Don't Cry Over Angry Shoppers!

I am sorry it has been a little bit since I last posted. Life has gotten away from us a little at the Hartwig house.  It has been nothing short of the busiest month of our lives this November...and December has been the same.

IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL THE OLD LADY

MAKES ANNIE CRY

I thought I would start by telling the best ten highlights/learned strategies about my infamous first "Black Thursday."  Yep, I said it...We started on Thursday this year and went until dawn.  Five of us set out to get the best deals for Christmas for our kiddos. We came back with the best war stories and presents.
I started by auto-tuning a song about Black Friday every few days to get my strategic shopping buddy pumped up.  If those songs ever make it on the web...she will be a dead girl.

TOP TEN1.  First stop: I find the best little kitchen for Ericka's Christmas present at a "huge store that rolls back prices." The kitchen is outside, so my niece and I have to wait outside in the lawn and garden area in the cold for about an hour and a half to get this and a ping pong table!  The competition was surprisingly fierce!
2.  Our friend who was with us got punched in the nose while in line for a video game for her step-son.  Yes...she even still made it out with the game!!!!  I would go into war with her any day.

3.  An older lady made me cry by yelling at me.  (I am THAT big of a pansy.) My friends then told me to "grow a pair" and quit letting older ladies push me around. SELF REALIZATION MOMENT ALERT!

4.  Even though the line wrapped around the back of the store, Target was the most organized place we went the whole night.  That was the biggest shocker for me!

5.  Whataburger is still the best thing in the world to eat after midnight.  I thought I would have been over that the day I turned 22.

6.  A full store in the middle of the night equals a lot of strange body smells that you just can't seem to get away from.  Crop dusting, body odor, smelly clothes... I was a little alarmed by this!

7.  200+ people cannot fit through a store door at the mall.  I did really enjoy watching crazy shoppers try (and get stuck) at JCP Black Friday morning. See picture.

8.  My breaking point is 3AM, but I was home by 5AM.  I was DONE!

9.  Always always ALWAYS go shopping with your best friends on Black Friday.  Not only were they great to strategize with on getting deals, I had more fun that night than I had in a long time.

10. A champagne toast with the girls is necessary at the end of a night like that.  Just don't let the bottle roll around in the car before you open it...tends to be a little messy.  Just sayin'

After all of the laughs, tense moments and madness... I would totally do it all over again next year, but only with the same crazy-hyper friends.  It was easily one of the funniest nights of my life.

THANKFULNESS

Every day in November, I have tried to think of something that I am thankful for.  I know this little Facebook ritual has made everyone crazy, but in a way...it has really helped me to remember the things that are most important.  This time of year, I tend to get caught up in Christmas shopping, decorating, visiting Santa and over-indulging in amazing foods.  Remembering what I am most thankful for has really forced me to stay grounded and not sweat the small stuff as much.

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for some really funny life moments.  Lots of good stuff!