The husband and I packed up and headed out on Thursday morning to my parents home in North Augusta, South Carolina. This was a super special year for us, as neither of us has been able to spend Thanksgiving with my family since 2003. Many of those years I didn't get to celebrate at all, as Jason was out to sea and it is just no fun to cook for yourself. I was really looking forward to eating my family's delicious food and catching up, and this year did not disappoint!
My mom hosted this year, and we had over 28 people show up. My mom decided a long time ago that she didn't want to have to pick and choose what side of the family we celebrate with, so she usually hosts and invites her family and my dad's family over for dinner. It is wonderful to have both sides of the family under one roof!
My cousin Heather had a little girl two weeks ago, so this was my first introduction to Mari Claire! Besides a brief projectile vomiting incident, we had some wonderful bonding time. I think my whole family was making an attempt to push the baby off on me in hopes that holding her would make me decide that it is time. If so, they really should have taken her away before the spit up incident. **I'm so kidding. Even spit up is adorable when it comes out of a 9 pound body.**
On Friday morning, my mom headed out to Walmart at 5:00 a.m. I just couldn't take getting up that early, so she hit up 4 stores and then picked me up at 8:00 a.m. so we could head to the mall. We met my aunt, Heather, and Mari Claire there and had a blast searching for deals. My job was to carry the baby (yes, we had a stroller but seriously - she is 9 pounds!! and they were still trying to sprinkle me with the baby dust) and I just basked in the glow of people assuming I was a new mommy. (No, I didn't correct them. It was all the benefits of having a baby without any of the work.) Do you know how nice people are to you when you have a itty bitty baby in your arms?
After lunch, the baby and its crew took their leave, and my mom got busy with some serious shopping. We headed back to the mall, where had to elbow people out of our way at Bath & Body Works, and then to Kirklands, Joanns, Michaels, Target, and Old Navy. Whew! By that time, it was 6:45 p.m. and it was time to pick up the men for a little more shopping and dinner. We drove to another mall and to my favorite store, Hobby Lobby, and finally arrived home 10:30 p.m.
That is 14 hours of shopping, by the way. Just in case you are math deficient, as I am. MY MOTHER IS A MACHINE. I swear. She's 56 years old and has more energy than I do. We also went out shopping on Saturday, but I'm still a little traumatized by that day, so I'll save that story for later.
Check out my loot! The best deal of the day was a 6.5 foot prelit Christmas tree for $25, and I also got two 4 foot prelit trees for my porch for $20. Two trees for $20 - you have no idea how excited I was about that deal. I got some cute Christmas decor, but I'm saving that to show you later.
The Old Navy bag is full of clothes for Jason, so I can't show those. I scored at Bath & Body Works - in addition to their sales, my mom and I had a ton of coupons: one item free, two free lotions, $10 off. We really did well there.
And yes, you do see 4 pairs of shoes. All for me. Was I supposed to buy things for other people? Oops.
What did you buy this weekend?
17 comments:
Sounds like you need a weekend to recover from your busy weekend!
We had a successful shopping trip in that no one got ugly or got trampled, but the stores didn't have some of the things we were looking for. I'm convinced Kmart trucks were held up in Gary, IN or somwhere b/c they happend to be sold out at both stores, one of them 2 minutes after they opened.
OOOOOH! Four pairs of shoes....now that's my kind of shopping!
How wonderful that you were able to spend time with both sides of your family this weekend!!! Your shopping was FABULOUS!!! I wish i were as brave as your mother! I don't wanna deal with stupid crazy people just for a "deal"! I do plan on heading out today for groceries and a few things for the girls at the exchange!
Hope you have a safe trip back to your house!!
We did quite a bit of shopping ourselves down here in the state of Florida. We went out at midnight and shopped til 7 am! I'm not much of a shopper so that was definately an experience for me!
So glad you had a great Thanksgiving! Way to go on Black Friday!!! I didn't get out expect for a quick run to Target. I was surprised that it wasn't crowded.
Wow, Andrea you shopped longer than me! LOL I didn't dare go to Walmart. I heard about the one casualty. WOW....amazing how scary people can get for deals but dang those ARE good deals! :) The pathetic thing is almost everything I bought was for me. I CAN'T HELP IT!
Dang girl. I didn't go out until Saturday. I bought myself some birthday gifts and I did manage to get a lot of shopping done for people on my list.
Glad you had a nice visit with your family.
Sounds like a wonderful trip/weekend. So glad you got to spend Thanksgiving with your family!
i love black friday shopping! looks like you did get lots of deals. i was able to get ALL my christmas shopping done with the exception of one gift. i was quite proud of myself - and i stayed within my budget!!
We weren't planning on shopping at all, but our vacuum broke approximately an hour before guests came over for Thanksgiving on Friday. :| DH had to make a run to the NEX. At least it broke on a day with sales, right?
Later this weekend I got a winter coat for RR and some mitten-gloves for myself.
I'm the crazed 41 year-old you've been chatting with in HI lately! What I bought... OMG. 2 pairs of Lucky Brand jeans, a leather bag from Lucky, about 25 items from Steve and Barrys (because they're having a going-out-of-biz sale and everything was like $3), 2 pairs of Clarks sandals, 2 shirts from Ann Taylor, 2 pairs of Nike shorts (that are kind of like bermudas so I can actually wear them to my casual teaching job).... you think I should actually shop for my family?????
You scored! Good for you!
Wow shopping ALL day! That's amazing! I did about five hours and was tired. A few hours later I got a second wind but was home already. LOL I did get a few good deals but admit I'm annoyed that what I got on Friday is on sale even better today! Okay just one thing, but still.
And I wanted the two trees! But didn't get them cause we move all the freaking time and have no room for anything here!
Wow...14 hours of shopping that is a crazy day! I did some shopping myself...or should I say FOR myself! I felt kind of bad about it but those deals were just too good to pass up! My hubby and I each got a pair of New Balances on a super good sale at Shoe Carnival. And I got some beautiful votives for my Christmas table and some canisters each for 20% at Bed Bath and Beyond. Now, I just wish I had knocked some stuff off my Christmas list for OTHER people.
I'm excited to hear Heather has a baby! I'm sure you all had a blast! ~ Kim
Love your loot! My hubby and I spent about 1000 on Friday! It's always amazing to have a living room full of shopping bags. :)
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