Braving Black Friday

I haven't braved Black Friday since my high school days when I'd hit the malls of SoFla with my mom, aunt and sis. And even then we always went at a reasonable hour like 8 a.m., nothing like the 4 a.m. spectacles you see on the local news. 

This year I got up at 7:15 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving, and headed downtown to The Shops at North Bridge where the first 100 shoppers received a $10 pre-paid gift card. [Aside, yay for free money!!] I used it on a ruffled silk blouse from United Colors of Benetton, originally $70, marked down 50% off, plus an additional 10% off. My total was $24.08 when all was said and done. Not bad!

Of course, I also felt drawn to visit Zara a few shops away on Michigan Avenue. I found a store mobbed with Chinese tour groups so I blended right in (apparently the Chinese yuan is particularly high right now, so shopping in the States is a high priority on the itineraries). Amidst the madness I was lucky enough to unearth a suede chocolate brown sheath dress with a stitching detail marked down to $39.99 and a leather sash.

It's funny how the promise of a little free money could lure me out to try the madness this year. I discovered that Black Friday is not too crazy as long as you're not holding up some big-box wall. After all, 'tis the season! (Sorry, hubby, after all, it is half my money, pffffff!)