How can it still be called Black FRIDAY when the silly sales are starting at 10 o’clock pm on Thursday?? On THANKSGIVING!!  You know the one out of two remaining sacred holidays left? 

Yeah, not so much anymore these days. 

Can we really not survive a DAY without places like fast food restaurants and grocery stores OPEN ever ready to meet our needs?

I don’t like it.  I don’t like how more and more places are staying open on Thanksgiving.  It should be a holiday spent stuffing your face and getting annoyed with your family, right?  Er, wait.  Maybe not that last part??

I do LOVE the CONCEPT of Black Friday.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the DEALS!  But I SO do not love the early wake up call. Most years even when I’ve toyed with the idea, I have balked at the crucial moments and skipped the “joyous fun.”  Plus in recent years, the hubs has had to work the day after Thanksgiving {what is UP with this world?!} so my shopping has further been complicated by ain’t no way I’ve braving this alone baby.

My “NEW” Black Friday tradition of late, since I’m home alone with the kiddos has been to get the tree decorated!  I love getting it out the day after Thanksgiving to get as much bang for my Christmas buck as I possibly can.  I can’t abide with having it out BEFORE the big Turkey day, though.  It’s just not how I was brought up, people!  But I do love getting all the Holiday trimmings spread out while either listening to Christmas music or watching {my secret love} the Cheesy Holiday Movie.  :) 

Our decorating this year has run into a bit of a snafu with the newest one man wrecking ball member of the fam!  The Davis Man is ever on the lookout for something to get into, and I am so looking forward to the day when we are not constantly having to keep EVERYTHING above his destructive but cute little reach.  :)

I think we’ve decided to just go with a SMALL tabletop tree this year in hopes that we can somehow manage to keep his chubby little paws from tearing the ornaments from the tree.  :)

The outcome remains a mystery as yet in Davis vs. the Christmas Tree 2011. 

I’m hoping for a surprise underdog win.  For my sanity’s sake.  :)

I’m excited to have my new camera this year to capture all the fun of the holidays, and even more thrilled to have finally gotten a snazzy new strap cover.  :)  I have seen so many beautiful strap covers out there and man let me tell you it is hard just to look through the OPTIONS!!!!!!

I finally found this one and I love it!

{image via marine parents}

I shared this pic on my facebook page when I got it in the mail!  Woohoo!

Isn’t is cute??

It’s double-sided too… the contrasting side has a very “many” yellow and gray quatrefoil so Chris will still be able to hold the camera and his dignity fyi.  :)

{image via marine parents}

After I got my lovely strap, I sent April from Marine Parents an email and asked if she would be so kind as to share a discount code with YOU ALL, and she SAID YES!

Woohoo!  My only regret is not asking her BEFORE the sale, so I could have gotten a discount too.  :)

Just for you guys, enter the code LIVELAUGHLOVE at checkout and receive 10% off through December 31st!!  She actually sells a HUGE variety of stuff, so even if you don’t need a camera strap, there are lots more pretties to see too. 

Happy {Late} Thanksgiving and Merry {Early} Christmas from me!  :)

FYI… I got nada from this deal-a-roo!  I just loved my strap and wanted to give you all some love so you could get something fab too!

Hope you enjoy your day with whatever passion you happen to have pursued today!! 

Anyone get any fab deals they wanna share???  I can try to live vicariously through you, okay?