While inside the house everyone is stuffing their face with Thanksgiving goodies, awkward conversations with relatives and going into a temporary hibernation, outside, more than just lake effect snow is falling. The prices of all the hottest toys gadgets and fashions of the year drop in one massive sweep as Black Friday slowly merges with Thanksgiving. Twenty years ago, Thanksgiving night was spent gathered around a food filled table, with relatives and the only electronic device in sight was the ambient noise of a nearby tv. Nowadays either the family is out being the first ones in line for Black Friday deals or huddled around the glow of their phone screens scrolling through the approaching deals of the season.

Cyber Monday was only born a little over 10 years ago to promote online retailers such as Amazon, Target and Best Buy, knowing that office workers would be back at their day jobs, with their minds still stuck on Black Friday mode and occupied with all the Christmas gifts they have left to buy. Within 10 years cyber Monday has transformed our holiday weekend, offering everyone a chance to get in on the deep discounts from the comfort of their own home or on the road.

The popularity of online shopping has also superseded the traditional shop til you drop brick and mortar store attack mentality of Black Friday. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the two busiest days of the year in terms of online commerce, and this online impact has real world implications. Even though Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals may offer free shipping to you, major logistics delivery companies are profiting as well due to the increase in online orders.

In order to fulfill the huge demand of shoppers around the nation, retailers had to up their offerings. Most notably is the substantial increase in product offerings on Amazon's site in the days leading up to this holiday weekend. According to 360pi, a retail research firm, Amazon increased it's offerings by 30%, meaning more items to choose from (and ultimately more items that will probably go in all of our shopping carts as well).

Regardless of your preferred method of capturing the deals of the season, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become an integral part of the holiday season. Despite all of the potential for sales and filling your Christmas list before December even arrives, it's important to keep some of our humanity. Remember to take time away from the devices and spend some priceless quality time with family and friends, and that elbowing and trampling each other is never worth any deal offered.