'Tis The Season...

for some holiday spirit, which I've been lacking a bit this year. I have to admit that I got a little emotionally caught up in the craziness of Black Friday, and it really put a damper on my Christmas spirit . I won't go into full detail here, but let me just say that I do think it's a sad state of affairs in our country when we are so consumed by material possessions that we will force people to have to miss their entire Thanksgiving day with their families (which, in my opinion, should be our most important focus) because they have to work and prepare for the insanity that entails Black Friday - an early morning monstrosity dedicated to consumerism, which studies are now showing really don't even lead to the great savings that shoppers believe they are getting. I am thankful that I have a career that allows me to be with my family on Thanksgiving, and I truly wish that Black Friday would go away so that the rest of America could say the same thing.

Now, with all that being said, I'm officially putting it behind me and moving on to the lighter side of things. I am going to allow myself to enjoy the holiday season and think of it not as a mass celebration of consumerism, but instead as what it is really meant to be about, and that is a season of giving and selflessness!

I think I shall start by giving you my ideas for what I think would make some great holiday gifts, because, hey...I like shopping and getting/receiving gifts as much as the next person. (I just don't think people should have to miss out on Thanksgiving day with their families because of it!) So, I hope you like my gift giving ideas. Stay tuned for more....

Black Friday: Just Say NO!!

I know to some of you this may sound absurd, but I braved my first Black Friday holiday shopping trip this Thanksgiving weekend. It was nuts! It was COLD...no - FREEZING!! There were LINES! There were deals and there were some sales. Was it worth it? NO WAY! I seriously don't know how people do this! Any deals there were, were NOT worth me having to stand in the freezing cold to wait to get in the stores. I was annoyed that standing in line for so long to get in to a single store prevented me from being able to go to several other ones I would have liked to go to as well. I was also annoyed that the lines to get to the cash registers to pay for the things I wanted to buy started at the back of the stores and wrapped all around the racks and shelves of items where mobs of people were trying to shop. And, I was annoyed that not only was I a walking zombie while shopping, but that a single essentially worthless shopping trip has completely thrown my whole sleeping pattern off track...and if you happen to know me, you know that's no bueno for someone who already has issues falling asleep at night. Bottom line: I will NEVER do Black Friday shopping again. I think there's something to be said for:
a) doing a little shopping a few days a week in the weeks leading up to Christmas about an hour or two before the stores close when there's a lot less people out and about
b) ONLINE SHOPPING...with a cup of hot chocolate, sitting in your pajamas, while parking it in front of your laptop on the couch with your favorite Christmas music or movie playing in the calm background
Now that, people, is my idea of shopping!!