Black Friday Started Early This Year

Can’t wait for the Black Friday sales? Neither can many retail stores. Some are so anxious to have crowds of shoppers visit them that they have started their Black Friday sales today, on Thanksgiving. I cannot help but wonder if this early start will become the new way to do Black Friday sales. Here is a quick overview of what stores started early, on Thanksgiving 2010. According to the Huffington Post a few of the major retailers started their Black Friday deals early last Thanksgiving as well. I think this has the potential to make some shoppers anxious. You end … Continue reading

How to Have a Successful Black Friday

Let’s face it, shopping on Black Friday is chaotic. Some people find the chaos of frantic shoppers swirling around them to be exhilarating, while others will find it to be completely overwhelming. No matter which kind of shopper you are, you can take advantage of these helpful hints, to make your Black Friday shopping experience a successful one. Do some research. It’s time to do your homework. Take the time to look over the sales that different stores near you will be having this Friday. You can do this by looking at the newspaper inserts, or by going online and … Continue reading

What Kind of Parents Take Their Kids Shopping on Black Friday?

Perhaps, I should clarify that title. It should read: “What Kind of Parents Take Their Kids Shopping at Midnight on Black Friday?” Midnight, 4 a.m., 5 a.m.—-where were your kids at those hours? I know where mine weren’t—in line outside of outlet malls that opened at 12 a.m., department stores that opened at 4 a.m. and Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, and the slew of other retailers, which opened their doors to crazed bargain hunters at 5 a.m. Friday morning. Still, if you watched the news tonight I’m sure you saw what I did. Hundreds of adults pushing stroller after … Continue reading

What Do You Do With Pictures of Other People’s Kids?

It’s that time of year again… time for your mail carrier to put on the weightbelt as she lugs batches of holiday greetings from around the world and crams them into your mailbox. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I thoroughly enjoy getting Christmas correspondences (even the ubiquitous four-page family newsletters packed with pertinent personal details like the fact that Susie lost her front tooth in August, Sam was successfully potty-trained in May, and Rover dragged a skunk home on Halloween). What’s more, any of these holiday greetings include adorable pictures of family and friend’s darling children (some of … Continue reading

Baby, Baby – Look at Me too!

Being a parent is probably one of the hardest jobs we’re ever going to do. Being a parent makes you question yourself, builds your confidence and worries you like no other task that will confront you in life. I fervently believe one of the reasons our babies are born so helpless is that it gives us time to get to know them, to care for them and to put ourselves out there for them before they become demanding or drive us nuts. Babies help us to be better parents and just for a moment – here are a few thoughts … Continue reading