I'm feelin' IT!

I love when an ordinary day becomes something incredible!

Today the sun is shining and it is 17 degrees out.

The kids and I got in the car to do our daily drive to school. We were on time, nothing was rushed this morning, the music was cranked and we were all smiles.

Calli my ten-year-old who has the "I am too cool for you, Mom" attitude these days, was actually pleasant. These few and far-between moments must be celebrated! We sang together... loudly!

While we jammed to the Black Eyed Peas, I got a feelin', Nathan (my seven year old) yelled, "MOM! TURN DOWN THE SPLIT PEAS!" With a laugh, I did. He simply said, "I love you."

Oh, it was like a warm hug! My daughter was happy. My son was sweet. I was overjoyed! It really doesn't take much these days. Its going to an incredibly, good day... I got a feelin'.

Book Worthy

Photo by Carrie Sheidt

If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page.

Hello world!

Everyday is another part of your story. Do you live it like you want to or are you lost in the daily grind? I find both in my story, but this is what makes a truly great story... in my opinion.

Most days are just the normal things that nobody really cares about but me. We wake up, the kids make it to school, I get a work out in, and some work done, then it's time to pick the kids up again and do the after school stuff that leads to dinner and bedtime.

Then there are those moments throughout the day that are remarkable. These are the moments that make my story magnificent. For example, I drop the kids off at school and they both yell "I love you" just before closing the car door and running to class. My heart jumps for joy every time! Or that time during the workout when it gets hard and I drive past the pain to make it count, letting any self doubt disappear with power instead. YES! Oh, and when I get another order for a Bloomsies! Someone else will receive this gift that I love to make!!! These chapters that make me want to read more! Great... turn the page... see what happens next! They are the moments that lead to the car stalling on the side of the road, but I make it home because it happened on a hill and I could just coast for the 1/4 mile right into the driveway. Suspense. They are the moments that make it easier when the sadness of losing a good friend could take over. Grief. The roller coaster that is love, they make it worth it. Drama. Romance. Winning a dream trip to Antigua. Surprise. Unexpected. Traveling to new places, seeing new things, and being a part of the bigger world. Anticipation... what will happen next? Laughing with friends. Silliness. Dancing. Running. Being part of something bigger... Action. My life has it. So does yours. I guess we just have to keep seeing the interesting in it.

My great grandmother used to say, "only boring people get bored." I personally, don't think there is a boring person. So nobody should be bored, we should simply be magnificent!

Batteries

Why is it that the batteries in your camera always seem to fail at the perfect "kodak moment?"!

An Amazing Event Part II

It was funny, sitting there with my back to the mirror. People around me would make comments about how great it was looking and all I could tell was that there was a lot of bobby pins and I could see the curling iron. When it was done, I turned around and how fun was that look?! A new twist to a 1940's hair style! Nothing I would ever think of doing, but fabulously elegant just the same. I LOVED IT!

Make up time!

Karen did my make-up. Very chic. And as the afternoon progressed Erin would come by with more powder or blush, add a darker eye, fake eyelashes. She was constantly checking all of us and working to get the looks just right. In her words: it was perfect!

At five thirty, just as the guests were arriving the last girl was done and it was time for lips and gowns. My lips were a dark, brick red. They showed up! I was feeling very glamorous, if I do say so myself. With the gown on, pink silk slippers on my feet, and a beautiful floral arrangement of yellow tulips and bright greens in my hand I was ready for the ballroom.

Its not everyday that you get to just walk around a room full of people in a wedding gown. Its hard to know exactly what to do. Smile. Smile a lot. Make eye contact with the guests. Smile more. Talk to the little girl with the pink dress and silver shoes. Stop and visit with the vendors. Visit with the other bridal models. Talk about the gown. Oh, the designer is Anne Barge. It's very light, lined in silk. Yes, very comfortable... I don't want to take it off. It twirls! Voletta Couture. The earrings? Aren't they fabulous?! I know! The Gown Diva put the look together. You should call her! Walk slowly.

I had a train, so walking slowly was the key. The Dome Room was full. People everywhere. When my train was stepped on, I'd just stop. Strike a pose. Vogue! When the guest was off of the gown, I'd continue as if nothing had happened. I loved it! Every minute of it!

Three of us were taken back to room 311 to be photographed by Seattle Metropolitan Bride Magazine for 15 minutes and when we returned the live auction began, and the movement in the room stopped. Brooke, from The Ladies Room morning talk show on MOViN 92.5, led the event from the stage. All five of the models were eventually called to the stage for one last chance to display the dresses. We smiled and laughed, and really made the most of it. The bidding began. The package? The auction package was #1028/The Gown Diva Package: Choice of one of Anne Barge's gowns that were being modeled at the event. A Gown Diva Consultation. She would style the bride-to-be for the big day. A Madina Vadache veil and Grace shoes courtesy of Voletta Couture. This package valued at $4050.00

Everyone cheered on the two bidders. A bride's fiance, his fiance (of six years!) was modeling a gown on stage, and the other bidder, the mother of another model on stage had a small bid war going. In the end, the mother won and will be wearing MY gown on her wedding day! I realize this was not a competition, however, I was really hoping the gown I was representing would be chosen. It was too great not to be!

I always think its sad at the end of an event. Like a holiday, it takes so much time to prepare for and then it is just over. Done. I had to get out of the gown. I had to take the strand of crystals and pearls out of my hair, which consequently led to taking my hair up do apart. Liz said I could keep the bouquet. I was Cinderella, but instead of a glass slipper to remember tonight by, I had flowers. Beautiful flowers created by Christopher Flowers and they are sitting right next to me as I write my blog.

The Get Hitched Give Hope 2009 was a magical event. Congratulations to the creators of such a wonderful Charity. The cause was worth all of the time and effort that you put into it throughout the year. The vendors were incredible. I can see many beautiful wedding days inspired by them. And to all of the people who raised their numbers and gave to the cause, YOU ROCK! $35,000 was raised to help fulfill wishes and that is priceless. Throwing an event for charity is much like having your back turned to the mirror as someone is doing your hair, you don't know how it will turn out but you hope for something spectacular. I'm so happy that it was just that... nothing short of spectacular!

To learn more about The Get Hitched Give Hope event visit the website: http://www.gethitchedgivehope.com/

To find Christopher Flowers: http://www.christopherflowers.biz/

Find more gowns at Voletta Couture: http://www.volettacouture.com/

To find the Gown Diva: http://www.gowndiva.com/

To learn more about the Dome Room: http://www.thearcticclubhotel.com/

To see more make up and hair by Erin and her girls: http://www.bellatrixstudio.com/

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?