I spent the night with my friends who hosted Thanksgiving because they were the ones who invited me on their tradition of Black Friday shopping. We awoke at 4:30am to quickly look decent and wake up Emma. Emma is their 17 month old daughter, Emma, who is one of the most laid back kids ever. We didnt know how long she’d last but she was all smiles at 5:00am when we left. As we stood in line for Target to open at 6am she did start to fade in her happiness a bit.

Target was probably the high, as we were in the line for 30 minutes and were one of the first hundreds of people in. We grabbed with no thought at the DVDs (got Jason 30 Rock for $15!) and they got a DVD player for $30 bucks along with a cheap digital frame for a Christmas present for Grandparents. We had passed Circuit City on the way, at 5:05am. They opened at 5am. There was still a line out the door. They explained to me that they were waiting to get in, meaning, the store was at full capacity so they couldnt allow anyone else in! OH MY GOSH. We looked at the add, we didnt see anything THAT fanatic. I did get some writable DVD and memory cards there – but hours later and no standing in line.

Here is the store time line we went to: Target – Kmart – Best Buy – Lowe’s – Circuit City – GAP – Old Navy – Macys

I think between the three of us we purchased something at all those stores accept for Macys and Best Buy. Emma last just as long as we did, which was at 10am. And that was after a protein boost (sausage egg and cheese biscuits from Chick-Fil-a) that seemed to have very little effect on us. Plus, the folks who hadnt gotten up at 4:30am in the morning, but took the time to sleep, shower and look nice were out and about. Making us feel a bit more dirty since not everyone looked as grubby as us at that point in the morning.

I dont know what I was expecting, but it wasnt as crazy as I imagination it. People were all very nice, saying excuse me and I didnt feel one person push pass me or anything like that. There was a lot of people and very long lines, but thats what I expected. It wasnt a terribly chilly morning, which was nice. The company was the best part of it, John keeping us in high spirits as much as he could on little sleep we all had gotten. I dont know if Black Friday is something I want to make in my yearly tradition just yet, but it was a lot of fun.

This is my dinner from a few nights ago. It took about 20 minutes to put together, thanks to the wonders of Trader Joes. The pasta? Thats lobster ravioli and yes its a good as that sounds. The asparagus? Yeah I bought a pound of frozen asparagus for the same price a small bundle would cost me. Usually frozen veggies taste like frozen veggies, but not these. They tasted like they had never been frozen before. That is the beauty of Trader Joes, their food is just so good, frozen or fresh! Oh those round patties? They are from IKEA, they were tasty too. But this post is about my love for Trader Joes.

Ive grown up on Trader Joes growing up in Southern California. My family would shop there over the grocery store. It wasnt a health food store, but it was cheap and had a lot healthy choices. Most of the store is full of products that Trader Joes themselves has created. Other part is of the best brands and types of foods they cant seem to make better. I was sad to leave Trader Joes when I moved to Carolina. I thought for a very long time that this state didnt even have one till I found out that an hour away is a Trader Joes. It is worth the drive and the gas to get the foods that I love. I adore artichokes and there was no way I was paying $4 bucks for one like the grocery store wants me to pay. Trader Joes? 4 for $3s! New to me – boxed soups from Trader Joes and I was not disappointed.

Maybe one day my town will wise up and invite Trader Joes into its community. That day could not come soon enough.

Pirate’s Booty. I know Ive already lost you some of you. Unless you are into pirates which surprises me how many people out there are actually into pirates. This is the only degree of pirate you’ll find in my life. These tasty morals that make up a bag of Pirate’s Booty are basically a very light weight popcorn covered in this tasty, almost Parmesan cheese but better powder. Trader Joe’s is this delightful grocery store that sadly the nearest one to me is over an hour away. But in my homeland of California they were everywhere. And my mom couldnt keep Pirate’s Booty in the house when we all lived in home. When I was in Ohio this past summer we had a “Kroger Run” (which means we let 180 high school kids run wild in a Kroger) and low and behold not only did they have Pirate’s Booty but it was on sale! So Im currently enjoying a bag of Pirate’s Booty that came all the way from Findlay, Ohio.

For a long time (and maybe still have in a box somewhere in my parents garage) I had a interview with one of the guys in PFR who is married to Leigh Nash. I believe I tore this interview page out of the magazine called 8 Ball? Maybe? Anyways it was this awesome music magazine. I distinctively remember a photo of the PFR guy and Leigh Nash – they were newly married and she was ether just starting Sixpence or just before that. Ether way, it was pre-dark eyeliner days for Leigh. She wore overalls in these photos – as was I when I read the interview probably.

This CD is worth every penny of the $2 bucks that I paid for it.

Just look at it (okay boys you are more than welcome to check out at this point, I understand. Then again surely there are many of you who have a crush on Jenna. So maybe I wont lose your readership). Its vintage looking. Its got some shiny silver at the top but not annoying at all. The straps, OH THE STRAPS. They are different than a formal dress normally has, and I love how its cut. I cant tell what the color is, ether a navy or a greenish blueish color, but both are great. Just think its so formal yet vintage fun, which Id love in a formal dress (if I ever had a need for one). Wonder if she’d let me borrow it? You know, to wear to youth group one night?

We are so even with my complicated drink order at the ‘Bucks if he get to order his hamburger this way (tee hee). I guess McDonald’s is where Jason gets to have it his way.

Jason and I have been eating at McDonald’s a little more than healthy. Actually, sometimes just for a diet coke because, Monopoly is back. I always like playing this game but never get that into it. I have now collected every piece from each color of properties cept one. This is where you come in. You just have to get a medium (or larger) drink or a premium sandwich (which I got for the first time this past week, I wouldn’t of guessed it was from McD’s) which also comes with a Best Buy buck. Im looking for the following pieces and would be really fun if yall would want to help me out on this. And of course, we’d share the prize money. So keep your eyes pealed (no pun intended) for: Pennsylvania Avenue, Ventnor Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, Tennessee Avenue, Virginia Avenue, Vermont Avenue, Mediterranean Avenue and Boardwalk.