Our Thanksgiving...

Troy and I headed to Georgia to visit my parents and siblings this Thanksgiving.  Here's a synopsis of what went down:  The family hung out.  My mom and I shopped. Troy slept and watched football.  My mom and I shopped.  Troy watched more football. My mom and I shopped.  The family ate. The family went ice skating.  The family ate again. And then we came home! We had such a great time.

Last year was my first time doing the Midnight Madness at Tanger Outlets.  My mom and I kept that going this year! We left the house headed to the outlets in Locust Grove (about 25 minutes from my parents' house) at 11:30 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

Little did we know that PEOPLE ARE CRAZY! (I guess us included!)  Traffic was a HOT mess as far back as 1 mile before the exit.

Then once we actually arrived to the outlet, NO PARKING!! People were parking just about any and everywhere!

And there were so many people!!  I thought maybe the stores were giving stuff away!

Anywho, after shopping at the outlets for about 2 hours or so, we headed home for a nap.  Then, around 10:00 a.m. we headed for Lenox Mall and a few other places (Marshalls & TJ Maxx included of course!).

after 5 hours of sleep...back at it again!

Right outside of Lenox, we saw protesters...

...and a guy who forgot to look in the mirror before coming out in public!

Saturday morning I had breakfast with Whitney!  Such a lovely time!  It started out a little confusing, however!  We could NOT figure out the parking meter in front of the restaurant downtown.  How many lawyers does it take to figure out an Atlanta parking meter? Apparently TWO!

Success!! We figured it out! Stupid meter!

Saturday night Troy and I went ice skating with my parents, brother, and my brother's friend.   I got a twirl or two in without falling!

My parents had a great time! 

 my dad likes to pose! Remember when we played putt putt with him?

 "I don't wanna fall" ~Mom

But I was the ONLY one who fell.

That's me.  Woman on the ice.  But, all in all, it was a good time had by all!

Adrian, one of my many brothers.

So that's my Thanksgiving in a nutshell.  I am quite thankful to have spent time with my family.  And speaking of thankful, I am very grateful to have seen another birthday!  That's right, yesterday I celebrated another birthday!! 28 here I am!  Pictures of the birthday fun are forthcoming so stay tuned!!

How was your Thanksgiving?,
SG

Thankfully, Better Late Than Never...

While the Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone, my blog entry about my fantastic Thanksgiving is just now making an appearance.  This year Troy & I traveled to his hometown of Mt. Pleasant, SC to visit the family!  Here are a few highlights:

• Bootleg Parade.  Upon arriving to Mt. P, Troy and I were sad to find out that Snowden's (the area where Troy's parents live) annual "parade" was not going to happen this year.  Now, let me clarify what this "parade" consists of: random people in the neighorhood riding in trucks, fire trucks, small bikes, & motorcycles with signs on their cars & children throwing candy.  It is pretty much as bootleg as you can get.  But I sure was looking forward to taking pictures and sharing them with my blog readers!!  I will never forget my first experience with the Snowden Community "parade" Thanksgiving 2004 on my first visit to Mt. P to meet Troy's extended family! 
• Midnight Outlet Shopping!!  This year was my first experience going out to the outlets at midnight!!  Accompanied by Allison and her sister Kristen, we arrived at Tanger Outlet in North Charleston right at midnight only to find traffic, a PACKED outlet, and not-so-nice people fighting over parking spots.  It was so crowded that I had to park across the street from the stores at IHOP.  The shopping was pretty fantastic I must say!  50% off EVERYTHING in Banana Republic & Ann Taylor Factory Outlet (probably my two favorite stores out there!) and other great deals everywhere else!!  

 

  

The lines were pouring out of Coach & Rue 21

(still trying to figure out whether Rue 21 was giving away clothes!)

It was crazy!! 

• Black Friday Mall Shopping!  So, after leaving the outlet's at 3:30 a.m. (by the way, when we left the outlets Chick-fil-A and IHOP were crowded!! It was such a surreal experience!  I mean there were so many people out at 3:30 a.m. it was unbelievable!) I headed back home and thought I'd sleep in until about 11:00 or so.  BUT NO!  I woke up at 9:00 with coupons and an itch to hit the mall.  So while Troy rested I started part 2 of black Friday shopping and OH what great deals I found on items for myself, Troy, and our nieces! 
•  A Few of My Favorite Finds/Bargains.

 

$12.00 at Ann Taylor

So many great deals!

 

 Winter Purse from Banana Republic

50% off!! 

 

Blue boots!!! Man, this was such a fun purchase!

Thanks to a BOGO deal & coupon they cost like $10.00!

 

FREE Dress from Ann Taylor Outlet :-)

Super fun belt $6.00!

 

Winter Calvin Klein Dress

Warm & Comfy!

• Sister from Another Mother (not literally, but spiritually speaking! Had to come back to update this b/c people thought Allison was my half sister).  Troy and I visited our other Charleston family on Friday afternoon--Allison's family.  Troy and Allison's dad had MORE than a ball together once Troy found out that Mr. C owns a Hammond and once Mr. C learned that Troy knows how to play the organ.  It was SO hilarious to see Mr. C break out the keyboard and his saxophone and the two of them played until it was time for dinner.  Literally!  They paid us women no attention until it was time to eat!  It was major fun though!  

Troy playing the organ, Mr. C on the keyboard & Allison and Mrs. C

singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" along with the two men!

Allison joining the men by pecking away on her piano from childhood

Thankful for seeing another Thanksgiving,

SG