Mizner Park kicks off a month of holiday shopping events with a fashion show on Thurs., Dec. 4.

The "Holiday Nights on the Town" also features live jazz, wine and food tastings, and the chance at a $2,000 shopping spree at Mizner Park.

A special shopping pass with discounts and specials is available at shops. Go to Mizner Park.com for details and other incentives. I found, for example, 15 percent off at Ann Taylor Loft on Friday, Nov. 28, aka Black Friday. -- Marcia "Bargain Hunter" Pounds

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Secrets usually backfire and get us into trouble. Like the fact you hooked up with the ex of your BFF. Like the test you cheated on in Trig class. Like the weight you put on your driver's license.

But this time a Secret can be a really good thing. If you find a faus diamond inside Secret Flawless Deodorant, you can win a flawless $15,000 one-carat diamond. (They are giving away 10 of them.) If you don't see the fake bling, enter the code form the package at secretdiamondgiveaway.com to see if you won one of the other prizes -- shopping sprees, cards, movie tickets, and upscale dinners,

Cool, huh? Who says you have to wait for a man to buy you an expensive diamond?

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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Do you want a new sofa as much as I do? I'm afraid to have anyone over 40 sit it in because they'll need a crane to get up. Down pillows are great until they get old....

Or maybe your sofa is it ripped or torn. Or did the upholstery cleaners declare it unsalvagable?

If you don’t have the excess cash right now to buy another, check out the sofa sweepstakes at BassettFurniture.com. Starting today, in celebration of its 106th anniversary, Bassett will give away one custom sofa every day through Dec. 18. That's one for each anniversary year!

You can build your own sofa on line, like this one, if you win. The price limit is $3,000 for fabric only. Leather, sectionals or motion furniture are excluded.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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As your shopping blogger, I must point out two deals, and one deal or steal -- I'll let you decide.

My fav coffee place, Starbucks, is getting in gear with the weak economy this summer. Every morning when I pick up my Americano, my receipt is stamped for a $2 discount on my afternoon iced grande Mocha. Applies to cold drinks after 2 p.m. -- sweet deal for us coffee addicts.

Panera's also is getting with the program by offering a drawing in each store for a $75 gas card. Haven't won yet, but I keep trying. They pick one each Saturday morning.

Newcomer Kohl's is trying to attract the younger set with its "Rock Like a Star" video contest. Submit a video about your love of denim and you have a chance to win $10,000, concert tickets and other goodies. Only problem is you have to submit it through Facebook, so Kohl's takes all your information as well, which may include your date of birth.

Parents or teens: You shouldn't have anything on your public Facebook profile you wouldn't want your grandma to see. Beware of contests that require more than your e-mail. -- Marcia "Bargain Hunter" Pounds

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I know I've been out of touch, but I'm on vacation and doing all of those fun things we never get to do while we are working.

But, my blog friends, I can't resist telling you about a cool contest I read about in my Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

All you have to do is sign on to www.bhg.com and sign up to win a $10,000 Home Makeover, like the kitchen in this photo. That translates into $5,000 worth of furniture and $5,000 cash. You have to create a free account to enter. There's a chance to sign up for free newsletters and a free 1 year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens. There are some other contests as well.

You can enter once a day. Deadline is Aug. 14.

Good luck.

XOXO-- Shopper Girl

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Wouldn't you like to win a $100,000 outdoor design makeover? I sure would. Now that we are being squeezed with high gas prices and spiraling food costs, some of the things we want, like a fabulous outdoor room, have to be put on hold. So why not try to win?

The Frontgate catalog and Coastal Living magazine will select one winner who will get: $50,000 in Frontgate outdoor furniture and accents; $50,000 toward a luxury pool, landscaping, or water feature installation from Master Pools Guild; a design consultation with Elizabeth Raines Beeler, certified designer and decorating editor for Coastal Living ; and a design consultation with an award winning designer from Master Pools Guild.

Just go to www.frontgate.com/coastalliving enter. Online entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. May 31.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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Want to redecorate, but running out of money to do it?

Ballard Designs, the home decor catalog that offers designer looks at reasonable prices, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a contest that could earn you a $25,000 shopping spree and a free design consultation with Ballard’s vice president of merchandising and a senior editor for Southern Accents magazine.

Enter the sweepstakes by visiting Ballard’s Web site at ballarddesigns.com and entering your contact information. You also have the option to participate in a quiz to determine your decorating style — Traditional, Sophisticated or Bohemian.

There will be one grand-prize winner and 250 instant winners, who will get Ballard Designs tote bags. Cool, isn't it?
XOXO-- Shopper Girl

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