My Cyber-Monday Splurge

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Confession: I'm a bargain shopper.  I'll sniff out a good deal anywhere; bloodhounds ain't got nothing on me.  This means I rarely pay full price for anything if I can help it.  It also means it's pretty much impossible for me to resist a bargain when I come across one.  (If you've been following my posts and have read the ones about my wedding band, this probably doesn't come as a surprise to you.)

Take this year's Black Friday, for example:  Naturally, my sister and I braved the crowds, forgoing sleep in favor of scavenging for steals and deals (my body clock is still screwed up!).  But we're no amateurs: we did our homework first.  We made lists, timelines, and researched advertised prices to make sure we were actually getting a good deal.  All that work may sound ridiculous, but it kept us from running around and screaming at strangers like so many other shoppers we encountered that day.  See, getting a good deal is about more than buying things when they're on sale: it's about strategy.

Our trip was a success, and we got some great items, including a set of Oneida flatware for B and me (now we won't have to register for any!), a Xyron Creation Station, a fabulous pair of Bandolino leather boots, and some festive holiday decor -- all of which were at least 50% off!  I almost caved and bought myself a Cricut (there were so many deals on these this year!) but ultimately decided it wasn't quite the gadget I was looking for.  All those cartridges scared me!  I'm not a big scrapbooker, and couldn't justify spending all that money on an item that I really wouldn't use much (if at all) after the wedding.  I had resigned myself to the fact that I'd probably never find a die-cutting device that didn't require paying for a whole bunch of features, fonts, and cartridges that I'd never actually use.

But on Cyber-Monday, the stars aligned and I found the answer I'd been searching for.

J'adore Martha

The undisputed queen of DIY.  A Happy Homemaker for the modern age.  The true Domestic Diva.  Martha's is a household name, and while many admire her for all she's accomplished, others became disenchanted with her during the infamous insider trading debacle.  But whether you love her or hate her, the fact remains: this woman knows her stuff.  She's a self-made legend, and has gotten to where she is by always knowing which way the winds are blowing and acting accordingly, whether it be in the financial realm or in the world of crafts and domesticity.

After I got engaged (and, let's be honest, throughout the many months preceding my engagement) I started collecting bridal magazines.  Brides, The Knot, Bridal Guide, InStyle Weddings, Modern Bride, Real Simple Weddings, I had 'em all.  They were fun, with all their glossy pages, not to mention more pictures of pretty dresses than a girl could ever want or need, but when it came down to it, they weren't all that helpful when it came to actually planning our wedding.  Enter Martha.