Tips for Black Friday

This week the ads will go out for Black Friday. This is the busiest and most exciting shopping day of the year and you need to be prepared! Here are tips to help you navigate your way through the crazy crowds.

1. Check out the ads. Your local newspaper will be filled with ads and coupons. This will help you organize your day to maximize savings, since many stores offer special discounts that are time specific.

2. Research. Be knowledgeable about the products you want to buy. Some "deals" are for crap products. Know if you are truly getting a bargain.

3. Compare prices. There are a lot of websites that compare product prices.

4. Look for early bird shopping discounts. These deals usually run from 5am to 11am with no rain checks. The early bird will get the worm.

5. Be a night owl. Internet shoppers can beat the early birds by shopping online in the pre-dawn hours of Black Friday. Many retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials, which can be ordered online and picked up at your local store. Special web only deals will also be available starting as early as Thanksgiving Eve. Many of the outlet malls and factory stores will be opening Thursday at midnight, with early bird promotions.

6. Bring the ads. Many stores offer a lowest price guarantee, but you will be required to show a copy of the product being advertised for less. Most retailers will not meet Internet prices though.

7. Get a gift receipt. This will make it easier for the gift receiver to return.

8. Decide how early you'll arrive and plan accordingly. Dress warmly for the occasion in comfortable clothes.

9. Shop with a list. To avoid getting overwhelmed, bring your list with you of who and what you are shopping for.

10. Have fun! Don't be a Debbie-Downer...make this day be a rush and enjoyable!

Thanksgiving centerpieces

Thanksgiving is right around the corner! You don't have much time to get your centerpieces done, so here are a couple wonderful ideas for your table.

I love this idea! Use a white pumpkin as the vase for your arrangement of roses, daffodils, tulips, etc. Use any flowers in fall colors - yellows, peaches, and shades of orange. Smaller pumpkins and votive candles in orange-glass holders fill out the centerpiece.

Is something more simple your style? Fill dried gourds with pears and walnuts. Fill others with candles in glass votives and others with salt and pepper. Or, just simply place pears in a basket.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Thanksgiving crafts

Have time to spare this weekend? Use your down time to prepare your home for Thanksgiving! Here are a couple craft things I found that will take your home to the next level for the holiday. These items will look great on the coffee table or on the bookshelf!

Take any leave from your lawn to place on plain pillar candles. Coat the backs of the leaves with decoupage medium and smooth in place on the outside of the candle. If necessary, use tacky white craft glue to hold the stems down. Cover the sides of the candle and the leaves with one or more coats of the decoupage.

This craft is so chic and cute! Get yourself a small pumpkin, a grocery store bouquet, and a hot glue gun. Choose a bouquet with harvest hues and cut each flower at the top of its stem, just below each flower head. Attach each blossom to an uncut pumpkin with a little hot glue. Sprinkle colorful leaves and small gourds around the pumpkins. Easy and adorable!

Hire a stylist

There are some celebrities that obviously don't own a mirror. Taste is definitely something that money just can't buy. Here are some celebrities that need to either hire or fire their stylists. Happy Fashion Forward Friday and Harry Potter movie release day!!

Blake Lively usually has great fashion sense. This outfit is just too much.

I just don't understand Katy Perry's style. Tight latex dresses are not cute and her shoes definitely are horrible.

Leighton Meester needs to take some cues from her character on Gossip Girl.

Not terrible, but come on. You have access to all the clothes in the world and you show up in this.

Carving your bird

I'm a little late in writing this post for the day, but better late than never right? Well on this Top 10 Thursday, I wanted to prepare you for Turkey Day. The best way to prepare you is to help you in your carving skills. Here are 10 steps to carve your delicious, juicy turkey. Thanks Martha!

1. Gather your materials.


2. Preparation. Before carving, let the turkey stand at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to allow the juices to saturate the meat. Transfer turkey to carving board. Cut through the trussing with scissors.

3. Remove Drumsticks. Place the knife against the thigh and cut down to expose the leg's second joint.

4. Sever Drumsticks. Apply pressure at the joint with the knifepoint; twist the knife, and cut throug to sever the drumstick.

5. Slice Neck Cavity. Slice open the neck cavity with an oval incision that allows you to remove the stuffing while leaving the skin intact.

6. Scoop Stuffing. Use a long-handled spoon to scoop out the stuffing from the body cavity; transfer it to a serving bowl.

7. Slice Thigh Meat. Slice the thigh meat from the bone (the dark meat should be tender from resting in the juices).

8. Slice Breast. Place the knife horizontally at the bottom curve of the bird's breast, and slice in toward the rib cage to create a "guide cut." Then make a slice from the top down alongside the rib cage. Be sure to cut carefully.

9. Create Slices. Cut vertically through the breast meat to create medallion slices, being careful to preserve some of the skin on each slice. Repeat steps 6 and 7 on the other side of the breast. Place the knife at the first wing joint. Insert the knifepoint and twist it to sever the wing. Repeat with the other wing.

10. Enjoy!!

Vintage shopping

Do you want items that no one else has? Well, then vintage shops are the place for you to go! Not necessarily just vintage shops, you can find great steals in any second hand store, such as a consignment shop. Secondhand shopping is a great way to get awesome clothing inexpensively. Here are a few tips to help you in your search.

1. Belts. Belts are easy to try on in a secondhand store and you can find some real individual styles.

2. Bags. Bags are easily fixed if the strap is broken. Vintage pieces are very in!

3. Boots. Easy to slip on.

4. Etsy. Etsy has a lot of sellers with vintage pieces that they are selling. A lot of the sellers have the clothing on actual body forms, so you can see exactly how it will look on.

5. Mysisterscloset.com. Designers jewelry, clothing, and everything!

Friends on Thanksgiving

One of my favorite shows of all time would have to be Friends. I watched the show religiously when it was on the air and love to catch reruns as often as I can. When I think of my favorite Friends episode, 2 of them come to mind. I absolutely love "The One Where No One's Ready," when Ross is trying to get everyone out the door for an event. There are so many great quotes in that one! "Look at me, I'm Chandler. Could I be wearing any more clothes?"

My favorite episode of all time would definitely be "The One With All The Thanksgivings." All of the Thanksgiving episodes on Friends are amazing, but this one tops them all. I love when Joey gets the Turkey stuck on his head!

Woah, I'm stuffed

One of my favorite things to eat on Thanksgiving is the stuffing. I don't get it very often, so when Thanksgiving rolls around I eat a lot of it. There are so many recipes for great stuffing out there, some plain, some intricate in flavor. I found a couple recipes that sounded so incredibly delicious that you will for sure want seconds!

Stuffing Tip: Stuffing that is to be cooked inside the turkey should be warm or room temperature. It should not be refrigerated. Be sure you are ready to stuff the turkey soon after the stuffing is made.

Simple Stuffing - Serves 8
2 loaves Italian bread (about 10 oz each), torn into bite size pieces
4T butter, room temperature, plus more for baking dish
4 celery stalks, thinly sliced
4 shallots, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Bake until crisp but not browned, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.

2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add celery, shallots, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add wine, and cook until evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. To vegetables in bowl, add bread, parsley, and eggs. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; stir to combine. Mix in half of broth. Continue to add in more broth just until stuffing is moistened but not wet (there should not be any liquid in the bottom of the bowl).

4. Just before roasting turkey, stuff it with 4 cups stuffing. Spoon remaining stuffing into a buttered 8-inch square baking dish. Cover with buttered aluminum foil, and refrigerate. When turkey is removed from oven to rest, place covered baking dish in oven, and bake until warmed through, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.

Chestnut and Apple Stuffing

6T butter, plus more at room temperature for pan and aluminum foil

2 loaves Italian bread (about 10 oz each), torn into bite size pieces

2 medium onions, chopped (2 cups)

2 stalks celery, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces

Coarse salt and ground pepper

2 large Gala or Fuji apples, peeled, cored, cut into 8 wedges, and cut crosswise into thin slices

2 can (14 1/2 oz each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh sage

1 jar (7 oz) dry-packed cooked chestnuts, coarsely crumbled

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish; set aside. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Bake until dried, rotating sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and celery; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add apples; cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; reserve saucepan.
2. In same saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Remove from heat; set aside. To onion-apple mixture, add bread, sage, chestnuts, and eggs. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Add half the broth and toss to combine. Continue adding broth and tossing just until stuffing is moistened but not wet.
3. Place about 4 cups stuffing in turkey. Spoon remaining stuffing into prepared baking dish; cover with buttered aluminum foil and refrigerate. When turkey is removed from oven, place covered baking dish in oven, and bake until warmed through, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Chestnut and Apple Stuffing - Martha Stewart Recipes 

Thanksgiving chic

I'm going out to dinner this year for Thanksgiving instead of cooking at home, so I wanted to brainstorm some cute outfits to wear. Stretchy pants are a good idea for some extra room, but I thought it would be more appropriate to dress up a bit. Here is a Thanksgiving inspired outfit I put together on Polyvore. I love the coat and the dress! Happy Thanksgiving!

Side dish quiz

Turkey is obviously the main event during Thanksgiving, but there are several other dishes that make it a feast. Want to know which side dish suits your personality most? Take the quiz!

Side Dish Quiz

What side dish am I? I am Roasted Root Vegetables, yum! I can't lie, I kinda wish I was pumpkin pie!


So, what side dish are you?