Olá Targetnautas!

É com muita satisfação que o Target10 traz uma novidade: um canal de entrevistas. O nome não poderia ser outro, Entrevistarget.

A ideia é debater assuntos de grande relevância para o mundo publicitário. Ou seja, tem que ter conteúdo! E vamos trazer nomes de peso para as discussões.

E para essa grande estréia, nada menos que um grande publicitário: Marcelo Lavor.

Você viu aqui que a OAB passou por eleições para novo presidente. E a campanha do candidato vencedor foi realizada pelo Marcelo. O Target10 mandou umas perguntas e ele gentilmente respondeu. Confiram aí galera a entrevista com o tricampeão dessas eleições. (Isso mesmo, já é a terceira vez consecutiva que ele faz a campanha vitoriosa).

T10 – Nome?

Marcelo Lavor.

T10 – Idade?

Isso não é pergunta que se faça, mas de qualquer forma, nasci no ano mais importante da história do Brasil, 1958. Foi quando este país, perdeu a timidez e se abriu para o mundo: campeão mundial de futebol, bi-campeão mundial de basquete, construção de Brasília, bossa nova, miss mundo, o mercado publicitário adotava as primeiras técnicas… Enfim, foi um ano do “cacete”.

T10 – Formação?

Ex-engenheiro agrônomo, ex-professor de português, poeta adolescente, desbundado com Woodstock (40 anos vindo a pé!), e, por fim, formado em Comunicação Social pela UFC. Depois disso, muitos cursos de marketing, criatividade, de redação e planejamento.

T10 – Onde já trabalhou e que contas já atendeu?

Comecei em Fortaleza na Scala, a maior e melhor agência que o Nordeste já teve, depois de rápida passagem pela Terraço. Daí, ganhei o Brasil, com escalas em Teresina, Fortaleza (de novo), Goiânia, Brasília, São Paulo, Fortaleza (de novo, novamente), Manaus e Fortaleza (de novo, novamente, mais uma vez).

Sobre as contas, não cabem aqui. Entretanto, da “bodega da esquina” aos grandes grupos empresariais nacionais, já dei minha modesta contribuição.

T10 – Você tem um vasto currículo como professor. Onde já lecionou?

Durante alguns anos dei aulas de criação e história da P&P na Central Criativa – curso de extensão que formou muita gente boa e deixou saudades. Hoje me dedico à FANOR, onde ministro aulas de Redação Publicitária, Planejamento e Atividades do Comunicador Social – esta para alunos de comunicação, incluindo alunos de jornalismo.

T10 – O que foi determinante para que a campanha de Valdetário para a presidência da OAB se tornasse um sucesso?

Primeiro, um excelente candidato e um forte grupo de apoio e militância. Além disso, contei – como sempre – com a retaguarda da Promosell, onde não posso deixar de destacar a participação e o envolvimento de 2 profissionais excepcionais: o Diretor de Arte Ivan Costa e a Diretora de Mídia, Nira Andrade. Enchi muito o saco de ambos, mas valeu a pena. Com este time ficou mais fácil vencer. Mas alguns detalhes são sempre determinantes: adotar a cor certa (o amarelo), uma marca e um slogan que grudaram feito chiclete (OAB pra Valer!), a agilidade para transformar apoios e propostas em anúncios e peças que se transformaram em lideres de audência. O conjunto foi fundamental para conquistar mais essa vitória.

PS: são 3 vitórias consecutivas na OAB-CE, além da consultoria para o candidato Leonardo Avelino Duarte, que venceu as eleições da OAB-MS.

T10 – Existiu algum momento difícil na campanha? Você pensou que talvez não pudesse vencer?

Todas noites dormia vencedor e sempre acordava com a sensação de que precisaríamos trabalhar mais e mais para consolidar a vitória. Por outro lado, os adversários erraram muito – no que diz respeito à comunicação. E, é claro, nós nos aproveitamos de cada vacilo dos concorrentes – como fazer o candidato descer de helicóptero numa festa ou usar apoios indevidos como no caso da imagem dos apresentadores do Jornal da TV Cidade. Quanto mais eles erravam, mais a gente acertava.

T10 – Que referências você usou para construir a estratégia da campanha?

Experiências do marketing político-partidário e, principalmente, o “know how”  de campanhas anteriores.

T10 – Você é tricampeão das eleições da OAB. Obviamente tem um segredo para tantas vitórias. Pode revelar pra gente?

É só contratar a Marcelo Lavor e a Promosell que eu entrego o segredo!

T10 – Ano que vem tem eleições. Já existem planos?

Confesso que não me sinto animado para eleições partidárias. Até porque, particularmente, ando muito descrente com a classe política do Brasil. Mas, ainda tem muita água para rolar debaixo da ponte.

T10 – Que dicas você pode deixar pro pessoal que quer seguir na área de marketing político?

Rezem para que a classe política do Brasil melhore o nível, mas melhore muito, pois o nível atual está lastimável. E isso vale para todos os partidos. Quanto melhores os candidatos, melhor será o nosso trabalho. Outra coisa: a internet pode ser decisiva lá para os lados do Obama, por aqui, a história ainda é outra.

T10 – É isso. Muito obrigado Marcelo! Onde consigo uma foto sua?

No álbum de fotos da minha mãe.

Bom, o Target10 foi lá e conseguiu essa do cabeludo visitando os estudios da Rede Globo, o Projac:

É isso pessoas. Esperamos que o bate-papo tenha sido divertido e instrutivo para vocês como foi para gente. E aguardem que essa foi apenas a primeira de muitas quem vem por aí.

Abraços e continuem com a gente!

Target 2 day sale, 2007.

Shoe Carnival, 2009

Montgomery ward, 1982

Gottschalks, 2008? 2009?

Bradlees, 1995

Verizon Wireless (montage), 2008.

Target, 2009 (I’m jeals of the gingerbread Target)

Wonderland Music, 1989

Macys, 1978 (its the 4th commercial–could the Texas Instruments watch commercial be the longest commercial for a watch ever? Also notice the Child World commercial)

Thanksgiving night commercials, 1989. Obligatory, “WE’LL DO IT LIVE!!” comment that one has to make when seeing Billo on Inside Edition. &ROADHOUSE

Thanksgiving Night, 1986

Una cosa che ho imparato a mie spese, nella mia breve carriera di aspirante cercatore, è la seguente:

“Se non si tiene sempre la piastra parallela al terreno, ma la si alza e abbassa o, peggio, si muove ‘a pendolo’ durante la spazzolata (ovvero la piastra sarà inclinata rispetto al terreno verso le estremità del movimento) si rischia di compromettere seriamente la performance di ricerca”

Ho sentito tante volte questa raccomandazione sia dai produttori di metal detector che da tantissimi utenti esperti. Intuitivamente è facile dedurre che, se non si tiene sempre la piastra ad un’altezza fissa e più vicina possibile al terreno, si aumenta la “distanza” tra questa e il potenziale target sepolto con conseguente peggioramento qualitativo e quantitativo della performance (leggasi…segnali rilevati più deboli e minore profondità massima raggiunta).

Ma c’è un altro aspetto che spesso viene dimenticato quando si da questa SACROSANTA raccomandazione… L’aumento di falsi segnali!

Oggi pomeriggio mi va di chiacchierare brevemente su questo aspetto con dei piccoli approfondimenti.

Per mantenere più semplice possibile la trattazione di questo argomento, quando necessario ricorrerò a esempi e similitudini che, spero, renderanno tutto più intuitivo.

Immaginiamo quindi di indossare le cuffie del nostro metal detector e di ascoltarlo in modalità ALL METAL NON-MOTION… Sentiremo quindi tutto ciò che viene rilevato dalla piastra: metalli “buoni” (non ferrosi) e “spazzatura” (ferrosi). Normalmente, dopo aver effettuato il cosiddetto “bilanciamento del terreno”, quello che sentiremo quando la piastra è in aria o vicino al terreno ma NON sopra un oggetto metallico sarà un suono continuo (e spesso anche fastidioso…ehehehe) detto “soglia”. Se non avessimo effettuato il bilanciamento invece, il suono sarebbe diventato più forte avvicinando la piastra al terreno e più debole alzandola verso il cielo (sempre sperando che non ci siano forti campi elettromagnetici di disturbo!). In parole poverissime,  grazie alle procedure di bilanciamento del terreno, il nostro metal è ALMENO IN TEORIA capace di annullare la SOSTANZIALMENTE COSTANTE risposta della elettromagnetica del terreno.

Ho espressamente usato il maiuscoletto con le parole SOSTANZIALMENTE COSTANTE perché, in realtà sarebbe meglio utilizzare l’espressione “CON VARIABILITA’ ‘LENTA’” ovvero, in altri termini, il livello di risposta del terreno, muovendoci sopra di esso con il nostro metal, se cambia lo fa abbastanza “lentamente”, senza variazioni improvvise…con molta gradualità. Queste variazioni di risposta sono spesso legate essenzialmente a due fattori: presenza di minerali ferrosi (che, se non vado errato, comportano un aumento maggiore della componente “reattiva” del segnale) o presenza di sali disciolti nel terreno che aumentano la conducibilità elettrica dello stesso (questa volta, sempre se non sbaglio, implica un aumento maggiore della componente “resistiva” del segnale). Ciò di cui parliamo è la famigerata “MINERALIZZAZIONE DEL TERRENO” che tanto fa dannare progettisti e utenti di metal detector.

Andiamo velocemente avanti…

Come detto poco fa e come ho già scritto in altre occasioni, fortunatamente la mineralizzazione, forte o debole che sia, normalmente ha delle variazioni molto graduali quando muoviamo la piastra sopra il terreno. Ciò che invece ha una variazione di segnale MOLTO PIU’ VELOCE è quello collegato a qualsiasi oggetto metallico che la nostra piastra, MUOVENDOSI SOPRA DI ESSO è in grado di rilevare!

Quindi… quando muoviamo la nostra piastra sul terreno, mantenendo da esso una distanza costante, e passiamo sopra un oggetto di metallo, tecnicamente, se potessimo avere delle SUPERCUFFIEMAGICHE e non tenessimo conto del “bilanciamento del terreno”, potremmo sentire:

1)      Prima solo un suono che varia molto lentamente… E’ la mineralizzazione del terreno…

2)      Poi, simultaneamente, un suono che varia molto lentamente (la mineralizzazione) e uno che cambia molto velocemente (l’oggetto di metallo)

3)      Alla fine, passato l’oggetto, torneremo a sentire solo il suono che varia molto lentamente del terreno senza oggetti metallici dentro.

Ora, i circuiti di identificazione del nostro metal detector sono in grado di capire se c’è un oggetto di metallo nel terreno PROPRIO PERCHE’ LA SUA VARIAZIONE DI SEGNALE E’ PIU’ VELOCE DI QUELLA DEL TERRENO!!!

Sono certo che molti di voi avranno già intuito il finale di questa semplice storiella…

Cosa accade se, invece di mantenere la piastra sempre alla stessa altezza sul terreno, la solleviamo e abbassiamo mentre la spostiamo, o la muoviamo in maniera “scoordinata” o con un movimento tipo pendolo?

In poche parole stiamo rischiando di ingannare i circuiti di identificazione del nostro metal detector perché questi MOVIMENTI INCONSULTI fanno si che la variazione “lenta”, tipica del terreno, venga rilevata come più irregolare, “veloce” ed intensa rispetto a quello che in realtà è.

In altre parole il nostro metal detector crederà che sotto terra ci sia un oggetto metallico (caratterizzato appunto da variazione repentina) quando invece NON C’E’ NULLA!!!!

Ecco la spiegazione di questi POSSIBILI FALSI SEGNALI!!!

Morale della favola… Fate attenzione al vostro stile di spazzolata, ne troppo lontano da terra (perdita di profondità) ne “strusciando la piastra” (possibilità di “rimbalzi” della piastra ed altri fenomeni fisici di disturbo, nonché maggiore usura e possibilità di danneggiamento) ma tentate di mantenere sempre la stessa altezza da terra facendo attenzione soprattutto ai punti estremi destri e sinistri dove, di solito, si ha la tendenza ad “angolare” la piastra rispetto al terreno.

Happy ParallelSweep Hunting!

Bodhi3

(Per le illustrazioni ringrazio il Prof.  James Trevelyan – Mechatronics Discipline Chair – School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Western Australia)

The emissions target follows a similar announcement by the Obama administration ahead of next month’s U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen… From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: china holidays. The blog is also related to: china economy.

“What is your Black Friday plan of attack this year?”  This is the biggest shopping day of the year for retailers.  However, there is a flip side for Black Friday for the people that have to work on this day.  While shoppers are reading ad campaigns from retailers, clipping coupons, making shopping plans with family and friends deciding what stores to shop first, bee lining for great Door Buster sales retailer sales associates are planning a different survival strategy which I call the “Twelve Days Before Black Friday”.

I originally wrote this to share with sales associates the morning of Black Friday before the store opens.  However, as a member of TwitterMoms a group of moms that share, blog and tweet came along this wonderful blogging contest http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/what-is-your-black-friday-plan for TARGET Stores http://www.target.com.

Target

The Twelve Days Before Black Friday

On the Twelve day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
Remember this:  Customer Service First, so associates park behind the dumpsters.

On the 11th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
We’ll open this year at 4am, so be prepared for the Door Buster sale rush.

On the 10th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
We’ll work 10 hour shifts with 2 15 min breaks and 1 hr for lunch.

On the 9th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
We’ll provide sandwiches only for associates lunch.

On the 8th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
Wear store colors, totally black shoes and no tennis shoes.

On the 7th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
– congratulations team we’re 1st in the district for Customer Service Satisfaction
– we didn’t meet our 12K sales goal
– we’re 12th in the district;
– we didn’t meet our ICAPP goal,
– we need more sale referrals and $10 Off coupons end today.

On the 6th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
All associates offer to save the Customer 10% for opening a new account, get 6 ICAPPs on Black Friday.
– Don’t answer questions confirming interest rates;
– Don’t confirm interest is compounded daily;
– Don’t confirm late fees of $35;
– Just offer to SAVE 10% and nothing else.

On the 5th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
All associates on Black Friday need 5 customer surveys completed in kiosk.

On the 4th day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
All associates on Black Friday sale each customer 4 $25 gift cards.

On the 3rd day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
All associates on Black Friday needs 3 Catalog Referral Sales.

On the 2nd day before Black Friday
Our manager said to us:
– On Wednesday there is a store inspection everyone must help;
so dust everything is sight, straighten and size your departments,
organize your stockrooms and
– Oh, there is 3 huge truck deliveries, too.

On the Eve before Black Friday
As my family sat down to our Thanksgiving feast my telephone rings.
My supervisor says to me:
–I need you to open and close the department
– Jayne called out sick,
– Bob broke a hip,
– Chris’s truck broke down
– and Laura went out of town.
So, It’s you all day, all by yourself be in at 3:45 AM til close at 10PM
and still be in Saturday at 5 AM.

On the Eve before Black Friday
The News Report Flash appears on T.V.
– Shoppers tailgating parties in retailers parking lots.
– Showing flyers of store maps with limit quanties of Hot Doorbusters Items
– Visions of mobs at the stores across town.
– People nauling on turkeys legs, camping out, yelling and cusing sounding like an Urban Dictionary Spelling Bee,
cops with stunt guns for crowd control.
Another News Report ALERT showing happy campers carolling, drinking free coffee, walking freely about mingling holding RED Tickets.
In the mist of the fog an image appeared of a Big Red “TARGET” sign the place you want to be.

On the Eve before Black Friday
ALL THESE DREAMS CAME OVER ME:

Our manager said to us:
– all associates park behind the dumpsters.
– we’ll open this year at 4am, so be prepared for the doorbuster sale rush.
– we’ll work 10 hour shifts with 2 15 min breaks and 1 hr for lunch.
– we’ll provide only sandwiches for lunch.
– wear store colors, totally black shoes and no tennis shoes.
– congratulations team we’re 1st in the district for Customer Service Satisfaction
– we didn’t meet our 12K sales goal
– we’re 12th in the district
– we didn’t meet our ICAPP goal
– we need more sale referrals and the $10 Off coupons end today.
– all associates offer to save the Customer 10% for opening a new account, get 6 ICAPPs today.
– Don’t answer questions about interest rates;
– Don’t confirm interest is compounded daily;
– Don’t confirm late fees of $35;
– Just offer to SAVE 10% and confirm nothing else.
– all associates need 5 customer surveys completed in kiosk.
– all associates sale customers 4 $25 gift cards.
– all associates need 3 Catalog Referral Sales
– On Wednesday  is a store inspection everyone must help; so dust everything is sight,
straigthen and size your departments, organize your stockrooms and
– also there is 3 huge truck deliveries too.

On the Eve before Black Friday
I prayed these things before I fell asleep.

– Lord, I pray Black Friday isn’t a trash pick-up day.
– Lord, I pray I awake at 2AM.
– Lord, I pray this 10 hour shift will go by as fast as a blink.
– Lord, I pray you bless the sandwiches to stay down as I rush to eat.
– Lord, I pray that the customers wear stores colors to confuse the mob that rushes me.
– Lord, I pray we meet our sales goal, so we all have jobs to keep.
– Lord, I pray 6 customers ask me for an Instant Credit Application
with their driver’s license saying please.
– Lord, I pray that the Customer Satisfaction Surveys will be sweet, since we don’t
have what they need.
– Lord, I pray we have enough gift cards, since no one knows what people need.
– Lord, I pray we had WiFi in the store to complete speedy Catalog Sale Referrals.
– Lord, I pray the three trucks GPS navigation systems leaves them lost driving down the wrong street.
– Lord, I pray for a personal shopper to shop for me.
Thank you, Lord, Amen.

China’s State Council describes the target as a voluntary action and predicted it will make a "major contribution" to global efforts to tackle climate change…. From VOA. Full story

This site may contain information about: china east. The blog is also related to: china company.

What do I hate most about Thanksgiving? Well, what I really hate most is the way people say “Happy Turkey Day” when millions of turkeys are killed just so Americans can overeat. But this isn’t a vegan blog; it’s a gender and culture blog, so I’m going to talk about the way Thanksgiving (and holidays in general) bring out traditional gender roles.

Consider this Target Thanksgiving ad that’s been running nonstop for weeks. If this was Professor Bean, he’d probably rail about the consumerism, and that’s annoying. But what really bothers me is the expectation that the woman would be so worried about presenting the perfect holiday that she would practice everything from how she greets her relatives to how she enters the dining room.

Meanwhile her husband (boyfriend?) apparently does nothing towards the preparations except leafblowing (men, of course, take care of the yard because that’s “manly work” outside the home). I wish I could say this is an extreme version of real life, but even in progressive households, holidays brainwash people into mindlessly assuming bifurcated gender roles “because that’s the way it’s always been.” The family always eats pumpkin pie and the women always do all the cooking and cleaning up.

Which leads me to a dispiriting conversation I had last week with my students. After 13 weeks of discussing gender norms and roles, examining how gender is constructed, not natural, and how that construct can be damaging because it forces people to fulfill roles they might want, last week we got onto the topic of who pays for dates. And every single student agreed that the man should pay for the first date. No matter what. It didn’t matter to them who asked whom, who made more money, or even the seriousness of the date. The man pays. Why?

Well, there were two types of answers. One was “chivalry, generosity, nice gesture.” The other was “that’s what my father taught me.” When I asked why a woman couldn’t be generous or make a nice gesture by paying, they giggled at me and suggested that women can do other things that are nice (although they all swore up and down that there was no expectation of sex when the man pays). When I asked why they had to do things the way they’d been taught, why they had to follow tradition, I apparently slipped into Urdu, since they couldn’t comprehend what I was saying. This was an immutable law of the universe, like gravity.

It was depressing to discover that all the discussion and debate about gender roles had not touched them, not really. They’ve come to a better understanding of what transgendered people go through, they can give a definition of feminism that doesn’t include the phrase “man hating” and they know the difference between sex and gender. That should make me happy. But I realized as we argued that what they’d learned was only those things that didn’t directly affect their world, their lives. They were happy, eager even, to learn more and become accepting about the Other. But they are still completely unable to see that they are the Other. Since  society at large rewards them for keeping  traditional gender roles, they are not only unwilling, but pretty much unable to question those traditions in any meaningful way.

And that’s what I hate about Thanksgiving.

Such a sassy couple of dead guys.

yes, i am one of those crazy people who will be waiting outside in line in the g-d freezing cold at 4 am to get the best deals. which is funny, because the really bloody battles usually happen over deep discount electronics and zhu zhu hamsters, neither of which i am currently in the market for…  mostly, i’m hoarding cheap dvds and cleaning out clearance stock with extra coupons. also, i’m in it for the experience (which i will be documenting as i go). it’s totally crazy, and kind of stupid, but hands down the wildest shopping ride of the year.

target:
last year, target was my first black friday stop- this year not so much.  there’s some cute puffy vests for $7.50, and baby mama is on dvd for $3.99 (plus some mysterious “select others)…. but nothing amazing. we will be stopping in, but definitely not first.

walmart:
walmart doesn’t have much that i want, but their $2 dvds are hitting my sweet spot just right. they say “over 100 titles”, but just from the small stack in the picture, i’ll most definitely be picking up: spaceballs, young frankenstein, the mummy, and hellboy II. my dvd collection is already ridiculous- and about to get even ridiculous-er.

cvs:
totally copycatting rite aid by the way- herbal essences AND soleil razors. i’m outraged. but i’ll still shop there, because the deals are hot for the first time in months. i’m feeling lazy, so i’ll just list of the things that are free after ECBs (with or without coupons):

reeses & mars singles, vaseline sheer infusion lotion, degree ultra clear, colgate total toothpaste (free with $1/1 coupon from 11/8 smartsource). there’s also some $.99 herbal essences, colgate 360 toothbrushes, and $1.99 schick quattro or soleil razors…. i’m sure i can make something work with the $5/$30 that they emailed me today. i think they’re trying to win me back… but i don’t see that happening.

rite aid:

SCRs ahoy! rite aid is just giving shit away this black friday. i’ll be picking up:

$.99 sally hansen lip color- which should be free if maine got the $1/1 lip product coupon in the 9/13 red plum. FREE

$3.99 tampax pearl with a $3 SCR- AND i have a $2 off coupon that i got in the mail a while ago. holy-money maker batman!

$2.99 herbal essences with a $2 SCR.  i already blew my bogo coupon a few weeks ago, but $.99 is still a kick ass price.

$3.99 scope outlast with a$3 SCR.  i’ve got a $1/1 from the 11/1 p&g brandsaver that will make it FREE!

$2.99 oral b toothbrushes with a $2 SCR and

$.99 schick disposable razors! free if you’re not a scumbag like me who didn’t get the 11/22 paper for the $1/1 in the smartsource.

$5.99 soleil razors only $1.99 with $4/1 in-ad coupon. combine with $2/1 coupon from the 11/15 smartsource. FREE!

somehow i’ll wrap it all up in a $5/25 and fill out the holes (if there are any) with $.99 ivory, zest, and dial. details to follow…

forever21:
they’re being shifty about exactly what will be on sale, but i love a store where everything is already under $20. plus, if you show up early early, they could give you a scratch off with the possibility to win a $100 gift card!

macy’s:
i don’t see anything major in their flier that i’m into, but there’s a $10/$25 on clearance items coupon that i might put into action if i find anything great.

the gap:
bogo sweaters at the gap from wednesday to friday!! i have a $10 off coupon from my gapcard also, so i’ll be loading up good. also, you get a sweet coupon book with any purchase (more reasons to buy more sweaters!).

lane bryant:
costuming a burlesque means needing plus size ruffle butt underpants. usually pretty pricey @ $18/ea. or $27/3, the whole store will be 40% through the 29th! kick ass.

for those of you staying indoors this friday, lucky magazine has compiled a tidy little list of black friday online fashion finds.

Fill out entry form for a Target sweepstakes, then print a coupon for a free medium soda at any Target this Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, 2009.

Thanks, Pocket Your Dollars.

Laguna Lovers

We usually don’t think that celebrities, like Lo Bosworth, go shopping at Target. But these pictures clearly prove us wrong, as we see Lo buying toothpaste. A little odd that she took a whole basket and only walked out with one tube of toothpaste though.

Before the crowds of people line up at Best Buy, Wal Mart, and other stores (in Fresno those two will be the BIGGEST) on Thanksgiving (because who wakes up at 2AM anymore, let’s just camp out at the store the night before!) So here at the Dues, we’ve taken the liberty of checking out all of the Black Friday deal sites and found the deals that seem to be ones worth trampling for.

DISCLOSURE: THE DEALS THAT ARE BEING REPORTED MAY NOT BE THE DEALS REPORTED IN BLACK FRIDAY ADS ON THURSDAY. ALL DEALS HAVE LINKS TO THE SITE IT WAS REFERENCED FROM). IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY, PLEASE LEAVE US A COMMENT.

Walmart (REFERENCE)

1. Samsung 50″ PN50B400 Plasma 720P HDTV (Saturday 11/28 Only) – $698.00

2. Rock Band Special Edition (PS3, XBOX 360) – $50.00

3. Xbox 360 Arcade w/Madagascar 2 Game & w/Madagascar & w/Madagascar 2 Movie DVDs – $199.00

Target has posted a sneak preview of their 2 Day Sale that starts Friday at 5am!  Doorbusters include:

• XBOX 360 controller: $39
• PS3 Dualshock controller: $39
• Select DVDs: $3.99
• Garmin Nuvi 1350T GPS: $179
• DSi Game System: $169.99
• Nerf Vulcan: $25
• Select Lego sets: $49.99
• 54″ Turbo Hockey Table Game: $49
• Folding Aluminum Scooter: $17
• Video Rocker Extreme: $29.98
• Select Chef Mate appliances: $3
• And More!

Alright, you have most likely already seen these… but if not, you MUST check them out. Target has definitely hit the nail on the head with these. They are just too cute and fun!

Here’s my favorite one:

And this one is pretty good too:

Way to go Target Marketing/Advertising squad. Kudos to making those commercial breaks a little less annoying and a little more enjoyable.

When I think about Black Fridays, the first thing that comes to mind is “I need to have a plan!” Many retailers have started offering Black Friday Savings online today in order to draw you in for what’s in store [literally].  I know Walmart is promoting deals on their site as of now. You need to have a plan because if you plan on venturing out into the malls/stores this Friday, you most definitely need a LIST of things that you need to buy.  With such aggressive and fast-moving shoppers around you, there is no time to browse! You can miss out on some big savings if you do not move quickly!

Black Friday discounts are offered online which is a huge convenience – but the caveat is that there are some unique massive savings occurring in-store only! So, make sure that if you decide to shop online ONLY, you are getting the best deals relative to your budget.

Speaking of budget, if you have a set amount that you are planning on spending, stop by the bank or atm and dispense only that amount from your checking account. Shopping with cash will most likely keep you from OVER-shopping.

So, here’s a summary of what you need to remember:

1. Make a list of the people you need to buy gifts for and what gift you are going to buy them.  Each person should have at least 2-3 options just in case their one gift is out of stock (you can also compare prices between their options this way). If you are a giving person, include a Miscellaneous section for last minute gifts for (no offense) last minute people. Click on the websites below to perform your research as to what good deals will fit your gift recipients.
2. Shop online if it is sufficient.  If you can find all the deals that you need online, I encourage you to do so.  Many retailers are offering free shipping at this time, so take advantage.  As I mentioned earlier, there may be better deals in-store only, but if your budget allows you to have some wiggle room – shopping in the comfort of your own home is worth it.
3. Bring Cash. This is mainly for people on a budget, which is most of us! Credit Cards are EVIL during this time of year!
4. Dress comfortably.  For all my divas, heels is definitely not wise if you plan on visiting the mall for the massive deals.
5. Get some rest.  Almost all of the Black Friday deals start at the crack of dawn.  So, please get some rest the night before.  This will definitely help keep you on your toes! You don’t want to miss out on the $235 32″ HD Flatscreen @ Target!

I included a list of websites that will help you PLAN your day this Friday! Also check out the video for some helpful tips as well.

Top Ten Black Friday Websites

http://www.pcworld.com/article/183042/top_10_black_friday_websites.html

Black Friday Ads

http://www.blackfriday.info/

Black Friday Daily Updates

http://bfads.net/

Target does not double your coupons, but you can stack (use at the same time) a Target store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon.

Swanson Broth (find organic) .49 ea
-.25 off wyb 4 Swanson broths 11/8 SS
-.35 off wyb 4 Swanson broths 11/8 SS
-$1 off wyb 6 Swanson broths 11/8 SS

4oz Earth’s Best organic baby food .69 ea

14.25 Archer Farms honey cornbread baking mix$1.99

Archer Farms Artisan pane Italian loaf $2.99

Archer Farms 9″ pumpkin pie $6.99

Scott Bath Tissue (naturals) $6.99
-$1 off any 11/22 Smart Source insert

Huggies Natural Diapers $16.99
-$3 off any Huggies Natural printable

With the increasing number of deaths each year at the various Black Friday sales it makes one wonder why anyone of sound mind would go.  Sure there is denial – those things don’t happen here just in high crime areas.  Well, that is not at all true.  Recently a Walmart employee was trampled to death in tranquil Valley Stream, N.Y.  A customer at the same Walmart, Jessica Keyes, miscarried purportedly after being knocked down in another Black Friday melee.

Another rationalization stems from pomposity.  I don’t shop at Walmart, that’s for trailer trash.  Well, your hubris won’t save you either.  In another episode two men died at a Toys “R” Us in chic Palm Desert, California after an argument led to an exchange of gunfire.

I know what you are thinking now, California?  New York?  All those people are crazy.  In Lee’s Summit, Missouri two people were mowed down in a shopping center parking lot.  Need more?  In Roanoke, Virginia a man is caught on video striking another shopper five times at a Best Buy.  Fashion Place Mall In Murray, Utah had to close not long after opening because police had to break up nine different fights.  At the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrece, California and elderly lady and nine others were injured when the mall dropped free gift certificates from the ceiling.

These are not events from several shopping days.  These all occured on Black Friday 2008.  Virtually every store in every town has some issue every year.  Conclusion?  No sane person goes to Black Friday sales.

So don’t go.  Seriously, I know that this is the worst economy since the 1930’s, the last Great Depression but there are other ways to give a gift of the heart without spending lots of money and risking your life.  Salsas.

That’s what I am giving this year.  Fresh, homemade salsas.  Talk about cheap, too, much more budget friendly than Rock Band and a lot less annoying than Zhu Zhu Pets.  Produce and a dozen or so 16 ounce Mason jars.  Fresh salsas are better than any thing you can buy at the market.  All you need is a food processor or blender.  Heck a good knife will work.  A good fresh salsa is like a bowl of summer sunshine but it goes better with tortilla chips.

Canned tomatoes are preferrable to fresh because they are picked at the peek of ripeness and the skin is removed.  Frozen pineapple and mangos can be used instead of canned or fresh but thaw and drain them first.  All other produce is fresh and, if possible, organic.  You can easily control the heat, too.  For mild remove all seeds and membranes from chilies.  For medium remove half of the seeds and membranes.  Don’t remove any for a good hot salsa.  For sissies omit the chilies altogether.

Since these salsas contain no preservatives they need to be eaten within two weeks of making which means they are perfect for you last minute Santas.  Each recipe yields roughly two 16 ounce jars of salsa and here are those simple recipes:

Salsa Rojo (aditional red salsa)

• 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1/2 onion, quartered
• 2-3 jalapeños or Serranos, sans stems
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic
• sea salt

Place onions into a blender or food processor and blend for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and blend another 30 seconds. Add garlic and peppers and blend until smooth. Add salt to taste and cilantro and blend until well mixed. Chill one hour before jaring.

Salsa Verde (green salsa)

• 6-9 tomatillos, halved or 1 28 ounce can tomatillos, drained
• 1/2 onion, quartered
• 2-3 jalapeños or Serranos, sans stems
• 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic
• sea salt

Place onions into a blender or food processor and blend for 30 seconds. Add tomatillos and blend another 30 seconds. Add garlic and peppers and blend until smooth. Add salt to taste and cilantro and blend until well mixed. Chill one hour before jaring.

Mango Salsa

• 2 fresh mangos, diced or 20 ounce jar, drained
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 2 Serrano chilies, diced
• 1 banana, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Jamacian jerk seasoning (optional)
• salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive bowl.  Place 2/3 of the salsa into a blender or food processor and pulse five or six times then fold back into the salsa.  Refrigerate at least one hour before jaring.

Pineapple Salsa

• 1 28 ounce can diced pineapple, drained
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 2 jalapeños chilies, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive bowl.  Place 2/3 of the salsa into a blender or food processor and pulse five or six times then fold back into the salsa.  Refrigerate at least one hour before jaring.

Now if you just can’t bring yourself to actually make your gifts but want to avoid the Black Friday free-for-all, buy a copy of Amigeauxs – Mexican/Creole Fusion Cuisine by moi.  They’re only $10!  What?  Friends and family not into cooking?  No problem!  How about a copy of the exciting political thriller A More Perfect Union also by me.  Come on, buy one so my loved ones will get something better than a jar of salsa for Christmas.

Joanna Newsom in Armani; image courtesy of wmagazine.com

So W just dropped news that Joanna Newsom has a proper follow-up to Ys and the subsequent Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band EP, the particulars to which twentyfourbit.com elaborated, all of which I know about thanks to GRCA’s Emily Marks.

Now, I’m not sure why it’s taking her so long to make another full-length, which I’m assuming Drag City is releasing. Some might speculate that her hiatus might be due to her relationship with SNL’s Andy Samberg. And while I have no problem with giving Samberg a good feminist hard time, I’m not entirely sure if her absence can be attributed to playing house. With recent appearances in trendy fashion magazines like W, much as she did earlier in her career with publications like PAPER, I think it might have something to do with playing dress-up.

The boys of Lonely Island with their dates at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards; image courtesy of aceshowbiz.com

Yikes! I realize those last two sentences might have infantilized the singer, something choruses of music critics do any time they call her voice “child-like.” What I mean is that Newsom has been mingling in the fashion world. Perhaps it’s no surprise that a long-haired, full-lipped, leggy white lady recording artist can get designers to take notice. However, I find it particularly interesting who she’s syncing up with, how this might help construct her image, and what all this might suggest about the commodification of indie. Because she’s not just putting on Armani. She’s friends with Rodarte, waxing pretentious about the collaborative process and wearing their designs to in-the-know, downtown fêtes. 

Joanna Newsom representing Rodarte's Fall 2008 collection; image courtesy of obsoleteantics.blogspot.com

Sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, who created a label honoring their mother’s maiden name, Rodarte, have made quite a splash in the fashion world and on the red carpet over the past few years. They seem like cool ladies with whom I’d definitely want to watch some movies. Yet I’m still on the fence about their decidely avant-garde design aesthetic. I almost like a lot of it, but it gets way too drapey and twee at times — particularly when factoring in the cost.

Natalie Portman and Reese Witherspoon’s dresses for the 2009 Oscars were vivid shades of pink and blue, but the knotty bodice patterns and woozy detailing made me a bit nauseous. Similar situation with the dress Tilda Swinton wore for a premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – loved the color palette, wanted to rip off the sleeves. And in theory, I like the Rodarte sweater Kristen Stewart wore in last January’s Teen Vogue, but in actual practice, I have a hunch that I could find some moth-eaten angora free of charge if I just brave the family attic. 

Cute sweater or is Kristen Stewart just wearing the empress's new cardigan?; image courtesy of flickr.com

That said, I like that Rodarte work with retailers like the Gap and Target to make their clothes more accessible and affordable. And they have made some killer, coveted items that I’d snap up if I had the money.

Reese Witherspoon's minty fresh Rodarte minidress; image courtesy of girladvantage.com

Michelle Obama wore a 2007 Rodarte dress to meet with Queen Rania in April 2009; image courtesy of paulrfrost.blogspot.com

But Newsom and Rodarte seems an interesting match. Though musicians pairing up with designers is nothing new (see also: Cher and Bob Mackie, Madonna and Jean-Paul Gaultier, Courtney Love and Christina Aguilera representing Versace, M.I.A. representing Marc Jacobs), something seems pretty perfect with the alignment here. Perhaps with the three ladies’ talk about collaborative processes, we’ll get to see a Newsom-designed collection, as we did with Chloë Sevigny’s 2008 collection for Opening Ceremony.

Chloë Sevigny models her own designs for Opening Ceremony, convincing this blogger that t-shirts can be successfully paired with strapless dresses; image courtesy of stylefrizz.com

This pairing might be read alongside what commercial ventures Newsom has entertained. In an era that has seen many independent artists rely upon advertising and television shows to get their music heard, Newsom’s music has been featured in several places. Often she has elected that her music be used in documentary work. However, The Milk-Eyed Mender’s “Sprout and the Bean” was featured in Victoria’s Secret’s Dream Angels ad campaign. Note that her voice is not heard in this spot.

Or it could be that a dress is just a dress. Which is fine too. But while I’m excited about hearing Newsom’s new album, I’ll have two labels on my mind when it comes out: Drag City and Rodarte.

~ Carl Lewis

Whew!!  I feel like all I’ve done for the last two days is go grocery shopping.  Normally Future Hubby does the household grocery shopping when he is off on Fridays.  He likes to do it and I loathe it, so it all works out!!  I do my healthy food shopping at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods on Tuesdays.  Since we were gone most of last week, I offered to do the household shopping yesterday so that he did not have to battle the crowds on Sunday.

So, yesterday I spent an hour running around Kroger,which is a regular grocery store.  Normally I avoid regular grocery stores, as I’m trying to eat cleanly.  When you shop at places like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, it makes eating cleanly fairly idiot-proof.  While I was at Kroger, though, I did find the newest Eat This Not That! book:

I have already read a bit of it and it has some great new tips that I’ll be sharing with you soon!!

Today I needed to do my grocery shopping and also hit Target for some other stuff.  I hit Target first and it was a madhouse!  I knew it would be when there was no parking and then maybe 5 carts left in the store.  Oy!!  I had to get some stuff for our kitties and also just the usual stuff, like deodorant and such.  Of course, I also picked up this:

I’m all about the easy!!   

After Target, it was time for Trader Joe’s.  I bought a ton of pears, as I am trying to get more fruit and fiber in my diet.  I grew up eating canned pears, so this will be quite a new experience for me!!  I also love their pre-sliced butternut squash.  And I picked up some buffalo burgers. 

After that, it was time for Whole Foods.  Here I picked up two boxes of Amazing Grass bars, as well as a new treat for me:  Ricotta salata cheese and this:

OMG, sooooooo good!!  The Ricotta salata is a pressed cheese, so it’s made to be diced.  I just crumble some on a plate and then put some of the Mackays strawberry on top and OMG – it’s the perfect sweet and savory treat!!

Plus, I love the ingredient list on the Mackays:  Sugar, Strawberries, Fruit Pectin, Champagne, Lemon Juice.

What I couldn’t find but want to are these:

I love the Bolthouse Farm products and would love to try these, but so far haven’t had any luck.  Wait, I just checked the website and it seems as though they are pretty limited to Giant Eagle right now.  Okay, will have to check that out next week, as I am not going to one more store this week, lol!!

I decided that since I was already hurting from last night’s workout plus today’s shopping (back issues again), I am not working out tonight.  I am just going to let my back rest tonight and then I’ll hit it hard tomorrow. 

So, on to my food recap for today!

Actual/Goal:

• Calories:  2117/2000 – Woot woot!!
• Fat (g): 104/65 – better than yesterday
• Cholesterol (mg): 334/300 – eggs today
• Sodium (mg):  4464/2400 –  blech
• Total Carbs (g):  218/130 –Hmmmmm….
• Fiber (g):  16/35 – yuck!
• Sugar (g):  34/35 –Super yay!!!!
• Protein (g): 69/136 – no protein bars today, but will have this up tomorrow
• Vitamin A (%): 24/100
• Vitamin C (%): 32/100
• Calcium (%):  53/100
• Iron (%):  32/100

WW Points:  44/42

Not a bad eating day.  I’ll take it!!

Talk to you all soon!!

With Thanksgiving barely two days away, stores across the country are prepping for the big day. They aren’t thawing the turkey or planning the arrival of their relatives, but are instead stocking their shelves for the early morning blitz the morning after. Black Friday will soon be upon us, and with it the droves of obsessive shoppers.

Admittedly, I have a love/hate relationship with Black Friday. While my gag reflex kicks in at the very thought of waking up at 2:30 am to fight off frenzied, coffee-wired soccer moms for the last $5 sweater, one of my favorite pastimes with my mom has been to get up aroung 8 or 9 on Friday, leisurely get ready and drive to the mall, and park ourselves on a bench with a coffee in hand to watch crazed women (and men!) claw at eachother for those early-bird bargains.

But in the last few years, it seems as though stores are stretching this kick-off of the Christmas shopping season to begin earlier and earlier. I just saw a commercial saying that Target will open at 3 am on Friday, and Kohl’s will follow closely at 4. Best Buy plans to hold off the mobs until 5, but will be handing out first-come, first-served tickets at 3 for highly coveted holiday gifts like game consoles and Rock Band.

When I heard on the radio that Jordan Creek will be opening at midnight for shoppers, I thought Ok, that’s a little excessive. Is such an early time really that beneficial? Apparently so. After reading Best Buy’s opening sales, I realized that the tech store has, in fact, already begun the Black Friday sales. They have had electronrics, game systems and other merchandise on “Black Friday week” sales since Monday. Black Friday has become a week-long binge of scoring deals for your Christmas list. Don’t hold up Thanksgiving dinner for me, I’ll be at Best Buy picking up a new plasma screen in time for kick-off of the Giants/Broncos game at 8:20.

This phenomenon has got me wondering — where will consumers draw the line in their holiday shopping spree? Can we just start the savings the day after Halloween? That’s when all the stores seem to ditch the black and orange in favor of red and green anyway; why not add a 20% discount to some useless gift stuff while they’re at it? America is so focused on the commercialism of the Christmas season that they are going to drastic measures to find a good deal.

There’s even an app for that. No joke. CNN posted an article today saying that mall map apps on saying that mall map apps on iPhone are gaining popularity as the dreaded date of the 28th approaches. So you can buy that iPhone on “Black Friday” sale on Wednesday, download the mall map app on Thursday, and on Friday be all set to throw fisticuffs for that $20 pair of boots at Dillards. Happy holidays!

//

I recently purchased a few new cosmetics that have made me very happy.  I don’t often buy make-up.  I use mine until it’s gone.  Shelf-life guidelines are ignored as I paint my face with the same boring colors day after day until I’m out of everything.  This month I ran out of foundation, moisturizer, lipstick and gloss…insert feminine crisis.  Only thing worse would be running out of mascara.

Or letting my daughter do my hair and makeup…

The Momma Lisa

Truth be told, cosmetics intimidate me.  I hate to buy something and then hate it.  I killed my money tree long ago, so I want to LOVE my purchases.

First, I tried Eucerin’s facial moisturizer with sunscreen.  Since I already managed to acquire a ‘sun spot’ on my face, I figure sunscreen is always good.  It doesn’t matter that the sun hibernates in northern states.  It was an eight dollar risk that I’m glad I took.  I like the moisturizer.  It gets fully absorbed and it’s good for my dry skin.

Second, I came to the conclusion that I just hate foundation.  Some brands give me pimples, others give me eczema, and the rest just feel like a mask.  Maybe I just haven’t found ‘the right one’, but I officially dumped foundation.  I’m only using tinted moisturizer now.  I like the extra moisture and sheer, light coverage.  Yes, you can see a few zits, but since I’m not fifteen, I don’t get a thousand pimples at once.  I think the strangers in the grocery store can deal with seeing a zit on my chin.  If not, there’s always therapy – FOR THEM.

I went to Target and stressed myself over finding a tinted moisturizer.  I ended up choosing Sonia Kashuk’s tinted moisturizer.  I am in love.  I definitely think it was worth the $12.

Next, I moved on to lipstick.  When I was in highschool/college, I wanted my lipstick to last for no less than 48 hours.  It didn’t matter if it was an oil-based permanent paint with a safety warning, as long as it didn’t come off on my cup.  I also gravitated towards the brightest lipsticks I could find.  At night, you could see my lips approaching before my body.  Lighthouses considered hiring me as a full-time beacon in the night.

Now I enjoy a more subtle, natural shade of moisturizing lipstick.  I think something happens to your brain after thirty and you just get smarter.  No offense to all those twenty-something’s out there, but the things I did to my hair and face should be punishable crimes.

My lipstick choice – Revlon’s Caramel Glace.  I even bought a matching lip-gloss since they were buy 1, get 1 1/2 price.  Who can pass up a good deal?

What I’m not happy with is my mascara.  Any suggestions?

Here’s the big question…

ARE YOU GOING SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY?

I really want to be at Target at 5am.  I’m still not sure if that’s going to happen, but it’s my heart’s desire right now.

PS  I added a ’survey’ page to my header.  I’m curious to see what my audience looks like.  Check it out and take the quiz.  Thanks!   Click HERE to go to survey page.

As much as that song should remind me of Christmas time, it actually reminds me of my favorite commercial – the Staples ones that comes on in early August, with the dad dancing around the store merrily throwing school supplies into his cart .. anyone?

Anyway, breakfast was something new:

Siggi’s Icelandic Blueberry Skyr with a Kashi Honey Toasted 7 Grain granola plank

I was surprised when I opened it to find this:

That is was already blue, I mean.  I’m used to Chobani’s fruit at the bottom strategy, so I was expecting white yogurt with fruit to mix in.  But there wasn’t any fruit at the bottom for  me to mix, it was already done for me!

What is skyr?

Nutrish Stats:

Siggi’s Icelandic Blueberry Skyr Opinion
Taste: The skyr was really good!  About as tangy and tart as plain Greek yogurt, with a definitive blueberry taste.  It doesn’t scream “I TASTE LIKE BLUEBERRY,” but has a more subtle flavor throughout.  Very unique, and very good.  4/5.
Texture: You can see how thick it is – like 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt.  It’s also incredibly creamy – 5/5.
Fill Factor: I wasn’t very hungry for breakfast and I didn’t eat it alone, but I think it would be a great snack and was filling for a smaller breakfast with only a couple hours until lunch.  I wouldn’t eat it alone for a meal, but definitely a snack.  3/5.
Ingredients: Above is the list of what’s not in it, and here is what it does contain: “Pasteurized skim milk, agave nectar, blueberries, live active cultures, vegetable rennet.”  5/5.

I’ll definitely be buying this again!  I can’t wait to try the plain and the orange & ginger flavors I bought!  I wish they hadn’t been out of the grapefruit and acai – all of the others sound so good too.  I just wish I could afford to buy them when they’re not on sale

After breakfast I headed to luxurious Tar-jay and knocked out 80% of my Christmas shopping – go me!  I also picked up some fun dishes …

Then my mom and I went out to grab lunch and run some errands.  At an AMAZING local soup/salad/sandwich place, Chef’s Table, I built my own salad:

Romaine, red onion, grilled chicken, steamed brocc, maple glazed sweet potatoes, chickpeas

Nomnomnommm .. this is my salad after I ate half of it at lunch.  I ordered fat free balsamic on the side, but didn’t end up needing it.  I also had a Diet Lemon Snapple – it had been too long, my friends.  Snapple is where it’s at.  Except nutritionally.  ANYWAY, I ate the other half of mi ensalada after a glorious stop at …

LULULEMON!

It was my first time and it was heaven.  Almost like Whole Foods.  Almost.  I wasn’t going to buy anything, just show my mom some ideas for Christmas, but then I saw this -

The Brisk Run Headband in Lolo Purple.  My ears are really the only thing (besides my hands) that I have trouble keeping warm on runs lately.  I figured $14 wouldn’t cause too much damage to my ever-dwindling bank account.  Then I was drawn to the pants wall .. and the Wunder Under pant, specifically.

Except the new version with the “Groove” waistband, white and black manifesto, to be exact.  The sales woman was super nice and I FIT INTO A SIZE 4 and my mom and the sales woman told me they looked good and my mom gave me some money towards them and I haven’t been a size 4 since middle school.  So I will be debuting and reviewing them tomorrow!  I’m actually wearing them now because I get super excited about new $82 leggings – I am ridiculous but I’m okay with that.  I know they’ll never fall apart and perhaps spending such an insane amount of money on running leggings will motivate me to use them.  I intend to break them in with some yoga after dinner, because it has been FAR too long and wearing Lulu makes me feel like I should be doing some yoga.

After a couple more stops, we were finally home and I snacked on this apple:

On Santa!  One of my goodies from Target.  He really looks like this:

Time to go harvest some crops …