The Greatest Gift - Being MOM

The picture says it all!

From the day they were born, giving kisses and hugs, witnessing their first words and first steps, making cookies and meals together, car pools, crafts, play dates, watching them run around at the park, wiping snotty noses, being room mom, never sleeping because staying up late to watch over them while they are sick, dancing in our PJ's together, laughing, singing silly songs in the car, having them sneak into my bed and getting kicked all night, teaching them to ride a bike, brush their teeth, tie their shoes, comb their hair, kissing boo boos, calming their fears, kid yoga, jamin' on the piano and guitar, watching play sports, playing soccor, football, basketball and hide and seek, happiness, just seeing their faces when they see what Santa put under the Christmas Tree!

The greatest gift ever is being a MOM!

Red Carpet Event in LA

I am so proud to say I have a best friend who is a fashion designer! Come on!....What more can a girl ask for??? The name...... HILTON HOLLIS http://www.hiltonhollis.com/


So..... I ask Hilton to make me a dress for the Red Carpet Event in Los Angels for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and OMG! French lace and the works he pulled out just to make my dress for me!



I gotta brag about him just a little more....this man- not only has talent but a huge heart! He is working on a project with me for St. Jude and using his time and talent to help those children!


The event started off with a unique auction and then a fashion show. It was amazing! St. Jude had the help from Disney so the production was incredible! Lots of Celebrities came to the event. It was so surreal to have some celebrities approach me to ask me what I was wearing and I so proudly said.. "a Hilton Hollis!"

A great time was had by all!

50 Women Who Make a Difference

I was very honored be be selected as one of the 50 Women Who Make a Difference - Memphis Women Magazine 2008.

I had some great friends come support me at the dinner event.

I am also very proud that one of my best pals, Teri Murphy-Hutson was also selected.

Great Memories!

Meet my friend AUGUSTO !

I was introduced to Augusto about two years ago.....

I have since then purchased a few of his pieces which include 2 necklaces and a beautiful angel that is hanging in my sun room.

Augusto has a beautiful soul and a giving heart! He will be helping me with a project that I am doing for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

If you are in Miami - you need to meet him!

You can read more about Augusto and see more of his work by visiting his website at http://www.astreaazul.com/

SEX AND THE CITY Birthday Bash

OMG! What a fab time! The movie was great! I had 52 total guests at my private party at the theatre to watch Sex and the City.

We had movie popcorn, drank fountain drinks in bio-degradable cups with Marie's Sex and the City Birthday Bash engraved in pink. We ate pink Cupcakes decorated with Martini Glasses and Shoes.

During the scavenger hunt, Hillary won the prize for finding the Flashing Diamond Ring, Kim won for finding the Martini Glass and Carrie won for finding the high heel shoe!

Kennedy from 107.5FM was Emcee for the bash and asked four trivia questions - the winners received prizes and all my guest received some fab goodie bags with my favorite Bon Jovi songs burned onto a CD and each got a sample of perfumes.

I received some fab gifts and the best was raising a little money for Green Hope Foundation too!

Turning 38 is Fabulous! Especially when you celebrate with your girlfriends and people you love!

GO RED!

My grandmother suffered from heart disease most of her adult life and with my own health concerns and from panic attacks - I am passionate about bringing awareness about taking care of your heart! I was so honored to be asked to co-chair the GO RED for Women Fashion Show & Luncheon this year!

(Picture of me and Jennifer (AHA PR Director)

Below is a photo of the Circle of Red Ladies:

For more info visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/

Bon Jovi, Intelligence and Cupcakes!

Well.......my trip to Nashville was awesome! The guys (Bon Jovi) were at their finest!
I saw an old pal from high school and Hilary and I had lots of fun!
A great time to add to the memories!
This month, I am approaching my 38th Birthday and my 20 yr high school reunion is around the corner! Where did the time fly???? Well.......as Jon Bon Jovi sings.......it's not old just older! Speaking of older..............
I am seeking more knowledge & wisdom A great friend of mine (Suzi) gave me a great book called "Emotional Intelligence". It is a must read! By Daniel Goleman.
http://www.danielgoleman.info/blog/
CHECK IT OUT!

And... as I am getting older....the more need to watch health and keep fit! But.......Muddy's Bake Shop just opened and WOW~ yummy cupcakes!
check this out too! http://muddysbakeshop.com/


Well......time to watch what I TIVO'd and catch some zzzzz's.............

Welcome to Wherever You Are!

I am getting excited about my first drive to Nashville, TN with my good pal, Hilary! We are going to see .......JON BON JOVI in concert next week-whoooo hoooo!



This is why I love this band - their songs kick butt! (see below)





"Welcome To Wherever You Are"



Maybe we're different, but we're still the same

We all got the blood of Eden, running through our veins

I know sometimes it's hard for you to see

You come between just who you are and who you wanna be

If you feel alone, and lost and need a friend

Remember every new beginning, is some beginning's end



Welcome to wherever you are

This is your life, you made it this far

Welcome, you gotta believe

That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be



Welcome, to wherever you are



When everybody's in, and you're left out

And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt

Everyones a miracle in their own way

Just listen to yourself, not what other people say



When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down

Remember everybody's different

Just take a look around



Be who you want to, be who you are

Everyones a hero, everyones a star



When you wanna give up, and your hearts about to break

Remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes




Yes........We are all perfect !!!!

Celebrating Women, Amplifying Voices and Raising Hope!

"Celebrating Women, Amplifying Voices and Raising Hope"...........that was the theme at this years Women’s Foundation for Greater Memphis www.wfgm.org Tribute Luncheon.

I am on the board of the Women's Foundation for Greater Memphis and I have to say....To me, it is an honor to be on the board and to be a part of this group of great women who empower and inspire others! They are very dedicated to helping women & children and the community.
(above Photo of Gloria Reuben and me)
The pre-party was hosted at the home of Gayle Rose. It was held on the night of April 14th and the luncheon was on the 15th. It was elegant and welcoming! I got to meet the keynote speaker, Gloria Reuben, actress from ER (and she is also a former Tina Turner’s backup singer/dancer). Gloria was very sweet and approachable!

My wonderful girlfriend Leisel “Q” Quamie (celebrity fashion stylist) http://www.lqstyles.com)/came to town and stayed with my family and I. She was one of the speakers at the post youth event (By the way….I am wearing Hilton Hollis in the photo below with "Q") Leisel is an amazing woman with great talent! I was happy to share her with everyone – I am so proud of her and her mission with Beauty & Love.
The next day, “Q” and I stopped by to see my other beautiful and talented friend, Mary Beth Conely, (anchor for Live @ 9, WREG) at the Peabody Place. “Q” was on the show that morning before the luncheon to discuss her non-profit organization, share her background, showed photos of her celebrity clients and most importantly announce the youth event for the WFGM.

(Photo of Me, Mary Beth and “Q”)



The luncheon was such a success with about 1400 ppl. It was fabulous!!!! Below is a photo of all my girlfriends at my table (they all are amazing, beautiful and powerful)!

(Top: “Q”, Mona, Suzi, Lynn, Karen, Sharon, and Arisa Bottom: Me, Ashley, Terri and Mehri)

Watch this movie!

Something someone sent to me - a must see!

Enjoy!

Marie

www.dashpoemmovie.com

Giving Back is the new BLACK!

Yep…I stole the phrase! Green is the new black too! : )

Last night, I watched American Idol with my son (he claims he will be the next American Idol – in my eyes he already is and so is my daughter!) Hee hee!

While watching, I thought to myself....I am glad someone is doing something on TV worthwhile! I was happy to see TV doing something to bring awareness and funds to help the world and children!

Not only is going “Green” becoming a trend but…giving back is too!

This is such a powerful thing and it can be very contagious! All for the good! A definite healing for the whole world!

Speaking of giving back….My friend Michael P. Maness (MIKE), an artist who has such amazing talent and a huge heart- gives back! You have to check out his works of art http://www.artbympm.com/
He is an inspiration – read his story on his website!

This is my favorite piece – because it's the one he did for me!
I love my Frankie! Thanks Mike!

(by the way......

I am voting for Doug Cook - he is a rocker! Just like my Bon Jovi!)

THE VIEW and my view!

Being a Mom is one of the greatest jobs I have! At times, the most stressful but… the BEST! Being a mom comes with big-time responsibility!!!! What I teach them and how they view me is going to make them the people they become! Whew…what pressure! It is all worth it! I think I have the most adorable children in the world – even when they don’t listen! : )

I had a “Me” day and decided to watch some TV while I had the house all to myself while kids were at school and hubby out of the house - I watched THE VIEW. On the show, Elisabeth Hasselbeck (one of the co-host) is a mother of two. She really gets to me every time I watch THE VIEW – it truly amazes me! I watched how one little beautiful woman raising children who is in the spotlight could have so much ignorance - with all the opportunity – all the mistakes we learned from generations before us – I mean…. I guess it is still a work in progress…but…again…when you are a mother and you are raising little women or men you have to be more aware of what you are putting out there…. especially on TV! I really think as a mother - you really need to THINK before you speak or act! I am not perfect no one is......but….

I still can’t believe where we are today – some (who I think are) intelligent women are so narrow-minded and the (in my mind) have these “closed” beliefs. In this day and age we need to be more open! There really is no more room for closed ignorance anymore! If you are raising little ones, they need to be raised with an open mind along with guidance and love! Yes…there are boundaries… but… you cannot raise someone to think their views are what are the right and the law and that is it! The only God is GOD himself (or whatever higher power there is) and there is “right” and there is “wrong”. To have a one-track mind is really scary and dangerous to me!

I think they have Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the show mostly for ratings and to spark up a fire and make us realize there are still people out there that believe like this and the need for change – I guess that’s why the call it THE VIEW!

Every time I watch, I want to reach in the TV and shake her (Elisabeth) ha ha!
I always think…OMG! – It is like they casted the Dumb Blond for THE VIEW!

I get so embarrassed for her at times – to go on national TV and react the way she does and promotes her motherhood - I am scared! I hope by watching her other mommies her age will realize she is whacked! : )

Anyway…don’t mean to go off on such a beautiful gal but it brought my attention to the needs of some more education on issues of people, the real world and needs to not open mouth before actually walking in someone’s shoes or going through the experiences.
It also helps me realize in myself what I need to really be doing as a mother and what responsibilities I have to teach my children to be better humans!

Even though I also think TV should be more responsible in the bigger picture of things and we need to make a change in ourselves what we are watching – I can’t help but watch! It is like a drug! I watch because I want to see what this mommy, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, says so I can get angry at her! Maybe I need some therapy! Ha ha ha ha!

Here is a great website launching soon http://www.womenswisdomnetwork.com/ -it is dedicated to help other women in many areas.

Also…check out Mid-South Moms http://www.midsouthmoms.com/
A great website for Mommies!