A day spent at The Body Shop - with a giveaway for you!

On Saturdays I most look forward to the following: Sleeping late, eating a leisurely breakfast, playing endless games of Lego Creationary with my twins, catching up on DVD's episodes of Extreme Couponing and Fashion Police, and maybe getting in a run. It takes A LOT for me to drag myself out of bed early. However, yesterday I made an exception. See, my friend Brian Warren, manager of The Body Shop in Northpark Center, offered to have an event for the Dallas-Fort Worth Bloggers network. This I wouldn't miss.

To be honest, I'm not that familiar with The Body Shop's products. For years I believed their lotions, shampoos and bath potions were reserved for granola munching, tree-huggers who wore clothing made from hemp and ran food co-ops. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just wasn't sure their products were for me. But boy, was I wrong.

The Body Shop's new summer bronzing collection

At nine-thirty our group of 17 bloggers descended on the store and were welcomed with coffee, yogurt parfaits, and mini chicken biscuits provided by Chick-Fil-A. Personally, I can't think of a better way to start an event. Give me Chick-Fil-A and I will be your bestie for LIFE. It's that easy.

We were welcomed by Brian, his district manager and store employees. They were so sweet and took the time to explain new products and the principles by which The Body Shop operates. I was impressed to learn that not a single product sold in the store is tested on animals, and how committed they are to create environmentally responsible lines. The Body Shop is also currently working to fight against sex trafficking and had a petition for us to sign. It's not that often that you see such a large company working so hard for social change.

After eating and chatting we were treated to foot scrubs, make-up applications and demonstrations of hand products. 

Haley of Cheap Girl in a Chic World and Kileen of Cute and Little enjoying a foot scrub

Katie of Fashion Dinosaur got a gorgeous make-over

The gorgeous Chastity of The Curvy Girl's Guide to Style

 While being pampered, we milled around, filling our baskets with new products and getting advice from store employees. There were also raffles for Chick-Fil-A coupons and The Body Shop gifts. We also tried out products from The Body Shop's new Honey Bronze make-up line. I'm not typically a bronzing kind of girl - I barely wear blush - but the bronzers gave a healthy, pretty glow, with a very subtle amount of sparkle.

Juanette of The Fashion Nette-work spinning the Chick-Fil-A wheel

Erin of Work With What You've Got with Brian. Here's a tip she shared: Use a drop of The Body Shop's Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil in your hair to smooth frizz, bring out highlights and add shine. Genius!

Cris of Fashion Juice had a pretty smokey eye done. Gorgeous!

At the end of the event we all received gift bags with samples, coupons and discounts from both The Body Shop and Chick-Fil-A. I think everyone had a great time. If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, or are in driving distance of Dallas, come and join our network - we'd love to have you at future events like this one.

Me with the Body Shop's district manager and Brian Warren, Northpark Center store manager

Here's a treat - I snagged a giveaway package for one of you! I'm happy to offer one of my readers a giveaway for a gift bag and two full-size products from The Body Shop's new summer bronzing line: A bottle of their Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil (which is completely sold out and reminiscent of NARS' Body Glow shimmer oil, a cult favorite) and a Honey Bronze Lip Nectar gloss in coral (a sheer, slightly sparkly shade that's flattering on everyone.) 

To enter, just do the following:

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect;
• Follow me on Twitter at @dresscourage;
• Tweet the following about the giveaway: I just entered the @bodyshopusa giveaway from @dresscourage! http://tinyurl.com/4xdllml
• Leave a comment letting me you you're following and tweeted with your email address. (Comments without an email address will not count as an entry.)

Thanks for entering, and good luck!