MY WEDDING IS 6 DAYS AWAY!!

As a guest blogger on DC entrepreneur and Personal Chef Tianna Feaster's blog... I reveal what I'm looking forward to THE MOST... besides saying those two little words of course!

http://feastyoureyesoncheftianna.blogspot.com/

LAUNCH PARTY: My New Fashion Weekly every Friday!

PUMP IT UP- you heard me! And I'm not talking gas when it comes to these heels...ummm wheels! Get ready to live fashion in the fastlane. I couldn't think of a better picture to help launch my new weekly write-up: "NO TCHOTCHKE". No WHAT you say??? TCHOTCHKE pronounced like THIS is yiddish, and should be dropped into the daily vocab of every serious fashionistas. Tchotchke means extraneous detail on a garment and is often used negatively when one thing ruins the look...i.e. "The dress appeared fussy, covered in ruffled tchotchke.'" The picture to my right is a prime example of PURE TCHOTCHKE! I think it makes for an appropriate and clever name for my new weekly feature focused on everything fashion. My motto: "Cut the frill...here's the deal!" PERFECT! Why am I doing this now? Well, with my wedding almost here I plan to pass along the bridal bloggin' baton to my weather counterpart KimChi. If you didn't read about it in the Washington Post ... or can't get Channel 9 then you might not know Miss Martucci got engaged on LIVE TV last week at the end of our 9 AM show. Congrats Kim & Ben! (does this mean I can refer to them as "KEN" now?)With that, get ready to fabulously tolerate "NO TCHOCHKE". In entries ahead we'll talk about style related events, finding the look for less locally, and we'll consistently keep you ahead of the game with frequent fashion forecasts. Heck! If you're a true couture queen let me hear it.. you could be my next "guest blogger". So, I'm really thrilled about starting this up for two reasons. 1) It's just good clean fun 2) I can now create a forum from all those who email me at Channel 9 with fashion questions. So here we are... with the click of my red suede peek-a-boo platforms by K-Spade... get ready to start building your style file! With the wedding bug in my blood I still think my first topic is timely and can apply to all. With Spring finally here... we're all going to be looking for that perfect outfit for outdoor outings or perhaps a Sunday brunch. In my case, I must find something for my wedding day picnic next Saturday. For the April event, I believe a light, flirty, romantic top is a great tease for summer trends. A softer color right now is okay because the bold hues of summer have not fully started to dominate. This apron cami by Chaiken ($282) would look so cute with some skinny jeans you already have in your closet. I believe it's OK to splurge on an element of your desired look. In this case it would be the top. I would even things out with a visit to payless. The affordable shoe source has caught on to TARGET's success with namedropping high-end designers. Lela Rose along with Alice + Olivia are now designing for the store. These precious flats ($24.99)would perfect the look at low cost. Of course you can never go wrong with a simple day dress-but look for something that stands out and is gonna make you feel extra special. While shopping at the Dulles Town Center I walked by this brilliant dress in the Macy's womens section. Don't let the material throw you off- it's NOT too fancy for a fun outing. The ombre pattern (where the color scheme fades from light to dark) is so in and dissolves the "flashy" effect. To finish the look search online for a chunky pair of Michael Kors sandals..they're usually on sale. For the flats fans out there... I have three pairs (a very worn out white, black, brown) of dainty flip-flops made by Sarah Jessica Parker's cheap line BITTEN. They are a steal at $7.98 a pair compared to Jcrew's version that runs $49.50. Cheap can be chic! KimCHi asks where is BITTEN sold? The answer: only at Steve & Barry's stores. I got my stuff in SC but found out there's a S & B at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge Virginia. SUDDEN THOUGHT BUBBLE: On a shopping trip in Woodbridge consider a cultural lunch...recently 9 News Now loyal viewer Brenda Bailey emailed me to say the Global Food Market has great Korean food! You'll find it at 13813 Foulger Square.The outfits above are indeed choices I've considered. Here is what I ended up getting. I decided white cotton straight leg pants that I already own would be the base of my outfit. Then I thought about THE SPLURGE. What is something I really want, It cost so much I'll feel guilty, but down the road I'll be happy everytime I wear it because the style is outlasting and complimentary. And here they are: A stunning pair of white Tory Burch sandals graciously elevated with my metal of choice... a gold toned heal. Next stop: The Top! It was SO HARD to put this solar yellow Trina Turk blouse down... but I knew two splurges was a no-no. Then I found this!! It was my favorite color and more than affordable. The beautifully jeweled-tunic from Forever 21 made me feel like a million bucks for less than 23 bucks!
Mission accomplished... all I have left to find is a good gold or enamel cuff! I'm taking suggestions!



With fashionable affection,

Angie

Life's short. Buy the shoes. - barbie

Oh My GOFF!: WEDnesday: Bridesmaid Dress Nightmare... and then some

Check out the Shop's Reviews on yelp.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/copper-penny-bridal-and-special-occasions-mount-pleasant#hrid:11J5bmoWEsQZOK6fcIimvw/query:copper%20penny

WEDnesday: Bridesmaid Dress Nightmare... and then some

When a girl gets engaged the excitement is instant. You cannot control the urge to begin to plan. Depending on the length of your engagement you cannot afford to waste too much time. Ideally, the wedding as everyone will tell you is not as much about the actual event...it's about the coming together of two people. I believe that's true but in reality when people ask "how was the wedding?" I want people to say it was incredible- beautiful- joyous- one of a kind. Of course like every other bride-to-be I want it to be perfect...but like everything else in this world I know that is impossible. With this in mind I kept my planning very simple. I hired Marcell, an expert I could trust with the design of my wedding and really made it a point to steer clear of frills. WEDnesday Flashback: Marcell once replied to me "Yes Angie you have to have flowers!" Just pick up any wedding mag- it's easy to see how brides go overboard. It's easy to get overwhelmed. After I set "our date" last August my priority was getting the people directly impacted by this monster of an event taken care of. I picked out what I wanted for my dress and immediately went through the grueling process of finding the "perfect and practical" bridesmaid gown. This was a decision that would affect nearly a dozen women from across the nation. Because of the geography of us all a traditional trip to the boutique to try on gowns was out of the question. After analyzing multiple magazines, advertisements and websites I found the dress maker I wanted to go with. I chose a variety of Siri gowns my maids could then choose from. I don't regret it. The raw silk material is high end, the designs timeless and the off-white shade I wanted was perfect. 8 of 11 gowns were right on target. BUT The difference in the three that were off -was striking. I wanted a strapless number in the party lineup.... check out my original sketch of maids. Three ladies chose this style based on the picture. We were told we could have the elegant GRACE GOWN STYLE made in all off-white shantung silk, no embroidery as shown. Looking at the advertised gown, everyone I've talked to agrees it appears to be a simple, strapless with a straight skirt. THAT was the look I was expecting.

3 weeks prior to my wedding the gowns came in and THIS is what we got! This my friend, is a SIZE 2! You can imagine my and the maids' reaction. Bridesmaid Jennifer put it on and said "I look like a bride!" The simple gowns we thought we ordered had a noticeable cumberbund around the waist... and a skirt I'm convinced all three of my junior bridesmaids could comfortably fit under. I thought this late in the game I had reason to be concerned. ONE: this COULD NOT be the same dress. See Diagram. TWO: I can't have 4 brides walking down the aisle. THREE: if we can't get new gowns it's going to be pricey to recreate what we thought we ordered and paid a good amount for. My heart was broken. With this I knew we needed to act fast. I called the bridal consultant we had been working with at Copper Penny Bridal in Mount Pleasant South Carolina. After a series of emails over the course of a week there came no closure. Copper Penny Bridal insisted the gowns were the same. In an email response on March 18th, 17 DAYS BEFORE MY WEDDING, I was told, "Ok so the picture that was posted does not represent the dress well because of the dark color". With this I immediately defaulted to one of my favorite questions I use to ask as a news reporter:

Why?

Why does it not represent a high end dress you are selling? Why didn't someone tell me this in August? Why must my girls be stuck with a gown that was falsely advertised and the bill it's gonna take to restructure it? WHY WHY WHY??? I was told by both Copper Penny Bridal and the manufacturer of the dresses that this was indeed the GRACE GOWN. That the color disguised the cumberbund, that the angle the model was standing at perfectly somehow sucked in the sweeping A-line skirt. Try looking it up yourself... and you won't find the dress I ORDERED because the picture was taken off the Siri website I was directed to via Copper Penny's website. I'm told the sample was taken off months ago. WHY? The manufacturer says because of the dark color. hmmmm.

After a series of emails with the bridal consultant at Copper Penny Bridal I was emailed "...the Grace dresses are as is. That is the risk you take ordering a gown off the internet and not seeing it in person. It is understood that you had seen these gowns prior to order or that you understand the risks of not seeing them." Here was my response:

This is such disheartening news. In choosing a boutique to provide gowns for
almost a dozen women from across the nation I wanted to go with the cream of the crop. There are a lot of bridal boutiques out there, but I chose Copper Penny
Bridal for a few reasons. Most importantly, I chose Copper Penny because of the sophisticated image you portray and the implied promise that you would facilitate me in finding the perfect gowns for my bridesmaids for the most important day in my life.Until now, everything has been seamless. However, in light of the recent fiasco – the gowns not resembling what I ordered in two significant ways - I feel now as if I've been left hanging. I understand the risk in ordering dresses online. That is why I came to you, an expert, for your help. I could have gone to any wedding boutique and given them my business, but I chose Copper Penny based on your expertise and reputation. In an age when any boutique can essentially order a dress for you, I would imagine customer service would be the measure that would set you apart from the rest. Kindly don’t fail me 14 days before my wedding. Whether the dress is incorrect (as I feel it is- please see diagram attached) or as you say,correct but not represented well in the picture, the bottom line is that it does not resemble the dress I thought I was ordering. My bridesmaids will look like brides, in my view, if they were to wear those dresses. Please, put yourself in my situation: How would you feel on your wedding day if were walking down the aisle, feeling like you were one of the bridesmaids?I and my bridesmaids have invested a lot of money and trust intothese dresses through your boutique. There is no doubt that I will have to have them altered before the wedding. It is my hope that you will recognize the disappointment, quite frankly, the heartbreak, of the situation and honor what you value in customer service. I am asking that you offer a partial refund to help offset the cost of the now required alterations. I am reasonable and know mistakes can happen. You are a professional and I hope you will help make this right.I trust that you will. I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for your consideration. Angie

I heard back:

Dear Angie,
I am sorry that you feel dissatisfied with my customer service. I love weddings and truly enjoy helping brides put together their perfect dress and bridesmaids dresses,
and am honored that you chose Copper Penny Bridal to put together your bridal
party. I take my job very personal and get very involved with my weddings - this
has not been easy for me either to hear you are unhappy - believe me. I always
hate when something goes wrongor something is not how the bride imagined. I
pride myself on my service and if the dresses had arrived incorrect I would have
been quick to remedy the situation; however they did arrive correct.There is
nothing that I can do, but I am thankful that you have time to get the dresses
altered to better fit your theme. I appreciate your understanding and wish you
the best of luck. I am truly sorry that I can not do more. "Best Wishes"?

And that was it. "Best Wishes" for the big day. No adequate explanation in my eyes for the confusion and obvious error. Not one single copper penny to help offset the cost to redo the dress. It wouldn't have been as tough to swallow this outcome had I whole heartedly felt I was to blame. If all 11 gowns had come back and looked wrong... I would have an easier time taking ownership for not paying close enough attention to detail. This is an isolated issue, concerning three dresses that has turned out to be more than a material matter.

Afterall, how do you compensate poor customer care during a time you feel pushed into a corner and up against the clock? I don't think there's a good answer when you've been terribly disappointed three times over, three weeks before the one biggest day of your life?

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Best Birthday Ever!

I've always been a big fan of parties. Since I can remember, dressing up to have a little fun was never a problem. Yeah maybe according to the picture to my right at times you can say I went overboard... but I have no regrets. In fact I truly am one of those believers that I get better with age. Yes, I am one of those annoying people that prances around the office telling everyone "It's My Birthday!" I can't help it I am just so happy to be here, healthy, happy and alive and breathing for another 365! Last year ...when I turned XX I said XX is gonna be a good year. It ended up being great. Some highlights include... becoming an auntie for the first time, getting engaged to the love of my life, landing the sweetest gig in DC morning television... and getting to move back to VA closer to my family. The latter has been an amazing experience in itself. For the first time in 6 years I was able to go out to dinner with my parents and sister ON this special day. Now... as I embark upon the XXth year of my life I feel things are only gonna get better. Call me an optimist...or just plain lucky (I was born on St Pat's) ... but I think it all has to do with one thing: Doing my best and not giving up on creating good in my life. You see I look at another year as 365 more chances to enhance my being. Looking back at the last 365 I've made some mistakes but I've also made some big decisions that have shaped the fulfilling state I live in today. Right now, I'm already thinking about what to look forward to next. Is it a trip to the cool Spy Museum in Washington, Setting aside a weekend to catch up with an old dear from at Martha's Vineyard, start running more often with Atticus by my side, or try wearing more pink- I've shunned away from this for years after being told the color flushes me out. Hmmm... so what does XX have in store for me? As I wait to see I just can't help but be elated with the first day of my new adventure which goes down as one of the best birthday's EVER! I started my day at 2:30 am as usual, had a good branful breakfast and put on this purple sparkly number before heading to my next favorite place besides home- work! Yes I said work! Why purple...not green? you ask. Well, I work in front of a GREEN chroma key wall ... which in TV means the result of wearing my favorite color would be just my floating head giving the traffic report. So hope this clears the air for all the viewers who emailed me "shame on you" for not showing your shamrock!" Now lets get to the good parts- PRESENTS! I don't care how old you turn... GIFT-GETTING IS AWESOME. Even though he thought it was weird... my fiancee agreed to getting me what I really wanted. A painting of my furry best friend, Atticus. My co-worker and talented artist Vera Elliott made my birthday wish a reality. Check out her other paintings http://veraspaintings.tripod.com/ that include the precious pets of Andrea & Kim-CHI (my new nickname for my weather pal- kimchi is one of my favorite Korean foods!)! I thought that was it and behold a string of surprises. In one of the several cards I received from the significant other was a man-made voucher. Ladies are you sitting down for this? The voucher was good for ONE SHOPPING TRIP to the boutique or mall of my choice Easter Weekend! WHOOOOO-HOOOO. Then the icing on the cake... was a dozen roses. But it gets better. I then received another dozen roses... this one a colorful arrangement accompanied with chocolates and a bear. Does it get any better. Oh yes! My parents informed me they were gonna treat me to a dinner at a restaurant of appetizer fame and a favorite: TGI Fridays. I got deep fried green beans to start off with! The thoughts of my bridal portraits being done this coming weekend went right out the door.HELLO It's MY BIRTHDAY! Over a nice and hearty meal my sister surprised me with a collection of beautiful poems by Emily Dickinson... and a trendy shoulder bag! Mom and Dad went sentimental on me. My mother remembered me saying ages ago I wanted a delicate cross pendant. She delivered. But then there was more. This gorgeous gold and ruby necklace came next. My parents said it showed I was still their little princess. Sister Jenny and I agreed it looked like an upgraded Juicy Couture charm! "Chris with a K" at work got me the platinum The Little Mermaid DVD set and floor director Chris who recently overhead me admitting I haven't seen Star Wars... got me the trilogy with #s 4,5 and 6. When I went to work out at Royal Fitness... my friend Alex who holds down the fort at the front desk presented me with a card signed by the staff! At the gym I cardioed extra hard because I knew I had to enjoy one gift more than anything.Yes ladies and gents this right here are the remnants of an Edibles Incredible original. A moist, dense 2-layer yellow cake, dressed with white butter cream frosting and crunchy homemade chocolate toffee made to serve 8. What I don't have on camera is Atticus almost knocking it out of Jenny's hands as she brought the candle-lit dessert to me with holiday song. So now I know what you're thinking. Angie... what did you wish for this year? Well what do you think!!!! The next best thing of course!!!

"

"

"

"

"

"MY MASON NATION in the FINAL FOUR!!!

FORGET BEING BORN ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY, FIGHTING IRISH YOUR GOING DOWN!

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ps: props to good friend jennifer caugh who also on my birthday gave me one of the greatest gifts of all: free lessons on how to parallel park.

I Get MASHED UP WITH DC101

This past weekend I was asked by DC101 Elliot in the Morning personality and good friend Flounder to sit in studio and guest co-host a session of his infamous MASH UPS. Upon arriving to the Rockville studios I was greeted by this man to my left in the pic, Producer Phil of the show... who is not only a master at mashin' up jams but like me is a proud Herndon Hornet! Go Phil. Every week Flounder (guy to the right of me) and Phil spend hours putting together a playlist for the Saturday gig that runs from 10 to Midnight. If you're a listener than you know it's not so much about picking songs...as it is about making them. I mashed up some video to take you behind the scenes of the show:

Being a co-host on this show, at this station had an element of surprise from the start. First, Flounder introduced me to listeners with what would become my very own sound effect, my audio trademark: angie.wav
Following my DC101 debut with help from the oriental gong... Flounder and Phil tried real hard to make me crack. I dispelled rumors they tried to make up about me involving a rockstar, we then debated the atmosphere of asian fish markets (listen here: Angie_On_Mash_Ups_.mp3 it was on to their failed attempts to dig up dirt on my co-workers, the final challenge was to show the world TV people are really human, down-to-earth and... know how to burp? All in all I found the show to live up to true DC101 radio fashion. It was all in good fun... with above all some pretty amazing music. Phil says he's worked up to two weeks on mashin' a piece together. Prior to me coming on... the boys asked what I would like to hear and actually worked in some of my requests. Making the playlist we had some Informer by Snow... Come Undone by Duran Duran and one of my favorites they chose not to mash up at all. In it's entirety we went wayyy back for a little taste of Candy Rain by Soul For Real. You can catch the show and check out the listening board at http://floundersmashups.com/ At the end of an torturously entertaining 2 hours and with a final strike of the clickthis.wav...Flounder conceded I was best guest co-host ever had...and that GONG would be back.

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Look WHO'S Coming to a late night Dinner...

.....and the movies!
It's Horton! On the big screen this weekend... Dr. Seuss' classic elephant character created in '54 comes to life through the voice of Jim Carrey. "Horton Hears a Who" is based on the story of the massive mammal's mission to protect an entirely new society he discovers lies within a speck of dust. The particle Horton comes to find out... envelopes a world we are all familiar with "Who-ville". Lucky for movie-goers, turns out Steve Carrell is the microscopic community's mayor. As a big fan of Seuss (I highly suggest "The Grinch" on stage in NYC) I plan to pay more than I should to see Horton in the theater. Being a St. Paddy's baby... I once hosted a party that started early and we served real green eggs 'n' ham. Despite this past filled with the spirit of Seuss... I now find myself at a point where I just can't and won't even consider trying THIS:

It is a sloppy stack covered in goo captured with a camera phone. I am informed they are called "Who-Cakes": one of four menu items sold by popular restaurant chain celebrating Horton's onscreen revival. Below you will find the personal account of the cakes from traffic lacquey and taker of the picture Kris Sneed... the guy I sometimes reference on-air as "Chris with a K":

"After a fun night of friends and drinks, we stopped at the local IHOP for some late night grub. Upon seeing and some how remembering an advertisement for Pancakes based upon the upcoming Horton Hears a Who movie I ordered the sweet treats. They were oddly shaped pancakes stacked high with colorful chocolates chips covering them and a blue and pink frosting glaze and topped off with a pink lollipop. They were so sweet it was like eating candy for breakfast. If I had the chance would I try them again, maybe depends how big my sweet tooth is at the time. But they were good as I ate my fill."

According to the IHOP website "Who-ville Who-Cakes" come in all shapes and sizes. They're topped with real boysenberry and blueberry drizzle... rainbow chocolate chips and a pink sucker. To me it kinda reminds me of those gross ice cream flavors you can pick at the parlor... gummy bear... bubblegum... you know... basically a nice, big scoop of gag reflex. Please don't think I'm about discouraging the moviegoer who wants to have their hotcakes and eat it too. I say do it if you dare... but act soon. Sources tell me like the little people who inspire the plates... the who-food will only be around for a small time. After April 20th Oh, the places they'll go! I can't help but think who knows... and who cares.

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"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
-Dr. Seuss

WEDnesday: Dress Disaster

A few weeks out til saying "i do" my first disaster strikes. It had nothing to do with the church, nothing to do with the caterer, my bridesmaids got their dresses and love them so all in all every is going as planned. So what disaster you demand? Who's the culprit? What went wrong? Ladies, take a look for yourself. To the left... this is my rehearsal dinner dress. WAS my rehearsal dinner dress. It is a fashion fiasco I have only myself to blame for. Here's the story. If you've kept up with my WEDnesday entries you would know that I love bluefly.com. I can usually score designer dresses for a fraction of the cost. I was dead set on finding an elegant piece with a plunging back. My wedding gown is that of a traditionalist... so at my rehearsal I was willing to dare to bare. Well, I found an incredible slinky, jersey YAYA AFLALO black floor length gown with just the "back" I was looking for. It was 40% off and one size too big. I decided to buy it anyway and had it altered to a perfect fit. I had platform gold leather slingbacks on deck for the big night too. One outfit down... now just a wedding brunch dress and reception departure get-up remained on the checklist- so I thought. After picking up the black gown from the seamstress I brought it home with plans for one last personal fitting. For easy access I hung it on this lamp in my bedroom like this:
Wanting to avoid it sweeping the floor...I threw the skirt of the dress over the head of the lamp. Then I went to quickly grab something to eat. Returned to the room. Turned the light on and decided to check email... the excitement of the dress had escaped me. I soon thought I smelled glue. There was a plasticky burning smell eminating from somewhere in my room. It didn't take long to follow the scent. A trail that led me to my own stupidity. I admit it... I own it... I'm here to announce yours truly is an ultimate"idiot!" It was Bye-Bye YAYA. I couldn't believe it. I even got mad at the lamp. The rings of red fire it left that I refused to believe were really there. I played peek-a-boo with my index finger right through the delicately threaded material and think I actually shed a tear. Then I realized my dress wasn't the only thing at stake. Check out the lamp's bulb. It had browned as it slowly cooked my couture. Finally, I came to the realization... um maybe I could've burned down the house. Afterthought: Wheeewwww. So how does a determined fashion maven deal with a matter like this? We don't get even. We do better. I quickly put the black dress in the past and pushed on to a brighter future.One that just so happened to include a short,sleek, lustrous, brilliant pink number that screams POW!

Now that's hot.

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I'm Too Young For This!

BLOG UPDATE 3/16/2008:
Pink Martini Night Friday, May 2 at Eighteenth and RED will will be a special evening to benefit Jennifer Kwiatek and her fight against breast cancer. If you would like to attend and help please email me at agoff@wusa9.com and I will get you in touch with the right people. There is going to be a silent auction.. so if you have something to donate let us know!

The following words in pink were lifted from the homepage of a dear friend, incredible woman... and a brave fighter who stands an inspiration to young people battling cancer.
My name is Jennifer Kwiatek and I am a 26-year-old professional living in Northern Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C. The week before Thanksgiving 2007 I was falling asleep in bed and as I turned over on my left side I felt a horrible pain under my armpit. I discovered a nickle-sized lump. I stood in the shower crying and praying until the water turned ice cold. I called my doctor and was told that the lump was probably a swollen lymph node from the horrible sinus and chest cold I had at the time. Once the holidays were over, the lump had tripled in size. Once they removed it in mid-January 2008, it had grown to the size of a hockey puck. I was then diagnosed with breast cancer. Let God be my compass. And so my journey begins ...

I recently learned about Jennifer's diagnosis through an email from a fraternity sister. Jennifer joined AOII a couple years after I did when we were students at George Mason University. She was one of those girls I recruited hard because I knew of what she had to offer. I was impressed with her contagious personality and admired her natural ability to lead. Jennifer would go on to be elected chapter President a couple years after my tutelage. It's not easy overseeing a group of 90 women for a year- but she did it. At age 26, her new leadership role requires only one person for her to look out for-herself- and it is perhaps the toughest position she'll ever be in. When I met Jennifer at Tysons Corner for lunch recently (polka dot pair!) she was vibrant... as beautiful as I remembered her when I first left the DC area back in 2001. She looked fabulous. If she didn't tell me I would've never know she was wearing a wig. From the outside her fight inside is not evident. She arrived in high fashion, apologized for work-related blackberry interuptions and with intesity talked about her determination to finish her thesis. I had never had a friend this close to me...and this close to my age face cancer. I had to ask her the simple question. How are you feeling? She quickly responded today was a good day. She also mentioned the feelings would be short lived- her second round of chemo was in the offing. She told me about her first treatment where she sat for 6 hours as rounds of fluids and meds were pumped into her tiny system. She told me about the days after...how weak it made her feel, the awful side effects, the throwing up. We then got to talking about her eventually having to lose her breasts. She said she didn't fear the future mastectomy that would hopefully endwith promising results: Cancer free + reconstructive surgery. She even joked about the excitment of waking up with a "new look!".This clenching of optimism is the one weapon I see Jennifer using to stare this big bad wolf of disease in the face. He better be scared. I know Jen and she's not gonna let him win. Amazingly enough, Jennifer tells me that this cancer experience has changed her life in a way she never imagined- in a positive way she can't explain. She finds herself wanting to reach out an plans to take an active role with the newly forming DC chapter of www.imtooyoungforthis.org

Jennifer is also intimately detailing her journey online through pictures and writings. Daily entries take you to the doctor, describe shopping with friends for new hair...and you even get an invite to her personal "Shave Party". Even without words it is clear Jennifer's story has hit home. When I got that initial email breaking the news... I immediately heard from a handful of sisters, all in their twenties who just couldn't believe this could happen. I think Jen would agree with me that through her hurt... has come her ability to help others. To hear my friends talk about risk and early detection is a conversation that would not normally take place. Jennifer is one of 5% of breast cancer cases that occur in women under the age of 40. Breast cancer can happen to us and it DOES. Diagnosing it in those under 40 is tough since breast tissue is generally denser than that of an older woman. By the time a lump can be felt the cancer has often advanced. Jennifer's case was like many others.The lump is originally dismissed as a cyst or swollen lymphnode... a "wait and see" approach is taken.. and then the inevitable is discovered. You can join Jennifer on her journey at www.jenniferkwiatek.com Be prepared to hear about the good days and get real accounts of the almost unbearable ones. She also talks about the outpour of unexpecting love that has helped her soldier on so far. Standing just a wee bit more than 5 feet tall... my little "rosebuddy" has become such a towering, empowering figure. At 26, she's overcome more than many of us could only imagine. Now, with her courage and all the many caring hearts (and cool brothers in cowboy hats like Joey!) I'm convinced she's gotta make it the rest of the way!

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Out of Body Experience in Baltimore

What fools indeed we morals are To lavish care upon a Car,With ne'er a bit of time to see About our own machinery!

~John Kendrick Bangs

The American satirist quoted above may be on to something. Afterall, I somehow can't afford to not change the oil in my new ride but for whatever reason I can carelessly push back my yearly physical without a thought. Last year I rescheduled it three times... postponing the exam for 2-3 months at a time. Why? Well, it always seemed like something "more important" had popped up. I was just another one of us Americans who take our bodies and health for granted.

Today I had a mind altering experience. I found myself thinking all about my body. I pictured the spideresque nerves sprawling from my spine, 3 lbs. of grey and white matter bundled in my head, coiled and crowded intestines, kneecaps worn out from years of running, I even saw them with a prosthetic in case I might need one down the road.These were all thoughts triggered following my visit to perhaps the most mind-pinching exhibition I have ever been to.At Baltimore's Inner Harbor I spent the day exploring anatomist Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2 at the Maryland Science Center. The show is the first anatominical exhibition of preserved human bodies. (Skateboarder is part of the exhibit, www.bodyworlds.com) Here you see EVERYTHING: Real bones, Real tissue, Real Muscles that look like slabs of beef jerkey. You see real embryos from as early as 4 weeks old... to a fetus still in a woman's womb. Some of the exhibits show the toll diseases like arthritis and alzheimers takes on the bodies. One specimen in particular almost moved me to tears. It was of a lung infiltrated with cancer. My grandfather died of lung cancer and my mother is a smoker. I had seen smoker lungs on TV and on charts in the doctor's office... but to be face to face with someone's lung scarred from tobacco, so black you can't believe it- that is impactful. I walked away thinking maybe, I can't give up. Maybe I can still get my mom to quit. (smokers lung, www.bodyworlds.com) Along with being thought/emotion provoking the displays were artfully unbelievable. Bodies suspended in positions to show anatomy in its most natural form at work.

According to BODY WORLDS all specimens and bodies are authentic. REAL PEEPS! Ok, so I know what you're thinking. WHERE DO THEY GET ALL THESE PEOPLE? DEAD PEOPLE?? I found the answer to be just as fascinating as the show itself.

In 1977, Dr. von Hagens invented the technique of Plastination- a way to preserve biological tissue. All of the specimens belong to people who while they were alive decided to donate their body after they died for this process. Their idea: help the world better understand "us". In fact, at the exhibit there are a couple displays thanking the deceased for their contribution to help educate the public. It worked. I saw how delicately we're put together... how lucky I am to have all "that stuff" working. When I came across a heart, it made me think of mine- what if oneday the thing wakes up and says "I quit!" I better start being nicer to it. Maybe watch the fries...run a little longer on the treadmill.

This last picture captures part of this process- corpses plastinated with silicone are then cured with a special gas to make them hard. (www. bodyworlds.com) As you can tell from the skater above... the end product is fascinating. I couldnt' help but overhear others in the room. "Amazing!" "That's incredible!" "Are there any girl ones?" (a son to his dad)
The Baltimore exhibition is # 2 of the 4 BODY WORKS shows traveling the world. They are displays that have taken years in the making. Get this, preparing one body alone takes anywhere between 1000- 1500 man-hours.
That's a lot of attention for a dead person.
With that in mind, there's no excuse for not spending at least a fraction of that time on improving us! NOW!

Afterall, we're still alive.

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DASH FOR CASH: Race in Stilettos

SEE...SHOPPING IS A SPORT!
Dutch women race down a trendy street in stilettos! All to win 15 Grand! (AP)

We buzzed about this story during the Friday morning show! Of course, Andrea and Kim were all about this race. Kim suggested the winner should use the 15 K for reconstructive surgery of her foot. With the 3 1/2 inch requirement our local weather goddess said she'd go with a wedge. I suggested the pumps I had on... they're the kind with the hidden "NIKE AIR" soles! Check out these yellow ones- they are next on my list to purchase!

I posted the article we talked about below... but here's a little shoe trivia for ya. Did you know platform sandals can be traced back to 200 years B.C.? Also, I read it was in 1955 that the world famous stiletto heel was invented in Italy!

(AP) AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Like a herd of antelope, jockeying and shoving for position, 150 young women raced down Amsterdam's most famed fashion street in stiletto heels Thursday, racing for a $15,000 prize. The race on the P.C. Hooft street called the "Stiletto Run" is only three years old but has quickly grown in popularity and spawned imitation races in Germany, Sweden, Poland and Russia.The race's motto is "Shopping is a Sport" and friendly competition is encouraged, though not always observed. "At the start there was a lot of pushing, you really get elbowed over," said Fauve Stukje, 18, who came with a small entourage and a big pink sign, but failed to win, show or place. She said she slightly regretted her choice of shoes, which were nearly 10 centimetres high - a little higher than the nine-centimetre minimum. Tamara Ruben, 25, from the town of Veenendaal, claimed first prize in the 115-metre race, running so smoothly you might think she was wearing sneakers.Asked how she would spend the money, she said: "Anything but high heels."

Local Help for Kids Battling Mental Illness

Mental Illness affects people of all ages. In fact, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) it is estimated 1 in 5 families in the US are impacted by mental health issues. A lot of these families include parents trying to find the right treatment and resources for their loving children. Anyone who has lived with someone struggling with depression, bi-polar disease, schizophrenia and the several other disabling conditions ...knows how important having a circle of friends can be.
Looking back at personal experiences, it never crossed my mind that there was a place for family members to go for help. A lot of people get to the point where they just accept the pain afflicted on them and try their best on "their own" to get through it. Whether you want it to or not... this can strain your relationship with other siblings and may even end up with you isolating yourself from the outside world.
If you are a parent searching for answers or if you know someone who is... check this out: The Arlington chapter of NAMI sponsors a support group tailored for you. If your child suffers from a psychiatric diagnosis there are resources available here locally for you.Meetings are every THIRD SUNDAY of each month. Here's the details for the next one:

March 16th

1:00-2:30 PM
Trinity Presbyterian Church
5533 N. 16th Street, Arlington VA

Parents, here you'll find staff members from the Arlington and Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Boards available to talk about services that could help your child or teenager. For more information, contact Naomi Verdugo at 703-862-9588 or visit http://naminova.org/

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WEDnesday: Bridal Shower, Bachelorette Party and oh yeah a Sneak Peak at my Gown

Now that I have your attention- I ask you to proceed on the honor code. Before scrolling down for the first look at "THE DRESS" please enjoy in full an entry covering my final fitting/bridal shower/bachelorette weekend!

I've blogged and bragged about her and finally you get to meet my new BFF- Marcell Steeley-Judice (in black), Wedding Designer extraordinaire and owner of Bella Vista Bridal. This is at my last fitting where we met with the incredibly talented dress maker Jacklin Yako (nxt to me)! We all ooed and ahhed over the yards of chantilly lace that hugged my body. This was the one... the one visit I found myself falling in love.
It's also a visit Marcell came bearing gifts- not for me- but for our future guests! Our party favors for the big night were coming together. Yellow silk brocade saks- filled with chocolate- accented with personalized chopsticks! What a Pair! Also for the first time I saw myself in a veil. We tried drop veils, bird cage veils, fingertip veils and blah-blah viels. I had originally dismissed the idea of doing anything millenery down the aisle. I started to lean the other way a couple weeks ago when on a wedding show I overheard Vera Wang say veils are a must- they add mystery. I love mystery- I love the idea- and I remember as a little girl how much I loved the way my mom looked on her wedding day. With that in mind I made a decision. I went with one that reminded me of her's. It's amazing how a tower of "poof" can make you feel so pretty! Then it was off to Charleston SC. The scene of my bridal shower and bachelorette party thrown by my parents other goff-da-hook offspring, sisters Jenny and Tricia!

It is here that I met the spectacular spawn of Tricia... my flower girl. Caelyn Chin Driscoll is my 8 month old niece. Tricia lives in El Paso so the distance has kept us from meeting until now. With those guns you can see why Caelyn was the hit at all parties this past weekend. At the Isle of Palms beach house we kicked festvities off with a bridal shower! I had more than a dozen friends and family come from as far as Iowa (thanks Josie!) to celebrate. Shrimp 'n' grits, baked brie, peanut butter balls... the catering company did not disappoint us gals with a southern tongue. My grandpapents, Nana & Papa paid a surprise visit. I got to tell bridesmaid Jennifer's little boy thank you for holding out for the wedding! From a personalized afghan, Lilly Pulitzer jammies, a lamp, a vintage shower curtain, and a massive monogrammed bed for Atticus the gifts were all so thoughtful! My favorite was a this scrapbook: My sister had all the girls create a page and mail it to her. Having moved so much I met these women at different times of my life. through pictures and little words- the book chronicled the experiences and friendships I've made along the way.The bachelorette party followed that night. All I knew is that I had to wear a white dress. When I walked downstairs my girls were decked out in black. We poised for pictures and then booked it to historic Charleston to a sushi hotspot. We played some interesting games and I got more interesting gifts. All of this while feasting over sashimi, tempura and dragon rolls. Before we left it had appeared as if a Japanese folklore marching band had invaded our party. Beating their drums, the cooks turned musicians were draped in classic asian inspired garb. Their head gear reminded me of my old crush Daniel Larusso. Soon, I was informed I was to partake in a wasabi tradition and accept a "special dish". After the mini parade through the restaurant in my honor- We got ready for our next stop.I put on some of my gifts which included a veil and sash (thanks Jackie!). Upon leaving, one cook asked If I was the one getting married. I said yes. He then turned to my sister and said "Are you single?"

We arrive at the Rooftop bar... a swanky place that overlooks the charming southern town and has a really cool pool. Upon entering a group of men yell and point "Miss Hawaii!". It was kind of funny and I soon realized I did not favor the other brides-to-be in the place. One was runnin around with balloons attached to her back. Another woman you could tell was forced to wear a big box that looked like a diamond on her head. It was at this point I turned to my sisters.. the planners of my big night and said "thank you".

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p.s. oh yeah, how 'bout that dress...

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