I used to love Christmas shopping! I always looked forward to getting up very early, like 4 am, on Black Friday, to go out looking for those special toys for my children. I can still remember the mad quest for cabbage patch dolls. I actually made one for each of my chldren when I could not find them before Christmas. (Of course I was able to easily get them right after Christmas.) Over the years, the requests changed and got easier (clothes and video games) but there was still an air of excitement as I set out armed with a list and a plan. I would wait in my warm car until the mall opened to get in to the store of choice to make my first purchase. After making the purchase, I would buy my hazelnut coffee and just walk around the mall and soak up the Christmas spirit. I looked forward to and enjoyed every Black Friday.The crowds did not bother me. I looked forward to this past Black Friday just the same. I cooked my fingers to the bone Thansgiving Day- butternut squash and apple soup, stuffed mushrooms, mini hot dogs in crescent rolls, cornbread stuffing with sausage and mozarella, reguar bread stuffing with sausage and mozarella, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, pineapple casserole,Mashed potatoes, carmelized butternut squash, red onion and brussel sprouts, turkey and ham, cheesecake with cherries, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, brownies and chocolate covered pretzels. All the time I was cooking, I was looking forward to my special "Black Friday" time. Well, guess what??? I went out on Black Friday and it just wasn't fun! I could not figure out why. At first I though it was because now all my children's lists are linked on Elfster and just a click away, no need to physically shop. But no, something else was missing. Well, sad to say, suddenly it dawned on me why it wasn't fun this year, I couldn't buy a little something, something for myself. The fun was gone! Oh how many more days to go???? If I am really being honest, I just don't need the clothes, my daughters give me so many throw aways (like the pic linked here, can you believe she threw this out!!!) I guess for me a lot of the fun is the hunt....
