To shop or not to shop...

So every year I debate about fighting the crowds the day after Thanksgiving for those bargain prices. Some years I've done the early morning thing and other years I stayed home and slept in my warm cozy bed. I'm truly wondering what will happen this year with our sagging economy. Will the crowds be worse or are people just cutting back altogether? I came across a website that has "leaked" many of the Black Friday deals. I am amazed that there is an entire website dedicated to Black Friday!! Regardless, here is the site and if you are shopping for something particular you can see if it will be worth your while to get up in the dark and stand in lines:) You can sort by store, item, etc. so Happy Black Friday to you! (http://www.blackfriday.info/)

Hook Em'

Well after about a month of indecision, Nolan made his college choice known last night. We are chillin' out, watching reruns of The Office, and he says, "Hey mom, we can go ahead and put down that deposit on UT." And I'm on the computer and half watching the TV and half listening and I'm like...OK. (I reminded myself of my father who used to do 4 or 5 things at once and we could go up to him and say...Daddy, can I have a hundred dollars? Daddy, can I go to Alaska?...and he would always reply "OK" cuz he hadn't really heard a word we said.) Once I came back to earth, I had to ask him...OK, so this is your decision...it's final? And then he shrugs!!! I'm thinking..I'm not going to put down a deposit on a shrug! So then he laughs and says, "Yes I'm sure." In retrospect, just this week he came home telling me about several of his friends making their decisions and who was going where and I think that spurred him to make his commitment (peer pressure but in a good way!) So now I can relax and start getting used to the reality that he is moving out, but he'll be just down the road. I took each of my kids' pictures in this onesie...hard to believe that many years have gone by:)

Mangia's 20 cent pizzas this Weekend!

You all know how I love bargains and this is one of my kids' favorite pizza places. There's one meal I won't have to cook this weekend :)

To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Mangia wants to give back to Austin and its thousands of customers by offering 20 cent pizzas! This Saturday and Sunday, November 15th & 16th, buy one pizza at regular price and get a second pizza of equal or lesser value for just 20 cents each. No gimmicks, no tricks - it is Mangia Pizza's way of celebrating their birthday and sharing it with you! But that's not all, every purchase of $10 or more in November receives a $5 Mangia gift certificate (redeemable in December and January).

Gift Exchange Ideas

OK...I need help! We are doing a gift exchange with Randy's family for Christmas. We've done lots of different formats...Chinese Exchange, Draw names & make a wish list, etc. etc. Has anyone heard of something fun and different with a gift exchange??? We need a game that is cheap and fun cuz there are 11 kids in the family.

Decision Time

Well, Nolan has realized that his hard work paid off! He was accepted to UT and to A&M. Now I really am trying to be objective (orange) and help him look at the pros and cons of each school (Hook 'EM). He is in the decision phase (Austin) and seems to be in limbo when you ask him which way he is leaning (The Eyes of Texas). So now I am trying to help him figure out what other information he needs to help him make that final decision (Bevo). No seriously, each school is wonderfully different and either would be a great opportunity!!! But I think he really would look better in that burnt orange :)