On my mind, Boxing Day edition

Hello everyone! Did you shop the Boxing Day sales today?

Boxing Day used to be the big "sales day" in Canada, a sort of Canadian Black Friday. When we moved here, I thought the comparison was quite inappropriate since the selection of sale items was limited, and the markdown low (think 20 to 30 percent off). Because of the economic crisis, Canadian stores now begin their sales well before Christmas (remember this post?) and today they offered, as much as their American counterparts, extra markdowns on sale items. Once again, the latter is low: Holt Renfrew opened its doors at 7 am this morning, and tried to lure in customer with an extra 20 percent off. Other stores were more generous, but if you live in Montreal you should really wait until early January to get a good deal. Alternatively, you can hit the internet -- using Purseblog as guideline.

Aside from the sales, last week my mind has been occupied by the holidays, and preparation thereof.... but surprisingly by traveling as well. This is the first year that we have spent Christmas without family and without any household help, so that thoughts of a holiday escape kept popping in my head. My perfect one? The Mt Washington Hotel and Resort, and its child-size gingerbread house (pictured above, via Yolanda). We have been to the hotel in other occasions, and it has always been my dream to go back for Christmas. Maybe next year...