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Black Friday

It’s Black Friday, you know what that means, Christmas shopping! When I was married I was always done my Christmas shopping by Thanksgiving. Once I got divorced time and money were both tight so it seemed like it all had to wait until the last minute. I went shopping today, the crowds were awful, and there really isn’t any holiday spirit when people are fighting over bargains. I got the things I needed in record time. I knew what I wanted and got it done. It is wonderful now to be able to go shopping while Hailey works instead of … Continue reading →

Stress-Free Black Friday with the Kids

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again… and again: I don’t know what kind of parent takes young children shopping in the wee hours of Black Friday. Clearly, we can deduce that the parent is frugal, as he or she is willing to do whatever it takes to score a sizeable discount on Black Friday merchandise. In addition, it is probably safe to say that said parent is a law-abiding citizen, especially if the only other option she has is to leave her baby home alone or locked in an unattended car. Both could lead to an … Continue reading →

Insurance For Black Friday

Are you ready for the shopping frenzy known as “Black Friday”? Don’t let the excitement make you confuse the store warranties with actual insurance coverage. Make sure you are calm before you drive, so you won’t get into an accident. Problems on Black Friday could result in insurance claims. It certainly feels as though Black Friday came early this year. Many retailers started revealing their Black Friday deals shortly after the trick-or-treaters returned home this Halloween. Since then, it seems like there have been extra, “early”, sales going on each and every weekend. Retailers are trying very hard to push … Continue reading →

Three Black Friday Shopping Secrets

Are you ready for Black Friday? As one friend and I recently commiserated, Black Friday is a lot different than it used to be in years past. Back then, it was fun to get up at 5am and do some shopping. Now, though, stores open as early at 2 am. Many of them never even close from the day before but allow you to buy at Black Friday deals and prices starting at midnight. Hourly specials make things even more complicated. That is why it is so important to have a plan and use all of the best shopping secrets … Continue reading →

Friday Night Football Fun

In Wisconsin, preseason NFL action does nothing to diminish the over-the-top parties that take place at homes across the state. Last week Friday the Packers hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. The game was nothing more than a glorified practice for both teams, yet that didn’t stop loyal Packer Backers from cramming into Lambeau’s parking lot with tailgating parties that rivaled those seen at the Super Bowl. Tonight the Packers travel to Indiana to face off against the Colts. Away games mean huge parties at my neighbor’s shrine to the Green and Gold. In just a few hours Mark … Continue reading →

Moms and Black Friday Madness

A mom in Wisconsin showed her dark side on Black Friday Eve and got arrested for it. The incident took place not far from where I live and just goes to prove that insanity festers when you combine cold temperatures, red-hot Black Friday deals and warm-blooded parents, who want to make their kid’s Christmas, extra special. According to reports, 21-year-old mom Lanessa Lattimore, really, really, really wanted to surprise her toddler daughter with the toy she’s been begging for, so she headed to a Toys R Us store in Madison on Thursday night. The store opened at 10 p.m. Thursday … Continue reading →

Black Friday Fun at Home

No one, and I mean no one, despises the thought of a parent dragging his or her child to the mall on Black Friday more than me. For years I was paid to cover the Black Friday shopping madness while working as a local TV news reporter, and I will never forget the looks on the faces of the kids, who were ripped out of their warm beds and forced to stand in the freezing cold, so their parents could be first in line to score a 40-inch TV for 400 bucks. There are better ways to spend Black Friday. … Continue reading →

Why Black Friday Shopping and Kids Don’t Mix

What kind of parent takes his/her children shopping on Black Friday morning? I posed that question last year in a blog and got a variety of answers. Personally, I wouldn’t dream of dragging my child out of bed at 3, 4, 5 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, so that she could sit in a cart while I tried to score deals on Christmas gifts. But that’s just me. Apparently, some parents don’t share the same philosophy. Take for example the Georgia couple that ditched their kids last week, so they could snag Black Friday deals. According to police, instead … Continue reading →

Holidays and Family Dysfunction

Twas the dinner of Christmas and all through the house everyone was stirring… while visions of food fights danced in their heads. If that pretty much sums up your family gatherings during the holiday season, then you might want to take a cue from Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. That’s right; the famously divorced Hollywood couple is now giving tips on how to avoid conflict during holiday get-togethers involving extended family. According to the actors, there is a way to co-exist with your dysfunctional family members minus the drama and fights. After all, they say, they do it on a … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: July 2008

Two of my three children are summer babies. That is, they were born in the summer and had their first months surrounded by sunshine streaming in the windows, the sound of birds chirping, and days spent wearing nothing but a diaper and a “onsie.” I made sure that they had Fourth of July outfits ready, even though one of them arrived a week after the holiday. I guess he just wasn’t interested in the parade. Do you have a summer baby, too? We had a lot of new information to share this past month, such as recall notices and new … Continue reading →