About two years after we were married, my husband and I were driving down Interstate 10 in California from Palm Springs, returning to our rented house in Orange Country. We drove through a smallish town, Redlands, and thought it looked pretty from the freeway.
Being avid explorers of small towns and obsessive model home visitors, we considered turning off. But it had been a long weekend and we were tired. “On or off,” husband asked.
I hemmed. I hawed. Finally, I said, “Okay. Off.”
We were at an exit, and he whipped the car off, made a turn at the light and another turn at the next light and we found ourselves on a beautiful tree-lined street with dozens of historic homes mixed in with thirties and forties style bungalows. And then, in the middle of one street, just a few blocks from the beautiful campus of Redlands University, we saw a tall, strong, boxy-yet-compelling building in stunning blue with a white rail around a large front porch.
A giant pine tree stood even taller than the very tall roof of the house, which we later learned had been built in 1901 and was a designated historic home, in part because it wasn’t Victorian, but because it was a workman style home (I forget the exact term).
And right there in front was a For Sale sign.
It was Sunday, but I was curious as to how much it cost. We’d been looking at properties, but in Orange County. And we were still in shock at the difference between California and Texas prices. (Oh how I wish I’d bought the $99,000 condo on Fourth Street in Santa Monica when I had the chance. Real Estate Mistake, much?).
Turns out the real estate agent was around. The price was gasp-worthy in that it was almost–almost–Texas prices. Most important, I was in love with the house. Funky, strange, completely un-userfriendly for furniture (there was a spiral staircase in the middle of the living room. And I really do mean the middle). And it even had a huge lemon tree in the backyard.
We waited for the agent. We walked the house. We pondered. We drove around the town.
And the next day we made an offer.
It was our first house, and it was most definitely an impulse buy.
Not the day after Thanksgiving, but a house shopping spree seemed appropriate to the occasion.
So tell me, what’s your wildest and wackiest purchase? If you leave a comment (that includes your email addie) you’re entered for the Blog Hop grand prizes described below.
And be sure to also enter my Rafflecopter for a chance to win a signed set of my Shadow Keepers novels written as J.K. Beck, along with an early read of Release Me, which will be provided to the winner via NetGalley (the winner will need to sign up for a free NetGalley account in order to accept that prize–don’t worry, it’s easy–and the read will expire in 30 days).
And here’s another idea for your Black Friday shopping…A set of my superhero romances! The first book, Aphrodite’s Kiss, is FREE for the Nook and iBook, and it’s only $1.99 at Amazon!
Learn more at WeProtectMortals.com or visit the Aphrodite Series Retailer List for links directly to your favorite ebook sellers!
Now for the cool hop stuff! While the rest of the US is out handling the crowds, fighting for their holiday gifts, some of us like to stay in, shop online, or just ignore Black Friday all together. This year, join us in our second annual Black Friday Blog Hop! The hop is November 23rd and is ONE DAY only.
We are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.
But that’s not all…. We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more! (everything but the swag prize is international.)
You MUST leave a comment in order to be considered for those grand prizes, and that comment MUST include your email address. If you came here via Facebook or Goodreads and want to read about and enter for the Blog Hop Grand prize, visit https://www.juliekenner.com/?p=3416
Here’s the linky link! Follow for more chances to win!
Wow, that is a crazy impulse buy! lol! I haven’t done anything that crazy and this year I’m super broke so NO shopping at all for me *sobs* I’ve been torturing myself looking at all the deals haha! 😉 A few years ago… like 4 I was in Vegas visiting a friend and she goes crazy for Black Fridays, shopping at all the stores from early morning till night… and of course she dragged me along. It was my first one and a bit scary and over the years I’ve decided I much rather like Cyber Monday Vs. Black Friday 🙂 I can fight with folks ON my computer and not get shoved around! 😉
And yay for all the blogs! I haven’t hopped in forever 🙂 Going to check the rest out tomorrow 😉 Thanks for the lovely giveaway and I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! 😉
Sorry swtlilangel4jc at yahoo dot com 🙂 Got so excited on my long post I forgot lol 😉
I never really purchased a wacky present…except for maybe the penis lolly-pops for my girlfriends stocking!!! LOL!! They rocked! As for shopping? Online only for me!! They are freaking crazzzzzzyyy!!!
Great Giveaway!!
viajeradelmar@aol.com
My craziest buy was when the Nintendo Cube came out. With two young boys (8&9) I stood in line for a midnight release to buy the system and two games. We were there for about three hours before we could even get into the store and it was cold out. The only other time I was crazy enough to stand in line for a specific buy was to get an autographed copy of a book for my husband that was written by his hockey hero.
Can’t recall a wacky or wild purchase.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Never really had a wacky purchase. I hate the crowds so I’m thankful for this blog hop! Thanks for joining and for the chance to win!
ehaney578 at aol dot com
I never really had a crazy purchase, maybe I spent too much on an item 🙂
Nicoleta D.
Sorry forgot my e-mail address
eta@gto.net
What a great story!
I don’t think I’ve ever done anything that crazy so I’ll tell you about the time that I was with my favorite uncle and HE bought something on an impulse…
I was about 15 years old and my uncle was driving us back to his house. We drove past a used car dealership and something caught his eye, so he turned around and before I knew my uncle was outside talking to the salesman.
Before I even understood what was going on, my uncle opened up the car door and said that we’re driving home “in style.” Well, it would appear that he turned in his old, old car for an almost new red sportscar! All I can remember about the car is that it was red and it was really nice!!
When we finally reached his house, he had to explain to his wife that they are the owners of this pretty little racecar and all I can say is that she wasn’t as excited over his purchase as he was.
That’s my story, it’s one of my favorite memories of my uncle!
Julie K
kornhsl@yahoo.com
Not any wacky purchases…money is always tight this time of year so it all is thought out based on priority. Sucks, I know! But that is the way it works.
Nicole.nobles@aol.com
Thanks for the giveaway.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
This took me a while to think about, but I finally figured it out. It would definitely be all the small animals we have: 2 rabbits, guinea pig and a chinchilla. We’ve got 4 kids, so we thought why not have 4 animals…we really should have rethought this. LOL. But, we do love them and since they’re not ALL over the house all the time, I suppose…..
I just don’t like to clean up after them.
Ooopsies!!! forgot my email: wbreerex@yahoo.com
Wacky? Well – self-abuse wacky – I bought my daughter (one year) a complete set of Polly Pockets. Nothing says I love you more than a miniaturized hard plastic teacup embedded in your foot in the morning because the stupid pieces are TEENY TINY!
thanks for participating
glhince (at) gmail (dot) com
I think the closest thing to a wild purchase was a TV and DVD player for my parents last year. This is wild because I only make about $400 a month, so I’m still paying it off.
And…I forgot my email, too!
AquarianDancer at gmail dot com
I do not like crowds so BF shopping is not for me! I will be spending my day hopping and then snuggled up reading! Well that is after I decide on what new book I have just added to my to be read list! It gets longer every hop! Thanks!
grapeapril75(at)gmail.com
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here I live, so no Black Friday for me either. But it must be fun to go shopping 🙂
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
I always have to work Black Friday so I don’t purchase things that day myself after waiting on customers.
sable677 at yahoo dot com
Probably a racecar. I bought 2 in one day. One was just a spur of the moment deal. As soon as I got home with it a guy came down and paid me 3 times what I paid for it. It was a win win for me.
kydirtgirl68 AT gmail DOT com
No wild shopping for me. I’m too structured for that. I have been known though to go on massive grocery shopping trips where I accumulate 4-5 carts worth of groceries.
planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com
I have never done the black Friday shopping thing so I have no weird story. 🙁 I may have to try it one year just to see what all the fuss is about. lol.
Thanks!
jinni_james@yahoo.com
We don`t have Black Friday sales here (I`m an international reader), so I`m just attending giveaways like this one,lol.
And I also can’t recall a wacky or wild purchase.
Thanks! 🙂
dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com
ive never been black friday shopping
beccaboo97200 (at) att (dot) net
I’m not a black Friday shopper. lisarayns at gmail dot com
Oh i’m staying home this black friday!!! Nothing in the sale ads could make me go today. i do like to look them over and usually can find a better deal online.thanks you for joining the hop!
miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com
BF shopping is not my thing, at all!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Enjoy!
TBQ
The_Book_Queen(at)yahoo(dot)com
No story I can think of. I skipped Black Friday shopping this year.
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
I bought a two-piece cashmere twin set, sexy under garments and high heels. I wore it once.
Sblasi9285@aol.com
A few of my friends do Black Friday, but it’s not for me.
Thanks for the chance to win!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
Wow! Your rafflecopter actually worked! followed and liked a few *winks*
Hmm, can’t recall any crazy shopping at the moment
thanks for the giveaways, the books sound hot!!
brbalwaysATyahooDOTcom
I loved your story. I don’t have an impulse purchase like that. The past few years I go shopping for myself because why should I pay full price for me? LOL. I’m just visiting the other hop hostesses.
I’ve bought a lot of stuff impulsively over the years — the one that comes to mind first is when I went to Lowe’s to get replacement string for my weed-eater and left with a riding mower (a “Yard Bug” — because it was little and cute and had a cup holder!).
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
My most impulsive buy was a new car. I just woke up one day and decided I was going to get one and I knew the model and color. Well I went to the dealership and did end up with the car but not in the color I wanted. It was the only one there and it WAS going home with me. Your first home sounds wonderful. Who doesn’t want a spiral staircase? Although, I will say the middle of the living room could get hard to decorate around.
Happy Holidays,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com
I can’t thank of any crazy purchases that I have made Thanks for the giveaway
crystaley73@yahoo.com
I dont even remember how we found them, but the kids HAD to have them. Them being miniture ponies. They were super tiny. So all is fine in the world, only to find out that they were both pregnant (yea me). So now I have four and of course if it gets named at my house its guarenteed a place for life (lol). That was my impulse buy.
blinkysthebest at aol dot com
The wackiest purchase was a chair that lookes like a high heal shoe for my step-dad. When I explained who it was for everyone looked at me like i was nuts! Lol
angelheart618@gmail.com
Hi! Happy Holidays to you! No, im not a shopper on black friday. I hate crowds. I like to stay home, spend time with my family and eat leftovers. 🙂 Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
I don’t do Black Friday so my wackiest purchase did not happen on Black Friday. We were living in Panama on very limited military salary. I saw a John Perry sculpture of a bronze shark and took it right up to the counter and said I’d buy it. To my dismay when they told me it was $150 I gulped and asked if they took lay-a-way, which luckily they did. In the mid 1980’s on a Staff Seargents salary, that $150 might just as well have been $1,000. I still have that sculpeture in my curio cabinet to this day. cfierstein@cox.net
no BF shopping
Thanks for participating.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’m staying home to read & discover some more authors thru the blog hop…
No BF shopping for me…..ktyler13@yahoo.com
i went to my local shopping malll for a gift card giveaway angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com
I’m not sure but probably my little monster man keychain that’s the only way I can think to describe him lol
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
My wildest splurge was on the complete Series of Unfortunate Events books. I wanted them and somehow justified it to myself.
Thanks for the giveaway!
nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com
don’t have anything wacky, i’m skipping black friday, thanks for hopping! – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Thanks for the blog hop.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Hmm~ I don’t really have a wildest/wackiest purchase. The BIGGEST purchase I ever did was a 50 inch tv for $300 so that’s the wildest for me~<3 In a super great way, lol. Thank you for the lovely giveaway~
MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com
My craziest impulse purchase was a car. I literally went into the place to see what was available and came out with a car. I really did need one, but I wasn’t really in the right place to buy one. It all worked out in the end, but for a while I wondered how I was going to pay for it.
JYL22075 at gmail dot com
I’m so cheap that I ever make crazy purchases–except for food that I don’t use and it goes to waste.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Honestly I don’t have any wildest purchase, except if you want to count my addiction to book buying LOL.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
The only thing I’m impulsive with is books. I can never have enough! I don’t shop for them on Black Friday though unless I get on Amazon! brendem7@comcast.net
I can’t think of something wacky, that I bought. I don’t go out on Black Friday, but I do order online. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marlene Breakfield
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have a problem buying workout dvd’s that I end up never opening, not to mention using. I have the intention, but lack the motivation.
krankimom[at]comcast[dot]net
I think it’s a fantastic house!!! please tell me you made lemonade!!! 😀
Thanks for the giveaway!
~Lynne
tworeads.blogspot.com
tworeads (at) gmail (dot) com
I don’t remember ever having a crazy spree moment, but I remember when my mom stood in line for HOURS in the RAIN when the power rangers action figures came out and then we could only get one and we got the yellow one, and she trade some other lady for the pink one.
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
I don’t do crazy buys unless you count the amount of money I spend on books each year.
susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com
I don’t think I’ve ever made a crazy purchase – we are always too broke 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
paranormalopinion(at)hotmail(dot)com
I tend to be really concervative in my purchases – which is one of the reasons I avoided the crowds at the mall today and went to the movies instead. Thanks for being in the hop!
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for the chance to win.
Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for the great giveaway!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
Never had any wacky buys. But I have regretted standing in line for 2 hours just to get a toy my boys really wanted. lol
purple975@msn.com
I stuck to the web today instead of braving the crowds. 😉 Thanks for the giveaway!
fancie @ live. com
Thanks for the hop!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
I got nothin’ 🙂
Wow this is amazing article for buyer!!! I really enjoyed this.I can’t thank of any crazy purchases that I have made Thanks for the giveaway!!! Thanks for the opportunity!!!
Most of us have pushed sexy lingerie to back of the closet!!! This is a great post. I really like it!! Maintaining your relationship does not have take hours.I think when two partners make a sex to each other then only have satisfied to each other….I would want to know that without sex the relationship will go ahead or not!!!!