Black Friday

Black Friday is like a fun game for me. I love, love, love getting a bargain! Last year I wrote down these tips for Black Friday shopping

Here are some suggestions for Black Friday shopping:
1. Do your research. I scoured the ads yesterday and wrote down what I wanted to get in each store, what time they opened and clipped any coupons needed.
2. Set out your outfit the night before, so you can hop out of bed and right into it. Don't forget your socks (I did). And don't dress too warm, malls are hotttttttt!
3. If you have a few stores to get to, do not browse in the beginning stores. Get what you need and get out. If you have time and money left over, then you can relax and browse.
4. I stay away from Best Buy. The people mental for the 4 $300 computers in the store scare me.
5. Smile. It really freaks some people out how you can be so happy at 6am.


Do you see number 4 where I state that I stay away from Best Buy because the people scare me? Case in point, some family in Florida started camping out in front of the store yesterday (that would be Monday people)!! They don't even know what is on sale yet, but they know it is going to be good and they want to be FIRST!

Will they fire up the grill and have grilled turkey on Thursday? Will they eat and drink too much and lose their gaming skills and give up their first in line spot? Will they be too sore from camping out on the sidewalk to get up Friday morning to stumble into Best Buy? Will someone steal their camping stuff while they are in Best Buy? I seriously hope the news people grab these people on their way out of the store to see what they bought.

If anyone knows these people in Florida, could you tell them I need a new fridge? Thanks.

Once Upon a Time Wednesday

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Once upon a time my family, friends and I went to a royal wedding. That's right. We did. Well OK, we watched the wedding of Princess Charles and Princess Diana on TV, but we made a party out of it. We had to get up really early and get all dolled up to "attend" the wedding. We had tea and crumpets and watched the wedding as if we were there.

I remember thinking how young and slightly overwhelmed Diana appeared and how "old" Charles looked. Of course, this began my obsession with Diana. I am sure she would be very proud of William and Harry.

And now I get to share the joy of  a royal wedding with my girls! They are about the same age that I was when I watched Charles and Di. I have to start getting some crumpet recipes and finding my fine china. It has to be a smashing party!

Just a little favor, William and Kate.... could you please not have your wedding on June 11th? I am already attending the somewhat less royal, but equally important wedding of my brother and his fiance.
Great, thanks.

Sundays in My City

Thanks to unknownmami, we can share our shots of the week on Sundays! This week, the girls and I left the Cape for few days and headed to Ogunquit, ME. The surf was rough, to say the least. Click on the last picture, B had me put a little Thanksgiving treat in it for you.

Sunday Suppah: Not for the Weak Minded

I love the game Scrabble. I used to play it with my Grandmother as a kid and she would whoop my ass. The girls and I actually have a pink board and have fun playing together.

I have decided that Sunday Suppers are very similar to Scrabble. My mom, dad, sister, brother in law, baby R and the girls and I get together for dinner most every Sunday night. Sometimes other people are added in, but we are the core group.

The conversation is not for the weak and by the end of dinner, my dad (I think happily) escapes to do the dishes, Dave wanders over to the couch and even K will leave the table due to homework (or facebook). In Scrabble, you add words to other words that only have a letter in common. At dinner, the conversation flies in many different directions with only a thought or word in common.

I will give you an example, although this is not totally accurate, because no one can remember the entire conversation unless they transcribe it off of a tape recorder.

"The baby has been fussy and not sleeping like she should. I am sure it is because I went to Boston last night."
"Yeah, how was the movie? And Tommy and Jenn?"
"Movie was good, we didn't win any of the giveaways. Jenn is not coming for Thanksgiving."
"Oh that's too bad. What do you want to bring to Thanksgiving dinner anyway?"
"Whenever I think of Thanksgiving, I think of Christmas and we haven't decided how we are doing presents this year."
"I got a funny bridezilla voodoo doll as a present from Amy at her party last night."
"Did you see Jeff at the party?"
"Yes I did, the meeting went for 3 1/2 hours."

One thought leads to another. Who needs crossword puzzles or Sudoku to keep the mind sharp? Just come on over for a Sunday dinner and if you can follow the conversation, your mind is OK.

Frag'n Friday

Welcome to another edition of Friday Fragments where the thoughts tumble out as quick as the raindrops falling from the sky....

*Construction is right outside my house. See?

Last night they hit a gas line. Gas has always made me uneasy especially with peoples' houses blowing up in the news. We went to sleep at my parent's house.

Of course, blowing up made me think of one of my favorite movies. Can you name the movie? Here's the quote:
"Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up, Ricky."

*Um and hello, I never told anyone who won the 1800FLOWERS give away. It is Janice S! Congratulations Janice and thank you to everyone that entered. When I win Megabucks some day, I will send you all flowers!

*I am pretty sure I will have a new car by the end of the day! Well a new "used" car that will seat 7. This will be huge when trucking around the jump rope team or little dude and his sisters or my girls and their friends.... Plus, I will be incognito until people realize that I have a new car!

*If anyone needs a friends and family (20%) coupon for the Christmas Tree Shop (Nov 9-16th), let me know and I will email you one.

*We had our first frost here the other night. That means that my gigantic geranium is now in the house. I really should charge it rent.

*I am loving snacking on Pretzel Crisps. They do not sponsor me, I just thought I would share my second favorite snack. (I think we all know M&Ms are my first).

*It is Melisa with One S' birthday tomorrow. Go on over and give her some bloggy birthday love.

*There has been a lot of heat lately on the Patriots' QB, Tom Brady, about his hair. His wife (Gisele) won't let him cut it. Justin Bieber has made fun of him and now he is making fun of himself. Here is a little preview of something that will air Sunday night.

*While last weekend was super busy with a swim meet and Halloween, this weekend SHOULD be a little more relaxing.... Hope you have a good one !  :)

Once Upon a Time Wednesday....

Once upon a time Wednesday is about things from the past. There are many stories in my head that I want to share with my girls. The trip to Ellis Island, thank you very much Liberty Mutual, this summer made me realize that I had to get these stories documented. History is extremely important and fun!  Play along if you want!

Once upon a time (30+ years ago), my sister was born on December 30th. 35 years ago, my Grandfather gave my sister his birthday, November 3rd, because he thought she was screwed having a birthday 5 days after Christmas. He figured 60 was old enough and didn't need to celebrate any more birthdays.

I will admit, I did not think this was fair as a kid because essentially she got to celebrate 2 birthdays. 2 cakes, presents each "birth" day, extra attention each "birth" day....

But now that I am older and way more mature, I like the reminder of my Grandfather on this, their special day. Only the immediate family celebrates this (birth)day, but it is one of the things that makes my beautiful sister unique and special.

Happy 30 something birthday, Karen and happy would have been 95th birthday, Dada!
I love you!

Election Day vs Road Construction

I have been trying to figure out a post that could combine Election day with the road construction my entire town is under this fall.

I was trying to come up with something clever.

For example, I am sick and tired of political commercials as much as I am sick and tired of a 10 ton bulldozer rumbling down the street in front of my house every morning at 7am.

Or, the pot holes we are left with in the road are as big as the lies all the candidates seem to be telling.

Or, maybe if we had a good rain, the mud slinging in the roads would be as significant as the mud slinging on tv.

Or, driving through the detours is like shuffling through the political post cards to find the significant mail.

Or, the combined hot air that the machines blow every day is equal to the hot air I hear from political rallies and press releases.

Or, the red, white and blue from the candidates is as prominent in my mind as all the yellow from the tractors, bulldozers and diggers.

But no idea on it's own seemed to be worthy of a full post.

At least I know that the election commercials, mailings and signs will be done with today(until next year). The road construction? Well I also know when that will be done: the week before Memorial Day when the tourists come back to town.