Opt Outside + deals before Black Friday

Hello mon frers. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I will be rolling my overstuffed self all over this beach town today as I Opt Outside on Black Friday and get some of the butter and gravy moving through the system.

I've never been a Black Friday shopper. I hate crowds and I prefer to have 80% of my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving, but I do like to take advantage of deals online on things for me and MFD (I buy both of our Christmas gifts) or the house. You can get great deals on the internets too. And on Wednesday, which means there's no need for Thursday or Friday shopping in my life. Here are some things I picked up this year, and as always no affiliate links:

Sephora had 50% off certain items Wednesday
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick $8.50, regularly $17 (in F-Bomb and TMI)
Living Proof Dry Shampoo Duo $22, regularly $34 (thanks Emily for the heads up)

Target had a Black Friday sneak peak for redcard holders Wednesday so I got the shore house some gifts. You have to add/change little things every year to keep it fresh.
Crock Pot 4.5 qt $10, regularly $19.99
Threshold fuzzy blankets in full/queen in scarlet mystery and green $18, regularly $39.99
Bodum French Press $10, regularly $19.99

Old Navy was running 50% off on Wednesday
Black dress for $18.49, originally $36.99
Go-warm open front hoodie for $18.49, originally $36.99 - my obsession this year. I have the heather gray and love it and I got the other two colors (navy and black)
Pixie Long Pants in olive through this for $17.49, originally $34.99 and rarely on sale. I live in these for work.

TOMs is offering 25% off certain styles with the code THANKFUL, so I ordered a pair of black velvet and black wool but will only be keeping one. 

I'm waiting to pull the trigger on a cart full of books on Amazon to take advantage of their $10 off $25 deal they usually run around now. 

I like the premise of the Opt Outside movement. Today's activities will include a sunrise, beach trash pickup, many dog walks, and watching Santa ascend from atop a building (pics below from 2015). ho ho ho, mofos.

What are your plans for today? Will you be outside, inside shopping, or both? Have you come upon any awesome deals? Anyone see a stainless steel roasting pan at a great price? Anyone? Bueller?

Amazon-ing

Is Amazon-ing a verb in your life? It is in mine.If I can't get it at a small, local biz, 90% of the time it's ordered from Amazon (the other 10% belongs to Target). I've been a prime member for years, and now I'm a prime member on steroids with Amazon Fresh. Rebecca at Knit by God's hand does a regular post about her Amazon-ing, and I've been saying forever that I'm going to do that. And here I am, doing that.

This is what I bought from Amazon in October. I'm probably forgetting a few things because this seems light for me.

Reusable sandwich & snack baggies by Art of Lunch, $19.97 - these are freaking awesome, and I can't believe it took me so long to purchase reusable bags of this size. My sandwich baggie usage was the least environmentally friendly thing about me and I'm glad I've kissed it goodbye. Special bonus: these bags can go in the dishwasher. Easily the MVP of the month.

Fleece for Mae, $8.49 - Little girlfriend gets cold.

Nature's Way Elderberry Capsules, $23.70 - Part of my regular health maintenance. I used to use the syrup, and sometimes when I'm actually feeling sick I still do, but these are much easier for daily use. This was for a pack of three, 100 capsules each.

Library Card Pouch and other prizes for Show Us Your Books giveaway - Varied prices, pouch is $12 and I'm including it here because the purchase of this pouch sends one book to a community in need.

Merry Christmas Stinky Face, and other assorted Christmas stuff - For a basket I made for a fundraiser.

Amazon Fresh Grocery Order - $108

Travelon Bag Bungee, $22 for two - My travel guru Mimi suggested them so I got a two pack for our upcoming trip.

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, $10 - I never travel without a paperback.

Brother P-Touch Tape, $9.46 - Label maker is life.

Travel adapters - $6.99 each

Halloween candy $30 - I bought it but did not hide it and MFD has been eating it. DAMN IT.

Dog treats - I prefer the Isle of Dogs treats, particularly the healthy minis and the chillouts. I also buy my dogs' supplements from Amazon.

Dream Zone Earth Therapeutics Sleep Mask, $9.49 - I've been using these for years. They are the best sleep mask.

Woolite travel laundry kit with sink stopper $7.13 - Realized too late that my travel laundry sink detergent is at the shore.


Are you a buy it all at Amazon person or do you go into the field for your needs? 

Annnnnd I'm out. Vacation tomorrow! Does anyone else inform their DD coffee people that they're going on vacation? Only me?

I spent some time blogging last weekend, so you can expect some posts while I'm gone. I think. I probably won't go back and check them so let's all cross our fingers and hope for the best. I'll be overgramming and MFD even re-installed Instagram for the occasion, so follow along with us if you'd like!

Thursday Thoughts

1. I think this is the universal sign for fuck everyone who enters this bathroom after me. Yes, this photo is from my own bathroom.

2. Since I've opened up with a roll of toilet paper rakishly left off the MFing holder, I might as well follow up with gross dog tales. Gus had a significantly awful butt incident Monday, went to the vet Tuesday, got checked out and tested for parasites...nothing. We think it's colitis. The vet says nothing. I hate when my dogs are not well, I really want them to be able to talk and tell me how to help them. I spent all of Tuesday and Wednesday nights cleaning up dog poop all over. MFD had the day shifts, which are infinitely longer. It's a veritable poopacalypse in our house. Geege remains my best nicest boy and Mae seems to be faring well on wet food only. She only pukes when I give her dry food. This concludes the report on my dogs' bodily functions that you did not ask for. Bye.

3. In June, I meant to participate in Dani & Erin's Challenge to read all of my books - books I've had sitting on shelves, paperbacks shoved into crevices. Instead I rode the Library Gravy Train to shiny new books. I did manage to clear out my Netgalley account and read the three books I had from them, as well as three that had been sitting on my kindle for what felt like a decade. I consider myself mildly successful in reading my e-books, although I do still have some long lingerers on the kindle. I didn't manage to read one single physical book I already owned. So, in addition to the shit ton of books still on my kindle, as well as the $2 paperbacks I couldn't resist at Barnes & Noble to leave in the apartment at the shore, I still have the stack of books on the bookshelf at home that I set aside specifically for this challenge, crying read me as if they're marooned on the Island of Misfit Toys. Maybe next month? Probably not. I can't quit the library.

4. Of course I partook in Amazon Prime Day on Tuesday. I got MFD a hammock he wanted ($30 off), a Kindle Paperwhite for moi ($20 off), and two sets of king size sheets, 50% off each. And this time I used Amex points so it was all freeee. Free is for me. The best way for me to shop Prime Day is to look on my various wish lists and buy what's on sale so I'm not buying random crap I don't need.

5. It is absolutely crazy to me that I can order groceries at 11 p.m. and have them delivered to my doorstep before 7 a.m. No, I did not order just one item. But I forgot something so I added it to my order immediately. The rest of the order was placed at 10:56 p.m.

6. I can't be on all the time. You can't be on all the time. We'll still be okay.

7. The news outlets are reporting that the SEPTA regional rail situation is improved this week. I have seen no change, in fact, it's more crowded. The mornings still continue to be a total clusterfuck (pic below from Tuesday morning) and the evenings continue to be fairly fine on my line. My stepmom's line is the reverse. I also think it's bullshit that I can only get a fare credit towards additional purchases. My train allowance is set by the quarter and I can't change it in between.

8. As of yesterday afternoon, all hotels/vrbos/whathaveyou have been booked for our Ireland/Paris trip this fall. This is another bouncing around trip hotel-wise.

9.  I just blocked out my calendar to spend every September weekend at the shore. I love it down there always, I just love it more in the off-season. 

10. E-card of the week. This made me LOL as I used the facebook unfollow button a lot this week:

For the second week in a row, today is my Friday. 

Hello birthday month.

It's here.

Welcome March, month of my birthday, March Madness, daylight savings time, spring training, spring the season...My birthday is in 14 days, doo dah, doo dah. I'm sorry. I can't help myself.

How does one kick off the month of their 35th birthday? By buying gifts, of course. Mine: 

Hello, pretty. We're finally going to rendezvous. You will arrive in just a few days. I can't wait.



Ok, this is not a birthday gift, but it is on its way from Amazon. Free shipping and all.

I need it to make my own ranch dip mix and dressing and I can't find it in stores.

I will classify this as a useful birthday bonus.


A friend of mine from college had a book of poetry published, so I ordered that too. Check her out here.

HARK!

Guess what, guess what? I'm going to have my very own label maker.

Debbie gave me one of hers long ago, but it didn't work for long and I never replaced it.

Is it weird to be so excited over a label maker?

When you store everything in clear plastic containers and have handwriting like a serial killer's

(which I do) ...

I say it's very exciting to own a label maker. Very exciting indeed.

Thank you for the recommendation, Laura.

I have my eye on a few other things as well...specifically a dress, a cardigan and a glue gun after yesterday's blog.

Last night, I baked March two loaves of english muffin bread - my first time baking bread that was not a quick bread - as an offering of good will. It's quite good toasted. March, I hope you enjoy the bread and are a kick ass month in return.

Marching in like a lion,

SMD

p.s. Milo's Kitchen Treats for dogs might be recalled, they are making some dogs ill. Thanks Jennifer K for the info!