Black Friday

Hello, my name is Shantel... and I love to go Black Friday Shopping. 

This post is a little late, but if I don't post it now - it will just keep getting later and later. SO... here goes.

I'd never really been Black Friday shopping before we got married. I do remember one year where my mom and Aunt Kim went Black Friday shopping and we all, siblings and cousins, got Gameboys (they were awesome!). But other than that, I'd never really experienced it. However, I always thought that it would be fun to go. Luckily for me, my sister in law Wendy and her husband Sam always go Black Friday shopping to buy Christmas presents for their five kids. The first year we were married, we went along for the ride to help them carry things (Rule #1 of BF shopping: NO carts). The second year, we went with them and helped them out but also picked up our awesome TV (because we had been married for two years and were watching our movies on a tiny 12' square TV that we borrowed from my parents). Last year, we tagged along with them again and picked up a few things while we helped with their craziness. But this year, we ventured out on our own. 

We've been busy little shoppers the past few months, trying to find good deals on things to put in our new house. We pretty much have needed everything from a bed and a washer and drier, to a fridge and new couches. RC Willey has been awesome, because they have let us buy the items we wanted at the deals being offered - but they are holding everything for us and will deliver it all to us after we move into our house. During all of this shopping, we found a super fun chair/chaise that we fell in love with. I had almost convinced David that we needed it - when I saw the ads for Black Friday at RCW. It said that the first 100 people in line got a $25 gift card. That 25 dollars was enough to push the price down from the really good already-on-sale price to an unbeatable deal and so we decided to make sure we were one of the first 100. We also decided to scope out one of their door busters, a couch set, to see if we like it better than the ones we already have on hold. 

That morning, we slept in until Lydia woke up at six then got ready and headed out the door. It's the latest we've ever slept in on a BF morning, and it was so nice not to have to be out in the cold at 5 in the a.m. We bundled ourselves up, and made sure that Lydia was all bundled and warm. 

She may have been thinking that her parents were crazy - but she was a really good sport. She stayed pretty warm under all of those blankets (and my scarf), but after a while we took turns sitting in the car with her to make sure that she didn't get cold. 

We were one of the lucky people to be first in line. Let me tell you - RCW really has the whole Black Friday thing figured out. About 20 minutes before their doors opened at 8, they sent workers back with coupons for the $25 and the doorbusters. We got our little $25 and a paper that guaranteed us a shot at the couch set doorbuster. They even had heaters set up for about the first 50 people in line. Once we got in the store, we found the couches - decided that we didn't like them as well as the ones we already have - and then found our chair. While waiting in line to pay, they had people passing out water bottles and cookies. It was awesome! 

It was definitely worth getting up and going shopping in order to score such a great deal on this chaise:

Isn't he cute? We have the perfect place for him in our family room to help divide that room from the dining area. I'm so so excited! Plus, Lydia was being so happy that we decided to stop by Target on our way home to check out this beauty:

It was on sale for $60, and is the same color as our chaise (although they look very different in the pictures). Our minds were made up when we saw that you got a $10 Target gift card with any purchase over $50. Score for us! It wasn't until we were in the parking lot that we realized that we may not have enough room in our car with Lydia's carseat, but with some creative arranging - everything (and everyone) made it home okay.

We had a fabulous and successful Black Friday. We definitely missed hanging out with Wendy, Sam, and Amy - so next year we will probably hit up the sales with them again. (If they let us tag along after we bailed on them this year). You know, some people say that Black Friday isn't worth it - or that it's silly to go. But we've always had a great time, and we've gotten some great deals. I think that as long as you do it for the experience and adventure as much as for the deals - you can have a great time.

David - I love Black Friday shopping with you. So, how about it: November 22, 2013. Is it a date?