200th Post Give Away Sign Up.....

Please note this Give Away is closed

In my last post I shared day one of my shopping experience with you. Day one I kept it small potatoes by shopping in a one stop store. On day two I braved up and went to the strip mall with more than one store and everything! I trudged into every store there and the search was futile until the very last store. That is where I got my Jesus loves me jacket. One of the items on my necessary list was a jacket or coat. After wandering aimlessly past some of the oddest fashions I have ever seen I passed a clearance rack. Peeping out was the sleeve of what appeared to be a coat.

Curious I went closer and sure enough it was exactly what I was looking for in color, style, and size. It was the only one on the rack and I thought someone had just discarded it because why would it be on a clearance rack full of summer items? I pulled it out and gingerly raised the price tag, turning it over, and I gasp, no way could the price be right. I slid it on and it was truly a moment of gratitude.

Before I went shopping I prayed that my needs would be met, not wants, just needs. I was on a budget and needed certain items and needed to purchase them within my budget. I stood there feeling like the most beautiful lily in the field. Even Solomon in all his glory could not have been better arrayed. My Heavenly Father knew what I needed and how much I could pay and He provided it. So, I have dubbed this my Jesus loves me jacket and every time I wear it I will be enveloped in and reminded of His provisional love. (In case you are curious it was a black knee length trench coat with a removable liner marked down to 1/4 of it's original price a true bargain at $30.00)

I wasn't too traumatized by day two of shopping so when day three arrived I was ready to pull out all the stops and drive into the capitol city to the MALL! I decided to give those new bronze flats a real work out. I mustered up my courage by sipping on a diet Pepsi on the drive in. Arriving, I parked on the opposite end of where I wanted to shop thinking I could get in a little workout.

Non shopper that I am I zipped and I do mean zipped into that mall with nary a look to the right or to the left, not even tempted to stop and look at all that beckoned from each storefront window. I was power walking like no bodies business until I hit the store I wanted to shop in. Things got a little bit fuzzy when I was hit by all those perfume waving ladies who must have thought I stunk because they all tried to swipe me with samples and my makeup must have been a mess too because a barrage of painted beauties wanted to swish their magic makeup brushes over my face. The hair must have been OK because nobody wanted to stop me for that. I smiled and waved them off with a polite no thanks.
Then I had to sheepishly return to ask for directions to the department I was seeking. They looked a little shocked and I did hear whispers of pity as I walked away.

A very nice sales lady helped me and I got what I needed and then power walked right past those powder puff and perfume ladies feeling slightly self-conscience of my unscented best I could do made up self. Two more items got ticked off my list after two more stores and that was about all the mall I could handle, so I left!

There was a reason I rushed through that mall and it lay two parking lots and one street away, a light at the end of my shopping tunnel, a BOOK STORE!!!! I wanted to weep for being back on familiar ground. My feet hurt, my head hurt, and my Pepsi had worn off. I felt a jolt of energy flow through me as I grasp that big brass door handle. The whoosh of the opening door was music to my ears! One, two, three, four, five steps and I was inside, the smell of coffee and the sight of books slowed my pulse and brought my blood pressure back to normal. I wanted to jump for joy, now HERE was a place I could shop!

So ends the saga of Miss Sandy's shopping spree. I got all but one item on my necessary list and truth be told I am not disappointed to do without it. Every item I did purchase was on sale and I came in under my budget due to the goodness of my Heavenly Father who knew my needs.

All this angst over finding the right style, color, and fit and the exhaustion at the end of it inspired the give away package to celebrate my 200th post and shopping success. I have put together a little basket of must have gifts to ensure shopping success!

For the first item I purchased a HOT OFF THE PRESS book by Shari Braendel, "If Clothes Could Talk"!
This book will help you learn to identify your body type and which clothing styles suit you best, (wish I'd a had this BEFORE I went!), quick tips for dressing thinner, her 16 point accessories rules ( we all know I need this advice after that whole earring thing!), the power of color, essential wardrobe pieces, and much more! Shari is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaking team and her perspective on fashion and beauty come from a heart that wants to please her Heavenly Father. You can visit Shari's blog here.

For taking notes from Shari's book or to keep up with your shopping needs, I will include a handmade mini fashion inspired blank journal. (Picture to follow, I am still working on this item)Every girl needs a timeless fashion accessory so I have chosen a creamy soft Cashmink scarf to include in the gift basket. The creamy color will go with anything and it can act as a security blanket in those uncertain shopping decisions!A fun, funky, fad fashion accessory is a must have and you know I cannot resist tucking in a handmade item so I will include one of my new birds nest and branch broaches! The broach is 1 inch high and 2 1/4 inches long. The nest is made of woven wires and fibers. Inside the nest rest three glass bead "eggs". The nest is perched on a suede branch with tiny green velvet leaves at it tips.After all that shopping you will be exhausted and in need of rest, relaxation, and refreshment. I've got you covered with a mini spa experience! For those tired feet I am tucking in my favorite Watermelon & Balm Mint foot scrub, notice it says anti stress on the toes, it is soooo true! I love this stuff! The mint leaves your tired feet tingling and refreshed.After your tired tootsies have had a massage how about smoothing away all those frown lines you have acquired after turning over price tags? Another personal favorite from the same anti stress line is a cool Cucumber peel off masque that leaves your face feeling fresh and clean, will also be included.While your mask is setting why not slide down into a relaxing lavender scented bath? Toss in this fizzing bath ball where millions of tiny bubbles release skin softening conditioners and stress reducing lavender.How about some softly scented lighting while you soak? For this I have included a Fresh Cotton scented votive candle. This barely there fragrance will not overpower and will provide a soft ambient light to bathe by.To top off the mini spa experience why not indulge in a bit of decadence? A smooth milk chocolate melt in your mouth Dove bar will crown off the experience.To sign up for the give away, just leave a comment on this post. I will post a winner on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. I so appreciate and treasure each and every one of you who visit here. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy