut but that I will leave for tomorrow’s post. No one was hurt or maimed in any way. I didn’t even cry. Sad part is the mall was closing and I did not have time for the make over. I am going back tonight to have it done because quit frankly I love to be pampered and I need to replenish my make up stock after the Nashville airport incident. Yes, I completely understand why they have to do what they do. I am more upset at myself for not placing all of my make-up and perfume in my luggage.

Usually my birthday comes with some horrifying event. No not the fact that I am a year older. I actually like that part. For some reason every year on my birthday something bad happens and we are all sad the whole day. I am usually in tears. This year was finally the year my birthday was a happy day! My sister called a few times to make sure nothing horrible had happened. I like this new trend. To sum up my birthday, jewelry (I did get a BIG ring), new car, new hair style, hibachi & sushi dinner with loads of laughter and carrying on, new sketch from Oldest Daughter because none of us could find a backscratcher and two new photo albums from ManSon. I think this is the BEST birthday I have ever had in my whole life!! See turning 40 does not have to mean the end of the world. My birthday started Friday night with the dinner and still going on through tonight with my make-over. A four day affair. I am LOVING IT!!