Black Friday 2010

Has it really been exactly a year since I last wrote in here? What a coincidence that I would post about Black Friday again. Actually, I have been thinking of posting in here for quite some time now. Originally, I started my blog to be able to just keep in touch with friends and family. Then I realized what a great concept it really is, a diary online, to keep track of all the wonderful (and not so wonderful) memories. It has been too long since I've updated this thing. So much for keeping friends/family up to date huh? Thank goodness for Facebook! Lol.

So here we are again, exactly one year later, talking about Black Friday. You know, when I started shopping on Black Friday a few years ago, I considered it a "special" shopping event. Now with stores opening on Thanksgiving Day, most having opening times of 3 or 4 or 5 am, and with deals being offered online basically all week long leading up to Black Friday...what's the point of going out on Black Friday anymore? I found that some of the best deals were offered days prior to Black Friday and I was sure glad that I took advantage of those deals while they were available. I just couldn't imagine camping on Thanksgiving night to fall in line for something that the store only has a limited quantity of (like 6 total!).

This year, I went out with Corinne again and her sister Tiff. We didn't even head out until 8 am and luckily, the stores weren't jam-packed crazy like we were expecting. The employees said that most of the craziness happened right when the stores opened so I guess that's one good thing about them opening so damn early. We ended up going to Target first and I was really surprised to see so many of the doorbusters still available. I don't know if it's due to economic hardships or what, but there simply weren't as many shoppers as prior years. Let's put it this way, we were able to park right in front of the store! We usually have to park way back in BFE at Target. Thank the Lord for 4 am opening time, I guess.

We only went to a few stores and I would have loved to keep shopping but there was just no way I could keep going. I was just too tired...and well I didn't really want to spend any more money. The best part about Black Friday honestly is just Corinne and I continuing our tradition. :)

Thankfully, my shopping list is always cut short due to Black Friday. I am able to find some awesome deals and leave the rest to shopping online. I only have 2 more people to shop for and I am done! Woo hoo! I even wrapped 90% of the gifts already. Yeah I know, I rock. Hopefully Cyber Monday will offer some great deals and the websites all don't crash like they usually do. As much as I love to shop, I just hate it when you fill your shopping cart online with all of what I think are super steals, only to have the website crash at the end and lose some of the items in the cart! Crossing my fingers!!

More pumpkin farm fun!

I am on a mission to visit all the pumpkin farms this year. So far, we have visited two so I better get a move on huh?!

We went to Avila Barn on Friday and it felt like it was summer once again...it was HOT! It probably wasn't the smartest idea to have the fam wear black. Oops. We survived so, oh well. We invited Aunt Carol to come spend the day with us and it was really fun!

Pumpkins galore! I love fall, the changing of colors, the nice crisp air (if only this Indian Summer would end already), the opportunities to wear sweaters and coats...I LOVE COATS. I've got a gazillion of them. Can't wait for the (feeling of) fall to begin! I also can't wait go to our next field trip! I think we're gonna hit up Chesebrough Farm in Templeton next. Never been there and have heard great things about it. I'm excited!

Pumpkin Farm fun...

A few days ago, the kids and I went on a field trip to Colleen's Pumpkin Farm out in Santa Margarita. We have been going every year since Connor was born and it brings back a lot of memories for us.

I was browsing through our photos and OMG, I can't believe how much the kids have grown in a year. It's amazing how different they are, yet the same...

This year, the kids seemed to have a lot of fun. I played around with some of the pictures and made them look "better" (my tired eyes can be very deceived however) as I had a very difficult time trying to get a shot of these very rambunctious children of mine.