The Beginning of an Amazing Evening!

At 1:29pm I entered the Arctic Club Hotel, not knowing what to expect. I'd been there before for a wedding (years ago) and remembered the Dome Rome vividly, but today was different. I was going to be part of a cause that I hope will spread nation wide.

The Charity Event: Get Hitched, Give Hope; a bridal event that raises money to help stage four breast cancer victims fulfil their wishes.

I was greeted off of the elevator by a nice guy who immediately asked, "One of the models?" and then escorted me to room 311. A room buzzing with action already. Liz Navarro, The Gown Diva, was laying out the beautiful jewels that we'd be wearing with our gowns. Kat, another model, was having her make up done by Karen. And Erin and Chelsea of Bellatrix Studio were ready to make our hair fabulous! A couple of things about these two women: 1) Erin was pregnant and literally due tomorrow! She was beautiful and without the baby bump in the front there would have been no signs of pregnancy on her body. She could have told me she was only 5 months and I would have believed her. 2) Chelsea was gorgeous and styled. Her hair was black with short cut bangs. She wore a litte pink sweater over a fitted black corset, a full black and white mini skirt with a petty coat underneath, pink fish-net stockings and pink, iguana cowboy boots from Australia. She represented the coolness of this Studio and the breast cancer cause beautifully! I was excited to see the transformation of me, the mom who had just spent an hour painting clay penguins with seven year old students, to whatever they were planning and I sat down for hair.

Liz showed the gown and jewelry that I'd be wearing to Erin. After a quick consultation with Chelsea, I was in the chair getting my glam on!

www.gowndiva.com

www.bellatrixstudio.com

www.gethitchedgivehope.com

Get Hitched Give Hope

Tomorrow night I get to walk around in a beautiful Anne Barge wedding gown at the Second Annual Get Hitched Give Hope Event. An evening with brides and wedding vendors from the Seattle area that was created to raise money to fight breast cancer.

I can't wait and am hoping that it will blow all of my great expectations out of the water! After all, if it is anything like the gown I get to wear... forgetaboutit! Its going to be fantastic!

If you are interested check out the website: http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/ and I will tell you all about it in Friday's blog!

Not so Narrow

It seems that often when problems arise, our outlook becomes narrow. -The 14th Dalai lama

Those problems that cause you to feel like there is nothing else that can fix a problem except for the most drastic of measures. Those moments that instead of choosing to step back and evaluate what's happening, you go off the handle. You choose the fighting path. Do you know this path? Its the one that, when you get to the end, there's regret. Can you turn back with an "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong"? We can't unwind the clock unfortunately, but we can learn. Life isn't a narrow path... why should our decisions be?

Trying Bloomsies

YOU MAY BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU FAIL,

BUT YOU ARE DOOMED IF YOU DON'T TRY.

Beverly Sills

I am the owner of Bloomsies. A company that takes baby clothes and women's lingerie, wraps each piece up like a rose, and then creates a bouquet with the flowers. It's a fun gift to both give and receive. Very original.

Bloomsies has been slow to build, however, I am happy to say that it is growing. Slowly growing. Like everything else, this little venture needs daily love to get there. It needs the word to be spread that it exists. It needs to be seen. Although I'd like it to just take off, and be that overnight success story, it hasn't been that quick. Getting discouraged is not an option. I take one day at a time. And while I am taking the baby steps to achieve success with this company, I am greatly appreciative for the support that I have gotten from my family and friends. Without them my "try" wouldn't be so much fun!

If you haven't seen Bloomsies, check it out! We're online: http://bloomsies.etsy.com/

and on facebook. What amazing avenues for a budding business!

One Moment and a couple of Positive Thoughts...

The nice thing about running, is that all you need are a pair of shoes and you can just go. Follow a road, a trail, or the track. Pave your path. It's free. It's yours.

The nice thing about the gym is that, if you go regularly, you have people. You may never get close to most of these individuals, but you have the workout in common. That is a good motivational tool. Get in there! Laugh, sweat, catch up and then go on with your day feeling like you're pumped up! A "see you tomorrow" is a great verbal contract that almost guarantees that you will make it back the next day. It's only hard to get started... but it is addicting!

Here is my moment of the day:

Today it was blustery out. The cool, Autumn air has certainly hit Seattle. Rain drops fell for a little while. It wasn't bad, just kind of gray. Outside, under the color of the afternoon sky, I took a walk. My umbrella protected me from the raindrops. My sweater stopped the windy swoops. And I looked up. The leaves on the trees have finally changed. It seems like it happened overnight. One of the trees had leaves of pale, yellow green, another bright, pinkish-orange, and then there was the yellow. Bright and happy against such a palate that should seem dull, but today was full of movement and energy. It was beautiful and refreshing. It was nature. I can't change it, wouldn't want to, just have to appreciate it.

In the distance a plastic grocery bag danced in the wind. I watched it for a moment and let it take me back to the movie, American Beauty. Before that movie, I would never have considered watching an object blow in the wind. A different kind of beauty, just garbage that has run into nature.

We run during the day. Sometimes not pausing for a second to breathe. You have to breathe, otherwise, you are missing it. Look around. Working hard will get you where you need to be, yes, but what's it worth if you miss everything around you? I suggest a walk alone. Not a run. My walk was only 5 minutes long, and in this 5 minutes I found a calm that carried me through the rest of the day.

Fall is here.