I used to love shopping. Now it tends to overwhelm me so Black Friday Shopping sounds like my own personal hell. The girls, however, are both at the mall with friends as we speak so whatever floats your boat, I guess.

If you are with me and looking for stay at home, alternatives to the mall, I’m here to share a few of my current non-shopping related favorites.

Podcasts

If you’ve been around here for long, you know I am a podcast fanatic. I listen to podcasts in the car, while I am getting ready in the morning, while I’m cooking dinner, while I’m folding laundry and all the rest. Here are my top recommendations.

New favorites:

Currently Reading

He Read, She Read

No Thanks, We’re Booked

Old favorites:

From the Front Porch

Sorta Awesome

NPR’s Up First

Book Riot’s All the Books and Get Booked

NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour

To-Be-Listened to List:

Bear Brook

Slow Burn

Television

I am in a serious tv watching rut. I can’t stop watching shows like Criminal Minds in which I know that everything is going to be ok and I can predict the arc of the story. My current watch is Bones which is based on the Kathy Reichs novels which I read and really liked years ago. This is far from high quality tv but it fits what I am looking for these days in terms of a show. That said, any and all recommendations are welcome!

Books

I have been tracking my reading this year on Instagram and loving every minute of it. If you don’t follow me there, please come visit me @staceyloscalzo and join in on the fun.

Currently, I just finished my first and not my last Fiona Davis book, The Address and really liked it. There is more Fiona Davis to come for me but for now I have dived in to Where the Crawdad Sings by Delia Owens. This book is all over bookstagram so I have to see what all the fuss is about.

Blogs

A lot of people will tell you that blogging is dead but I don’t agree. I still love reading and connecting with bloggers and some really smart people are sharing their writing in this way these days.

A few of my current favorites are Kelle Hampton, Modern Mrs. Darcy and 10 Things to Tell You. I think this collection really represents what blogging has become. Each blog is different from the other but they are all super valuable in what they are sharing with the world. Kelle writes a ton of awesome content about everything with a focus on connection and celebration in her family. She write a lot and I am super jealous of her ability to write all the words. Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy writes pretty specifically about books with an occasional glimpse into her everyday life. And Laura Tremaine of 10 Things to Tell You writes on her blog rather infrequently but when she does write I am always grateful for what she has to share.

And what I love about blogging today is that there are more ways to connect with the writers you love. Back in the old days of blogging, you would have to wait for your favorite bloggers to post new content. Now, most bloggers have a big presence on Instagram so you can connect with them in a really informal and more consistent way.

 

So how about you? Any recommendations for fun, non-shopping ways to spend Black Friday?