Today I have the privilege of introducing you to Penny, the winner of the Special Mama Giveaway, and her family.
When you “meet” Penny and her family, I think you’ll be just as excited as I am that this very special mom is going to get a day to focus on herself and just have fun!
And after your introduction to Penny and her family, I am so excited to show you what else Penny is getting (in addition to the $1000 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale shopping spree)!
Because y’all.
It’s good.
I shopped with Penny on Tuesday (AND WE HAD A BLAST!!!), so I didn’t have time to write my MEN TELL ALL recap. So sorry! I promise it will be up tomorrow!!
Shay and I got some serious air time and it was SO MUCH FUN!
And FYI, Carter was ALL ABOUT me being on t.v. for like 3 whole minutes.
And then he was all “Why do we have to watch mom on t.v.? SHE’S RIGHT HERE!”
Seriously.
#thanksforthesupport
😉
I do want to thank ALL OF Y’ALL for the sweet comments out there in blog land, facebook, and instagram! I wanted to respond to each and every single one of you, but it was totally overwhelming (in the best possible way)!
THANKS EVERYBODY!!!!!
So this is how it started with our Special Mama:
Penny’s friend Martha (who is also a special needs mama) nominated Penny, which I think is so sweet. She could have nominated herself (which would have been perfectly fine!) but she nominated her friend instead. These moms of special needs kiddos are so used to being selfless, and this is just another example.
Here’s what Martha had to say:
Hi there,I saw your post about nominating a special needs mom.There are so many moms of special needs children that are so deserving, thank you for doing this.I would like to nominate Penny Howard. She is mom of three beautiful children. Her middle child, Harper, has a condition called CDKL5. It is very rare only 600 cases worldwide have been diagnosed. Harper at 6 weeks old started to have uncontrollable seizures. She would have over 100+ seizures a day. She is 5 years old now, and Penny has been on a crusade to raise money for research for CDKL5. She started a non-profit and donates all of the hard-earned money that she raises.Unfortunately the damage to Harper’s brain has left her unable to speak, unable to eat, unable to maintain sitting, among the many basic things she cannot do like other 5 year olds.Penny and her husband do all they can for their children, just like any parent. But the daily challenges they face, mean giving their all and more.Thanks! Martha
MARTHA! Thank you for nominating Penny!
Here’s what happened next:
Ain’t nothing wrong with that Penny! But, I’m excited to help you find some clothes you are excited about that help you to feel great!
I’m just a mom doing what every other mom is doing….the best they can.
new friend to share Harper’s story with.
Penny, thank you so much for giving us all a peek into your very busy life and for letting us get to know you a bit. I know that getting to know you will make it so fun for everybody to follow along on our shopping trip!
I absolutely fell in love with you and your sweet hubby, and I know the readers will too!
Penny sent me lots of pictures of items in her closet so I could get an idea for her style and what her current needs were.
SO, like I said….PENNY and I went shopping yesterday and we had a flipping blast!!!!
Make sure you come back Friday to see the shopping trip!!!!!!
like y’all to know about:
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Penny’s oldest daughter Lily came up with a LOVE DAY (basically a play day at the park that didn’t focus on Harper’s therapies or her organization). Being the sibling of a brother or sister with special needs is rewarding and teaches compassion and love, but it’s also very difficult and requires lots of patience on the part of the sibling. Penny and her family like to celebrate Lily (the oldest daughter!) as well! Their second annual Love Day is on July 15th at 10am at The Fields of Carrollton. Please come meet Lily, Harper and Seth and play at the park and on the splash pad.
Info is HERE.
Details are HERE.
September 12 is the Run4Hope at Andy Brown Park East in Coppell Texas. The run benefits seizure research and awareness. They are still seeking sponsors, volunteers and participants. Its their biggest event of the year. There will be lots and lots of awesome door prizes, it’s a Family Friendly Fun event, and pets and kids are encouraged to attend. The run bags are stuffed with awesome goodies. Virtual Run Options are available as well, which means you can get your swag bag and stay in bed while still supporting Epilepsy! We have a goal of at least 1 virtual runner per state so share this info with family and friends everywhere!
Click HERE for details and to sign up!
Please e-mail Penny directly at thehowardhouse@yahoo.com if you have questions!
Also, if you have any questions about Harper’s condition or the foundation created in her honor, again feel free to e-mail Penny directly at thehowardhouse@yahoo.com
She and her husband are very open about Harper’s condition, her therapist, and her treatment, and they would be happy to answer any questions you have!
And wait!
At the last minute, Penny found a file with these next pictures in them, and they were just too beautiful not to share!
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find awesome photographer HERE! |
SO NOW THAT WE’VE MET PENNY, I KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS
VERY SPECIAL MAMA IS GETTING!!!
In addition to the $1,000 shopping spree to Nordstrom, she is actually getting MUCH more!
I called on some of the smaller retailers I work with on a consistent basis to see if they would be willing to participate, and they were so excited to come on board. I also had lots of readers with boutiques ask to participate! I am of course THRILLED to give all of this to
our very deserving mama!
Here’s what else Penny got in her Special Mama prize package:
A Monogrammed Barrington Bag
$165 value
If you’ve read the blog for longer than a minute, you know that I adore Barrington Gifts and their bags. They are always so good to me AND my readers….and special mama winners….and teachers….etc.
When I contacted them to see if they’d be willing to provide Penny with a personalized bag, they didn’t hesitate!
So Penny gets to choose any St. Anne tote she wants from the new monogram collection!
She can pick the pattern, the colors, and the monogram style!
SO FUN!
Thank you Barrington!
(If you want to order something for yourself, use the code PTMTSAVE10 for 10% OFF your entire order! Go HERE and have fun designing your personalized bag!)
A $100 Gift Card to Accessory Concierge
Y’all know I love Accessory Concierge jewelry and the women who own it and work there!
Well, they are giving away $100 worth of jewelry to Penny!
Penny, I highly recommend the brass ladder necklace as a wonderful basic that jazzes up even the most basic of outfits. And I adore all of their tassel necklaces! THIS one is my favorite.
$295 value
How cool is this!
Penny and her family are going to get a FREE FAMILY SESSION with my friend Narci!
Click HERE to get to Narci’s site.
Click HERE to look at some of Narci’s work!
I love that Penny is going to have a professional photograph of her sweet and wonderful family!
Here are a couple of gorgeous pictures I pulled off of Narci’s site…
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2 PAIRS of LEATHER EARRINGS from Nickel and Suede
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Erin Condren Life Planner
You know my friends at Erin Condren wanted in on this!
Penny gets to choose a Life Planner for herself!!!!
Penny, you are going to LOVE it! The Life Planner will help you stay on track with therapies, doctor’s appointments, and the rest of your everyday life!
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2 T-Shirts from Counting on Hope
My awesome friend Candace from Counting on Hope (last year’s Anniversary Sale Special Mama) has donated two tees to Penny who will get to pick two t-shirts from Candace’s blog and shop.
Click HERE to see all the tee choices.
Click HERE to follow Counting on Hope on facebook!
Their child’s superhero shirt gives me a lump in my throat every single time I see it. It has the cute kid shaped superhero on the front, and on the back it says:
Sometimes superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.
And if you see in the upper right corner, after many requests from parents, Candace and her hubby created the adult version that has the figures and the saying on the front of the shirt. It’s precious.
Special mamas, special dads, and special kids all need these shirts!
(If you want to see Candace’s shopping trip last year, click HERE!)
Here I am in my Different Not Less shirt and my Autism Awareness baseball tee! LOVE both of them. There’s also a Warrior Mom tee in the baseball style that is super cute!
Again, click HERE for all tees!
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Bee’s Knees Loft $100 Gift Card
Click HERE for their facebook page. Click HERE for their instagram.
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Stella and Dot Prize Package
I had a sweet reader who sent me some things to give Penny from Stella and Dot.
Thank you Kim!!!!!
If you need to place a Stella and Dot order, please consider ordering from Kim HERE!
She has her own personal trunk show set up right now, so if it asks for your host, just write in Kimberly Kaufman.
Check out all of the new arrivals HERE!
See below to see what Kim sent to Penny!
Those earrings on the right can be worn on the lapis side or the gold side! It’s like 2 earrings in one!
And how much do you love that pouf?
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($186 value)
Click HERE for their shop.
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PRINT AND CREDIT FROM EMMA AND THE BEAN!
Click HERE to shop. Click HERE for her facebook. Click HERE for her instagram.
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Gift Package from Eden’s Door
Eden’s Door is an online boutique of handmade wreaths and personalized items. We also carry carefully selected home and gifting items.
Owned and operated by Libby and Danielle, Eden’s Door is your go-to for year round gifts and home decor. Our business began with handmade wreaths and has grown to include personalized gifting items and carefully selected home decor. We offer a broad selection of styles. Always on trend and always fun. Best of all, we love being able to provide those personalized touches that make things extra special for our customers.
The collage below shows everything they gave to Penny! Awesome!
Click HERE for the shop. Click HERE for facebook. Click HERE for instagram.
Click HERE to find them on Etsy.
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Monogram Necklace from Savvy Clothing
Savvy is an on-line women’s boutique with a classic, feminine style that
infiltrates today’s style mixed with timeless pieces for your wardrobe.
We look for quality products and fabrics at a fair price that will stay
on trend but allow the customer to feel they can invest in their
wardrobe and wear the pieces for years to come. Our goal is to help our
clients find an outfit that they love and show their confidence from the
inside out.
Click HERE for the website. Click HERE for their facebook page. Click HERE for their instagram.
Click HERE for the pendant necklace that Penny is getting!
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Make sure you all come back here on Friday to see our Shopping Spree at Nordstrom. I’m telling you, it’s going to take a bit for Nordstrom to recover. We were shopping machines!
And come back tomorrow for my recap of
The Men Tell All!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
Charming Lucy says
This is so insanely wonderful!!I am sobbing as I finish this post!! Yay for Penny!!! Enjoy this blessing(: Susan
Christina says
What a deserving mom!!! Her family is just precious. Can't wait to see the shopping trip. Little Harper is in my prayers. She sounds like an amazing little girl.
Erika Slaughter says
What an awesome giveaway!! And what a deserving Mama!! I can't wait to see how the shopping trip went. Hope Penny got pampered!!
YeLLoWMeDaiSY says
Incredible! I can't wait to see her shopping trip! You have such a big heart Sheaffer, good job mama.
Stacy P. says
What a wonderful thing! This made my day. Cheers for Penny!!! I am so glad she got this amazing opportunity!!! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Sheaffer! This made me cry right here at my desk. What an amazing and deserving mama AND what a beautiful little girl Harper is. I'm bawling! She is just precious and her mama is so deserving. I'm praying for this sweet family right now. I am blown away by them. God bless you Sheaffer for having such a heart for these mamas and their families. I know your heart friend and I know how much you truly want to help. God bless you too friend. Praying that God can continue to use you to bring awareness to these deserving families.
Narci says
This is just so wonderful–that Penny is getting so much love! She deserves it times a million!! Can't wait to meet her!! ❤️
Kathy Olson says
Oh wow! Congratulations, Penny! I'm so happy for you!
Bless you, Sheaffer for your big heart.
The Stantons says
Sheaffer! You gave Penny happiness, hope and a little sparkle! Thank you for making my heart explode with rainbow hearts (what my six year old son says when he is thrilled with something)!! Penny….. Enjoy and savor the fun. You are a role model Momma!
Dana says
Sheaffer, this is amazing! Thank you for what you are doing for these families!!
Tiffany says
So sweet that you helped facilitate all this love for Penny! Kudos to you, these very kind Sponsors and Congratulations to Penny.
Kellee says
What a blessing! Congrats Penny! Enjoy all those lovely items. You deserve it! God Bless you Sheaffer for this blog and making Penny's smile even brighter!
Kim Kauffman says
Well, now I'm crying first thing in the morning. What a wonderful, sweet family! Can't wait to see what all Penny got from your shopping day yesterday!! Sheaffer, you are such an encouragement with your gift of blessing others!
Anonymous says
I love that you do this! Congrats to Penny! Can't wait to read all about the fun day shopping!
Jan Fisher
Caitlyn says
Yay Penny! Also, Harper is affected by "CDKL5", it's spelled wrong several times in your post. Thank you for honoring such a wonderful momma and crusader.
Sheaffer says
Thank You Caitlyn! I think I got them all fixed!!! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Elizabeth Birenbaum says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you do this for these wonderful mamas! The first time you did this, i thought it was wonderful, but since then my son has been diagnosed with autism and so this hits closer to home. Thank you for making special needs mamas feel special and for giving them this wonderful, WONDERFUL gift! You are amazing!
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
What an amazing woman..and so deserving of a special shopping day with you!!!
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
I have the hugest lump in my throat.. what an amazing family. I can't wait to see what Penny picks!!
a huge thank you to you shaeffer for your big heart and also to all those other business that donated.. makes my heart smile big x
Lori says
Wonderful what you have done for Penny! I don't have an athletic bone in my body, but I can stay in bed and donate to the run in Coppell! Thanks for doing this. How great did it make your heart feel!
Hope4Harper says
Thank You Lori! I had an awesome time with Sheaffer. Funny thing about the run is I don't run either….how'd that happen lol!!!
kimm atwood says
This is just wonderful. Thank you for doing this for a well deserving woman and thanks to all you contributed and helped with all the other wonderful prizes !!!
Keisha Dawson says
What a beautiful story! I'm so thankful that you are able to use your resources to shower this precious momma with so many blessings!
Sarah says
What an amazing woman! I can't wait to see everything you guys picked out! So much fun and well deserving Penny!
Jenny says
In tears! I am so excited that Penny is getting so spoiled! I love this! 🙂
Candace says
LOVE this!!! So happy for Penny! What a neat lady and family! Sounds like you gals had a ball at Nordstrom's. I cannot wait to see the shopping post!!! Eeek!!!
Leigh Clark says
Wow!! That is an amazing giveaway to a deserving mama!!
MissKimmie says
Oh girl you are an angel. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. Prayers for Penny.
Ali Marshall says
Love everything about this post!!!
Katelyn Sloan says
Complete lumps in my throat the entire post. You are something else. Something very special and so is Penny. I cannot wait to hear all about it! xo
April Parrish says
Penny is so deserving!!! So excited for her to have some shopping time and feel special!!! Love that you care so much to take the time to run this contest!!! I can't wait to see what all she got!!!
Have a blessed day!
Kelsey Mann Peacock says
Penny sounds so deserving of all these wonderful gifts!!! Can't wait to hear about what all you all found on your shopping trip!
Kelsey
http://www.thepeacockroost.com
Lauren says
What an awesome gift to Penny!!! You have such a sweet heart, Sheaffer!!!! Can't wait to see your trip!