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Thursday, October 18, 2012

Mom's Makeup Case: A Special Memory and a Giveaway

This is my Mom and me was taken four years before she passed from this life in August 1997: floor seats at the Garth Brooks concert in Tulsa, right before I started grad school at NSU. This picture perfectly represents the love we had for one another. Incredibly blessed by God with the mother He gave me for 26 years in this life and forever in Eternity! Celebrating my late, great Mom on her birthday. ♥


I thought about what prize to giveaway for today. I wanted it to be something extra-special, just like her. I turned to a favorite memory to make my decision. When I was in college, one Christmastime we saw a makeup kit in the store and my Mom was taken with it. The way she lived her whole life was that she always put her child first, herself second. She had never owned a huge makeup kit like that. As we went about our shopping in the store, I knew what to get her for Christmas that year. I will never forget the look of delight on her face when she opened that present from me. She loved it.

The next few years of her life would be her last. Amid serious illness, she would always find joy in opening that makeup kit and putting some on, especially the eyeshadows. After she died, my maternal grandmother and I faced the task of going into her bedroom, which was the master bedroom in the home we lived in together, and going through, sorting her treasured belongings. There sitting on her dresser was the makeup kit. I opened it and softly touched her eyeshadow brush. I gently ran the tip of my finger across some of the colors that I knew were her favorites, used well. I closed it. It didn't seem right to use it. Later that evening, I went back into her bedroom, that still felt so surreal to not have her there, and I picked up the makeup kit again. I took my eyeshadow brush and chose a favorite shade of hers, then put on the eyeshadow. I smiled into her dresser mirror as I closed the kit and placed it back in what seemed its rightful place on her dresser. The day would come a few weeks later, that I would take the makeup kit and bring it to my dresser, taking it as my own. One morning as I reached  for the eyeshadow kit, I would find that her very favorite shade had all been used and was gone. That brought a sadness to my heart. Soon most of the kit would be emptied through years of use between the both of us.

Now we come to my giveaway to celebrate her birthday. I shopped at several of my favorite stores looking for this item. I looked and looked, then I saw it across the store on a display shelf: the makeup kit. It was even in a pink case. I knew I had found the prize. Not just the prize for one of my readers and for one of my Facebook page fans, but I found the prize for myself as well, because it brought to mind this special memory from my life. I offer this prize with the hope it might create a special memory for the winner and their loved ones.

Winner will receive the ULTA Day, Night and Play 77 piece makeup collection in a pink case, valued at $200: 54 eyeshadows, 9 lipcolors, 6 cheekcolors, 2 fullsize lipsticks, 2 mini lipglosses, 2 dual ended liners and 1 eyeshadow quad.

To enter, leave a comment below. Entries will close tonight at 10:00 pm EST and winner will be announced immediately. Good luck, and in the words of my late, great mother, "If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours!".

27 comments:

  1. What a sweet story. Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman!

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  2. What a wonderful tribute to your beloved Mom! Lisa Dawn Denton

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  3. I love hearing stories about your mom. Thank you for sharing this one on her special day.

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  4. Was a great quote and wonderful advice!- Korin

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  5. <3 very sweet story thanks for sharing!

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  6. May your day be blessed! What a wonderful story and message to share with us all.

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  7. Tears...Thank you for sharing that beautiful story<3

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  8. Thank you for sharing your mom's story. Your love for her is inspiring.

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  9. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.

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  10. I wish I could have met you mom. Great story!! If I win I will think of oy u bo th everytime I use it.

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  11. Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing with us!

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  12. Mothers are definitely a treasure! I am learning to treasure every moment with family, because you never know when it will be gone. I am entering this contest for my mother, she LOVES make-up and would definitely enjoy the gift. Thank you for sharing your memories of your mother, they are the best gift we can ever have. :)

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  13. Beautiful story! I lost my mother when I was 14 so I know how meaningful those special memories are. I still have a bottle of my mom's favorite perfume and I'm now 28.

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  14. Ok I entered on the Fb side and had to read the story even cried my dad pasted away last year and I am forever a daddy's girl couldn't bring myself to go through his stuff so my mom and aunt did it it's amazing the memories that are forgotten during life and return after death maybe me being who I am always knew my daddy would live forever he was my favorite person till my son was born then they tied lol I hope you have a great day remember all the wonderful things your mother did and who she was

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  15. What a beautiful story! What you and your mother had was certainly special and she is watching over in delight seeing you grow and flourish.

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  16. What a beautiful tribute to your mother's memory. I would be honored if I won this lovely gift.

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  17. Just a beautiful tribute to your mom. I still have my mom and she is 86 and often wonder what it's like after they pass to go into their rooms and see the things that made them the person they were. I often ask my mom if she wants to sell some of her things at garage sales and she says no its all I have left in life. How hard will it be for me to go thru her things. I don't wanna think about it

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  18. The older I get the more precious my mother is to me. It's sad that "you is wasted on the young", and we don't realize until we are older how wonderful our mothers really are. Your story is a great tribute to your mother. I will always connect makeup to my Mom. before she leaves the house she always has on lipstick (she says it brightens your complexion and your spirits).

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  19. What a beautiful memory, and a wonderful giveaway in her honor.......

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  20. What a great way to honor your mom. Thanks for sharing your story!

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  21. You truly selected a very special item to honor your mom, Angela.

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  22. What a sweet relationship the two of you had. Thanks for sharing with us :)

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  23. Sweet memories never fade, they become more precious with time. ~LaNell

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  24. Entries are now closed for this giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered!

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  25. The winner is Chrissy Nobrega! Congratulations Chrissy! Please e-mail me your mailing address to: angelaskitchen@rocketmail.com

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