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Email a FriendPosted by Claire on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 2:13 PM (EDT):
I don’t enjoy shopping, and I do as much online as possible. It’s 95% done now. I don’t even like to be on the road on Black Friday, let alone in a mall.
Did You Shop?
How "black" was your Friday?
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Saturday, November 27, 2010 11:45 AM
I find myself having an unusual Thanksgiving celebration this week. As I’ve mentioned, I’m in Cambridge celebrating with Eric while Greg and Adam remain at home working/going to school. We had a terrific Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday thanks to the graciousness of one of Eric’s dorm mates and her family who hosted eight students (and one wayward Mom!). Yesterday, we treated ourselves to an afternoon concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a nice quiet dinner, and I was tucked into my warm bed by nine.
It wasn’t until I turned on the television set and saw recaps of some of the “Black Friday” hysteria that I even remembered shopping. It’s funny, in this very urban setting I didn’t even see a single “big box” store or line to purchase this year’s “must have” toy. At home, I’m not much of a shopper but it’s likely that I might have spent some time at the mall Friday afternoon picking up a few bargains. But here, out of my element, it didn’t even cross my mind to shop.
How about you? Are you like my friends who make a special “mom and daughter” outing on Black Friday? Are you an organized shopper who knows all of the doorbusters and has an agenda in mind? Or do you steer clear of the whole thing? Maybe you’re even like one of my particularly organized friends who has already finished her shopping so that she can properly focus on Advent.
How “black” was your Friday?
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Posted by Rebecca on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 2:52 PM (EDT):
I do not like crowds and the windchill here was 15 Thurs night/Fri morning. I had no desire to be out. So I’m right there with you Claire. I’m almost done shopping anyway with only a few more things to order and gift cards to pick up. Now if only someone would wrap it all!
Posted by Claire on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 3:52 PM (EDT):
I love gift bags! I know they’re expensive, but I rarely have to buy one because I re-use them year after year. It really cuts down on wrapping time. (Of course there are some items that I use real wrapping paper for, however.) Also, I don’t wrap anything that goes into my son’s stocking. And, I have a small family and we’ve tried to simplify when it comes to gift-giving, so I probably have a lot less wrapping than the average person. This year I’m going to help my son make ornaments to give as gifts, and I’m going to help him wrap them (he’s about to turn 3). Should be interesting!
Posted by Rebecca on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 5:28 PM (EDT):
I use gift bags a lot too, and my kids will have some homemade ornaments and cards as well this year. Plus we make spiced nuts, cinnamon rolls and other candies as gifts. But there is still plenty of wrapping. I have 4 kids and use more gift bags for the 2 big guys, but the little ones still like ripping into that paper. And we drive 3 hours to the in-laws after we have Christmas morning at home and gift bags just don’t pack well for the nephews’ gifts. But yes, gift bags when possible is definitely at must! Environmentally friendly too when you recycle them!
Posted by Claire on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 6:06 PM (EDT):
Yeah, I definitely have it easier than the average mom (when it comes to wrapping!). Would you believe that when I was a kid, my mother wouldn’t let us rip into our presents? We had to open them carefully and then she re-used the paper for years and years. I’m all for being environmentally friendly, but man that paper got ratty after a few years! And I can’t imagine depriving my son of the joy of tearing into his presents. But it’s so ingrained in me that to this day I open my presents very carefully. And I do re-use the large pieces, but throw them out once they get ratty (and I don’t bother saving the small pieces).
Posted by Raissa on Saturday, Nov 27, 2010 5:27 PM (EDT):
Well, I was talked into shopping on Friday…a great tradition with dear friends. We started after daily mass, around 9:30. My dear friend, her 2 daughters, one of their boyfriends (so nice of him to come, carry bags, hold doors, etc.), and her 2 daughter-in-laws. Lunch is the highlight of the day. We take our time, and enjoy being together. Home in time for dinner.
No early morning line waiting. Just a relaxing day.
I am not one to rush out into the Black Friday madness. This year, we took our time after mass to drive down to the valley so I could spend Mom-daughter time with our oldest daughter. She treated me to a Starbucks coffee and we went off sipping and browsing the many booths at a large craft show - staying far, far away from the madness at the malls and other big-name stores. It was a very relaxing afternoon.
Posted by T on Sunday, Nov 28, 2010 9:45 AM (EDT):
I had about 95% of my shopping done before Black Friday. I had to get two gifts on Friday because it was the only to afford them, without the black friday sales price they were to pricey. I was able to order on online Thanksgiving night and the only one I had to go to the store. It took me all of 30 minutes to get it and get home. There are certain store I won’t go to no matter how good a deal it it. Like Best Buy!.
Posted by Mary B on Sunday, Nov 28, 2010 5:09 PM (EDT):
I didn’t this year because I was working. Years ago I was the one who unlocked the doors on Black Friday. I almost missed my babyshower because my mom planned it for black friday not realising I would try to talk my husband into not visiting her that day.
I have had year it was great—not just the deals but having them home before the kids woke up. When you home school having online gifts delivered interupts the school day with a vengence.
This year I’m no where near done. and I have no idea how I’ll make it work. But somehow it always does.
I’m trying to find out when my sone will propose too—if its this christmas I could start on shower gifts. I hope! She’s so nice!
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