She shoots! She scores!

Yes, last night I DID go to bed at 8:30 PM.

On purpose!

Cuz lordy I was dragging all day after my 4:00 AM adventure on Black Friday in a small town!

You know, I am a nice person. Really, I am. And truly, I went with a calm spirit. Reminding myself that it was no big deal, enough to go around, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

But when the redneck girl threw me some attitude as I patiently waited for my loot, well....it could have been ugly.

But it wasn't. I.just.kept.breathing.

My MIL and I started at Wal-Mart where we immediately had to part ways in order to get in our respective lines for waiting. She went to toys (which was in cosmetics) and I went to electronics (which was in....electronics; go figure since all the other special blitz items were stacked in odd places all over the store). In each section, the areas were roped off with yellow tape until 5 AM sharp. And they were indeed guarded by the law!

So! I got in LINE like we were SUPPOSED to do like the nice lady TOLD us to do while she also TOLD us to relax, DON'T rush the counter, DON'T be grabbing, she would be handing electronics out ONE.AT.A.TIME otherwise someone or something was going to get hurt!

And then a funny thing happened.

SOME people started making their OWN lines. Their own lines that were in no way part of THE LINE I was in. Oh, I could feel my chest start to tighten. So, I politely asked the stranger lady behind me to watch my cart and purse (we were tight like that!) and casually walked up to politely ask the officer for a clarification on the line issue. He.wasnot.helpful! OH, but the nameicantsayoutloudhereonthisfamilyfriendlyblog WAS MOST CERTAINLY HELPFUL as she threw her uneducated wordicantsayoutloudbecauseyoumightthinklessofme opinion of my question back my way.

Thank you. Thank you very much for your ignorance!

So, I continued to wait where I was supposed to wait and quietly wondered to myself if the saying really was true that "the first shall be last and the last shall be first and the meek shall inherit the earth" (paraphrasing one of my favorite books, of course!).

And yes, yes there was the mad cow rush to the counter. And yes, yes I did have to get a little assertive. In a kind way, of course!

Because, in my humble opinion, this was worth it.

I would like to introduce you to my new little friend

Kodak EasyShare Z710 Digital Camera

And she was willing to be my friend for the mere price of $149. She liked me enough to not make me pay the regular retail price of $229 for her friendship. (And if you got a better deal on this item, please don't tell me cuz it might make me cry that she gave herself away cheaper to someone else!)

This is indeed my first digital camera, so y'all better stand back from the bright light of greatness you will start seeing around this here blog real soon.

Cuz I have been getting to know my new friend real well!

And while the friend I really wanted could not come play with me cuz she was asking over $600 for her friendship, I am happy. And maybe one day we can all be friends!

OH, back to my shopping!

We did well. My MIL went totally overboard on her only grandchildren. My 2 kids! I was able to get gifts for my MIL, my mother, my kids, my niece and nephews, and the kids in my coop group plus a few other special kiddos in my life.

We then went to Goody's (small town y'all!) where I took care of my kids, my FIL, and myself ;)

And finally, we headed to Staples two doors down in hopes that few others had mad rushed in to grab my other two new BFF's

Brother PT1010 Handheld Label Maker!

Oh, indeed, did my organizing self need this! And after the discount and the rebate, only $9.95! Retailing at $39.95!

and

HeatSeal® H212 9.5" Jam Free Series Pouch Laminator

I am going to be a crazy picture-taking, labeling, laminating momma! And this baby, only $39.99 after discounts and rebates! Retailing at over $140!

Shhhh, don't tell my kids, but they got


and

and

and


The Vtech Nitro Notebooks (which I scored for $15 each!) were instead of the

Kidz Digital Camera Kits


I had already purchased which I will be returning to the store on Tuesday. I have read mostly bad reviews on them and most digital cameras for kids, that I decided to try it another year. Guess they will continue to enjoy my phone for taking pics. I really wanted to get them these handheld DVD players for car trips which were super duper cheap, but I was vetoed by someone who doesn't regularly make long trips with the kids!

And while I really want to share my frustrations about trying to find the kids the few items I really wanted to get them this year without supporting China, I will save it for another day! I will just say that we need some serious electronics making going on here in the USA!!

Along with the stories I have stored in my brain from this long holiday week!

See you Monday!

Stacey

p.s. I wasn't trying to be greedy. I considered my purchases to be gifts from the husband and kids for both Christmas AND my birthday which falls in January! And yes, the need to purchase my own gifts due to past experience could be another story itself ;)