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Your Black Friday Guide + Easy Leftover Ideas

For moms who manage money, meals, and the messy middle.

Author

Ann Woo
November 24, 2025

Happy Monday! Today is going to be a great day and I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰 

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. I ended up binging all eight episodes of All Her Fault and wow, what a thriller. Beyond the drama, it hit so many truths about motherhood, especially for working moms. That constant tug-of-war: wanting to be fully present at home, trying to check everything off the never-ending to do list, and then feeling the same pressure at work. It was a good reminder that so many of us are navigating the same daily battles (just with less dramatic twists). Highly recommend adding it to your content plate.

Speaking of never getting everything checked off…in last week’s poll, 45% of you said cleaning would be the first chore you’d outsource if money and time were no issue. And cooking came in a very close second. Here here!

I know your inbox and feeds are overflowing with Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals so I wanted to round up my tried-and-true favorites so you don’t miss anything:

Please note links are affiliate links and I appreciate your support!

Hope you find some great deals on a few of our favorites. I’ll definitely be browsing all week!

Before we get to the recipes (all leftover-friendly because nothing goes to waste around here), I have to ask: what time do you eat Thanksgiving dinner? Are you a strict mealtime household, or do you go with the flow? I’d love to hear from all 1,168 of you in the poll at the end.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. So grateful for you. 💛

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner

  • Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Lo Mein - I love turning any leftover protein into an Asian-y noodle stir fry situation and this recipe looks so simple and delicious.

  • Dairy-Free Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup - I’ve made this recipe year-after-year and it never fails! Swap the chicken with the leftover turkey and it’s delish.

  • Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes - Stuffed sweet potatoes is one of my favorite meals and this taco version using leftover turkey would be fabulous.

  • Thanksgiving Egg Rolls - Give this person a Nobel Peace Prize because this is so genius. Literally taking all of the leftovers and egg roll-ing it sounds so good and I can’t wait to recreate this.

  • Thanksgiving Leftover Tacos - Tacos are always a good idea and you won’t feel like you’re having leftovers again with this recipe.

❤️ What I’m Recommending

This section contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you (thanks for supporting the newsletter!).

  • My friend from back in my days in Wyoming started this company and I’m so impressed by the products. You are guaranteed to have a delicious dressing made in less than a minute to upgrade any salad instantly. Code WOOED15 gets you 15% off!

  • This cleansing balm smells and feels SO GOOD and everything is currently 30% off. Amazing gift for your mom/mother-in-law/best friend/etc!

  • These pajamas for the whole family are currently 50% off and they have the cutest prints with this insane material that feels so soft.

  • This brand has the coolest prints and I love their chic dresses and sets- currently 25% off!

💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

Pennsylvania Mom Spent $5K on One First Birthday and $20 on the Next

In This Economy? is a weekly series showcasing the costs of motherhood from real moms. Want to share your story anonymously? Submit here — no names, no judgment.

  • Age: Late 30s

  • Kids: 2 kids, aged 3 and 1

  • Job: Financial Analyst

  • Household Income: $200K-$300K

  • Own or rent: Own, $3K/month

  • Childcare or daycare expense: Full-time daycare for both, $3,800/month total

  • Recent purchase you regret: Football sweatshirt that was cute but didn’t fit well and kept it anyway, $75

  • Splurge and don’t regret: Chanel purse, $10K

  • Best “mom sanity” splurge: Spa day 2-3x times per year

  • Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $50-100

  • Weekly spend on groceries: $200 +/-

  • Most spent on a kid party: $5K for first birthday for my oldest (huge party with event planner and catering). $20 for first birthday for my youngest (DIY cake and decorations at home).

  • Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes, $250/month for each child

  • Something financial you wish your parents had taught you: N/A. Immigrant parents who worked hard to give me a better life with opportunities. Grateful for the values and lessons they instilled in me. Learned all the financial things in college/at work.

  • Managing family budget: Track monthly expenses. Usually very practical with splurges once in a while.

  • Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Checking FB/Poshmark for pre-loved items before buying new.

  • Money advice for other moms: Open that 529 account.

  • Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow _______.” buy organic milk and free-range eggs.

Thanks again for being here. If you love it, forward this to a mom friend—more voices make this better. And if you ever want to share, vent, or suggest something, just hit reply. I’m reading every email!

Woo you next week,
Ann

✅ This Week’s Mom Poll

What time do you usually eat your Thanksgiving meal?

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