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Happy Gratefulness GIVEAWAY Friday everyone!!!
Do you remember that post I did a few weeks ago on inheriting my grandmother’s vintage costume jewelry collection?
I hinted at it then, and I even hinted at it in conversation with a few other bloggers and on the Sammy Davis Vintage fan page — I wanted to do a giveaway with some of her fabulous pieces so that I could pass along some vintage love to YOU!
While some time has passed since first announcing this “hint,” I have not forgotten about this giveaway promise! I was rather musing on how I could make giveaways a more regularly occurring thing to benefit everyone who has and will ever experience the Sammy Davis Vintage brand.
So, I’m happy to announce that the delay was WELL WORTH IT! Today’s post kicks off the FIRST “Gratefulness Giveaway.” I am giving away 5 pieces of vintage costume jewelry from my grandmother’s collection!!!
So here’s how it works: no more than once a week and usually on Fridays, I will host a new giveaway contest for ANYONE to enter for a chance to win. Vintage jewelry, clothing, accessories and the like may be up for grabs; or an awesome product from an indie fashion brand. The giveaway may even grow to encompass non-fashion items to win like a holistic, all-natural beauty product, organic foods, inspiring reading material and the like!
I want my weekly gratefulness giveaway to a be as much of a chance to give back to YOU as it is a chance to help spread word about great brands and the people behind them — so if you are an Etsy seller, a DIYer or independent fashion company; sell paraben-free hair care or want to share amazing healthy and delicious granola with the world … contact me to participate in the giveaway! I’m here to help you because you help me, too.
So without further ado, keep reading after the jump for this week’s gratefulness story and for further instructions on how to enter the Sammy Davis Vintage Gratefulness Giveaway #1 — and to salivate over some PICTURES of the pieces up for win!
Thank you to everyone in advance for entering this very first Sammy Davis Vintage giveaway! I feel like you are all going to be pioneers of something that will grow and grow as it gains more gratefulness!
Before you have amazing and fulfilling weekends, please check in and say hi on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Or just leave me a note via email, especially if you have a question about vintage fashion and thrift store style that I can answer on the site sometime soon.
Happy Gratefulness Friday everyone … remember that no matter who the winner of this giveaway is, we are ALL winners with thankfulness for what we have now that can never be taken away from us … our SELVES!
xx, SD
I am grateful for … Not Passing Judgment
In New York City, you walk by them often: the homeless.
There you are rushing to get to your job or meeting with a friend for a catch-up cup of coffee, and you have to avoid a man or woman begging you for food, change, subway passes and whatever you have that you’re willing to give up.
Encountering the homeless is a reality of city living. There have been times I’ve wanted to give all I have to the homeless, and then there have been times that I wish I hadn’t seen them at all.
So as a default defense mechanism — to prevent me from either feeling bad for not giving money or bad for being annoyed that they are asking me for money — I simply press “ignore” in my mind to pretend that they are not there at all.
How many times in life have we done this — press the “ignore” button on the people and things around us? Maybe we “ignore” the cashier at the grocery store by simply standing silent in line as they ring our items, then handing over an AmEx card, signing our receipt and going our merry way without so much as a “hello” or a “thank you.”
Or perhaps we rub shoulders with someone on the street and don’t bother to stop, look them in the eye and say “I’m sorry!” Instead we quickly mumble “sorry” as we pass them in our hurried ways.
Pressing “ignore” is a natural habit that takes a higher consciousness to break. And part of the pressing “play” button means not passing judgment on those around you, either.
Last week, I was walking to a Salvation Army to film an episode of Sammy Davis Vintage TV. I was all dolled up in heels, fishnets, a floral dress and lace shawl. My hair and makeup was done. Even though the sidewalk was crowded, I definitely stood out.
On 23rd Street headed west, I passed a man who said something to me that I couldn’t quite make out.
He was standing in the middle of the sidewalk in gray, drab clothes. He was slightly hunched and had a cane in his hand. My passing glance wrote him off as a disheveled bum who was most likely mumbling something to me like, “Could you spare some change, miss?” or also likely, a compliment about my outfit that would leave me uncomfortable and perhaps unresponsive, like “Well aren’t you looking good today Cover Girl.”
Both of those judgments and “imagined” scenarios passed through my mind as I rushed past this man to get where I needed to be — on my own time and on my own terms.
But while those assumptions were ringing in my mind, in that moment I was able to push them to the side and pause. A pause of literally one second — and that’s all it took — to recognize that this man was not just a BODY, but a real, whole living and breathing soul of a being who deserved my attention right then.
So, instead of ignoring the man, I ignored my assumptions. I listened harder to what he was saying. And then I turned around, realizing that I wasn’t looking at a homeless man or a obnoxious cat-caller at all.
I was looking at an elderly blind man.
I asked, “I’m sorry sir, what did you say?” And without looking in my direction, but still pointing his cane to find his way on the crowded NYC street, he replied, “I’m looking for the dollar store … is it up ahead?”
I looked ahead, and about 50 yards to his left was a lonely looking $.99 store.
I’m not sure how he got to that place on the street or how long it took him to get there. He may have been dropped off by a cab who didn’t bother to help him to the store. He could have stood there with his cane mumbling to passerby for minutes, who like I almost did completely, pressed “ignore” and pretended that he wasn’t there by passing judgment that he was just another homeless man looking for some change and not someone who truly needed assistance.
Because I chose to PUSH judgment out of my mind, I was able to let the TRUTH enter. The truth was that he just needed someone to walk him into the dollar store. That’s it — literally one minute out of my day.
But that one minute meant the world to him — and to ME! That is the true beauty of not passing judgment: we are giving back to ourselves because we are giving the entire truth of what truly is reality to ourselves in that moment.
So today, as you walk by people, things and places — or encounter various situations both new & old — consciously decide to PUSH away your imagined, pre-conceived notions and judgmental assumptions. Yes, they will still enter your mind! But you have the choice whether or not you want to hear them.
And when you stop LISTENING to them, you’ll SEE what the true reality is.
xx, SD
HOW TO ENTER GRATEFULNESS GIVEAWAY #1
For a chance to win one of the 5 vintage costume jewelry pieces listed below valued at $50 each, you must enter between today [Friday, March 25th] and by midnight on Sunday, March 27th.
You can only enter once, and all winners will be drawn at random using the site random.org. Winners will be announced by Tuesday, March 29th.
Enter by answering the following question in the comment fields or Facebook comment fields below this contest post:
“What is your favorite vintage era, and why?”
OTHER IMPORTANT RULES
**Entrants/Winners must be legal U.S. residents of the lower 48 states (not including Alaska and Hawaii) and at least 18 years old as of March 25, 2011.
**For full contest rules and regulations can be found here
**All information submitted by contestants is subject to Sammy Davis Vintage’s privacy policy found here
Happy entering and GOOD LUCK!
COSTUME JEWELRY PIECE TO WIN #1
COSTUME JEWELRY PIECE TO WIN #2
COSTUME JEWELRY PIECE TO WIN #3
COSTUME JEWELRY PIECE TO WIN #4
COSTUME JEWELRY PIECE TO WIN #5
My favorite vintage era is the 1920s. It was the first time women liberated themselves from constriction fashion “rules”. The styles are beautiful and sensual and very often unique. Different was in style then. Big, bold, and loud. Who doesn’t love THAT? (:
I would have to say my favorite era would have to be the ’80s. I have a thing for Rompers & the best Rompers were made in the ’80s. I love the big hair, dramatic make-up, the bamboo earriings, & the bright neon colors! I was meant for the ’80s (so my husband say’s) it was the best years ever for fashion!
My favorite vintage era is the roaring 20’s! This decade had so, so much innovation for the US. It was also a time of intense cultural change and eventually growth. And the fashion! I could go on and on about that ;)
ahh the twirly skirt hippie in me still loves the mid 60’s-70’s—-fringe suede vests & bags, giant bellbottoms & halter tops, tie dyed everything, earth mama simplicity :) And don’t even get me started on the music….
i love the 70’s. it is the time my mom was in college and figuring out who she was. and she is the same age then as i am now so its fun to see how we are the same and different at this period of our lives!
rwvanvoorhis at gmail dot com
This is a tough one …
I love the 80s, because that’s the decade I was born in –when I first got into fashion — and I love looking at the pictures of my siblings and I ‘back in the day’ …
HOWEVER — if I had to choose an era of clothing to wear right now?! I think I’d choose the 30’s … I love the femininity, the pearls, and the hats! That’s also when my grandmother was getting into fashion — and I LOVE my grandmother and her love for fun clothing! (she also has a vast vintage jewelry collection that I hope to enjoy one day)
I have been loving the 70s!It’s funny because around January I swore off skinny jeans. I thought I was being rebellious by choosing to wear the complete antithesis of skinny jeans- wide legs. But of course I was just falling into the trends. Ha ha ha anyway!
I love the freedom of the clothes in the 70s. The flowing dresses in the bright patterns, the comfy wide jeans and t-shirts! I love the makeup- everything from the heavy stuff to the beautiful natural look. I love it all! :)
Very hard to choose just one era! The 70s remind me of my mom while I was a baby, the 80s are the years I was growing up and all those fab eras from my grandmother’s make me happy too. : ) (Like her camel wool coat with fur collar! To die for!)
I am a 70s girl! i love every part of that decade. the color schemes, tailored wide leg suits, maxi dresses and the CLUTCHES! and also my afro may be an extra indicator of my love for the 70s :-)
OK, I think I am supposed to post a comment of my favorite era and why. Without giving it much thought, I immediately think of the 1930’s. Why? Because that is the era my Grandma was young, in love and newly engaged to my Grandfather. He would buy her dresses, coats, jewelry – You name it! And each time he bought her a new dress, he’d have her go stand outside of her parents’ house so he could take her picture in it. Even in the dead of winter! He thought she was the most beautiful thing and they were so in love up until the days they passed away after being married for over 60 years…:) Anyway, I am lucky to have many of these photos I speak of, of my Grandma “modeling” her new dresses, coats, etc. for my Grandpa. Ladies were truly “Ladies” back then. My Grandmother NEVER ever wore pants a single day in her life….Miss both of them….
This post brought tears to my eyes! Such a pure love and you age so lucky to have those photos. They sound so much like my grandparents:)
i would have to say that i find the 20’s very exciting. i am a flapper basically every year for halloween. love the feathers, pearls and big jewelry!
boon1211atgmaildotcom
My favorite era would definitely be the 70’s. I love the colors and the boldness of prints. I also love so many movies that were made in the 70’s which definitely developed my love for the 70’s and the fashion.
LOVING THE ENTRIES EVERYONE! come one, come all! ;-)
Late 50s into early 60s is my favorite. Either it’s too much Mad Men viewing or it’s a deep love for full skirts, hats, and a polished complete look. Either way, it’s bee-yoo-tee-ful!
OMG!!! I was so excited to enter this giveaway, until I saw the contest rules and I am not elegible because I live in Puerto Rico:( Oh well, I’m gonna share with you anyway my fave vintage era, it’s the 1970’s. The disco loving polyblend fantasticness, the hippie love child awesomeness, mixing boho and glitz. I love it, and I more love that it’s all back in fashion for this year :D
I hope those pieces go to amazing homes! I’d totally rock #1, it’s the prettiest and most perfect for spring and summer. :D
Love your posts Miss Sam! it’s a fab idea to give and share gratefulness :D
xoxo
So excited to enter this giveaway! I love the ’20s. The whole era just sucks me in. The fashion, the music, the extravagance… I like to keep my style simple, then splash it up with one or two flashy items, so it’s the perfect era for inspiration! Thanks so much for this giveaway and sharing your story about the blind man; both are beautiful!
OKay, I love the 30s and the 50s (as evidenced by my two wedding dresses). The 30s for its elegance, the 50s for its flounce. If I HAD to choose, I’d go 30s because I think that obsession will last into my 80s, as would any of these pieces, if I won one. xx
First off, your story definitely touched my heart. So often we forget about the others inhabiting the world around us and that occasionally we all need a little help. Thanks for the reminder!
As for favorite vintage era, fashion-wise it is the 50’s. The femininity and flounce that era showed was fantastic. I love dresses and have a few pieces from that era in my closet and they’re some of my favorite to wear (and I love that their full skirts made a comeback on the runways this year!)
I would definitely say the 50’s! If I could go back in time, I would just to wear cute fitting dresses. The fashion had such an elegance and classic look. I love how the dresses fit snug at the waist and went out. The fashion had a modest sex appeal. Perfect for any shape.
The 70’s would have to be my favorite. The clothing speaks for itself, vibrant colors, bold prints, creative collars. I love everything 70’s.
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