I really should be studying...

As most of you know... I'm currently going back to school, trying to get my Masters of Arts in Teaching Biology. I have one final standing between me and Christmas, and I really should be studying for it... but instead, I somehow find myself blogging. Oops! How did that happen?!

I can't wait to show you guys what all I have done to make this house all Christmasfied. BUT... before I do that, I want to share my awesome Black Friday 2010 experience with you. I know you all have been waiting on pins and needles for this post.

As you know from this post, I heart Black Friday. My sister was missing from this year's experience, but my mom and I aimed to make it as awesome as possible. In fact, we wanted to make it lengen-waitforit-dary. And legendary it was, my friends.

I'm going to tell our story in pictures.

Firstly (real word? not sure.), we didn't go to sleep. At all. That's important for you to understand. We took it to a whole new level this year.

We started by heading to Old Time Pottery after some pumpkin pie on Thursday night. Here, I purchased some cutey cute Thanksgiving decorations for basically no money, no money at all. Ok some dollars. I also purchased some wreaths, which you will see pictures of in the coming days.

At midnight (yes midnight) we headed over to Walmart. Our experience at Walmart was definitely legendary, but never again. Never ever again. Here is Mom walking in at approximately 11:46pm Thanksgiving night....

They had pallets of items all saran wrapped with signs saying "don't open until 12:01am." People had the arms shoved into these things, clinging to and "claiming" their precious doorbuster items! You'll appreciate this picture... these are ladies clinging to "Cricut" craft cutting machines (hehehe)......

I was there for one item and one item only. A kitchen-aid stand mixer. It was on sale for $150 (usually $250!)!! After pushing my way through the crowd, I claimed my territory in front of the stand mixers.

I made "friends" with the ladies around me (and by friends I mean I was nice to them until I was shoving them out of the way at 12:01.... jkjkjkjk).

And then at midnight............ this happened:

Long story short, I hate walmart and I ended up having to buy my stand mixer at Kohl's at 3am. After running to get the cash register (first in line baby!), and waiting about seven minutes before we could "officially" checkout... the cash register lady kept trying but couldn't scan my mixer. She finally brought a manager over who very firmly told me that the mixer was part of the 5am sale and I was not allowed to purchase it. I ended up walking out without the mixer. After cooling down... a couple of hours later... I finally checked the WalMart ad and sure enough they had it advertised as a midnight doorbuster. Lesson learned. I was pretty annoyed at the time, but I actually ended up getting a better deal at Kohl's! The Black Friday spirits smiled down upon me :)

After Walmart we made our way to the mall where mom and I started bustin' down doors (get it? doorbusters??)! Here she is putting our first batch of bags in the car.... please note that it is still dark outside......

We headed on over to Kohl's at 3am where we "ran with the bulls" and I purchased my stand mixer and a set of 4' Christmas trees (only $40, originally $120!). Then we headed back to the mall. We did the majority of our Christmas shopping at the mall (because at this point I had only purchased items for myself... oops!). We left the mall by 7:30am.... when normal people were just starting to wake up.... and headed on over to World Market, Borders, and then JoAnns.

Mom was hardcore. She could have gone even longer, but I was D-O-N-E. Here I am at home, around 10:30am, with my car full of Black Friday goodness.....

All in all, Black Friday 2010 was a success. We had fun, we got some great deals, and we didn't end up with any black eyes or broken bones! How was your Black Friday? Care to share any of your steals? Or did you find your goodies while sitting on the couch during Cyber Monday?

Happy December and Happy holiday season (officially)... check back over the next couple of days. I promise there will be pictures of Christmas decorations!