When I was a little girl I can remember the excitement I would get when my mother would say"we're going to run some errands". Even as young as 2, I knew that as soon as I heard those words that we were going SHOPPING! Most kids fuss and cry and throw tantrums when their parents take them into stores, but not me. I LOVED IT! I can remember sitting in the stroller as my mom pushed me around the grocery store, clothing stores, target, etcetera. I was amazed at all the colorful things out there in the world that you could just buy and take home for yourself to enjoy. I loved sitting and watching my mom as she would stroll around the store, browsing, and picking things out to purchase.

As the years passed I grew older, but my views on shopping never changed. Now that I was older I was able to understand the concept and benefits of shopping. I still loved shopping with my mom, and I began to learn and appreciate the value of material things. On my shopping experiences my mother taught me how to be responsible. I also learned how to communicate with people, and how to be smart about shopping. I learned the difference between a bargain and a splurge, and which things were worth spending a little extra on, and which weren’t. I also began to appreciate the quality time I got to spend with my mother, and other members of my family when we went out to shop. My grandmother loved shopping. She adored shoes, handbags, and jewlry, and she would take me shopping with her when she visited. I always admired her for her class and beauty. She really knew how to judge quality, and now that she is gone, I can still remember her by the beautiful things that she left behind.

In 1995, one of my favorite movies came out in theatres; “CLUELESS”. I’m not quite sure why, but I absolutely LOVED this movie growing up. My favorite character was Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone. What I loved about Cher was her class and beauty. I loved the way she dressed, her love for shopping, and her openness to and involvement in everything around her. I admired her because she was very wealthy, beautiful, and had many friends, but she still had an honest heart. Throughout the years I continued to watch this movie, and to this day it is still one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBZ9Bgij6VE

Now that I am older I am an expert shopper. I know how to budget, how and where to save, and when to splurge. I love that shopping is great for a variety of things. I go can go shopping to get out of the house, to take my mind of something stressful and put me in a better mood, to spend time with friends and family members, and, of course to purchase things that I need.

I LOVE the connection between people and shopping. No matter who you are, or where you are from, everyone shops. You can go across the world to shop, or you can stay in your own community. You can shop for food, clothing, entertainment, and even transportation. Shopping is ALWAYS fun because shopping changes every day, and there are several ways to shop. The best part about shopping is the people you get to meet. Going out is always an adventure, and you never know who you’re going to meet.