My ship finally came in.... well at least my raft did! LOL!

[CeCeCreates]

My son and I went to an outdoors type mall today where a local radio station was hosting a give away. 30 people had already won $50 gift cards to this mall, and this morning you could come out and sign up to be one of 10 more people to win the gift card. Well, both my son and I had our names drawn! At first they questioned that we could both win, but my son is 25 and no longer lives at home, so we are not the same "household" anymore. So that was allowed. Well, then those 40 people got a chance to win a $5000, $3000, or $1000 gift card to this mall. Much to my surprise I won the $3000 gift card!!!! Not to my surprise, my almost 21 year old daughter called me from college (after hearing about it through the grapevine!) to tell me she would gladly help me spend it!!!! All in all, a very nice day!

[kim]

CONGRATS !!! What a happy day for you. I'm sure you will have a lot of people willing to help you spend your good fortune. So happy it went to such a great person!

[Mary Kobe]

That is wonderful! Congratulatons! I hope they have a scrapbook or craft store where you can spend it!

[Suzan]

Wow that is super awesome. Just in time for Christmas. Congratulations.

[kate3]

As I already said that makes Christmas or crafting more fun. Congratulations CeCe!
I said it on FB.

[kathybessey]

Awww CeCe I am so happy for you! Congrats!!! Treat yourself to something fun before the kids help you spend it!

[Retta]

Aw CeCe that is so much fun!! Congratulations !!

[Sassycutter]

Merry Christmas to you!!! How wonderful!!! You will "spend" a million dollars before you decide what to buy with your money!!! Decisions....decisions....

[whizzy]

Congratulations, that's a nice little bonus at this time of year

[CeCeCreates]

Thanks everyone. Kim, what you said was so sweet. Unfortunately, this outdoor mall is more of an upscale clothing store/restaurant type mall. No crafting stores. It does have a very nice book store. And yes, I will spend a million there deciding what to buy. A fun problem to have, right?

[Gigi]

Oh CeCe - that is so wonderful. I could not be happier for you. As everyone said, what a great time of year to win some extra money and I hope you spoil yourself first - you deserve it.

[CeCeCreates]

Nothing like a husband to come home and put a damper on it. He says there is no need to spend it now, that we have already bought enough for Christmas and no ones needs anything more. He wants to put the gift cards away for now. I said that I at least want the $50 card for going out to lunch with friends. And he says he will put them both away somewhere! I said NO! I at least want the $50 card in MY wallet! Sigh.

[kate3]

Nothing like a husband to come home and put a damper on it. He says there is no need to spend it now, that we have already bought enough for Christmas and no ones needs anything more. He wants to put the gift cards away for now. I said that I at least want the $50 card for going out to lunch with friends. And he says he will put them both away somewhere! I said NO! I at least want the $50 card in MY wallet! Sigh.

CeCe, Hit him on the head with a rock and tell him they told you they will expire soon. My husband knows I would bite him but I would probably spend it on him anyway and the little ones.

[kim]

Double check there is no hardware store that he can spend them on. I had a credit card that I was cancelling and remembered fhat it had some kind of reward system on it so called the company just before I cancelled. I had several options but to get the most money out of it, I got the Lowe's or Home Depot gift cards. I got $2000. I made the mistake of telling DH and grabeed them up so quick, I don't think I even got to look at them. I think he went to the store and acted like a kid in a candy shop with a pocket full of money.

but, seriously, you do need to check to see if there is an expiration date. Some don't specify.

[Angel135612]

That is so cool that you won CeCe... and tell DH that those cards are YOURS, not HIS.. .and you can spend them how ever you see fit, whether it be on yourself, or for other people. He isn't the one that won them, so he doesn't get a say in how they are spent.

[Elizabeth]

Hooray for you, CeCe! I just love it when good things happen to good people. And this is a really big good thing, whether you use it now, or save it for later. Enjoy!!!

[CeCeCreates]

Hooray for you, CeCe! I just love it when good things happen to good people. And this is a really big good thing, whether you use it now, or save it for later. Enjoy!!!

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. I bought my first things together today. My sister, who I love dearly, and has struggled over the years financially, has a birthday this Saturday. We quit exchanging b'day gifts eons ago, but I bought her 2 tops and a pair of pants and had them gift wrapped and mailed to her today. I am so excited to surprise her. They are clothes she can wear to work which she needs very much.

And then I bought myself a pair of shoes. Ever since my accident, my right foot is so much wider and flatter than the left. Shoe shopping is so difficult, and I really need good supportive shoes. I get so tired of wearing "tennis" shoes, but they are what works best. Well, I got a pair of Clarks shoes today. The new rocker ones, but they don't seem as exaggerated as some brands, and they come with a 30 day guarantee, so how can I go wrong!

[Gigi]

Oh CeCe - how wonderful. I love what you did for your sister and she will be SO thrilled. That was so thoughtful of you to think of something special for her, but then that is what you do - put others first. I have seen that from you on here time and time again.

Am so glad you found shoes that will hopefully work for you too. I love Clarks - have several pairs of the bendables and they are SO comfortable and last a long time. Good for you - you deserve it so!

This is fun - I can get my shopping fix through you and not spend a cent (and those of you who believe I am not doing my share of online shooping these days just don't know me well - yet!!)

Seriously - so happy for you CeCe!

[corwins]

Great! Congrats

[kate3]

CeCe, Only you would think of your sister first and then get you some shoes. I found a really nice shop in Spokane that just sells wide shoes and I stocked up.
I still say hit that man on the head with a rock and get that other card back. If you can't bring yourself to do it I will be right there. Just looking at me will scare him into it.