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Two questions today…..
1. Are you going shopping on Black Friday? Or Thanksgiving as the case may be? I will likely end up going to Target mid-morning on Black Friday, but nothing on Thanksgiving or anything like that! One year I would like to go out at midnight and hit up the outlet malls (I hear it’s bananas), but now that so many of the sales start on Thanksgiving, it’s not as fun. We have turkey to eat and football to watch on Thanksgiving day / night! I do want to check out the $10 Sephora deals online though and I am hoping for (more) subscription box deals. If you are going out where are you heading? Are you in search of anything in particular?
2. Do you have an “Elf on the Shelf?” We do, but he’s not a really creative Elf like some of them are. I know some people think it’s creepy that there is an elf “watching” and reporting back to Santa about behavior, but L thinks it’s super fun so we do it. Fred (our elf) just moves around the house and ever once in a while will bring something fun or do something silly. Not all the, but sometimes. He pretty much brings “magic” to the house. It’s fun to see L get all excited looking for him in the morning and hopefully WB gets it a little this year too!
I am totally looking forward to hearing everyone’s answers today!
1. I agree that it’s not as much fun shopping on Black Friday anymore. My husband needs clothes so we might go to Kohls Thursday night.
2. The elf creeps me out.
1. No amount of money is worth dealing with the lines and crowds on Black Friday, but I’m definitely hoping for some subscription box deals! Particularly for some gifts.
2. Not a fan, don’t get it.
There are so many amazing subscription box deals this year!
1. I started going a few years ago and I love it. I go to Target around midnight-2am and I always find what I am looking for and there is never a crowd at that time.
2. My elf isn’t creative either, last year he forgot to move one night and it was a BIG deal. Our elf will never forget to move again.
I’ll try and hit up Target mid-morning and see what goodies are left!
Likely won’t go out on Black Friday. I’ll shop online though for some gifts. Last year I got a lot of those Sephora $10 deals, but I barely used any of them, so I’m going to try to hold off this year and just stick to gifts.
I find Elf on the Shelf to be totally creepy. If this had existed when I was a kid, I think I would have been scarred for life.
LOL!!!
Did you see the Sephora deals this year? i may not be able to resist!
Which ones are you most interested in?
That Tocca set for sure!!!!
I hate BF shopping and I’m even more disturbed that stores are opening up on Thanksgiving night now–6 pm! It’s ridiculous. But there is honestly not anything I’d go stand in line for and I’d rather do cyber-Monday anyway lol. Shopping from my living room couch is more fun for me.
We never did the Elf. And now my kids are 10, 14, 19 so we don’t have to. I have friends that do it and have a lot of fun with their Elf. they move him around and make him mischievous and have a lot of fun with him and now the author of that book added a character or something.
My son wants to start the pickle tradition now. I’ll have to find a present for whoever finds it. Maybe I’ll do an iTunes gift card for the finder.
I will come over and look for the pickle for an iTunes gift card ;).
We always black friday shop!! But now tht its getting earlier and earlier its really annoying, we usually start about 10pm and go until 430 the next afternoon 🙂 😉
Yes we do the Elf too.. Shes not very creative, but she def keeps her behaving! She cant WAIT for her to come back.. She will make her arrival on St nick night 🙂
I am exhausted just thinking about all that shopping!
1. So last year I totally went shopping on Turkey day. I was single and didn’t live near any family, so what better way to spend turkey day than on the deals and steals at target? This year I think we’re going to go to Costco on black Friday when they open and I’d like to hit our outlets. Old Navy is a good one too for winter clothes to stock up on!
2. Nope, no kids and I don’t think my boyfriend would play along lol. I wish my mom would have done it for us, it looks so fun!
Ohhh, I have always wanted to hit up the outlets on BF. I am scared though because the freeway gets super backed up and is basically a madhouse.
do target early a.m. now that it starts so early n crowd and they still have what im lookin for may even hit it on my way home from turkey day this yr and sleep in LOL my elf brought me the new eos 3 pack designer straw kiwi hawaian and orange yummo happy turkey day jen a lou
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
1. Nope. I can’t stand the crowds! I’m pretty short, so I’m armpit level with lots of people. And I gotta tell you, it’s not pleasant! I live very close to some nice outlets, so one year I decided to go in the middle of the night. I figured it would be crazy at midnight, so I took a nape and went around 2:30 am. I took back roads to get there, and got lucky with a great spot right away, so I had no idea what a zoo it was until I walked up to the stores. Apparently the highway was backed up like 4 or 5 exits, and parking had been a nightmare. I guess I just got lucky! It was fun to experience just once, but honestly the deals were still the same when I went back later during the week one evening. So I’ve vowed never again, but will surely shop in my PJ’s online on black Friday.
2. I don’t have kids and also I’m Jewish, but I just found the Mensch on a Bench which I got for my niece! (http://themenschonabench.com) It’s the Jewish version of the elf. Hilarious! I think it’s a really cute idea, and I love seeing the creative things these elves get into.
LOL! You could sneak through those crowds pretty nicely though!
And OMG I cannot believe there is a Mensch on a Bench. I love it!!!!!!
I’m in control of my nieces elf Rosie and she’s done some crazy things like hang from the kitchen lights and spending the day in the fridge yet my nieces favorite is still when Rosie spelled out hi kylee in dog cookies on the counter. Soon the elf will be her dad and his gfs responsibility as they are moving in with her, luckily her boys have a boy elf already but kylee isn’t ready to let go of Rosie she actually brought her up Sunday night excited she’ll be back Friday morning
Staying the heck away from stores on Black Friday. Actually will probably not do much of anything, my grandmother’s funeral is on Friday. (I can’t get home for it for financial reasons and due to holiday travel already being crazy, but am hoping they can at least do a webcam as there are several other relatives in my situation.)
Don’t have kids so no elf on a shelf for me. Actually I didn’t even understand what it was until your post today (though I’d heard of it before). I am so out of the loop when it comes to anything that’s trendy among kids.
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my Grandma this year and it was hard.
Unfortunately I have to work on Black Friday. I don’t think I would go out to shop if I had the day off. Most of my shopping is done online and I will be checking for subscription box deals.
My grandkids (3 & 5) love the elf. They are already talking about him.
My 6 year old is anxiously awaiting his appearance!
1. I hate that it’s so early. It forces a lot of people who need the savings to buy for their families out before dinner has even started and those poor workers! Plus, the people who go out for fun figure all the fun is over at midnight since it’s been Black Friday since 6pm Thursday.
2. No kids but if we did I would totally get into it! Does L still believe in Santa?? I know I do! 😉
Oh he SO does. He knows that some people don’t believe, but he basically thinks they are nuts.
1. I do a little Black Friday shopping with the girls. We will go out and get breakfast at Panera and they will shop for each other and for Dad. We mostly go to Target and try to stay away from the mall.
2. We don’t have an Elf (yet) but I’m sure there will be a time when they see someone else’s and ask why we don’t have one.
That’s a cute idea! I should do that with L this year!
Probably not going shopping on BF. When I go to my moms house we usually hit the outlets about 8am which seems to be a lull time between the midnight people and the next wave. We just kind of walk around and maybe grab a couple things. Then we do lunch and a movie and leave LOL however this year I’m staying here and doing a Friendsgiving and then M is working Friday afternoon so no way am I taking the boys. If we leave my friends house at a decent time I may swing into Michaels on the way home but that is all time dependent.
We have the most boring elf ever who the boys just call elf. LOL He also doesn’t come until Dec 1st in my house so it gives me a little less time to worry about him. He also sometimes really likes his spot so he hangs out in the same place 2 days in a row 😉
Fred (our Elf) doesn’t come until 12/1 either. He’s busy making toys till then I guess.
1. love to work on black friday, most people are out of the office.
2. Yes to elf on the shelf. Bought one for my 17 year old (upon request because her younger brother has one) and look forward to two elf scenarios!
1. We will most likely be doing some Cyber-Monday shopping, Black Friday shopping is far less likely.
2. We have an elf named Ginger who will be arriving soon for his 3rd (or 4th?) annual visit. Our kids love him! They talk to him and tell him things they want him to mention to Santa. Also, he always leaves to visit his family/go on vacation for the year on Christmas Eve so they are usually a bit sad about that. At least once, Ginger has really loved his spot and decided to revisit the spot the next morning. 😉 Finally, one of my kids accidentally touched him once and was horrified that Ginger wouldn’t be able to travel anymore; luckily Ginger has a magical hat (like Frosty) that allows him to travel.
Fred (our Elf) also has that issue of liking the same spot a little too much. My son is NOT too happy with Fred when that happens. And then I hear the questions…
1. No, I have only been once on Black Friday… There’s a town with a small Walmart near my parents house and my cousin reported back that it was easy pickins because everyone that lived there went out of town to go shopping. So my little brother suckered my into it (and into buying his lunch, stinker) and we had fun. It really wasn’t bad at all. But this year I work on Friday and live in Houston… terrible idea. I would never going on turkey day… The Cowboys are on TV and I’m in food coma.
2. No, we don’t have kids. Just two dogs and I don’t think they would think it was fun unless we let them use it as a toy, which is a terrible idea. Maybe one day when I have little ones running around I’ll join in on the fun! It looks like such a cool tradition!
Now that Walmart sounds like something I could handle on Black Friday!
While I hate the idea of black Friday shopping starting earlier and earlier, I’ll probably go to Target and Old Navy when they open. I get all of my husband and daughters clothes that day at a great bargain and if I don’t go when they open or close to it, I’ll be picking over a mess and I am not with that biz. Old Navy opens at 4:00! Can I friggen digest my food please? Sheesh!
And I was thinking of doing Elf on a Shelf for my 3-year-old daughter, but I still think she’s a little too young for it. She’s also in the “I’m a psychopath” area of Tantrum 3’s, so I think the concept would be useless.
4pm! we don’t even have dinner until after that!
1. I usually go shopping around 10am with my mom on BF. It’s late enough that there aren’t many people out, but still plenty of deals. However, this year I’m pretty much done shopping already 🙂 I bought everything on Amazon, so unless anyone knows of some great deals for new release WiiU games, I’m out.
2. I didn’t hear about the Elf until about 4 years ago and at that point my son was already 5. It seemed dangerous to introduce a new magical character at that point (why wasn’t he here last year Mommy?) Plus, there is no way my son would have believed at ANY age that the elf was moving himself and if he started doubting that I was afraid he would start doubting the Big Guy, so we just never bothered.
10am is probably a perfect time to go!
I’ve only BF shopped online. I always do sephora and their $10 deals, but last year I had a horrible experience with them and I don’t think I’ll be giving them my business on BF again. They ended up canceling my whole BF order because one item ended up being out of stock. When I called customer service they put the order through with the remaining items, but then charged me full price and refused to honor the $10 cost on my original order. I was so frustrated I ended up returning everything to the store. If you’ve seen their FB wall lately it seems as if their customer service has gone downhill quite a bit.
Oh no! I would have been so annoyed!
1. I HATE shopping on a regular day, so Black Friday is completely out for me. I went once several years ago and that was enough for me. I will do Cyber Monday probably. What is this Sephora $10 thing you speak of? I need to know! 🙂
2. I don’t have kids so no elves for me. I like the idea of him just being different places. I don’t get people who have him do mischievous things. Like, isn’t the point to make your kids be good? Why would the elf be making messes and stuff? So weird.
They have the best $10 beauty deals. Here is what is going to be on sale this year:
http://www.pinterest.com/sephora/black-friday-2014/
1. I used to do BF shopping… but living in Las Vegas, it’s gotten ridiculous. As big as the city is, we only have 2 or 3 major shopping areas. So, everyone bombards those areas — not to mention the tourists. Literally hundreds of thousands of people. No thank you. I don’t do a lot of Christmas shopping in general, so there is nothing that is worth the extra $20 or whatever to get me out of the house.
My husband and I traditionally swing by Michaels on our way home from Thanksgiving dinner. We check out the holiday sales and call it a night.
2. No kids=no elves
I like to drive by the malls and Best Buy and Target on the way home from dinner to check out the crowds!
1) We tried BF shopping one year and it was crazy crowded, so never again. Plus, I hate that stores are open on Thanksgiving. They should at least allow one full day for people to spend with their family. It’s out of control, in my opinion. I prefer waiting until cyber Monday. I do a lot of my shopping online anyway.
2) Yes, we have an elf. He never does anything too creative, but shows up in a new place each morning, no elaborate scenes though. I have 3 girls, and they all love him.
I wouldn’t mind if they opened at midnight tonight! But 6pm is dinner!
1. I don’t support Black Friday anymore because stores are starting their deals on Thanksgiving & ruining a lot of people’s/families Thanksgiving. I might order some stuff online tomorrow, but most likely will wait until Cyber Monday.
2. I don’t have kids yet, but I don’t think I would do Elf on the Shelf even if I did. I just don’t get it. I grew up with an Advent Calendar that my mom would put candy in & that was enough to keep my sister & I well behaved haha so I might just follow along in her footsteps with that one someday.