Tips for Surviving Black Friday

Getting ready for Thanksgiving to me means planning the family meal, getting the house ready for decorating, and planning for BLACK FRIDAY! I love Black Friday! I usually go to the same stores but only plan to shop at one or 2. The other stores, such as Wal-Mart, the only reason I go to those stores is to "people" watch. And If I happen to be lucky enough to get a good deal then WOO-HOO!

I do try and make an action plan before I go. I tried a few years to just kinda go with the flow and see what I get and where I go but that never worked out so well. You know, Look at the ads, go to the stores web sites and also visit Consumer Search. Consumer Search is an award-winning Web site that helps consumers make informed shopping decisions. They analyze a mix of expert and user-generated product reviews and recommend the best products to buy based on their findings.

Here are a few things I do to get ready for the start of the Holiday shopping season, (AKA: Black Friday) As well as tips from Christine Frietchen, ConsumerSearch’s editor-in-chief from ConsumerSearch.com

1. This is one that both Christine and I agree on:  Do your homework, many Black Friday circulars are leaked early online.  ConsumerSearch.com will be analyzing leaked circulars from Kmart, Sears, Kohl’s, Lowes and more on our Productopia blog.  Some so-called door buster Black Friday deals aren’t worth getting in line early.
   http://www.consumersearch.com/blog/tag/black-friday
2.  Check on the current price of Black Friday sale items. Sales circulars often tout “a $50 savings” but that’s off of the MSRP. The savings off the street price is usually much less dramatic. We found lots of items selling for the same or less right now – no waiting, no lines. Example: you can find some Items on Amazon.com for less than the black Friday in store prices at other stores. And you can already Shop the Amazon.com Black Friday prices Now!
3. Check for reviews. Try ConsumerSearch.com, we analyze the best editorial and user reviews to create an easy-to-read report to make sure you love what you buy- we do all the research so you don’t have to.  You can also try a Google search for PRODUCT + Reviews. Also look at the store’s site, since most retailers allow customers to post reviews. Dont forget to check out your favorite review sites! You know you will always get a well thought out, Honest review. At times, A person who works for the company or store will go and write their own fake reviews just to get the ratings up. I have seen this on all types of Items but mostly on Phone applications. If your in doubt, Just ask your friends!
4. See if there’s something better. We found this to be especially true with cameras and GPS: The product might be a good deal, and might even get decent reviews, but a much better product often costs the same or only $5 or $10 more for a much better gadget. Hey, just because its on sale on Black Friday dosen't mean that its the best one for the price out there. It just goes back to doing your homework. 
5.  Set a spending limit. Leave the credit cards at home and bring cash so you HAVE to stick to your budget.  Don’t go shopping with your “spendy” sister or friend who tends to get caught up in the Black Friday excitement. You Really do need to stick yo your guns here. If you dont you are going to be like me about 6 years ago. Oh man its kinda funny. I go to get just some trees and decorations or whatever. I have NO plan. I didn't look at an add. I just GO! I had by best friend with me. She parked our Shopping cart in a strategic central location and I would weave my way in and out of the crowd and just Grabbed stuff! (She did have to go get the tree for me. I'm kinda a weenie). We had an amazing crazy fun time but I think we spent like $300 when I really didnt need all the stuff. 

I hope you all take the time and spend it with the family tomorrow. Thats what its all about really. Please be Careful when you are out on Friday. You know, Crazy people and all! 
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Be truly Thankful for all you have.

I do love each and every one of you and I want you to know that I am Thankful for you all. 

With much LOVE,
Elizabeth 

Caress Whipped Souffle Review and Giveaway Ends 11/19

This Giveaway now has a winner! Congrats to Barbara who said:

I'm now following Caress on twitter. Barbara

November 7, 2010 7:35 PM

An email will be sent and she has 48 hrs to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Out of 79 entries, Random.org came up with {Result: 15}
Thank you so much to everyone who entered! Keep watch because I have a huge "blog event" comming up with lots of giveaways!


Ok my dears, this is the first post using my new laptop! I'm so happy to have a computer that i can use for more than 20 min without it freezing up on me! To Celebrate, I have a few giveaways to get to! Here goes the first one!

Caress was so kind to provide me with my choice of the New Whipped Souffle body wash! I chose to try the Peach and it smells so good! I have always loved using Caress Products so I knew this would be great too.

The different thing about the Whipped Souffle is that you can feel the softness just sinking into your skin. You know that it isnt going to wash away when you rinse the soap off your body either. The smell is wonderful too. The Whipped Souffle comes in White Peach and Silk Blossom and Blackberry and Vanilla. Caress uses the new Unique Silky Fragrance Infusion to deliver the best experience possible.

I Couldn't pull a picture off their site to put on here but trust me, the packaging is so nice! Caress will also be offering a beautiful gift pack just in time for the Holidays! You can find them at major Retailers such as Walmart.com.

This is one of the items I am adding into my "Must Give" Holiday Gift List!

Win it!  

One lucky reader will win a bottle of body wash and 1 (one) Beauty bar! 

*please leave a separate comment along with your email and/or Twitter id for each entry. 

*Random.org will be the program I use to choose the winner.

*The winner will be e-mailed and will have 48 hrs to respond or another winner will be picked. 

*PLEASE do not enter unless you want to win. I have had to choose an alternate winner on almost all my giveaways due to the first winner not resopnding to any emails or twitter messages I have sent. 

*If you think you may have won and don't see an email from me, check your junk mail or go ahead and add my email to your address book: mgmommy0930{at}yahoo{dot}com. 

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

This Giveaway will end on 11/19.

This entry is mandatory and must be done before any other entries will count!
1) Tell me what your favorite Bath product is! Don't Worry, It dosen't have to be by Caress!

2) Follow this blog on GFC. 

3) Follow me on Twitter.

4) Follow Caress on Twitter.

5) Blog about this giveaway and leave a link back to this post. Give yourself 3 extra entries! (leave 3 separate comments)

6) Grab my button for your blog! (2 extra entries. Leave 2 separate comments. If you have a button "up for grabs" let me know so I can put yours up!) 

Disclaimer- Caress supplied me with one of the discussed items in order for me to do this review. I have in no other way been compensated for this review. All opinions are my own and this post has in no way been reviewed or altered by said company.

CSN Review

I know that many of you have heard of CSN. But for those of you who haven't, CSN Stores have so many items its crazy! They have everything from Dressers, to dining room chairs, kitchen items and great stuff for the Bathroom. CSN is made up of over 200 online stores and has something for everyone and every budget. 

I have a small farm house that is 2 bedrooms, one bathroom (yikes!) and a huge living-room that flows into the kitchen. With the new baby, there isn't enough rooms for us all! So my wonderful husband is building  on to our house. YAY! I'm getting a new Super Huge bedroom,  massive closet and a nice size laundry room along with a smaller bathroom. He says the bathroom is for "The Men". Never mind that the other "Man" is still only 5 months old! But I'm not complaining! This bedroom is HUGE! I have been looking for a few items to put in my new space and I don't think I will ever be able to decide on just a few things!

I saw this bench  and thought it would look great at the end of my bed! The addition to the house also means that we will have to furnish my sons room so I was looking at the kids area and I was so surprised to see that CSN also offers things such as Baby Carriers  and strollers. That Is GREAT! I saw this amazing, Beautiful Cradle. I don't need one as I already have one for the baby but all I can say is WOW! Look at how detailed this is! I wish I could have this! 

Green Frog Art Old World Cradle

I'm telling you, They have it all! I can't wait to browse this store some more to see what I can find! Christmas is comming up you know! Now i think i know just what to ask for: a new set of pots and pans! Yes, I got a new set about 3 years ago for Christmas but I love to cook and I, for some reason, think I must have a new set every few years! I MUST have this Rachael Ray set! I just love her!

Seriously, if your in the market for Anything at all, Stop by CSN first. They have all the top brands all in one place. They even offer free shipping on most items! Not in the market for a new bed? Just take a look and drool over what you might choose when you are!

*Disclosure* CSN Will provide me with a $35 E-Gift Code to use at my discretion for my review of the CSN site. All opinions are strictly my own and were in no way influenced by anyone other than myself. I was in no other way compensated for this review. For more information on my disclosure Policy Please Visit my Disclosure page.

*ENDED* Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE! Book/CD Giveaway

We have a WINNER! Random.org picked the winning comment, number 29-

Leandrea at Coupons Are Great said...

I follow YGG on facebook. They have the cutest pictures!

 Congratulations! An Email has been sent! She has 24 hours to respond to the email.
Thank you to everyone that entered!


I have to say, Yo Gabba Gabba is one of those childrens shows that are so great to teach often overlooked things such as standing in line, waiting your turn, no biting, and saying I'm sorry. My 4 year old girl and my 5 month old son really like the show. It has different parts to the show that all tie in together at the end which is great for little ones attention span (or Lack thereof). I know, I know I'm going to have people thinking "She shouldn't be letting her 5 month old watch TV!" Well guess what, I DO! He Really loves that show and it's a great way for me to be able to do things around the house or even read that magazine article i've been trying to read for a week. I've given up on books (tear) until I can put the baby down to play with out him screaming his head off! He thinks he MUST be held at all times and if not, well, he will LOUDLY let you know what he thinks of that!

Back to the reason of this post: Did you know that Yo Gabba Gabba is on Tour sponsored by Kia Sorento CUV? Yes!

Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE! Tour

I think it is so great that they have gone on tour and even more excited that something like this is close to where I live! See, I live in Alabama and for the most part, any type of Tour just dosen't come even close to here. Thank goodness that I live just about 45 min North of Birmingham and that were are finally being seen as a "stopping place" for concerts and tours. Yo Gabba Gabba will hit Birmingham on October 19th (my little brothers 16th birthday!) and I am so excited to get to take my daughter to see it! To find out when the Yo Gabba Gabba Live! Tour will be in your city click here.

 In addition to the tour, there is a great Sweepstakes going on!

 The prizes are great and will be a wonderful way to spend time with your family. Here is a little information on the contest:

The Cool Tricks Contest
"provides an opportunity for fans across North America to show-off their unique talents.  Gabba fans are invited to upload a :30-:60 second video demonstrating their Cool Trick to win the opportunity to receive a VIP Family 4 Pack and have their winning video played during intermission at the KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! show closest to their hometown. All participants are also automatically entered into a sweepstakes where one lucky fan will receive a five night trip for four to the Caribbean or Mexico"

"In addition, each winner will also receive $100 worth of organic baby food, toddler, and lunchbox snacks and two “Party In My Lunchbox” Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! concert t-shirts from Revolution Foods and Plum Organics. Grand prize includes roundtrip air, Junior Suite accommodations, and all meals to a choice of Palladium Hotels & Resorts."

Wow! What a great big prize pack! Here is the Info you need to enter! Upload your "Cool Trick" to the Yo Gabba Gabba Live! Facebook page Here (Official Rules are also available there.)

Cool Tricks begins on Wednesday, August 18 at 10AM EST and winners will be notified and announced prior to the show date in each local market.  The entry period for the grand prize sweepstakes will end on Sunday, Dec 12. 

Now for the fun part! I am so excited to be able to Host a giveaway for a Yo Gabba Gabba Prize pack!

1) Yo Gabba Gabba!, Party in My Tummy Book: Lift the flaps, sing along, and find out what everyone in Gabba Land is bringing to the party!

2) Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 2: jam-packed with Super Music Friends & all of the songs you’ve grown to love including those from Weezer, MGMT & Jimmy Eat World.

Wow! You can also get a sampling of the record with a free download of our favorite Super Music Friends – Weezer’s track “All My Friends Are Insects” at  www.yogabbagabba.com/freedownload

MUSIC IS AWESOME! VOLUME 2 is also be available digitally on all music services.  A deluxe edition with bonus tracks is now available for pre-order at iTunes (link below): http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/yo-gabba-gabba-music-is-awesome/id388019174

Here is how to enter to win! ***Please leave your email in your comments!l

1) Follow Yo Gabba Gabba on Twitter or Facebook. Leave me a comment below telling me which one you did.

2) Follow me Via GFC. Leave me a comment saying you did or you already do.

3) Post about the Cool Tricks Contest on your blog with a linkback to this post. Leave a link to your post. (3 Entries= 3 comments)

4) Visit the Yo Gabba Gabba  site and tell me what city you would like to see the show at!

Thats it! This Giveaway will end on 10/16 at 9pm CST. The winner will be chosen via random number Generator. The winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hrs to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen. 

Disclosure: I will receive 2 Tickets to the Show in Birmingham, AL for my review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. For more information on my disclosure, Please visit my disclosure page.