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Did you know that retail therapy is hard on the ankles? It must be true, because mine are the size of whaleboats ... or is that whales? But ... ah ... the rewards were magnificent.
After a leisurely morning, I dressed in my special pansy top (as per one of my userpics) and black pants and black capelet. No jewelry, because I was going to be dolled up by the experts. I was picked up around 12:15 but got driven around a bit. Still, I arrived at the Bay after 1. I redeemed my ticket to the Garden Party and was handed a pretty green shopping bag with all sorts of goodies in it, including a pot of white tulips! My next stop was to get a Martini Manicure. While my nails were done to imitate a French manicure (at much less fuss), I sipped on a Pomegranate Martini.
After that, it was a whirlwind of getting freebies and shopping.
Free:
-A 30 minute facial to be booked before June 30
-A bloody caesar plus recipes for different caesars (mine had horseradish in it)
-A perfume atomizer and gift bag
-A face serum sample
-4 fragrance samples
-2 fragrance samples (passed along to me by an old acquaintance)
-1 skin cream sample (also passed along, as above)
-1 bottle of designer (Kenneth Cole) water!!!
-A show and demo on accessories after which I was draped with probably $700 of Swarovski cube crystal jewelry and snazzy designer sunglasses and had two cute piccies taken
-A fashion show at which they served little egg and salmon salad sandwiches, together with tiny chocolate cupcakes and lemonade; there was also a draw for a gift certificate
Okay, now here's the freaky thing. I was standing enjoying my bloody caesar when I heard my name called out. Viv, someone I hadn't seen for probably 10 years, recognized me. We have![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kalimashatbaha in common and he's kept her up-to-date with all of the things happening in my life. So I asked her if she'd like to do the store together. I told her about the facial freebie and she told me about the fashion show, so we each got something out of the co-operative venture.
And, yes, even though there were freebies, I did open my wallet ... oh, one or a dozen times! I bought a new fragrance shower gel, hand cream, Dior facial masks which earned me a Dior gift bag, two headbands (one white with sparkles and the other with a polka-dotted scarf attached), an Adrienne Vitadini crystal look necklace. Hey, I couldn't justify the Swarovski prices, but at least I got something bling-y.
Viv and I finally parted around 6 and I had to rush back down to where my pickup should be. What with all the walking through the store (because I needed an elevator to move between floors), my ankles were already swollen. The quick walk at the end just finished them. I ended up standing for quite a long time waiting for my ride. But, finally, off home.
I spoke to both M and John. Even though I moaned about how much I'd spent, M told me I needed to pamper myself. Um, hon, I don't think it quite counts if I'm the one paying for it!!! I told John all about the extra flower seeds I'd gotten, not to mention the gardening mag AND the pot of tulips. Yes, soon, we shall be growing real things.
In the meantime, Enterprise is waiting for me ... and then blissful, blessed sleep. Okay, pain killers, here I come! And I'll dream of the two ballots to win even more prizes. Yaaay. Okay, I'll shut up now (but only because my joints are screaming at me)!
Contented (well, one would hope so) hugs,
H.
After a leisurely morning, I dressed in my special pansy top (as per one of my userpics) and black pants and black capelet. No jewelry, because I was going to be dolled up by the experts. I was picked up around 12:15 but got driven around a bit. Still, I arrived at the Bay after 1. I redeemed my ticket to the Garden Party and was handed a pretty green shopping bag with all sorts of goodies in it, including a pot of white tulips! My next stop was to get a Martini Manicure. While my nails were done to imitate a French manicure (at much less fuss), I sipped on a Pomegranate Martini.
After that, it was a whirlwind of getting freebies and shopping.
Free:
-A 30 minute facial to be booked before June 30
-A bloody caesar plus recipes for different caesars (mine had horseradish in it)
-A perfume atomizer and gift bag
-A face serum sample
-4 fragrance samples
-2 fragrance samples (passed along to me by an old acquaintance)
-1 skin cream sample (also passed along, as above)
-1 bottle of designer (Kenneth Cole) water!!!
-A show and demo on accessories after which I was draped with probably $700 of Swarovski cube crystal jewelry and snazzy designer sunglasses and had two cute piccies taken
-A fashion show at which they served little egg and salmon salad sandwiches, together with tiny chocolate cupcakes and lemonade; there was also a draw for a gift certificate
Okay, now here's the freaky thing. I was standing enjoying my bloody caesar when I heard my name called out. Viv, someone I hadn't seen for probably 10 years, recognized me. We have
kalimashatbaha in common and he's kept her up-to-date with all of the things happening in my life. So I asked her if she'd like to do the store together. I told her about the facial freebie and she told me about the fashion show, so we each got something out of the co-operative venture.And, yes, even though there were freebies, I did open my wallet ... oh, one or a dozen times! I bought a new fragrance shower gel, hand cream, Dior facial masks which earned me a Dior gift bag, two headbands (one white with sparkles and the other with a polka-dotted scarf attached), an Adrienne Vitadini crystal look necklace. Hey, I couldn't justify the Swarovski prices, but at least I got something bling-y.
Viv and I finally parted around 6 and I had to rush back down to where my pickup should be. What with all the walking through the store (because I needed an elevator to move between floors), my ankles were already swollen. The quick walk at the end just finished them. I ended up standing for quite a long time waiting for my ride. But, finally, off home.
I spoke to both M and John. Even though I moaned about how much I'd spent, M told me I needed to pamper myself. Um, hon, I don't think it quite counts if I'm the one paying for it!!! I told John all about the extra flower seeds I'd gotten, not to mention the gardening mag AND the pot of tulips. Yes, soon, we shall be growing real things.
In the meantime, Enterprise is waiting for me ... and then blissful, blessed sleep. Okay, pain killers, here I come! And I'll dream of the two ballots to win even more prizes. Yaaay. Okay, I'll shut up now (but only because my joints are screaming at me)!
Contented (well, one would hope so) hugs,
H.
