Crazy or brilliant...you decide!

The day after Thanksgiving means one thing to me....Black Friday. Now I know most of you will read that line and think, She is Crazy! And that may be, however, I have been known to find some killer deals on this grand shopping day. Crowds, pushing, pre-dawn hours...none of that intimidates me if I am after a good sale. But this year I had no item in mind that was a must have like I have had in years past. I was torn about shopping without a "must have" deal I was going for. Not to worry....



As I returned home from watching 4 Christmas on Thursday afternoon I snuggled up to the paper to search through the massive amount of ads. The clock read 5:25 pm. I went through a couple of ads, disappointed that I was not after a particular item when I came across the Michael's ad. Cricut cartridges were on sale for $29.99 (normally $100)not only that the sale was to begin at 6:00 p.m. I grabbed the coupons, plucked the dirty child from the yard and yelled to the Mr. that we would be back sometime....



I excitedly drove towards the nearest Michael's excited I did have an item I was to be after this year! I realized as I was pulling in that I had not thought this one all the way through. Why did I bring the boy? This was not to be a regular stop at Michael's. After closer inspection of the boy....what was I thinking? He was beyond filthy. There was a layer of pumpkin roll smeared across his face, something all over his clothes and his hands were black with grime and grit. Now, I am not one to worry about a dirty child in most cases. However, the closer inspection was warranted by the fact that a KSAT 12 news truck was right beside us and a TV camera with a rather bright light was headed in our direction! Who knew this would be the 6:00 news story on this fine Thanksgiving evening? Oh well...back to the mission.



I did what any good mother would do and licked my hand and rubbed what I could from his face and then dried up my hand across my jeans. I gathered up the coupon, my purse and the boy as I dashed past the tv camera to secure our place in line. "mama why is that man with that big camera and real bright light running after us?" "Not sure honey, but stay focused on the shopping goal."



We arrived to an already well-established line. NO biggie...I have been in worse and truth be told I am there for the hunt.- I'll live without another cricut cartridge. We waited in line for about 10 minutes in which in that short time span doodle had befriended two 6 year old girls, a grandma and two teens in line behind us. I am getting to the point of why I must have brought him along with me.....an ace in the whole if you will that boy!



Everyone was talking about the cricut. Now, in an ordinary situation I would be without child, strategizing just like the others and doing some warm-up calisthenics. But, my circumstances were different this time and I had conceded before the doors even opened. Stopping for a basket was going to cost me dearly and while I was crazy enough to bring along my dirty child, what, did you think I was going to let him get trampled? I chatted it up with the teens behind me. I found it interesting they were preparing to spend a month's salary (charged nonetheless) on cricuts. I so was about to launch into my money management speech I teach but opted not to be "that lady!" Doodle worked his magic on the two teenage girls. The boy is either going to run for office and win on charm alone or is going to be the player of all players and cause his mama an ealry grave. In either case, the girls were swooning and he had them feeding out of his hand (this is part of the moral of the story so stick with me).



As the doors opened and the pushing began, I shielded my child from the flying elbows and desperate housewives! I took my time getting a basket and chose to begin in a corner of the store that was less chaotic. I found some great deals on some miscellaneous items and just as I was about to head towards the registers (for I knew the cricuts were all gone, judging from the ladies muscling their way to the lines with armfuls and basketful's of cricuts) the two teens found us. Armed with two basketful's of cricuts (I wish I was exaggerating) they excitedly held out an armful for me. "We grabbed as much as we could and your little boy is so cute and we wanted to give you some too cause we knew you wouldn't be able to run up there." Delighted and grateful, I choose the 3 I wanted to purchase and thanked the girls. They bounced away (I hope they understand interest rates!) and looked at doodle and said, "Wow buddy and imagine if mama had cleaned you up a little!" To the register we headed...



I received at the minimum 40% off of every purchase I made and proudly held up my coupon to receive my 20% off of my entire purchase. The coupon scanned wrong, which required the manager to have to come over and push some buttons. He smiled and said, I just went ahead and gave you 50% off of the entire purchase for your trouble. Trouble? What trouble? No problem- I will gladly accept your generosity. And with that, doodle and I headed to the car with a basket full of loot that we paid next to nothing for. Now you decide....crazy or brilliant? Happy shopping!

*Side Note* I did shop Black Friday too and scored again and again. I am almost done with all our Christmas shopping!