Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 71.

Sponsored by American Express

Goodbye short school week.
Goodbye celebrating Movember with yummy chocolate suckers - YUM!
Goodbye giving up making the bean green casserole and just steaming the green beans, instead.
Goodbye traveling over the river and through the woods for a delicious Thanksgiving Feast.
Goodbye sunny, mild weather - here comes the rain and cold, then, dare I say it, snow!

Hello skipping the shopping madness.
Hello decorating every square inch of home with Christmas ornaments galore.
Hello putting up with Super Hubby's continuous harking that we have "Way too many Christmas decorations."
Hello sneaking off to buy just one more Christmas item to add to the collection.
Hello snuggling the evenings away in front of a cozy fire, hot chocolate in hand, and a good-old movie playing in the background, like White Christmas.

My lesson learned this week is how even I have my limits when it comes to taking advantage of shopping opportunities. I have to say, I'm saddened by many stores' decisions to open ON Thanksgiving. Of course, I can't really just blame the stores, I must also blame the people that leave their families right after turkey and pie to save $100 on a 6-month old model of the latest T.V. If family-time on a holiday isn't sacred anymore, what is?

I remember the days when stores used to close at 5:00 on Sundays. My parents remember when stores weren't even open on Sundays. The funny thing is, even with less "shop time", America, as a nation and as a people, were never richer or more prosperous than they were back then. Today, we can shop 24/7 on the Internet, Thanksgiving has fallen aside to shopping, and American consumer debt is up 5% this year. Will wonders never cease?

I'll admit to being a former Black Friday shopper. When you are younger, it's kinda fun to map out your sales path, be amongst the excitement and buzz of getting the one-time deal. But, now that I'm older, spending time with my family, sans fluorescent lights and long lines, is all I need to make my season merry and bright. How about you?

If you are out and about, try to shop local this holiday season. Saturday, November 24 is Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express. Support your community by keeping the dollars in your town. Happy Shopping!