Let me start out by saying I am not a shopper, so the whole "Black Friday" thing doesn't get me over excited. At midnight I am a much better sleeper than shopper, so venturing out among the frenzied is not something I ever plan on. That being said, I am a coupon hog. Always look for them and always try to use them! So a few coupons I had stashed away were calling out to me this morning and off I went.
First stop: Bath & Body Works. Those 2 for $20 candles get me every time, but just as I got the perfect parking space, a call from daughter Bailey changed my plans. She is a midnight shopper, and while out with friends last night, she got me 2 candles! So, after a few thank you's were exchanged, I headed in thinking I would use my coupon for the "Buy 3, Get 3" stuff...but the line was long, longer than I wanted to wait for something I can get just about anytime. I smelled a few things, sprayed a few things and left as I arrived...with empty hands and a coupon burning in my pocket.
A few stops later, and a few very small purchases, I headed home thinking that, all in all, it wasn't too bad. Not as many shoppers as I thought there might be, but I am probably not at the most popular stops. Then, while driving home, the guys from the city were putting up the tinsel-ly, shiny Holiday Decorations on the light posts and I have to say, I wasn't all that excited about it. Now, usually that kind of thing sends me into a holiday tizzy...it's like the start of everything wonderful! The Nutcracker Soldiers were shining up there on their perch, letting us all know that it's time to officially begin the Holiday season. So...what was different?
The season has already started! It started right after Halloween, right? Decorations started creeping in at the beginning of November and were full on before Thanksgiving! Is that it? Have we already looked at the ornaments and accessories, so that by now they aren't special? There is no build-up, no anticipation. Maybe that's why seeing the Nutcracker Soldiers today almost made me wonder, "Where in the heck have you been?"
Anyway....I am still excited about our own Christmas plans and I will be excited when I open the first container of our decorations, because I love what we have and what it all means to me. There's not much I would change....I did get a new door decoration today, though. We use mostly red and white in our decorating plans, so this just works. Added the snow effect, cause the white Florida door looks icky. Not the normal round wreath, but normal isn't always everything it's cracked up to be.
Now...it's officially the start of the Holiday Season!
