Ready, Set, SHOP!

[Judi W]

With totally stuffed tummys......it''s time to re-group, wake up early and HIT THE MALLS! I don''t know about anyone else, but I feel it''s my "patriotic duty" to shop on "Black Friday". Many people stay away on purpose, but I can''t wait to push up my sleves and dive into those sale racks! So it you go......good luck, have fun, buy allot and may the parking spot gods be with you!!!!

ps - let us know how you did and what you bought!

 

[Mara]

I do most of my holiday shopping online, about 90% of it. I can't deal with the malls at this time of year, and being in eComm, I felt it was my duty to help support other eComm shops.

Whatever is left, I usually get on Dec 22nd at 9am at the mall (on a working day of course), and zip in and out with a list of exactly what I want to get. It took me years to perfect the right ratio of mall to online that best suits my sanity.

And to be really honest, I hate getting up early the day after Thanksgiving, hehehe.

This year I started a bit early...I adore RedEnvelope and they have the BEST clearance sales so I decided to be smart (!) and shop the clearances for holiday gifts. I got items in bulk (aka 9 sets of heart picture frame magnets in silver, very cute for $9.99!), and have been hoarding since late summer. They still have some great deals in their clearance section! www.redenvelope.com

Oh, but for those who are hot on the trail of Black Friday sales....check out this link which a friend sent me and DRIVE SAFE!! Good luck! http://www.bf04.com/

 

[Jennifer5973]

My best wishes are with the mall daredevils today but I developed a Christmas shopping strategy a few years ago that really works for me: Shop the Veteran''s Day sales. I am 90% done by now...I just have to get my Godiva ballotins for work pple and wrap everything, which I actually enjoy. I kind of go nuts with the wrapping with high-end papers and ribbons and little decorations.

My favorite store (Lord & Taylor) always has fabulous Veteran''s Day sales so I go, buy up a ton and just worry about a few odds and ends by now.... And I''ve been buying more and more online too. I also do a lot of shopping at my jeweler''s--he''s got great little 14k earrings (perfect for nieces) and other very reasonable items and it''s always fun shopping there!

But I can''t wait to hear about the adventures those fearless Black Friday adventurers have! You have my admiration!

 

[noobie]

Black Friday is usually for Toys R Us for the kids. I''ve been back for well over an hour. Only took 20 minutes to stock up on the season''s Christmas toys. It was amazingly civilized. Now to all the ones that braved a Best Buy ..... good luck!

 

[Judi W]

Date: 11/26/2004 9:43:28 AM
Author: noobie
Black Friday is usually for Toys R Us for the kids. I''ve been back for well over an hour. Only took 20 minutes to stock up on the season''s Christmas toys. It was amazingly civilized. Now to all the ones that braved a Best Buy ..... good luck!

I have heard that Toys R Us is a "walk in the park" compared to Best Buy! Only the very brave dare to shop Best Buy today! Even a devout shopper such as I--will stay away from there! Besides, I can''t stand their new method of standing in one line to wait for an open register. It takes much longer and is very irritating! Will be interested to watch for the results of todays business..."they" are projecting great success (which some believe is a ploy to get us out there and shopping!)

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Being your ally to the North this concept--Black Friday--intrigues me. Why no shopping: superstition.....sacrilege??

We Canadians have no such tradition--just get in our dog sleds and hit the trading posts any ole time we see fit.

So what on the dinner menu tonight? Turkey wraps? I do either a Turkey Risotto or Turkey Veg. Strudel (phyllo pastry).

cheers---Sharon

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 11/26/2004 10:19:57 AM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

So what on the dinner menu tonight? Turkey wraps? I do either a Turkey Risotto or Turkey Veg. Strudel (phyllo pastry).

Hey, Sharon! Boy--you''re quite the gourmet!

We have an old family favorite: leftover cold turkey breast on little Parker House rolls with lots of mayo, salt & pepper. You just pop ''em right down!

 

[Mara]

Jennifer I love doing the wrapping too! Now I can get all that stuff wholesale so I can go nuts on the ribbon. Last year I got a few gifts wrapped online at www.wishingfish.com and they did a beautiful pale blue slightly textured paper with white thick satin ribbon which I absolutely loved. So I'm going to try that one this year along with a few others. I'm super picky about wrapping paper, so I try to stock up during after holiday sales because that's when it's cheapest and the selection is usually still very good! Esp since it seems you go through roll after roll during holiday sesaon so easily.Same with Christmas cards, I usually buy them the year before at 1/2 off! [$$)]

Oh and speaking of after turkey foodies...ABC GMA had a turkey hash recipe from Diane Sawyer that seemed pretty yummy! I don't have it here with me now but I think if you go to www.abc.com and find the GMA section and then click on recipes, 'Anchors Thanksgiving Recipes'...you'll find it in there! It was something like stuffing, turkey, gravy with some olive oil or similar in a frying pan til it's crunchy. Yum!

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 11/26/2004 1:28:41 PM
Author: Mara
Jennifer I love doing the wrapping too! Now I can get all that stuff wholesale so I can go nuts on the ribbon. Last year I got a few gifts wrapped online at www.wishingfish.com and they did a beautiful pale blue slightly textured paper with white thick satin ribbon which I absolutely loved. So I'm going to try that one this year along with a few others. I'm super picky about wrapping paper, so I try to stock up during after holiday sales because that's when it's cheapest and the selection is usually still very good! Esp since it seems you go through roll after roll during holiday sesaon so easily.Same with Christmas cards, I usually buy them the year before at 1/2 off! [$$)]

Oh and speaking of after turkey foodies...ABC GMA had a turkey hash recipe from Diane Sawyer that seemed pretty yummy! I don't have it here with me now but I think if you go to www.abc.com and find the GMA section and then click on recipes, 'Anchors Thanksgiving Recipes'...you'll find it in there! It was something like stuffing, turkey, gravy with some olive oil or similar in a frying pan til it's crunch. Yum!

OMG, I do that too! I got a lot of awesome ribbon last year after the holidays...Tulle ribbon with little emroidered silver stars, red tulle ribbon with gold edging...I go nuts!

I put on a favorite Christmas movie, pour a glass of wine and sit in my den and spend a whole Sunday before Christmas wrapping. And let's not forget the funky tissue paper--little holly berries, stars, you name it...every gift that's in a box gets special tissue. it's nuts. Glad to know I'm not alone!

PS I saw them make the hash recipe on GMA--looked really good. Unfortunately, I got cleaned out except for some turkey breast.

PPS This wishingfish.com is lookin' mighty interesting....

OMG--LOVE this stuff....I am loading up on these for co-workers: Naughty Stamps Warning: Link contains offensive language.

 

[Judi W]

It''s nice to see there are other wrapping freaks other then me. Also, at Bed Bath & Beyond they have a fantastic big plastic gift wrap organizer that I have at home. The lid flips open to a compartment that you can put ribbons, scissors, etc in. It keeps it all nice and organized. I have found that the best wrapping paper is the kinds that the kids sell for their schools. Really good quality and nice designs -- and my little neices and nephews love when I buy it from them! Sad when it all gets ripped up and thrown away when the gifts are unwrapped!

 

[Hest88]

I''m really too lazy now so I also shop online as much as possible. Most of my friends and I have decided to stop exchanging Xmas gifts so it''s mostly family now--mostly kids at that. My parents would really prefer we just take them out to a nice restaurant as an Xmas present instead of giving them items they don''t really need!

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Date: 11/26/2004 10:19:57 AM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

Being your ally to the North this concept--Black Friday--intrigues me. Why no shopping: superstition.....sacrilege??

We Canadians have no such tradition--just get in our dog sleds and hit the trading posts any ole time we see fit.

So what on the dinner menu tonight? Turkey wraps? I do either a Turkey Risotto or Turkey Veg. Strudel (phyllo pastry).

cheers---Sharon

Sharon:

I live here in the US now..but I am Canadian. I liken Black Friday to Boxing Day. Not many American''s know about Boxing Day (December 26) ALL the Canadian malls have sales and it is similar to Black Friday. Some people actually don''t give gifts until after xmas just to partake in these sales, and some even buy 1 year early...

I braved the mall today... Bought presents for me....lol...mom and dad (secret santa) now, I just have to find out my other secret santas and i''ll be done..

but seriously..im exhausted now LOL..but I did save about $200

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 11/26/2004 6

5:48 PM
Author: fortheloveofdiamonds

Date: 11/26/2004 10:19:57 AM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:

Being your ally to the North this concept--Black Friday--intrigues me. Why no shopping: superstition.....sacrilege??

We Canadians have no such tradition--just get in our dog sleds and hit the trading posts any ole time we see fit.

So what on the dinner menu tonight? Turkey wraps? I do either a Turkey Risotto or Turkey Veg. Strudel (phyllo pastry).

cheers---Sharon

Sharon:

I live here in the US now..but I am Canadian. I liken Black Friday to Boxing Day. Not many American''s know about Boxing Day (December 26) ALL the Canadian malls have sales and it is similar to Black Friday. Some people actually don''t give gifts until after xmas just to partake in these sales, and some even buy 1 year early...

I braved the mall today... Bought presents for me....lol...mom and dad (secret santa) now, I just have to find out my other secret santas and i''ll be done..

but seriously..im exhausted now LOL..but I did save about $200

HI LOD:

Now I understand. My DH, an insomniac and highly allergic shopper, actually went shopping quite early on Boxing Day a couple of years ago to an electronics place, and he said people were lined up around the store at 0800! Incomprehensible to me, but then again I probably had one of those "wine headaches"...........

Thanksgiving is quite conveniently timed for you folks (always around my BD which is tomorrow the 27th) and now I suppose ya''ll will party until the New Year---am I right!!!!!?????????????

cheers--Sharon

 

[goldengirl]

I went out today, but even *I* didn''t hit the mall.

I started at a sporting goods store at 5:30--it was dead. Walked straight to a register. Then went to Target...had to wait in line to get inside, but it was surprisingly empty once they let us in and again, walked straight to a register. Went to Circuit City (bf''s employer, so I don''t shop Best Buy although I heard the lines were AWFUL

) for some $4.99 DVDs and spend probably 20 minutes in line...it was a zoo. Then to Kohl''s, where the store didn''t SEEM very busy but the line to the register was deceptively long...it took my friend and I TWO HOURS to get through it. Then to Fascinations, then Petco, then Wal-mart (for wrapping paper!) then home. Most of my gifts are wrapped and ready now, the only exceptions being the ones that haven''t yet come in the mail. I ended up spending over $400

but probably saved at least $300 on what I bought. (Including a new flatware set for 8, since my forks somehow keep disappearing and it was terribly embarrassing to tell my Thanksgiving guests that they had to bring their own forks.

)

I''m kinda glad I don''t have to buy toys right now. My sibs have grown out of Toys-R-Us type stuff and I don''t have any kids. I did that one year and I swear I had to CLIMB OVER PEOPLE in the aisles to get over them and the MOUNTAINS of mess they were making by rummaging through the racks and throwing things on the ground. That, and Wal-Mart...I did that one year at the request of my mother and literally had items RIPPED OUT OF MY HANDS and STOLEN FROM MY CART. At least the people at Kohl''s were nice as we chatted for two hours.

The people at Circuit City were pushy and RUDE (the guy behind me saying that my bf, who is checking people out, is just "taking his sweet time" because "he knows he''s going to be stuck here all day."

I almost turned around and chewed him out--I feel SO BAD for retail employees that have to work Black Friday, and I know they work their butts off...that was just unacceptable to me!)...oh, and the people in line behind me kept trying to push me forward because I wasn''t standing two inches behind the guy in front of me. I had left a path for other people to cross our line because we were, after all, standing in the middle of the store surrounded by displays and racks. It just made sense. But they just kept nudging me "accidentally" with their baskets and I so badly wanted to turn around and say "HELLO?!?!? Does crowding the register make you check out ANY FASTER??? BACK OFF!!!

"

But besides that, I had a good time, I got a lot done and now all I have to do is sit back and wait for my gifts to come in the mail so I can wrap them!