Black Friday Madness and Haul

Oh Black Friday, you are a wonderful yet horrendous day all at the same time. And you would fall on a payday, you bastard. I even capitalize your name because you are a terrifying force of mankind.

There is something about this day that makes people want to spend money and turn animalistic at the bargain sales. I wandered in Walmart and Best Buy a little bit after midnight to witness the carnage. I dodged multiple shopping carts, swinging purses, running children and piles of forgotten merchandise. Then I sent a silent thanks to my store manager for giving me a 1 PM to close shift at where I work.

I work in retail, so I know the pains of Black Friday. My Black Friday really started on the day before Thanksgiving. What people don't really know and appreciate is how much time it really takes to set the day up. The day is spent with everyone working thct day juggling the typical routine of taking care of the customers with usual store organizing, and finding time to work on the marketing and figuring how in the world you're going to find the time to pull the store together and get home at a decent time. I'm shaking my fist at you, sale stickers. Why are there so many of you?

Not to mention the backroom of retail stores. The backroom is like its own sea of hell, filled with merchandise, cardboard boxes, shipments, extra shelving units, and who knows what else. Try finding anything back there, I dare you. But when it comes to crunch time, keeping the back room clean falls low on the priority list. So employees usually have to carefully wade through the mess, squeezing in between boxes or tip toeing to avoid stepping on anything. Its actually a bit amusing.

Granted giant retailers with large staff like Walmart, Best Buy, or Toys R Us might not have to deal with that, with their own army of workers dedicated to the backroom/warehouse duties, but working for a corporate company that have smaller stores (think mall sized stores. not department stores) and vastly smaller amount of workers (there are about eight of us total working there, holiday workers included), doing what corporate wants done first becomes the priority. Or face the wrath of your District Manager. Dun dun duuuuunnnnn.

The day, like every other year I've worked it, passed day in a blur. I don't quite remember much about it, besides the constant stream of customers, thousands of children, and the phone ringing constantly.

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But I am also a shopper. I think I spent more money this year than ever. *cries*

I had time before my shift so my first stop was Bath and Body Works. A place where I knew I would definitely buy something. I had a "Spend Over $10, Get Something For Free!" coupon that I used. I also had a "Spend $30, Get $10 Off!" coupon, but I knew that was a clever ploy for people to spend more than they bargained for. I almost did it. Almost.

Cashmere Glow Triple Moisture Body Cream and the matching body spray. Smells sooooo gooooood :) 

I wandered around the mall for a bit after that, going into stores, returning later to decide if a really needed something. I'm kind of a weird shopper like that. I like to know all my options before I commit to buying. The internet appeals to me in this way, but I like to hold and physically take my belongings home that day. I also do wonder why store employees think of me. "Hey, she was here an hour ago. And the hour before that! Should we call security..?" has always been the narration I give the workers in my head.

Dillards was my next location where I dumped money. They had 40% off, and take an additional 50% off on top of that on several of their sections. There was a pair of sunglasses I kept coming back to that day but debated a long time because they were not on sale. But I also knew I wanted to get sunglasses that day. I finally cracked and bought them when I found a wallet to buy as well. My willpower is so weak...

Antonio Melani Wallet: $15 on sale
Steve Madden Aviator Sunglasses: $20

I went to work after those two purchases. Everything was fine until I decided to break down and crumble to buying a 3DS. The system came preinstalled with Super Mario 3D Land and you got a free copy of Nintendog/cats. And I love cats. Darn you impulse buys...

So pretty. And shiney. and RED <3

Though my bank account begs to differ, I can't bring myself to regret my buys. I don't shop often and most of the time, my money goes to food. Which ends up in my belly. Totally useless, right?

I know the amount of money I spent pales compared to the amount some spend on that black black day, but it is the most I've spent since the beginning of the year.

You win Black Friday... you win...

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Today's Happiness: I love Thanksgiving food and the gorging. I love how its a day where (hopefully) people do not have to be guilty for eating what they want to eat!