Life's too short for Black Friday!

Let me paint you a picture: you’re standing outside in the freezing cold at 4am with a mob of strangers, all clamoring to get the latest and greatest toy or tech. You think you’re calm and just here to pick up something perfect for...someone - until you hear that nagging voice in the back of your brain that sucks you into the urgency and madness of the whole thing. That voice is the voice of FOMO (fear of missing out): it’s totally a real thing, and it’s trying to ruin your Christmas Black Friday madness has become an expected - and even celebrated - part of the holidays for a lot of people. But I want to challenge that. When you stand in line before dawn - with your teeth chattering, hands wrapped around your hot coffee, and wholeheartedly wishing you were still back in your bed, ask yourself this: is it worth it? When I ask myself that question, the resounding answer is, “No! This is not the start I want for the season that I love so dearly.” What if this year, you chose to:

• Sleep in with that snuggly toddler who climbed into your bed at midnight,
• Wake up slow and make pancakes while your kiddos hang out around the breakfast table
• Simmer some cider on the stove, so the house smells amazing,
• Make Black Friday a family day instead of an insane shopping day!
• If you skipped Black Friday, how would your life change? How would your perspective on the season change?

Now, don’t get me wrong. When my boys were little, we spent a couple of those Black Friday mornings frantically shopping in the dark with the hordes of other shoppers. Last year, I got sucked in to the online frenzy of deals - afraid I might miss out. But guess what? I didn’t get even one single thing that became something they loved and valued. In all that craziness, I didn’t find the perfectly meaningful gift or start a wonderful family tradition. What’s worse? It got my holiday self off on the wrong foot. So we are purposefully UNPLUGGING FOR THE ENTIRETY OF BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND. Yeap, for the first time in my 19 years in business, I will be doing nothing but making memories with my kids. No shopping. No lines. No sales. No insanity. Just some good, old fashion bonding time with my husband and teenagers. I’m picturing family hikes, lazy breakfasts, a great movie or two, a trip the the beach, a round of pool, and of course, ultimate Uno. Just writing that makes my heart rate slow down a bit. And at the same time, I am giddy at the thought of starting the season with some family fun - forgoing the insanity. So, as a small business owner, I have decided to embrace this professionally as well. Instead of sending a crazy sale with lights flashing at you, screaming to buy stuff, I’m not sending out one single sales email during that weekend. You’re already bombarded enough as it is! I want to be a part of your respite & peace, not your overwhelm. Our 2018 holiday sale is over - just in time to rest and relax and make some memories with our family. Did you miss it, no worries and no FOMO here! If you want to get a reminder of future sales & get more ideas on how to start family traditions & make memories with your family, Join the Little Girl's Pearls Family, because you’re my favorite, and giving joy to the people I care about is my favorite part of the season! Way better than shopping lines. Wishing you the very loveliest holiday season and the very delicious-est cider too, ~ Julie ♥