End of an Era

Sad day. Coach Fulmer just coached his last UT football game after 17 years as head coach. I don't care what anyone else says, I liked him and am sad to see him go.

Good Luck and Trouble

My shopping adventures today went well; I got the two big gift items on my list (can't say what or for who!) and several other good deals that were just too good to pass up. I started at 4:30 with a trip to Fry's where I waited in the freezing cold for twenty minutes before the doors opened, but I snagged what I went for so it was well worth the temporary suffering.

Then off to Target for another twenty minute wait in the cold. This wait was a little more pleasant because they had live Christmas music and were handing out 'breakfast' boxes with Christmas cookies and mini-bagels. How great is that? This stop was also wildly successful as Katie and I shopped our way through our lists via cell phone (she lives in Florida).

A quick trip to Old Navy (more success in the form of several sweaters for Nate!) and I was home by 7:30am.

After a quick breakfast and some make up (I was looking rough on Round 1!), we headed out to the mall and Michael's. I scored some more ornaments for my new tree and wreaths to decorate the front windows, all for under $40 (yeah for sales plus coupons!).

The best buy of the day was this new coat that I picked up at Ann Taylor Loft. It was on sale plus a 20% off coupon, and they were flying off the rack like hot cakes. I am in love with the collar and despite my closet full of coats, I don't own anything in this color. When it's this cold outside, you can never have too many coat options, right?


Sadly, our shopping foray was cut short when Nate was locked out of the house and we had to go 'rescue' he and his dad. But it's probably lucky for my wallet because I was having some serious decorating envy at Pier One when we got the call!

Success

Ladies and gentlemen, I have stuffed my first turkey. And I didn't throw up once. (There may or may not have been some covert gagging, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count).

Ain't That Always the Way?

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a car that won't start? That's right folks, no one else has to worry this weekend, because the obligatory car horror story has already happened to me. Save your thanks; send cash.

It happened yesterday as I was loading the beasts dogs for a trip to the groomers. They were in bad shape and with the in-laws coming, a little haircut was in order. Trips to the groomer are always an ordeal. Oliver loves to be in the car and shows his pleasure by bouncing from seat to seat and joyously licking your face (while you are driving). Lola, on the other hand, does not care so much for car rides and registers her displeasure by keening at the top of her lungs. This is worse than barking or howling; it is so high pitched that I am sure other dogs can hear her in Canada. Then she will claw her way up my arm to sit around my neck, the better to make herself heard (READ: keen directly into my ear).

Needless to say, I was already dreading the ten minute drive to PetSmart. So we have leashes, we have keys, we get in the car and the hysterics have already begun...but the car does not.

WTH?

After trying in vain several times to turn the engine over, we pile back out of the car by which time the puppies are frantic (why aren't we going?!) and I am more than a little pissed.

Put the dogs in the house, call Nate, call PetSmart, call Dad, call Nate again. Not exactly how I had envisioned my puppy free afternoon going. Boo.

Long story short, it's not the battery or something easy like that. And the shop that the neighbor recommends can't take it until Monday. So on this most busy of holiday weekends, we are a one car family. And then for who knows how long once we finally get it in the shop.

I have been car-less for less than 24 hours and already I am stir crazy. Not that I have anywhere in particular to go, but just knowing that I can't is enough to make me desperately NEED to get out of the house. Go figure.

Distraction

Who can work when her inbox is piling up with coupons and fliers for the holiday weekend?

"Not Me!" Monday

Okay, so technically this is now Tuesday, but these things happened on a Monday, so isn't that close enough? I have been enjoying the blog My Charming Kids for awhile now and finally decided to get in on the "Not Me!" Monday action.

This week I did not turn the wrong way out of the Wal-mart parking lot and make it three miles before I realized I was going the wrong direction. Again.

I did not try to buy wine for Thanksgiving and discover that I did not have my driver's license in my wallet.

Last night when Nate asked for grilled cheese for dinner (WTH?), I most certainly did not sneak off to call my sister Katie to make sure I knew how to make grilled cheese correctly.

And I definitely am not posting this while eating yet another spoonful of cookie dough from the refrigerator.

Start Your Engines

Search engines, that is. In preparation for the Most Important Shopping Day of the Year, here are a few websites to help you plot world domination your shopping course. Many of the Black Friday sale fliers can already be found online at one of these websites. Don't forget that many online retailers will start their Black Friday sales online on Thursday!

Black Friday 2008
Black Friday at Gottadeal.com
Black Friday Info

And just in case you suddenly fall deathly ill from a turkey overdose (or possibly food poisoning at my house) and can't make it on Black Friday (HORROR!), never fear! Check out the deals for Cyber Monday here.

CyberMonday.com
CyberMondaySales.com

If you just can't wait until Friday, check out this 30% off online offer at NY and Company.

Somebody Stop Me

I am completely incapable of staying away from the Nestle cookie dough in my refrigerator.

I knew I should have put off Thanksgiving grocery shopping until Wednesday.

He's a Keeper

Bad day: When your husband has to work on both Saturday AND Sunday.

Good day: When your husband brings you Starbucks because he had to work on both Saturday AND Sunday.

Great Expectations

As if I didn't already have enough to look forward to in the next few weeks, we have finally ordered our entertainment console for the family room. We picked it out several weeks ago in the hopes that it would come before Nate's parents visit for Thanksgiving, but it's a new piece at Haverty's and apparently very popular - it's on back order through Christmas. So we decided to hold off a few weeks since it wouldn't make a difference anyway. And I'm so glad we did, because this week I got a coupon for 15% off any one item. Yeah for saving money!

This lovely merlot media console will arrive just in time for New Year's Day football. I can't wait to get the ugly craft table out of our family room and finish up my craft room upstairs!


Up next - new couches and tables for the family room!

Press Play

Last weekend I bought the new Taylor Swift CD, Fearless. Don't judge; you know you secretly like country music too! I was a big fan of her first CD, Taylor Swift, so I went ahead and bought the new one before I heard a single song.

That's a big deal, people, in case you didn't know. I buy maybe one or two CDs a year. In fact, I made it to November before I bought one this year. I rarely like an entire CD enough to buy it; I copy borrow from my parents anything I really want or just download the one or two songs I like from the Internet. So buying a CD, songs unheard, is unprecedented.

And totally worth it! It's maybe not as great as her first one but it's pretty darn close. I have already listened straight through several times and only skip through one song (It's about the prom. Ugh). I haven't found anything I like quite as much as Our Song (from the last album), but think Track #4 (Hey, Stephen) and Track #5 (White Horse) could be contenders for my new favorite Taylor Swift song.

I think this one is going to be in heavy rotation for quite awhile. Might even supplant the Christmas music for awhile!

Wish I Had Thought of That

Seen on Post Secret

Dear Universe (because I don't know who else to thank)

Dear Person Who Sent Me This Gift,

What a delightful surprise to come home this afternoon from Starbucks to discover your mystery package on my doorstep. You are very welcome for whatever it was that I helped you with, although I wish you had been a bit more specific on my helpfulness (or perhaps signed your name!) so that I would know whom to thank. I was having a spectacularly bad day and your gift was just what I needed to remember that there are nice people in this world, not just stupid ones.

love,
Sara

You Know It's Bad When...

...not even a massage could help after the day I've had. A total blackout is the only answer.

You Call THAT a Sale?

So I just checked my email and was jazzed to see an announcement that Baker's Shoes is having a boot sale this weekend. Immediately, my mind was dancing with visions of wearing these babies for my Black Friday shopping adventures next week as I bopped over the Baker's website to check the sale price. Imagine my dismay to discover that Baker's idea of a rip-off sale is $5 off! What the heck? You call that a sale?

Fortunately, my favorite store was feeling a little more generous over on their website. Enjoy!