Refer a Child

April 23, 2010

How often do we come across children (ages 2.5-18) who are battling life-threatening illnesses?  I surely do pray it's not all that often!  But I surely can tell you that unfortunately there are so many children out there who struggle with life-threatening illnesses every single day of the year.  We all know that illnesses have no boundaries or limitations!

Do you know how to refer a child to the Make-A-Wish Foundation if you had to?  Do you know that anyone (and I mean ANYONE) can refer a child to the MAWF?  If you are unsure, it's about time that you took a peek at how you can affect the life of a sick child.  Referring a child is one of the most important parts of helping the MAWF.

I urge you to learn how you can help.  You will be happy you did!   www.wish.org/refer

National MS Walk

April 18, 2010

Today was a day spent honoring one of my very best friends, Mary Moulds (Mrs. New Jersey International 2009).  In 2001 she was diagnosed with MS only 3 short months after her wedding day.  Imagine being a newlywed and having your doctor tell you that the symptoms you have been experiencing are from Multiple Sclerosis?  Well......for anyone who knows Mary knows that nothing, and I mean NOTHING, holds her back from accomplishing her goals and dreams.  She is one of the strongest women I know!

Today we spent it walking 6.5 miles in support of her and her disease.  Successfully she raised $5,000 and over the past many years combined she has raised over $50,000 for MS research.  Mary's motto in life is, “Life is not about limitations, only possibilities!”

YOU GO GIRL!!!  I'm SO proud of you!!!

The Disney Store supports World Wish Day!

April 12, 2010

From April 12 – May 2, 2010, The Disney Store will donate $3 from the purchase of each World Wish Day tote to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a maximum donation of $45,000.  To order on-line or find a store near you please click here to be directed to the Disney Store.  Help me to support World Wish Day on April 29th.

World Wish Day

April 10, 2010

World Wish Day commemorates the 30th anniversary of the wish granted to a boy named Chris, who wished to be a police officer.  Granting his wish inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and sparked a global wish-granting movement.  Come April 29, 2010, it will be 30 years since that very first wish.  Since then over 185,000 wishes having been granted to children with life-threatening illnesses.  Let's keep the Foundation going for another 30 years and hopefully double the amount of volunteers we have and funds that are raised, so that we can reach EVERY child the is targeted with a tragic illness!!

Dishes for Wishes

April 5, 2010

Don't forget.....Dishes for Wishes is coming up on Tuesday, April 27th.  As a Committee Member we need all the help we can get to make sure this event runs smoothly.  If you are interested in attending or volunteering, please contact me ASAP.  Remember that it's all for a good cause.  We can't make it successful without YOU!

Red Dress pin

Do you know how to get your very own Red Dress pin?  The red dress is a symbol of the Go Red For Women's movement in their fight against heart disease.  To order your FREE dress pin, click here to provide your address information.  Your pin should arrive in 3-4 weeks. 

Wear the red dress pin proudly to show you’re part of the movement.

Kyle's Wish

March 29, 2010

Tonight Tom and I had the utmost pleasure in asking 11-year-old Kyle that ultra important (and special) question.  "If you could have one wish, what would it be?"  Tom and I have never encountered a little boy who wouldn't stop smiling.  Many times when we meet with wish children they are nervous, or embarrassed, or even a little scared.  But not Kyle!  He was so psyched for our visit that he was bursting at the seams when we arrived.  He simply has the best smile ever!!  Well....Kyle has had an extremely tough road with his battle of cancer.  It's not over yet either.  Regardless, Kyle is wishing for a visit with the New York Yankees!

Play ball, Kyle!!!  (thank you, MAW!)

Go Red Day at the NJ Statehouse

Did you know that AED’s (automated external defibrillator) are not located in every public place?  If your Mom or Sister were to have a heart attack while you were sitting together in the movie theater, would you know what to do?  Or where to go to look for an AED?  Well, I didn't either!  Not until I assisted at the Go Red For Women Day at the Statehouse in New Jersey.  Currently AED’s are the only life-saving therapy available for victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.  My NJ state advocacy directors are working on legislation to make it more amenable for the AED’s to be located in more public places and to remove any concern about using them in the case of an emergency.

Spending the day with my state AHA and Go Red chapter at the Statehouse today was such a nice time! Interacting with my state legislators never grows old!  Any time I have the opportunity to meet with them is always such an honor.  I’m glad I was able to assist in their outreach efforts in making every man and woman aware about the risks of heart disease.  My “Miss NJ International” sister queen, Brielle LaCosta, was with me and together we had an extremely enjoyable day!

Dishes For Wishes

The 7th Annual Dishes for Wishes is almost here!  It will feature a competition among 20 celebrated South Jersey restaurants, fantastic silent auction items, celebrity servers, raffle to win “A Year of Dining Out” and more!  Tickets and raffle tickets are on sale now!!  Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door, raffle tickets are $10 each.

To purchase tickets or raffle tickets or for more information on available sponsorships or to donate an auction item, please contact Stacy Kreizman, Director of External Events at 800-252-9474 or email skreizman@wishnj.org.

Wee, Wee, Wee!

I love this picture!  Can I just say that first?

Perhaps it's because it's a pig.  I happen to love pigs!  Did I ever mention that before?  How can you NOT love pigs.  You just can't beat their cute little pink bellies, squiggly tails and floppy ears.  If I owned a farm I would have a dozen pigs to play in the mud with.  This one, especially, is all dressed up and ready for afternoon tea with her pig pals.  All adorned with pretty flowers in her hair.  She's a beauty for sure!!

Pennsylvania International Pageant

March 21, 2010

Yesterday was spent supporting my wonderful Mrs. New Jersey International director, Jodi Cessna, at her PA International Pageant in Altoona, PA.  It was yet again a truly fantastic production with simply amazing contestants.  One of my BFF’s, Dani Micale, was competing in the Mrs. category and placed 1st Runner-Up.  She was beautiful and I'm so very proud of her!  I was so honored to have hand-crafted the earrings for her gorgeous Sherri Hill gown. They were gorgeous on her and I decided to name the design after her ~ “Danielle”!

I truly look forward to getting to know the winner, Dixie Shaffer, in Chicago in July.  She did such a wonderful job and truly earned the win.  Congrats, Dixie!!!

It was such a fun weekend spent with my very best gal pals!!!!!

Grateful!

March 17, 2010

Something happened today that reminded me of how entirely grateful I am for the women in my life.  My mother, my stepmother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my BFF girlfriends, and my coaches & mentors are amongst the finest women I know!  I talk to my mom at least twice a day.  And I email and talk to my girlfriends many many many times a week.  These women are the epitome of goodness.  I am so grateful for their friendship.  I truly love them all!!!

Wear Sunscreen!

March 13, 2010

Today Tom and I had to pay an unexpected visit to the Dermatologist.  This past week we received the phone call everyone dreads to receive….. that a mole recently removed was indeed more than just a mole.  So, it appears that Tom’s years as a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore have caught up to him.  The entire mole, plus extra, was removed, so if it was all contained then he’ll be fine.  But as a lupus patient I know how deadly the sun can be.  Yes, it's an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, but not when you bask in it for hours on end without sunscreen protection.  Any tan you ever see on me these days is all spray-tan.  Plus everyday of my life I wear 30+SPF sunscreen.  I don't go ANYWHERE without my sunscreen!  Tom does the same thing and refuses to go out in the sun without sunscreen too.  Plus we both wear protective sun clothing.  Coolibar has the best around that we can find.  Check them out at http://www.coolibar.com/. 

Mentoring......

March 9, 2010

I just have to say that I mentor some of the most fabulous girls on earth!  They never seem to amaze me with their abilities to display confidence and downright professionalism and humbleness in the face of learning.  I don’t think….. no, I KNOW….. I was not as confident when I was their age.

Great job, girls, on being so powerful!

Daniel's Wish

March 8, 2010

Daniel is an exceedingly wonderful 9-year-old boy.  He’s been battling leukemia for quite some time now, but his spirits are so high despite the long battle he's been through.  Tom and I granted his wish this evening, and we couldn't stop smiling because the smile on HIS face was SO big.  He is simply just one of the sweetest boys we have ever met.  He wants to spend a day with the NY Yankees.  He’s an incredibly diehard Yankees fan and told us that he was SO excited when they won the World Series last year (to our Phillies of all teams, ha!).  But due to Daniel’s illness he won’t be able to do this wish until the Fall, but the MAWFNJ will surely start to work on it for him.  What a great day it will be when it gets here!! Thank you, Make-A-Wish!!!

The Queen's Corner Expo

February 28, 2010

Today I spent the day at The Queen’s Corner Pageant Expo with some dear friends.  It was a fun-filled day of pageantry and friendship.  Although, come to think of it, anytime I’m with the pageant girls we always have a blast!  :)  That’s one terrific aspect of our friendship together - we all support each another through thick and thin, and truly love each other.  I don't know where I would be without my pageant girls!!!

A Wishing Place

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey has been granting wishes for seriously ill children in the state since 1983.  Recently, the Foundation made its own wish: to construct an imagination-inspiring building – a wishing place – for seriously ill children.  The building would have a castle-like exterior and a magical, child-centric interior.  It would be a place where children who face life-threatening medical conditions can believe once again that wishes can come true.  This magical building would be the only one of its kind on the East Coast and only one of three such buildings in the United States. It would become A Wishing Place.

The Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place is currently being built in NJ as we speak.  What a wonderful new office building it will be where magical wishes will be dreamed of, created, and granted.

I'm living proof.....

Little did I know that sitting at my desk in work a few years I would become a victim of the #3 killer of Americans and a leading disabler.  STROKE!  I did not suffer a full-blown stroke, but instead a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).  A TIA is an episode in which a person has stroke-like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours.  TIA's are considered warning signs that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.  Not only did I have one TIA, but TWO!  Today, I am left with numbness on my left face and my left toes.  The trigger for me was my lupus!

Many people are at a particularly high risk for stroke: African Americans, women, Hispanics, adults age 55 and older, survivors of strokes and heart attacks, as well as those with high blood pressure and smokers.

I did not know the symptoms, I was not educated, and I had no clue what was happening to me.  It wasn't until I got to the hospital that I became aware of what the symptoms I had experienced were about.

Please!  It's very important for everyone to know the symptoms:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you EVER experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the hospital ASAP.

Donate miles to Make-A-Wish

Because many wishes involve air travel, donating your airline miles is a great way to help grant wishes.  By donating your airline miles you’re helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant travel wishes that require an estimated 2.5 billion airline miles yearly.

To find out more about how you can donate your frequent flier miles to help make a wish come true, click here or contact the Make-A-Wish Foundation at (800) 252-9474.

Miss America Pageant 2010

January 31, 2010

WOW!  What a great few days this has been.  My dad, Tom and I just returned from the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas.  We had SUCH a fabulous time together!  It was the first time I have had the chance to see the Miss America Pageant live in Las Vegas.  Living in NJ, when the pageant was hosted by Atlantic City, it was so easy to get there, but Las Vegas is quite a hike for us East Coasters.  Regardless, it was fabulous!  We stayed in a luxurious room at Caesar’s Palace overlooking the fountains at the Bellagio.  It was so meaningful to spend time with my dad.  The three of us had a ball trying our luck at the slots.  He won!!  Of course we had to get in a few shows too.  We saw Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera.

The pageant itself was AWESOME!  Katie Stam ----- the oh-so-beautiful Katie Stam ----- did such a lovely job crowning her successor, the beautiful Caressa Cameron.  Seeing all the contestants up close and personal was simply a joy.  They truly were gorgeous!  Of course I was mostly rooting for our local girls NJ, PA and DE, and they did in fact make us all proud!

The Trade Show was bundles of fun, as I saw one gown after another gown after another cocktail dress after another pair of shoes (LOL) that I wanted to buy.  Hanging out with my friends at The Red Carpet was a blast!

Miss MidState Pageant

January 17, 2010

Today I had a super fun day judging the Miss MidState Pageant in Hershey, PA.  My good friend, George Yanoshik, is the Judges Chairperson and pageant extraordinaire.  Despite the pouring rain, the day was a blast!  It was SO great to see an old friend again for the first time in years (and I mean years!).  Bobby White is a Field Director for the Miss PA Organization.  His mom, Agnes White, is an incredible woman and someone who mentored me when I was younger.  I have always looked up to Agnes, she's such a fabulous role model to me.  Well, long ago when I knew Bobby he was about 7-years old, but now he's 30!!!  He's still as cute as a button and I can't stop calling him Bobby, when now it's really Bob.  :)

All the contestants were extremely talented and beautiful.  We crowned fabulous new titleholders who will advance to the Miss PA Pageant (and Outstanding Teen) this coming summer.  I judged this pageant two years ago and it was so nice to be back again.  What a truly wonderful group of people!

Congratulations, girls!

Hope, Strength and Joy with the MAWFNJ

January 10, 2010

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey is committed to stretching every dollar received to affect as many wish kids as possible.  When it comes to their wish kids, they do everything possible to make sure their once-in-a-lifetime wish experience is fun, memorable and very special.  Every dollar the chapter receives aids them in their mission to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Garden State Go Red For Women Luncheon

January 5, 2010

Cardiovascular diseases claim the life of one woman almost every minute, but there is something you can do.  Choose to Speak Up to Save Lives!  Remember ladies....it's Our Hearts and Our Choice!!

On Monday, May 17, 2010, one of the premier women's events in NJ will take place.  The 8th Annual American Heart Association Garden State Go Red For Women Luncheon will be held.  "A Celebration of Life & Women" is the motto this year.  The keynote speaker will be Joetta Clark Diggs (4-Time Olympian).

The details for the luncheon are as follows:

Monday, May 17, 2010

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Palace at Somerset Park

333 Davidson Avenue

Somerset, NJ 08873

For tickets, please call (609) 223-3727 or visit www.americanheart.org/njlunch.

I Love Broadway!

For anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE musical theater.  Living in New Jersey affords me the opportunity to travel up to New York City and attend a Broadway show in 2 hours time.  I was very fortunate in that while I was growing up my parents introduced me to the theater stage and I knew that I wanted to be able to dance just like they do on Broadway.  Although I didn't quite make it to Broadway, my love for the theater has never died.

Right now my favorite show is Jersey Boys.  Tom and I try to see it every opportunity we get.  It's just an excellent show that leaves you singing in the aisles as you leave the theater.

We just recently saw Billy Elliot, which was absolutely incredible!  A must see for anyone visiting NYC.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!!!

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!  I can't believe it's going to be 2010 soon.  2010 --- WOW!  May it be a fabulous one for us all!

All my love,