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Through The Looking Glass

                                            Through the Looking Glass     

shutterstock_14746480 falling down

Early one fall I took a day trip to Calgary, Alberta, to buy spring and summer fashions for my retail business. I brought my teenage daughters along and planned to do some afternoon shopping after my appointment. I wore my navy business suit to make a good impression and for added flair, I wore my three-inch heels.  It was important to me to look pulled together so the sales representatives would assume I knew what I was doing.

My teenagers dressed for comfort in jeans and tennis shoes.  However, I decided to keep the suit and heels on for shopping, because I did not want to bring an extra set of clothes.  The day had been fun but exhausting, and by 5 pm I had burned-out.  I had a headache, my feet hurt, and I was hobbling. I was ready to go home, take a hot bath, and go to bed.

 I made one last stop at the drugstore on the way out of the mall, and my daughters decided to wait outside for me.  I paid for my purchases, and hurried out to meet them. Suddenly and abruptly, I crashed into a sparkling clean glass wall with such force it caused people to stop in their tracks and check out all the commotion near the eighth aisle.

 After my perfect face-plant into the glass, I slid to the floor in an ungraceful heap.  My shopping bags were in complete disarray, one three-inch heel came off, a button flew off to the great unknown, and my skirt was a little higher than I felt comfortable with.

As I tried to gather my wits and composure, I noticed my two daughters bent over in laughter and I could tell they were pretending not to know me.  When they began to walk away from me, I was sure they did not want anyone to know the dressed-up blonde in a heap on the floor was their mother. 

How To Shop And Save On A Budget

How To Shop And Save On A Budget

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Best Sales Time for Buying Clothing 

 December:   Before Christmas– Men’s suits, Men’s coats                                                                                                                               After Christmas – Wonderful Buys in Designer clothes in high-fashion stores – in all departments

 January:       Winter clothing, Leather boots, Shoes, Winter coats, Jewelry, Handbags,                                                                           After-five dresses, Furs, Fabric

 February:     Men’s clothing, Winter shoes, Furs

 March:          Winter clothing, Furs

 April:             Spring clothes, Children’s clothes, Dresses, Men’s suits, Spring coats, Fabric

 May:              Spring sportswear, Handbags

 June:             Men’s socks, Underwear, Shoes

 July:              Handbags, Shoes, Sandals, Swimsuits, Summer clothing

 August:         Summer clothing, Handbags, Furs

 September:    Not a good month to buy back –to-school clothing

 October:       Coats, Lingerie, Hosiery, Autumn Clothing, Wools & Wool blends

 November:    Winter coats, Winter suits

  • January and February are the best times for bargains.
  • June and December are the worst
  • Try to buy items slightly off-season, that is the time the retailer needs to clear the floor for new merchandise.
  • When these items are on sale, look for value pieces that will last and give you items to build a wardrobe around.©

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Next week on Fashion Thursday I will be answering questions that you have sent in, I will be fun. I hope you will join me and invite your friends too. If you have some questions, or ideas you are interested in discussing please leave a comment. Have you enjoyed this series, would you like it to continue?

Have a great week,

Lovingly, Karan Gleddie

 

The Friends We Love

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, and then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you’re going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you’re going through things with your mom.  Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, “Let’s cry together,” another, “Let’s fight together,” another, “Let’s walk away together.”

One friend will meet your spiritual need, another your shoe fetish, another your love for movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day, or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,  or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself  … those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many, it’s wrapped up in several… one from 7th grade, one from high school, several from the college years, a couple from old jobs, on some days your mother, on some days your neighbor, on others, your sisters, and on some days, your daughters.

So whether they’ve been there 20 minutes or 20 years, you are blessed.   God has placed these women in your life to love, encourage and help you make a difference. ~ Author unknown

The Bible says:

This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, greater love hath no man than this that a man  lays down his friends.  

Where would we be without those dear sisters we call Girlfriends.  The ones we laugh with, cry with, and shop with.  Our mother’s, sisters and friends who encourage, teach, and help us to become better women.  

When I hit a wall, I became overwhelmed, and start looking at all the circumstances and stress in my life, I forgot about all the good things. My cup becomes half-empty, instead of full. As I had time to meditate and look back, I realized how God has led me with His love and faithfulness over the years. Jesus Christ, is my dearest friend, I could not imagine life without his peace, love and protection. He is all I need, He enough.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lovingly, Karan