Princess7915

I think the answer for all of us is just copious amounts of liquor LOL

I look around at a few (fortunately) people I know, and read posts on here and on my Face book and see how people need or want things they desperately need like jobs or they ask for the ability to afford even a few gifts for their kids or to help their nieces and nephews to have a "good" holiday. I am humbled by you all. For now, at least, -and thankfully- my husband and I are in good fortune. I am very thankful to have the ability to say that I am not in need or of want of anything. Not to be smug or trivial in the least. I think so many of us take this for granted. I think we ask for ipads and purses and we forget that we are so very lucky that we have the ABILITY to ask and receive these things. That our wish lists for the holiday or any day for that matter does not include a safe home, security for our children, knowing where the money for next months electric bill to keep the heat going will come from. I just wanted to take a moment to say I am so grateful right now, personally for what I have. I wish those of you a better New Year that are in need of one. I have been in rougher places and know that things change for any of us in a heartbeat. May all your holidays, however they are celebrated, be as joyful as possible. Let all of us take a moment to be honestly grateful for what we have and be compassionate for those who are truly in need.

We are planning to go to the outlets this year - first time doing that. Some stores open at 9 so that's when I'll start shopping. I'm not really counting the time -about an hour early or so- of quality time in the car with my tablet and a cup of coffee waiting in the parking lot before the stores open. I don't feel the need to wait outside in line in front of a store, but the roads and parking lot can be a madhouse and I want to get settled in long before the real "midnight" opening.

I think if I end up going, my best shot is trying to set up a time limit. It will help me keep as much sanity as possible. The thing I keep coming back to is I would like to see my grandmother. I don't have any idea what time my mom planning on eating right now but it's usually early- as my aunt has another meal to go to. The usual time line is everyone shows up around noon - eat around 1:30 / 2 my aunt leaves around 3:30 and I usually stick till about 8. It's a long day. Maybe if I figure out her plans are roughly the same - and I decide to go - I could show up around 12:45 and plan to leave around 3:30 or so. That would be doable. About 3 hours in. Not too much lingering around before or after meal time but long enough to not be eat and run rude. That still gives me time to get home and check my pets and stuff and decompress before heading out to shop

I really appreciate that some of you have chimed in on this. Makes me feel a bit less "villian-ish" that I am just wanting to bow out this year. So for anyone that cares about the ongoing saga - I did tell my mom two days ago that we were no longer going out of town and that DH and I were going to politely abstain from T-Day. She didn't take it well (as expected) but she attempted a good front. Yesterday morning I got an email from her husband (it is not an accident I don't refer to him as my step-dad lol). It was sent to my aunt and I and the general tone was that we should put aside our differences and see how our not speaking is affecting my mother. - I suppose the man is stupid and assumes I don't know this? However he implores me (us) to come to T-Day and get along. So last night was spend discussing with my husband WHAT I am supposed to do. I am HISTORICALLY guilted and bullied into doing everything my family wants - thus the reasons I no longer speak to my aunt however this is a FAR complicated situation that finally just broke. My mother and I, though I do love her - I'm certain you can tell that I have some "issues" with her. I don't dislike her - I just would love some "me time" but I never get it. NEVER. Everything is my family's way - a group event or it becomes a mass causality - as this is starting to. I have a feeling my Pizza and cheescake holiday of relaxation is never gonna happen. I will, as par for the course, suck it up and get guilted into whatever THEY want. It's like the mafia. And it's exactly why I need a break. If you read about a T-Day massacre - It's me - I finally lost it LOL.

Sorry. It's tough when you love it and you have people that don't. I am lately of the Scrooge camp - but I haven't always been, I was the one who had them around me. I guess my only advice is to do what you love for you and don't worry about them - or at least as much as you can. At some point teenage boys will be teenage boys and hate everything But on some level you know they would miss it. You can always go with the whole theory of those who dislike being in the holiday spirit and don't want to participate can always "sit out" Christmas morning as well. See how far that gets you. But I think you want them to participate because they want to. Maybe find some new stuff? Maybe things just seem a bit lackluster? How about a holiday cookie baking day (boys love to eat!) Or a family movie day - some kind or outing let them suggest something and even bring a friend. Do you have any kind of outdoor ice skating around? Cut down your own tree somewhere that's manly. If you don't decorate the outside of the house with lights maybe the men of the family would like to do that - BF deals on lights make it cheap.

Oh that is such a nice thought - but never gonna happen. As of 6 months ago I don't speak to my aunt (mom's sister) who may or may not be attending T-giving at my moms house. So it may just be mom, her husband and my grandmother this year if me and my hubby don't go. So there is no where to hide. My mom is pretty much a latcher - I don't move and she's not there to chat about something or other. I swear she has radar as to when I sign on facebook - no more than 30 seconds and I get a chat window pop up. IF my aunt does come to Thanksgiving, then she and her hubby and two kids come by for 2 hours then leave to go to her husbands family's house. Which leaves me to always feel like I have to spend all day at my mom's so she's not alone. Mom's husband comes to the table to eat then it's back to the t.v. for football - that's all we see of him (but it's not a bad thing). This is why I'd really rather stay home. I have many happy memories of childhood holidays. Big family get togethers with parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. The last decade it's all just fallen into what is several hours of everyone pretending to be happy. Maybe some of them are. I just can't stand the sham anymore. We get together and do things that are fun through the year - I just don't see the point of this fake @ss holiday. And I'm sooo sorry to unload here to perfect stranders - sometimes you just gotta vent.

Well if you have some experience on what you've found there before please share. I've never done the outlets before so I'm interested!

Yeah I think living in such close proximity to most of "my" side of the family is what's bummin' me out LOL. We really are together all the time. Talk all the time. Facebook all the time. It gets to be soo much. So the holiday would be some alone time. I feel so guilty about it - I know I should be grateful for every moment and all that. But sometimes you just gotta breath you know? I joke to some of my friends that "get me" (I'm sooo christina yang type from Greys Anatomy) that it's totally always the family that ruins all the family time.

Along the same theme as another poster - I am just not wanting to do the holidays. Spending four days on an island with a tropical drink would make the perfect Christmas however my bank account is in disagreement with this theory. But before we can even get to December, I've got to make it through Thanksgiving. Hubby and I were supposed to go out of state to see his dad and that family - actually for the first time spending a holiday with them and I've been married 7 years. But that just got canceled. Though spending the holiday with them was not ideal it was a welcome retreat from my family this year. All I really want to do is dodge the fam and spend the day eating pizza, watching movies and then head out for midnight shopping. This is something that WILL not sit well with my mother Hubby and I thought about ordering in a pre-done dinner. we thought about going out to a nice T-day dinner. But we decided for as expensive as these options are neither one of us gives a hoot about it. I hate Thanksgiving food LOL Neither one of us really cares about the holiday LOL. We were only thinking about these things because you're "supposed" to do this. Anyone else bucking the system or am I just a total weirdo? I can't be the only one who would be perfectly happy with a Pizza and my couch and none of the fuss.

I'm very sorry for your loss. It seems like more and more I am just not into the whole holiday thing Sometimes I just can't place my finger on why. Sometimes I feel like it's the whole big commercial push - sometimes is the whole family deal that just ruins it. Yes the loss of your dad has been a tremendous hard ship on you but for some of us, our families - or what's left of them is exactly what makes the holidays so hard. I think the worst thing is to try to fake it through. If your kids are old enough to completely get that things are different this year and why then do something a bit different. Don't try to replicate the same holiday experience with essential people missing. Start new traditions and give them some input on what would make them happy. Maybe some Christmas Eve festivities rather than all Christmas morning since that's where all the focus lied before. Maybe experience some holiday parades or craft shows or a Christmas movie on BF weekend or lights that are up in your area? Finding some new things to do could be fun and get your mind off of what your missing.

I don't know if there is much demand for it - but it might be nice to have a printer category (wireless or non)

ooooh can't wait to see the cd list. Becoming a music hoarder LOL

Don't know about the actual boutique stores but I think the outlets have a sale if you have one of those around.

Make sure you go to the main website for the outlet centers http://www.premiumoutlets.com/ You can sign up for the VIP coupons. Look for any stores you think you may visit - I think these coupons should still be good on BF purchases / special sales just like any other time as long as the dates are good. Check your individual center a few days before BF for actual store participation to make your plan

I did some looking yesterday and some of the stores have hours / sales up. I'll check again next week. I also signed up a long time ago for the VIP thing because I go often. You get to print coupons for the stores that offer things. Some are for an additional 15 or 30 % off your purchase good anytime so I wonder if that includes a BF sale? That would be amazing!! Some have specific short dates but some are good all year long? I'm going to take them because all they can do is tell me no right? Nothing is terribly close to the Williamsburg outtlets and I'm about an hour away. My plan right now is to eat about 4 - leave home about 7 get there around 8ish and I suppose wait until the first stores open between 9 and 10. Anybody have an opinion on that plan? I have NO CLUE right now how many stores open "early" before midnight but getting there technically 4 hrs before the midnight opening should get me in the parking lot I'm hoping?? I'm going with my husband who says he wants to go because there are things he wants - but keep in mind as he knows there will be crowds, his LEAST favorite things in the WORLD are crowded stores and mayhem parking lots so I am on very borrowed patience with him. So I want to be early enough to avoid miles of back up but not too early to have to wait for half a day in a car. This is like planning a trip with a 9 year old LOL.

Will they say on the Outlet website what the store hours are for BF? I'd like to know if I should be there at 10 or 12. It's about 45min away from me so it makes a difference in my day.

LOL I know - I am prepared for it to be a total nightmare. I don't think my hubby has that quite sunk in yet. Which is the ONLY reason he's agreeing to go. I'm going purely to ME shop this year. I want clothes and shoes. I am dreading the dressing rooms as most of these places have long dressing room lines and only 1 or 2 rooms on any old given day anyway. I'm seriously thinking of wearing some small shorts and a sports bra and trying on clothes in the aisles!!! Coach at 50% is a dream I'll put that on my list. My mom and I went one time on a random Wednesday and they had the firemarshall directing people counting in and out LOL!! It was trip! But the spotters in the parking lot is scary

Anyone typically shop at the Premium Outlets for Black Friday? This year Hubby and I are thinking of doing the Williamsburg outlets and I wanted someones take on the shopping there for Black Friday. I often shop at the outlets so I'm familiar with them - just have never done a BF trip there - who else does these?

My Hubby got his off the Google play store. I know some retailers sell them and maybe they will do a bonus deal like a GC with purchase? He got a Google store credit with his - guess I'll just have to bite the bullet LOL

We did call one time - Something we bought, I don't even know what it was now - dropped like $40 in less than a day! They told us too bad I was temped to re buy it and send the first one back when it arrived.

I'm sorry but I do not and will not support stores that do this. I will not be shopping at Kmart B&M or online. I also will not be shopping at Sears early. This is a TERRIBLE thing to do to employees! When is enough enough? These people deserve to be at home with their families! In this economy it is not a Choice to work retail it is forced upon most of these workers and they will loose these jobs if they don't work these terrible hours. This corporate greed has to stop. (getting off my soap box now!)

What if you already have a T-mo contract

I had a Straight Talk phone for about two months and I got rid of it. That thing made me soo freaking mad! I got so many pages about upgrade your service - buy this, buy that. I quit checking my messages because it was always them trying to sell me something! I switched to T-mobile and I love it. I paid $45 a month for the Straight Talk and now I pay $55 a month for unlimited everything for my half of a shared family plan. It was about $15 more when I was on an individual T-mo plan.

Yes- we are Prime Members and several things we have wanted to buy are now these "add on" items and do not qualify for our Prime Shipping. It seems to me that Prime is less of a shipping benefit and more for digital content. Our Prime renewal comes up in January and we are highly unlikely to continue it. Becoming VERY dissatisfied with Amazon overall in the past several months. Every time we buy something the price goes down right after we purchase it - that just makes you angry!