It’s almost Thanksgiving and if you’re like me you’re running around like a nut trying to get everything together for tomorrow. If you’re one of the lucky ones you’re off to friends or relatives to mooch Thanksgiving dinner. I’m totally jealous of you happen to be one of those lucky one.
But then there’s after dinner. Are you’re going to think about the really big question… To shop or not to shop! On Wild Friday, that is. Do you brave the masses for the great deals? Are you willing to wait in line for that $10 DVD player or special toy for the kids?
I’ve done my share of waiting. Back in the day when Cabbage Patch Kids were big I waited in lines and lines and lines. I have three daughters, all wanting these dolls. Then there was the transformer craze when my son had to have some particular transformer.
Now that my kids are grown we go out together and shop but the best part is going out to lunch. I don’t have to cook. That’s always the best part. Anytime I can sit and get served is good for me. I’m going shopping for the food!
So, you making plans to shop on Friday? Where are you off to and what for? Any great bargains I should know about?
I’ll pick a name from the replies for a copy of The Morgue the Merrier (Christmas anthology with Rosemary Laurey, Karen Kelley and me).
Have a terrif Thanksgiving!
Dianne Castell
DianneCastell.com
hAPPY Thanksgiving Dianne.
I am going over my brothers this year. No cooking for me.
Not sure if I am going shopping Friday or not. Might put up the tree. With working two jobs its now or never for the tree.
Sending you lots of hugs.
How are things at the bookstore?
Wish they’d come back in Jan to take the thing down.
Think I’ll put up my tree on Sat. All the kids will be home.
Dianne
Things are so-so… I will give details when I see you…
Sent the kids over to see me… LOL
If I send you my kids they’ll hit you up for money.
Dianne
Hey Dianne, I’m spending my holidays with friends, though it should be pretty low-key, just how I like it LOL. I actually have to work the day after so that’s going to be strange – first time ever (other than the bookstore). Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours
Hey Dianne!
Happy Thanksgiving to you. My little girl is sitting right here and told me to tell you to have a great day tomorrow.
Absolutely I am going shopping on Black Friday. My kids love to get up really early and do the whole shopping thing. LOL.
Last year it was a bit of a disappointment as the sales were not that great, but I am hoping that this year it will be.
I LOVE black friday
Hugs and smooches and tell the family I said “Hi”
Billie Jo
I don’t need the book (LOL) but we’re off to our son and future d-i-l then back home on Saturday and our daughter and her family will be coming to our house. I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR! HAPPY THANKSGIVING, DIANNE!!!!
We are going to my cousin’s house for Thanksgiving, which will be nice. Hubby isn’t as excited as I am because we won’t have leftovers. I think I’ll be cooking a turkey (breast) dinner on Friday or Saturday so he’ll have plenty to nibble on.
As for Black Friday, I haven’t done that for many years, thank heavens! I remember being at WalMart at 6:30 in the morning one year for Nano Babies. That was the last time we shopped on Black Friday. Hubby gets mad at the traffic and I get mad at the other shoppers – honestly, I don’t like to be that close to so many people that I don’t know!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all, I hope that you all have a fun, relaxing day and get lots of goodies to eat. Our Thanksgiving was back in October.
We have the shopping thing happening the day after Christmas on the 26th, when you can get really good buys. I used to go when I was younger, but am not keen on the crowds and the drivers, so stay home now.
Everyone, be safe in whatever you are doing and have a good holiday.
You know, I don’t think I have ever in my nearly 31 years of life have ever went out shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. I just usually have leftovers (which I love!!)
Lois
Hi Dianne and Happy Thanksgiving! My plans had been to eat out on Thursday at a nice buffet, but the majority wanted a home cooked meal so I’ve started my share this morning. I plan to brine the turkey overnight and bake it in the morning.
I used to have the patience and good attitude to get out in the crowds on Black Friday, but the older I’ve gotten, the less patience I have to the crowds and traffic. I’ve already bought the items I think will be hard to find for the kids so I plan to rearrange some furniture to make room for our Christmas tree.
Eddie and I are going to Louisville, KY next week for a camping show so our tree will go up the following weekend.
Hi Dianne,
I’m finished with my holiday shopping luckily. I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. It’s to crowded for me to get around being in a wheelchair, unless I run over people. And that wouldn’t be very nice of me especially during the holiday season.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
No shopping for me… I live in Canada!
Hi Dianne,
Actually, I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year..and going to Miami for a wedding the day after (Its a six hour drive from my house!). I think I might try to sneak out early in the morning. My mom and I have a tradition of going out shopping at 5am for Black Friday, but she’s in Miami helping out for the wedding.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I don’t think I’ll be shopping this Friday even though I have the last few ones. I am just figuring out what I have to buy for Christmas presents.
I won’t be doing any shopping on Friday since I will be working all day. I work in a restaurant and we are doing catering for our local Target stores. We are providing food for their employees who are working all day because of shopping. Have a great Thanksgiving everybody!
I would love to shop on Black Friday but I am not that adventurous. I’ve seen newsclips of people as the doors open and they get trampled during the stampede. Some stores are opening at 4 a.m. to start their sales. I will be missing out on the bargains but staying home will save my sanity and possibly my life.
Going to my BIL’s this year, and I only need to bring a salad, love that. When my kids were younger, we used to brave the Friday After mall, but not any more. Now I do a big chunk of my shopping online.
Good luck to all of you who are hosting this year… I also am Canadian and have a small family, so it is an always easy meal
Happy Thanksgiving!
We are going to a friends house for Thanksgiving dinner.
There is no way I will go shopping on Friday. The one time I did go I saw an elderly lady run over by a shopping cart and they didn’t even stop to help her up. She was not badly injured, but people are too crazy for me.
Sorry this is sooo long but I wanted to answer everyone.
Hey, Stacy. Have a great time with your friends and don’t let the crowds drive you nuts on Fri.
Hi, Nathalie. My family isn’t all that big either. I shop for those ten-pound turkeys. That’s plenty! Have wonderful day.
Hey, Cathy, I buy a lot online too. Love shopping in my jammies at 2 AM. Sweet!
Lois, I looooove left-overs too. My fav part of Thankgsiving and it’s a day I don’t have to cook. Just drag out the stuff from the day before. Sweet!
Susan…one of those organized gals. I have no idea how you do it. I need your secret.
Hey, Lisa, have fun in Louisville! Love that city.
Howdy, Jane. Yeah, I see those news clips too. Yikes. The big outlet mall here is opening at midnight on Thanksgiving. Last year it was soooo crowded the cars were lined up onto the express way for two hours! Nuts!
Oh, Teresa, you must be a fab cook. I can barely manage to feed our family, I can’t imagine feeding a huge crowd!
Good luck. And that’s so nice of Target to supply food!
Howdy, Billie Jo. You have such darling children. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I think you were made for Black Friday! Nothing gets in your way. I need to shop with you.
Hi, Maureen, I have no idea what to get anyone. It gets tougher and tougher. I’m thinking a check.
Oh, brownone, a wedding in Miami sounds terrific. Sun…sand… Did I mention sun. We get so little here in Cincy. I’m jealous!
Hi, Cryna. Late happy Thanksgiving to you and Nathalie from Canada. Sorry I missed it.
Hi, Laurie. I cannot imagine taking my dh to Black Friday shopping. He’s a horrid shopper and this would totally do him in.
We are going to go stay with the in-laws for a few days. We will come back on Sunday. I always contribute some desserts. I already made some chocolate cookies with white chocolate and semisweet chocolate chunks. I also will be contributing a pecan pie and a cherry torte. I also usually help my mother-in-law and sister-in-law with prep work like peeling potatoes, etc.
As for shopping, I avoid Black Friday if at all possible. I have done it in the past a few times but with a 1 year old girl and a 4 year old boy it is just too hard for this tired mama to be up and out that early in the morning. Maybe when they are older. For now, I shop early and I am actually almost done with my Christmas shopping.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you all have a safe and fun day! We spend the day at my sister’s house. She cooks and I do the baking. We celebrate my niece’s birthday (it falls on the 25th) and I’m in charge of making the birthday cake.
I don’t shop the day after Thanksgiving any more. When my son was younger my hubby and I would do the Toys R Us run on Friday. Now I do a lot of online shopping. I just can’t take the crowds. Actually I’m almost finished shopping. I got a head start this year and I’ve got quite a bit accomplished. I’m trying to avoid the stress I usually feel every year at this time.
P.S. Don’t include me in your book giveaway – I already won a copy from you.
I remember shopping on Friday because we’d be down from nowhere Vermont to the big city of Albany, NY.
I even remember dh and kids being crazy enough to hit some of the computer stores early morning for bargains.
Over here in Australia no such thing as Black Friday since they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Dh did say he would see if there were any good online deals.
Our Thanksgiving this year will be bittersweet since we are here without our eldest. We will be introducing our traditional Thanksgiving meal to friends.
Ann M.
Expat down under
I did black Friday once and that was enough for me lol.
Thanksgiving Day has been changing in our household due to illness and now a growing family. This year it will be at my nephew’s house but everyone will be bringing lots of goodies. Last year I made 4 containers of stuffing but I’m getting off easier this year – I donated the turkey, making a vegetable dish, and wine, lots of wine lol.
I will miss my oldest daughter and her fiancee. They live 5 hours away and this year it’s his family’s turn which is only fair but still it’s just not the same.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Hi Dianne
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I will be hosting Thanksgiving this year.I’m almost finished with my holiday shopping .
We will be going to my mom’s, then the mil. I always go shopping on Black Friday. Not really sure what I’m getting though. Happy Thanksgiving!
My step father is buying us thanksgiving dinner from Cracker barrel and then Friday I get to buy me a new laptop yay.
We had an early Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws Monday night. We ate at my mother’s house tonight and tomorrow I’m cooking for my hubby and kids.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We are going to my in-laws tomorrow. We usually have 2 dinners, but my parents went out of state. This is only my second Thanksgiving without my parents so it’s a little weird for me!
I won’t be shopping on Friday. I usually go, but this year I have no one to go with and that just sucks to me! Plus, I really have no ideas for presents this year so it would be a waste of time!
Happy Thanksgiving!
As a Canadian we had our thanksgiving in October. It’s a good thing we celebrate it on a different day from the US. Imagine how much worst flying would be if we celebrated it at the same time. I hope everyone gets to wherever they need to safely and in a timely fashion.
Happy Thanksgiving from another Canuck
I’m going to check some of the black friday sales out online. Have some friends in the states, so might be able to score some deals for their Xmas presents that way 
I dont do Black Friday any longer – am too old.
But my microwave JUST died – thank God it held out til after the holiday – so tomorrow will be shopping for that and my computer monitor has been dying so may as well look for that also…..
Hi, Pat. If your micro has to die now’s a good time with all the sales. Good luck.
Lis, I never thought about Black Friday shopping be a good thing for Canada too. You get all the deals. Great!
Oh, Sue, I so agree. What if Canada and the US did have Thankgiving all at once! The airlines would explode.
Zara, haveing more than one Thanksgiving is getting more and more popular with trying to fit in all the family. I love it…more great food!
Pam, enjoy your new laptop! Bet you get a wonderful deal!
Carolyn, Hope you enjoyed I’m Your Santa and The Morgue the Merrier. Nice to have a birthday during the holidays. A little something extra.
Oh, Cherie, shopping with kids is sooo tough. You are a brave gal to even think about it. Bet you have a terrif Christmas at your house. Kids make the day.
Hugs to you all,
Dianne
Oh, Emma, I am sooo jealous. I deamed of Christmas shopping last night. Guess it’s time to get on it! Dreaming doesn’t get the job done.
Ann, sharing US holidays with other Aussies is a great idea. Have fun.
Stacy, hope you get lots of neat stuff today. Happy Shopping.
Jodi, I’m with you on the no idea what to give this year. I’m thinking a list might be the way to go.
Hi, Catslady. I know what you mean about hating to share your kids on the holidays. This year my daughter will go with her boyfriend to Boston to be with his family. UGH!
I hate this but better get used to it as I think they’re headed for getting married and I need to share. Rats, I hate sharing.
Book Winners!
I pulled
Cherie
Jane
Estella
from the hat.
E-mail me at DianneCastell@hotmail.com with your snail mails and I’ll send a copy of I’m Your Sanata or The Morgue the Merrier. Let me know which.
Happy Shopping and thanks for playing.
Hugs, Dianne
Oh wow! Thank you very much! What a wonderful surprise to come home to. Just sent you an email. Congrats to the other winners as well.