鈥淲ow. I wish I could do it all over again,鈥� said Heather Green, as she wrapped up a feverish shopping day like none the 91原创 City woman had ever experienced before.

For the third year running, the 91原创 Advance held its annual shopping spree contest, where one lucky reader won a $1,000-, one-thousand-second shopping spree.

In this case, Green鈥檚 lone entry was randomly picked from thousands, entitling her to go shopping at a minimum of 10 participating 91原创 businesses in the time and with the funds alloted.

鈥淲hen the phone call came in, she was quite excited and all smiles,鈥� Keith recounted, noting she wasn鈥檛 much for sleep the night before the spree.

鈥淪he walked around for three days like the cat who swallowed the canary,鈥� he added.

Now, admittedly some reconnaissance at each of the stores during the days leading up to the spree definitely helped Green in picking out all the items she wanted in the 1,000 seconds provided.

In fact, she acknowledged she hadn鈥檛 been in a few before, but will be a regular from now on 鈥� saying she鈥檚 always anxious to shop local.

It was what she called an 鈥渆xperience of a lifetime,鈥� for Green and her hubby, Keith, who tagged along to watch and offer moral support.

鈥淏etter people could not have won,鈥� said Advance publisher Lisa Farquharson, who chauffeured the couple around from store to store Thursday in search of all their treasures. 鈥淚 have new friends,鈥� she said, giving them hugs as they loaded up their car with all the self-selected prizes that included a windchime, specialty coffee, wine, a coffee grinder, New York steaks, clothes, a dart chalkboard, coolers, meat and fruit pies, beer, a spa treatment, and card making supplies.

They also packed in a pair of pool cues, but those were not bound for the Green household. They were dropping those off to Stepping Stones Community Services Society. It will be a gift for the centre鈥檚 lounge in their neighbourhood, where individuals and families living with mental illness can go to socialize and seek help, Green explained.

鈥淚 guess in life, it鈥檚 not so much what you get. It鈥檚 what you give that makes you feel good about yourself,鈥� she said, anxious to pay forward a bit of her windfall.

Admittedly, winning the contest came at a great time for the Greens, she elaborated.

鈥淲hat a blessing and a real gift this was for us, because we need some work done outside on our patio. We just didn鈥檛 know where we were going to get the money from, and it was going to be about $1,000,鈥� she said. .

鈥淪o, when I won this, I thought 鈥榦h, God鈥檚 got a sense of humour.鈥� God鈥檚 given us this so we can afford that.鈥�

While most of what she picked would be classified as 鈥渓uxury鈥� items, Green said it will definitely help them out a little financially.

Visiting some of the businesses, Green was welcomed 鈥渁lmost like royalty鈥� with handmade signs, balloons, and even a few hugs.

鈥淚t was really fun spending someone else鈥檚 money, and to be welcomed into those stores like a celebrity, it was so much fun.鈥�

At Army & Navy, for instance, staff had a shopping cart decorated up for her. At Mary鈥檚 British Home, there were numerous balloons and a sign on the door wished her well and saying 鈥淪hop til you drop (or run out of time).鈥�

And with literally a few seconds left on the clock, Green showed up at Clipper Street to make her final purchases 鈥� the same place, it just so happens, that she entered the contest.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my favourite鈥︹�� she said, noting she鈥檚 been a customer and student there for at least two decades 鈥� pretty much as long as she鈥檚 lived in 91原创.

While she makes the occasional album and does some scrapbooking, Green said card making is her calling.

鈥淚鈥檝e found my passion,鈥� she said, noting she doesn鈥檛 typically sell her cards, rather giving some to family and friends. But in making hundreds a year, most are actually donated to her church group or community organizations for distribution.

鈥淚 try to be generous with them,鈥� she said as the she pulled up in front of Clipper Street, almost leaping from the car before it came to a stop.

鈥淚 love this store, its the best shop in 91原创,鈥� she said, hugs, a card, balloons, and a chalkboard congratulatory sign at the door welcoming her in.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing experience,鈥� Green said, noting she鈥檚 never won anything this big before.

Bidding adieu, she said that she and Keith would likely be enjoying a romantic dinner 鈥� if not that night, then very soon 鈥� to devour some of the steaks, wine, and coffee they鈥檇 picked. The rest of the bounty would be enjoyed over time.

鈥淭his has been just fantastic!鈥�