Minimalist visits the mall on Black Friday

A minimalist walks into a mall. She says, “ow!”
I source my royalty-free music from the rad dudes at Epidemic Sound: share.epidemics...
:)

[@nothanks9174]

Shoulda bought a Cinnabon and called it a successful mission

[@ginamarie1920]

Three observations: 1) It's not nearly as crowded as I would have imagined. 2) So many malls look exactly the same -- down to that horrible carpet. 3) The lighting, signs, etc. are so overwhelming! And I'm experiencing everything through a lens, not firsthand.

[@sonipitts]

The one thing that has surprised me most is how dead the malls around here have been over the last year or so, even despite how strong the whole "we want to get back to normal" push is here in a red state. Even the "popular" stores like Hot Topic and such and big anchor stores have been ghost towns pretty much anytime I've gone, and pretty much everyone who is there (a lot of older mall walkers, a few adults and family groups out shopping and the occasional desultory clumps of bored teens) has been wearing their mask. We're a tourist town, so that means all the more tourist-driven downtown shops have been packed anytime travel has been open, and mask wearing there has been very hit or miss. So weirdly enough during the course of the pandemic, given its high-ceilinged structure, excellent ventilation and wide open spaces with plenty of room to avoid close contact, and lack of people, the local mall has actually been one of the safest places to shop in person or get in a decent walk when the weather is crap. Which just boggles my mind. But hey. At least that means I can indulge in a good long Barnes and Nobles soak and hit up Starbucks inside it with about as close to perfect safety as you can get leaving the house.

[@sonipitts]

@Abby Rose It's just weird, because when you think of going to a mall, you tend to think of having to dodge crowds and such. And I definitely didn't have "the mall" come to the top of my mind as a safer place to shop during the pandemic. To see it almost empty all the time is just unsettling. To be fair, this mall was on its way down and out even prior to the pandemic. But it's weird just how many fewer folks there are in the mall stores than in even those same chains elsewhere in town, but freestanding. Definitely the safest place to go if you need to buy something in person right now.

[@ANNtique]

Why does mall carpet always try to make me fall over? Anyone else?

[@dianeaishamonday9125]

@Abby Rose A+ pun!

[@sonipitts]

​@Abby Rose Yeah, it's a lot more dangerous for some of us. Two of my extended elderly family members are recovering from a bad bout even though they were both vaccinated. But, well, let's just say they're not particularly inclined to be consistent with mask wearing or being cautious about going out and about. And with the Delta variant being so infectious, it just caught up with them. Being vaccinated no doubt kept them out of the hospital, but still. At their age, there's no telling what sort of damage even a moderate bout will have done. As for myself, I live a medically vulnerable household, so every trip to the store is still potentially dangerous even with both of us being vaccinated, although luckily way less so than it was last year during the peak of the pandemic, before the vaccines and back when my immune system was basically being carpet bombed every few weeks by chemo. I basically wasn't allowed to set foot inside any building outside of a medical facility for pretty much the whole year, and had to go through all of 2020, including the election, stone cold sober. So that was fun 😂. We're currently waiting for the infection rates to go down so I can visit a family member in the midwest who has a terminal lung condition that is fast deteriorating. Even though we're probably safe enough to travel ourselves, I'm terrified that we could pick it up along the way without even knowing it and pass it on to them, because there's no way they'd survive it. I just hope we get a chance to see them before it's too late. But we both live in red states with low mask/vax compliance and high infection rates, so the rates just keep chugging along. Which is just infuriating, because I can literally feel the sand running out of the hourglass every time I call them. Last time we only talked for a few minutes because I could hear them struggling to even hold a short conversation. 😥 I totally feel you on the worry fatigue, especially as an essential worker. It's the same sort of thing that happens to soldiers on the front lines and people living in active war zones. There's just only so long you can live with a constant existential threat hanging over your head like that and still muster up the energy to care. And luckily, for a lot of folks the vaccinations will create enough of a safety buffer so they *can* breathe freer. But as you said, unfortunately some of us out here still can't afford to drop our guards just yet. Still neck deep in the foxholes on the front lines, you might say, waiting for the shelling to end.

[@GR-bo5zt]

Here we get a rare glimpse of the female minimalist in her (un)natural environment.

[@JasonBlair]

As a child of the 80s, I can still remember malls at the height of their glory. The crowds this time of year were madness. The 'me' of today who understands and embraces his introversion, after two-ish years of pandemic living, has been into a mall twice in as many years, and wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as I entered. Coffee is always good, though. 😀 Congrats on surviving the excursion.

[@tippytoe7716]

Black Friday at the mall, my idea of a complete nightmare. Glad you made it out unscathed.

[@seriouslywhatever1031]

I always thought I was a weirdo for not liking shopping and wanting to buy shit. Nope, just a minimalist! Good to know, thanks Lefie x

[@anon_sls6106]

This is crazy, i just realized how natural of a minimalist i am. I was just at the store with mom (complete opposite of minimalist) looking for hat and gloves for my son. None of the sets really match his coat, so i opted for going to another store ( a true minimalist may have gotten whatever but i do like my clothes to coordinate). My mom literally grabs a coat that match the set i like and said just buy him another coat. Uhhhhhhhh… no he has a perfectly good one at home. She did not care and just bought the coat and set herself. My minimalist ideologies is highly related to my mothers overspending habits, i do not like that way of thinking.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

You were wearing the perfect color for Black Friday... 😎 LOL

[@AP-px3qm]

You did buy a coffee -- thus, mission accomplished :)

[@CurveTheRain]

That “NO!” To hollister has me cracking up! 🤣🤣

[@jessie9653]

Lol me too

[@carolinehannemann2837]

Thank you Lefie. I live in Australia. Once a Black Friday free zone, but in the last few years it has slowly infiltrated our shores (like the virus that shall not be named). This year we reached maximum saturation. ☠️😵‍💫🤑🤮🤬 Truly ridiculous. So thanks for the giggle and reminding me not everyone has gone mad. I don’t know know how you endured the mall on such a day 😄

[@missmatch9058]

I also live in Australia and I've noticed it's infiltration too. 👀 Can confirm.

[@amandasmith5113]

…and just in case you didn’t get the message, I can also confirm! We are also seeing more Halloween decorations and activities 🤦‍♀️

[@LC-le9ew]

Brave woman!

[@ktbb8998]

I just realized from hearing your voiceover how you sounded like Rosamund Pike. Gave me a Gone Girl chill for just a second there. Lol

[@leyah18]

Your laugh at the end is so lovely^^

[@borkborkx10]

commenting about liminal spaces so Lefie can get an espresso machine

[@PhiloftheMetaverse]

Lefie travelling through Liminal Spaces!

[@baxtermaxtor]

I almost miss Costa Mesa and that carousel. Glad to see it's not in a dead mall series

[@INVAZOR33]

Where no minimalism has gone before, the shopping mall wasteland.

[@marycad1160]

You wore the appropriate attire. Black as in "mourning".

[@gickyvergo4597]

The best title I’ve ever seen in a while on yt

[@Rye-Ann]

The best thing abut malls is that's where you find Aunt Annie and her amazing pretzels.

[@lynnoorman2144]

Brilliant, just brilliant! So glad its not just me that feels completely alienated in malls ( we do have a few here in the uk) or crowded shopping centres. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the billion dollar industry that creates this carefully designed and well researched environment that pressurizes one to buy buy buy!

[@kkpanda13]

Went to the mall today because that's where my eyebrow waxing place is. Was very fortunate to only have to walk through one store to get there and then immediately leave.

[@ANNtique]

Kind of wanting to crowdfund Lefie’s dream coffee machine

[@deepthinkerpoet]

You are an inspiration. I buy everything online, but even that gets tricky. 😆

[@followmeintofitness5578]

The way you were narrating the mall reminded me of how I read Olivia books to my daughter 😂

[@anamisidro8453]

😂😂😂😂 the Socratic walk. Looking at tons of things we really don’t need! What a peace to our souls 😂😂😂😂

[@AeroDucko]

This was great! Love the David Attenborough style narration.

[@emmamohanogrady4912]

My mom has one of those bambino coffee machines and she loves it

[@wesleywade8363]

You are braver than me :) For the last couple of years, except for groceries, I don't enter a store from Thanksgiving to the New Year. It forces me to have my shopping done early and I can relax and actually enjoy the Holidays.

[@dianeaishamonday9125]

Hope you can recover well! I do all my holiday shopping online now, and the most I bought this year was four candles 😁

[@SteveAbrahall]

Ah the coffee machine! The capitalist lust machine nearly had you! Well dodged! Did you see any cats at all? I think you should get a cat - you and your room mate could share the feeding of the beast. :-) Cute vid BTW! ;-)

[@kathleenolszewski7982]

Oh my God, you are a hoot! Woke up feeling a bit down but you have saved my day! Thanks Lefie!

[@mariad33]

That thumbnail is so freaking hilarious

[@misledyouth7613]

This felt relatable.

[@sk3946]

BLACK 🖤

[@MammaApa]

Fun fact: Electronics companies these days produce special black friday models of popular electronics. For instance televisions that look like their rest of the year-sold counterparts but are made with cheaper components and inferior specs. These arrive in the stores with "discount" stickers already on from the factory.

[@minniethriver]

Oof. Good to know, thank you!

[@jessie9653]

Wow I didn't know that

[@user-hv4ky5kt2x]

I stick to my v60 dripper, thanks.

[@cerollan348]

Soo much fun 😉

[@PhiloftheMetaverse]

Haha the Frog! I find going to the mall loathsome except when it’s to Lush, Crate and Barrel or the Container Store! That car coat you’re wearing looks great. Happy thanksgiving!

[@JeremiahFernandez]

I'm from the philippines and this is almost 99% exactly the same thing in my head everytime I go to the mall

[@barbaraklaser3681]

Thank you! Now I've vicariously had my only mall visit this season, and remember why I avoid them. :)

[@katendress6142]

You're braver than I am.

[@uriadnarouge9273]

"But I'm never going back in there"

[@sarahs2516]

Thanks for the laugh tears, Lefie! 😂♥️

[@samposampo9432]

The question remains: "Was the coffee she bought BLACK?"

[@SalsaNube]

Oh, how I can relate. Hate malls all year round, holiday season is a special kind of hell. You've achieved to buy a coffee, so I would count it- as you took it home as part of yourself at that point ;) Thanks for a good laugh you gave us-that was a nice video :)

[@OnixMint]

Oh man I also want the brevile bambino plus I see it everywhere on social media 😍

[@johannathorisdottir2456]

loved it!!!

[@aminalucid]

Love the mysterious thriller story

[@AmandaJYoungs]

I also thought it would have been more crowded. Even so, it was too crowded for me. All those people! Too many people all at once. Eeep! I never go to places like that any more.

[@sweetheartcarebear5534]

I don’t Black Friday shop either. They usually have stuff still over priced or stuff that I would never buy anyway.

[@mariaetheridge8343]

For Black Friday that was QUIET!!!

[@user-py3ey6vd8s]

best video ever thanks you enlighten my day !!

[@jayathome2898]

Funny! Pre Covid, I always used Black Friday to shop for clothing/coats/toys that I would donate to charities for the holidays. I have even been given extra discounts by store managers when I explained why I was shopping for toys etc! One told me “you’re the only one here this morning not shopping for selfish reasons!” Unfortunately I just didn’t feel safe going this year so I’ve had to come up with other donation plans. But it did used to make me feel really positive and festive to help others.

[@Jaichbinhier]

"I'm never going in there again" _One sponsorship later..._ "I'll be shopping here often!" 😂

[@garthf9609]

Leaving your wallet at home works for me

[@heavenofajourney9936]

So funny 😂💗

[@Sunshine4]

It actually doesn't look that bad. haha

[@moroccancitiesnatureandbea2073]

hilarious hahaha

[@nininixx6458]

Love that you gave zero fucks and weren't too stubborn to still buy a Starbucks Coffee.

[@w2best]

I was so close to buying a similar coffee machine but also dodged it. Maybe another year. :D

[@FlaerMcGrathHolmquist]

this is the best vlog

[@anagiampaolo3896]

1:08 THE BACKROOMS

[@martinjarvis8312]

This is good to see Lefie, all those fools wasting good money on tap. The thought of going in a place like that makes me feel poorly your a lot braver than me

[@rfbite]

Oh we wear the same shoes...

[@mammaditobia]

I felt like this in Gardaland (something like a Little Disneyland): depressed.

[@drivers99]

But the day after thanksgiving is Buy Nothing Day. Ah, you didn’t buy anything (except coffee) hehe

[@MrMorganwatch]

Oh Woodfield

[@catepolacek]

This vaguely reminded me of something, and then I realized you look like one of Wim Wenders’ angels, even down to the coffee, in Der Himmel uber Berlin.

[@saradreaming]

So what coffee did you order? I thinking I heard you talking about coffee before, but I forget and I'm too lazy to look. Plus we know the coffee choice can vary with the mood, It practically tells a story on it's own. 😁 cheers.

[@victorianaztec555]

Hilarious.... 😂

[@magme1587]

Omg! Is this Orland Square mall in Illinois?? If so, that’s the mall we tend to go to! I’ve followed you for a few years and (if my assumption is right) it’s crazy to think that you’re (or were) in my neck of the woods 🥺🤗

[@mihaeladaia4673]

👍

[@Antonina81]

Ha,ha ha you didn't buy anything. 🤣🤣🤣 I am opsest with coffie mashine. It is too munch for me, especialy very expensive I like, with different programs for ness coffie makeing, capucino makeing, hot chocolate ... 🤤 But I just watching them too. 😅

[@andysdestination8671]

I haven’t been in shopping malls in a about 10 years now. I wouldn’t be surprised that would be that many people there. 🙄🙄🙄

[@sijilo]

Escalation

[@KAMAHOO1]

I am so stressed at the mall I never go there. I could never act normal 😅

[@ShoppingwithRina]

Hehe

[@cynthiabarrera9617]

Hahahaha! :)

[@DianaWillemsen]

Ik mis de knipoog 😉

[@AliceDepaul]

Is this the Woodfield Mall?

[@mialindvall]

😂😍❤

[@Walker983]

Real minimalists wear White . . . 😺😺😺

[@nsfeliz7825]

500 freak8ng dollars for a fkn cofee machine! grrrr.... smash that thing.😠

[@Parkitloveit]

😂❤️😂❤️😂

[@missmojo8779]

I really wonder how ppl can spend hours in malls. Like really, how? It is so overwhelming, crowded, noisy and hectic. It’s just not fun.

[@JustSK]

what just happened

[@susancorgi]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@thebestwillow]

Lol. *Click-wink*

[@justmart4455]

LMAOOOOO

[@Just_another_menace]

Less people than I imagined cause of rona but what's up with this whole black Friday thing anyway ugh I'm afraid this madness will come to Pakistan aswell we already have these sales online.

[@lauravaldes9794]

🤣🤣😝😝

[@edithsantiagomonroy1852]

You are a tall woman.

[@anonymoususer100]

You still have to wear masks in your area? That sucks, funny video though totally relatable it’s like being an alien 👽

[@susycmenseses]

dude, you are human, try enjoying some of these human things while you're here. : )

[@waitwhat9669]

wait a sec, you said you no longer buy Starbucks coffee...

[@dianeaishamonday9125]

It was probably the only thing available. Most malls don't host independent coffee shops

[@brooklyntroutman3998]

I wish i lived somewhere where most people had the courtesy to wear their masks, but no, when I went yesterday to the mall, those wearing masks were the minority ( including me ;( yall, this is still a pandemic..)