We were blessed to have a joint Thanksgiving dinner with both our families, which allowed us to spend more time with everyone and prevented us from having to break up the holiday.
All 19 of us were able to sit comfortably at my in-laws’ expandable dinning room table. Mr. Handsome has two parents, six siblings, one brother-in-law, and one niece, and I have two parents, one brother, and one soon-to-be sister-in-law. My husband’s maternal grandparents and uncle also joined us.
This morning, I woke up at 3am and went Black Friday shopping with my mother-in-law and four sisters-in-law from 4:00am-11:00am. We had a blast and found some fabulous deals on clothing.
After picking up discount items at Gordmans and J.C. Penny, we headed over to a local thrift store, where we purchased ten “like new” shirts for only $30. Did you take part in Black Friday this year?
Please share your black friday haul with us! that would be amazing!! God bless.
Hi there!
We purchased shirts (both for summer and winter) for ourselves and other family members. I also found a great pair of boots and a purse for 70% off.
Blessings,
Ellie
No way! We never go out shopping on Black Friday. It's just too many people in stores and traffic on the roads. I would rather shop online or on QVC. Much easier and less stress.
Yes! My family used me to get my brother some new hockey gear (each person got 50% off one item), so I got up at 4:30! Then I got a pair of jeans, two pairs of boots, and some warm boot socks!
Where do you usually get your skirts and dresses?
Congratulations to your brother!
That sounds like a productive shopping day! Skirts and dresses are hard to find. We usually have good luck at Dress Barn, although we didn't make it there yesterday. Maybe I'll go this afternoon. 🙂
Blessings,
Ellie
Yes, I actually went out with my brother. Got there early and got everything I intended to purchase. The crowds were smaller and less aggressive then usual. Had a great time.
How can you afford so many things from Dress Barn? They are very expensive.
The few items I have purchased from Dress Barn have cost $32 or less, which is a decent price for fancy, modest skirts and dresses. We bought my bridesmaids dresses at Dress Barn and ended up spending a small fraction of what we would have spent at a bridal boutique.
Blessings,
Ellie
Where do you get your casual, everyday skirts and dresses?
That's a good question! I suppose it's just wherever I can find them. If you have a Gordmans near you, they often have decent maxi skirts. Same goes for Walmart, although it's more of a hit or miss. Other than that, I recommend just keeping your eyes open. Thrift stores are also a hit or miss, but I've found that thrift stores in ritzy areas often have great clothes for great prices.
Hope this helps. 🙂
Ellie
It does! Thank you so much.
Aww, your Thanksgiving sounds great! Glad you were able to spend it with both families:) I didn't go shopping today till about 4:30 or 5, but went for a hike earlier today. Hoping to go again tomorrow since the deals are still going on! By the way, that table looks great! Wish I could see a pic of everyone sitting around it:)
My two kids, their spouses and grandchildren came to my house for Thanksgiving dinner. My two granddaughters stayed with me until 3:30p.m. Friday, so my daughter-in-law could go Black Friday shopping. Than I went shopping at JC Penney at 4:00. I went to buy things for a one year old boy. He is my angel that I picked off a tree at the Salvation Army.
Thanks for sharing! What a wonderful time you all had! Just think this is an everyday scene at the Duggars and Bates homes!
I'm sick.
;(
Hope you are feeling better
We sat down and enjoyed a thanksgiving meal as a family. However, after reading articles about the true history of thanksgiving day we probably won't celebrate it again. For Native Americans its actually a day of morning. Check out this article…http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/26/thanksgiving-not-popular-all-americans-especially-original-inhabitants/76417336/
We also didn't participate in black Friday sales, because we've been convicted not to owe no man anything except the debt of love. For us there is no point in buying stuff we don't need, or have the money for anyway. Dave Ramsey has awesome principles to help people get out of debt. One of which is to cut up your credit cards. Every penny we earn will go to basic living expenses and into paying off our house and car.
You mean "mourning", not "morning".
Yes, our family went to JC Penney's to buy new bath towels. It wasn't very exciting, but it was needed. That's the only place we went shopping.
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Yes, my sister and I went out for Black Friday shopping, and also went to Gordmans (Wisconsin). Kohl's was on our list as well, but encountered long wait line there as usual. Later a bunch of us girls met up for lunch at the mall where it was really chaotic. All in all was a fun time and found some super deals.
We do black Friday every year. Were we our out the sales at J.C. Penny's starts at 1 on Thursday. Did yours? Or did you not want to go out on Thanksgiving?
Hi there!
We prefer to go out on Friday morning. 🙂
Ellie
probably smarter 🙂
No, I just can't see fighting the crowds to buy things I mostly do not need the day after giving thanks for all I have
What a beautiful day to celebrate your first Thanksgiving with your husband! Many blessings! Might I ask, do you follow a specific Advent bible study and/or might you share some of your favorite Advent/Christmas bible verses? Thank you.
Hi Kell,
My husband and I will be starting an advent reading plan tomorrow! I just pinned it. 🙂
https://www.pinterest.com/nashvillewife/randomness/
Blessings,
Ellie
Thank you! I can't wait to take a look at it! Blessings
I just cannot figure out why we thank God for what we have one minute, and then hours later go on shopping sprees? If we're truly thankful for what God has provided that would mean we're content people. So why do so many give into buying, and maxing out credit cards? Also, gifts were given to Jesus when He was around two years old. There is no where in scripture where there's buying presents for others and exchanging gifts for the saviors birth. Think about it. Did Jesus ever tell his disciples or followers to do such things? Ummmm…no He did not. Instead He told His followers that if they loved Him to keep His commandments. He also kept His Father's feast days…not man made pagan holidays.
Typically we stay away from the shopping until later in the day on Friday. We wake up at ease, have a nice brunch, then go shopping. This year it was entirely focused on my fiance – we bought four pairs of shoes for him with "buy one (discounted) pair, get the second pair 70% off" deal. He is now covered as far as work shoes, sneakers, and a pair of hiking boots!
That sounds like a great deal on shoes, Federica! My mom and mother-in-law both found deals on dress shoes for my hubby. When is your wedding? 🙂
Ellie
Love the shoes deals 🙂 Wedding will be next May (2016) – it cannot get here soon enough! 🙂
How exciting!! Praying that it is a wonderful day. 🙂
Ellie
I just don't get Black Friday at all.
I do Black Friday every year. We went to Target and were their by 5:35 pm Thanksgiving day before the store opened. Not crowned at all. I thing people were home watching the Bears game and it was also raining. Friday got up and went to Kohl's, Barnes and Noble, Wal-Mart, went to lunch with my sister then came home. Got a Nook and other things .
Hi Ellie,
I was wondering what pies do you have around Thanksgiving?
Pumpkin, apple, or sweet potato or two or all? (Hope you will understand this) .
I only had pumpkin and apple during thanksgiving but not sweet potato pie.
I wonder how sweet potato pie tastes like.
Thanks.
Hi there!
My mom always bakes an apple pie for Thanksgiving. We eat sweet potatoes, but I have never tried sweet potato pie. Sounds delicious!
Ellie
I'm a fan of sweet potato fries.
For sweet potato pie, people will bake it during thanksgiving.
But you can still bake it though all year round (not all the time though). Lol.
I'm sure people will be spontaneous by making pies all year round.
If you want you can make it during the other holidays or family get-togethers. How does that sound?
I'll have to try it! (I love sweet potato fries, as well.)
Ellie
Awesome.
You can do a post about this on your blog for everyone to know about the experience. 🙂
Hi Ellie, sorry for me almost repeating what I said.
You should to post on Sweet Potato Pie. To show everyone the experience.