Thanks to Darnell, the GPH crew, the Neiman Marcus team and the 10 amazing women who graced the pink carpet with their confidence and sparkle as they showcased their remarkable makeovers at the fabulous February event!   The “Love You – Boost Your Wardrobe, Boost Your Biz” event inspired this month’s post – Knowing What You Love: Part 1 – That Inner Spark.

Each of the 10 women chosen for the makeover and fashion show was selected for their passion, courage and dedication to making a positive impact in the world.  As each nominee took their walk down the pink carpet, we heard their brief bio and got a sense of what inspired their work and nomination. As they passed me, I admired the artistry of their new look…but what struck me most was each woman’s unique radiance.  Every woman had an inner spark that was blazing brilliantly that night – it was glorious to experience it!  Thank you ladies for owning your beauty and being such an inspiration in the work you do!

Like these 10 ladies, we all have the opportunity with each day to harness our passion and courage and then dedicate ourselves to something worthwhile in our work and our lives.  However, to do this and do it well, a woman must know what she loves and let that love shine through. This starts with loving ourselves.  Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish writer, playwright, and poet shares, “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”  Loving ourselves wholly – quirks, mistakes and all – ignites our inner spark and allows us to live a life we love thus paving the way for our unique contribution to the world to count for something!  Like the title of the event suggests, making time to take good care of ourselves by investing in things like stunning wardrobes that highlight our best features and actions like giving back that boost our spirits, can in fact boost our business and work in the world.  Why?  Because they make us feel good about ourselves which lifts our confidence.   Clothed in our own confidence – that Inner Spark – we have the courage to step up, reach out and share what makes us unique, give voice to our ideas, offer our services and make a difference.

Feel free to share your thoughts in my comment box.

Tune in next month for “Knowing What You Love: Part 2 – Creative Excursions to Keep You Connected to Your Inner Spark” 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

January Follow Up: Last month I shared my four step process for creating authentic and achievable resolutions:

1) Be Clear 2) Be Honest 3) Be Realistic and 4) Be Committed.

How did it go for you?  Where did you get stuck?  What motivated you to get back on track? I’m all ears and available to answer questions – just send me a comment.

Guests will be welcomed with a CIROC Signature Cocktail and then escorted into Hotel 1000′s expansive event. At 5 p.m., a live telecast of the Academy Awards will begin.

Throughout the evening, BOKA KITCHEN + BAR will provide heavy appetizers that include an elaborate seafood display “Oceans 1000″ featuring King Crab Legs, jumbo prawns and oysters; passed hors d’oeuvres; and dessert.

An evening with the Stars at the Hotel 1000 is the BEST way to spend your Oscar night. If you don’t have tickets, don’t hesitate, it’s one of the best events in Seattle…of the year; hands down. See you there!

When: Sunday, February 26th
Where: Hotel 1000
Tickets: Here
Time: 4pm
Attire: Cocktail Dress to Impress

• Live performance by Mycle Wastman
• Wedding style tips by Bosere Image Group
• The Finerie will be giving away one Marilyn Berg Fresh Water Pearl and swarovski crystal necklace
• Meet “Event Savvy” & “Wedding Wisdom” Girl Power Hour bloggers, Holly Patton from Perfectly Posh Events  & Wendi Hroncich from Ethereal Events who’ll be giving you this seasons tips and tricks for the perfect wedding or event.
• Swink Style Bar giving away one hair & makeup session
• Taste Pearl Vodka Cake Pops by Dianne’s Delights
• Enjoy Complimentary Amber Appetizers
• Giveaways, photobooth and more!

Where: Amber Restaurant & Lounge
Time: 9pm-2am
Hashtag: #weddingcakevodka
Tweet Us: @amberbelltown @GirlPowerHour @etherealevents @misshollypatton @posh_weddings @diannesdelights @PearlWedCake @TheFinerie @swinkstylebar
RSVP:  Here

Official Event Flyer

A few weeks ago, my business partner Kassie and I were lucky enough to attend a Grammy after party at the historic House of Blues, in West Hollywood.  The party was a charity concert by Three Six Zero and Roc Nation.  Featured artists included Calvin Harris, Rihanna and DeadMous5.   Tickets to the event started at $1,000 and even went as high as $50,000 and up!  Proceeds from the benefit went to the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer artists’ program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the Children’s Orthopedic Center.  Kassie and I could not have been more honored to attend such an amazing event.  And honestly, this was almost like a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.

Our trip began with the busiest day of our lives.  Sunday morning 7 AM flight, interview preparation for an article we were writing on the Grammy’s, dress pick-ups, and the inevitable stops at about 15 different places in Hollywood.  All while carrying our vintage Chanel Bags and jewelry that Bag Borrow or Steal graciously let us borrow.  And let me assure you, we did not carry these items lightly.  We guarded them and carried them with the respect they deserve, being cautious not to get even a single a scratch on them.    A little shout out and thank you to the Glam Squad over at BBOS for styling us in some hot accessories.

House of Blues Hollywood

After arriving in Hollywood, prior to the big event, we headed over to the House of Blues (HOB) early in the day.  On our way to HOB, we passed the famed Beverly Hilton, where Whitney Houston passed away. (Rest in Peace Whitney!).  Our goal was to meet with our contact Cy Waits, Las Vegas famed nightlife mogul, about the upcoming party and to pick up our Media Passes. Upon arrival, Cy and his team were busily preparing the VIP area and all the little details that go into throwing a party of this caliber.  As an event planner, Kassie was honored to be able to see a master at work.  She mentioned how great it was to see how engaged his team was, making sure that not a single detail was overlooked. Cy was a little too busy to talk to us (understandably!), so we took pictures of the venue, checked out the amazing art on the walls and back headed out.

Mondrian Hotel

A few hours later we met up with Cy at the Mondrian hotel, next to the House of Blues. This hotel is amazing and something you just can’t describe until you are there. Everything is white, clean, and fresh. Even the walls even are very calming (and very deceiving if you’re trying to find an exit!). We headed to the hotel pool bar to meet Cy for a late lunch, and passed Rihanna and her friends as they hung at the pool.  Record producers, and the who’s who of Hollywood were at the bar as well.  Cy left to prepare plans for his event, and Kassie and I stayed for a while, just to take in the top notch scenery and people watching!

Later that night, the time for the big event had finally arrived.  We went to the venue, and were taken back by how the entire porch and entryway had been taken over by a massive Red Carpet.   As event planners ourselves, and having had experience with Red Carpets at Celebrity events in Seattle and Seattle Fashion Week, Kassie and I couldn’t help but notice the quality of the Red Carpet.   It was pristine, clean, and an absolute perfect shade of Red!  Cy personally greeted us at the door and made sure we were comfortable and taken care of.   From there, we were warmly greeted and walked in by a friendly host.  I remember thinking, “Seattle Event Planners” take note of this gesture.  It was welcoming to be escorted and shown where to go.  At this point, it was clear to me, that Cy had brought in the best team with exceptional and personalized service.

View of Deadmou5 from the VIP Balcony. Photo by Kassie Edwards

We walked through the House of Blues, and into the VIP table service balcony and lounge. Each table had their own cocktail waitress, security and host.  If an attendee needed anything, they surely didn’t wait long. Red ropes separated tables and created privacy for the guests. Bottles of premium champagne flowed and were brought to the tables by stunning young women yielding sparklers.  VIP event Manager Misty, whom Cy brought over from the The Agency, ran a seamless operation for the balcony and professionally attended to every need or request.   Her side kick JP also did a bang out job. VIP guests included well dressed socialites and music industry heavyweights.  A-List stars like Paris Hilton and Brody Jenner came to rock out as well.  They lounged on luxury furniture and enjoyed the concert from the comfort of a well staged balcony.  Representatives from People Magazine were present and it was clear that L.A.’s elite were in attendance.

Kassie and I mingled around the balcony, mostly keeping to ourselves.  The guests had paid a lot of money to be there, and we didn’t want to interrupt.  Our highlight of the night was when Rihanna took the stage.   Honestly, neither of us had been huge Rihanna fans prior to the event, and we were surprised at how her sound was so strong and compelling in person. I believe that both of us were mesmerized and at full attention almost immediately.   The best part about the concert was the intimate setting of the venue which allowed anyone there, to feel close to the stage and engaged in the show.  Many of the great musical legends have performed on the very same stage over the years, and Rihanna gave an unforgettable performance that those walls will never forget.  I’m not a musical expert by any means, but Rihanna’s pitch and presentation was definitely on key. It’s not every day small town girls like us from Seattle,  get to rock out to Rihanna live, less than a few hundred feet away. This is an experience we will definitely never forget.

Rihanna's Performance. Photo courtesy of Rihanna's Official Facebook Page

DLIST MAGAZINE- First and foremost, Thank You for your support and for giving us a platform to write about our experience in your Magazine and on your Web Blog. We’re excited to partner with you on our upcoming article / cover feature!

Girl Power Hour- For always supporting us in everything we do and giving us a second platform to write about our experiences on.  We love you guys, seriously!

BAG BORROW OR STEAL- Thank you for the gorgeous Chanel Bags and Jewelry! We got many compliments on them and are so appreciative that you trusted us to check out these amazing items! Thank you to Russ, Haley and Graham… you guys are the ultimate GLAM SQUAD!

CY WAITS & THE AGENCY HOLLYWOOD- Your event was truly top notch. Thank you for the media passes, and tickets. We could not be more thankful for you to give us small town writers a chance! We know that people like the NY Times and LA Times were looking for articles and you gave us a chance. Thank You!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

{Note: parts of this blog are taken from the original posted on DLIST Magazine’s Web Blog. To view the original please visit their website at: http://www.dlistmagazine.com/seattle/an-unforgettable-night-in-hollywood.  So many people have asked how our experience was and it’s hard to put it all in words. This blog is written to try and share that experience, through my own eyes. Enjoy!)

Happy Monday (and President’s Day)!  Do you feel prepared to eat healthfully this week?  If “preparing for the week” brings to mind cooking for hours on Sunday only to have a freezer full of leftovers you don’t want, keep reading.  Here are five practical tips to help you eat well, save time and money, and enjoy it.

Prepared to eat well this week?

1.  Set aside time to prepare. My fiance is now used to me asking every week, “Honey, are you ready to do some meal planning?”  (Oh, the joys of dating a nutritionist!)  We sit down with this handy form from theprojectgirl.com, look at our week, mark out the nights we plan on going out, and decide our dinner plans (including who is responsible for cooking) for the nights we aspire to eat in.  Budget a little time each week for this process, which also includes assessing what perishables you might want to use up (Leftover fresh rosemary?  Rosemary new potatoes, it is!), looking up any recipes, making a grocery list and of course, grocery shopping.  If you’re not used to cooking, I promise this sounds more complicated than it really is.  And you’ll get better at meal planning the more you practice.  Sitting down to meal plan shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and will save you time the rest of the week.

2.  Cook once, eat twice (or thrice). Maximize your cooking time by making enough to pack leftovers for the next day’s lunch or dinner.  You can also experiment with making a big batch of something that holds up well in the fridge so you can enjoy it a few more days of the week, such as soup, massaged kale salad, cooked beans or lentils, and whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice or whole wheat pasta.  Or try a simple recipe you can throw in the slow cooker in the morning, and come home to the delicious aroma of a home-cooked meal.

Quick note: If you grew up in a household of non-foodies where leftovers were an even worse-tasting version of the previous day’s ho-hum meal, you may have unfairly written off leftovers.  This is worth challenging because I swear, life is a little easier if you’re able to appreciate good leftovers.

3)  Keep it simple. If you use fresh high quality ingredients, there’s no need for complicated recipes.  (Hmm, feel free to insert “Visit farmer’s market” in Tip #1.)  You might want to keep a list of easy dishes you already know how to prepare visible on the fridge.  It might look something like this: stir-fry, pasta with already-cooked chicken sausage and veggies, veggie and cheese omelet with whole-grain toast, burrito, huevos rancheros, etc.

I often hear people complain they don’t like cooking for one.  My advice?  Get over it.  I just got back from a yoga retreat in Whidbey Island today, where I met a lovely UW med school student who prioritizes cooking wholesome meals for herself because it helps her think and feel better.  Again, keep it simple, and save your fancier dishes for company.

4)  Keep it even more simple for breakfast and lunch. For super easy planning, it can be helpful to have as few as one or two options for breakfast and/or lunch, perhaps only changing with each season.  Breakfast in the summer might be organic yogurt with berries/peaches and granola; in the winter, perhaps steel-cut oats with banana/raisins and chopped pecans.  Lunch might be leftovers or some variation of a sandwich, wrap or salad (containing protein and whatever veggies you have on hand) and whatever fruit is in season.  For me, I like packing leftovers to work or making a PCC run (see next tip).

5)  Have a back-up plan. While I’d love to say this process works out perfectly, and my fiance and I only eat out once a week, it simply will probably never be the case.  For those extra busy or less organized weeks, when we haven’t made it to the grocery store or working late, we’ve got some go-to’s to fall back on:  Metropolitan Market for Cucina Fresca sauce and pasta (fresh pasta takes 2 minutes to cook), PCC deli take-out (I think PCC has the best-tasting and best-for-you prepared foods section of any grocery store in town), Whole Foods salad bar (which has much more than salads; or Asian noodle soup bar if you’re near the Westlake location), Vietnamese pho, or digging in our freezer for an Amy’s Organic meal/pizza or Evol burrito.

Like almost everything, it’s about progress, not perfection.  Even if you start cooking at home or packing your lunch just once or twice this week, that’s progress.  And know that there’s not a perfect method for meal planning (if you do find one, I’m all ears).  Since everyone has a unique schedule and food preferences, it takes trial and error to learn what works best for you.  So experiment lots–and try to have some fun while you’re at it.

What tips do you have for eating well on a busy schedule?  I’d love to hear about it.

One of my friends nervously pulled at a loose string on her hem, another stared the girl up-and-down, and the quietest of the group continued flipping through a magazine as if Brooke Burke’s doppelganger hadn’t just breezed through the door.

Finally, I said “Wow, that girl is really pretty.” Everyone responded in surround-sound; defeated and despondent, “I know, right?”

In that moment I began wondering what I was in the middle of. There was an energy shift among the women. Each of us responded in a different way. Each of us had exposed our insecurities and our imperfections in one quick moment of reflection.

As women, are we really threatened by beauty or by the way that beautiful women make us feel?

I found a recent Psychology Today article detailing the perils (ahem) of attractiveness. Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D. revealed that “recent research has shown how the advantages of being beautiful don’t always translate into greater successes. In fact, being good-looking can cost you opportunities – jobs, scholarships, promotions – depending on the gender and attractiveness of your evaluator.”

She goes on to further explain via fellow Psychologist Maria Agthe, that attractive applicants who were in the process of approval for a graduate scholarship received higher ratings ‘from opposite-sex raters, but not from same-sex raters’. She went on to say that in this case, female applicants were actually penalized for their beauty by women.

As an author of a book that focuses on social graces and treating each other kindly, one of my core beliefs is deeply rooted in the importance of cultivating inner beauty. But that isn’t to say that outward beauty doesn’t have it’s own gravitational pull in our society and in our emotional lives.

The pretty girls feel like they need to apologize for being so.The plainer girls feel like they need to interchange the words ‘mean ‘and ‘pretty’ to make themselves feel like the nicer of the two. Regardless of where we fall on the spectrum of beauty, I stumbled across some stats that I think may help us better understand our aversion to accepting prettiness with grace.

According to the Social Issues Research Center (SIRC) a non-profit organization founded to conduct research on social and lifestyle issues, 80% of women over the age of 18 are unhappy with the way they look.

SIRC explained, “Recent experiments have shown that exposure to magazine photographs of super-thin models produces depression, stress, guilt, shame, insecurity, body-dissatisfaction and increased endorsement of the thin-ideal stereotype. Magazines like Vogue and Elle are banned in many eating-disorder clinics, because of their known negative effect on patients’ body-image.”

In a Harvard University Study they found that two-thirds of underweight 12-year-olds considered themselves “fat”. By 13, at least 50% of girls are dissatisfied with the way they look. At 14, the dissatisfaction becomes more targeted to certain areas of the body. By the time 17 rolls around, 7 out of every 10 girls will have been on a diet.*

Our image insecurities have lead us to judge not only those around us, but in turn, our poor fragile selves. And this vicious cycle of self-loathing and discontentment has led us to develop a distorted idea of beauty.

The root of the root? Pretty girls don’t have it made. No one does.

One of the freshest examples of this is Whitney Houston. Gone too soon at 48, she was a beautiful and talented lady who had everything going for her . In an interview with Good Morning America, the Canadian power-house Celine Dion commented, “What happens when you have everything? Love, support, motherhood…Something happens that I don’t understand. That’s why I’m scared of show business.”

In Whitney’s case, people continue to say what a waste. What a loss. What a shame. Because it is. Here is a woman who didn’t understand her own worth. Here is a woman who never understood how to accept her beauty and talent instead of resent it. I think there are a lot of us like her.

The problem may lie in the way we have been programmed to view beauty. While every woman wants it, we are also told to ‘harbor a secret hatred for the prettiest girl in the room’ (whether that’s someone else or ourselves)- as feminist-songwriter Ani DiFranco so eloquently stated.

How about you? Have you ever been shunned because you were a threat to another woman? Have you ever been left out, even though you didn’t quite understand why? Maybe just maybe, it had nothing to do with something being wrong. Perhaps it was just because you looked too right.

Have you ever done the shunning? Have you ever given envy the upper hand?

We hear all the time about accepting each others faults, but what we hear less about is accepting each others loveliness.

We need to remember that feminism in it’s original form was not only a sect of activists promoting a series of accomplishments to catapult women into their own real of economic progress– it was also meant to create a bond between sisters; a union of souls. We need to get back to that place.

Beauty is defined as ‘the  qualities in a person that pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.’

My advice? Shock people with your goodness. There is nothing more defusing than a pretty girl who is kind. Because, even if pretty is something you are, being beautiful is something we should all work hard to become.

*Excerpt from Megan’s book Bitch? Please!: How Nice Girls Can Succeed in a Bitch’s World

Time to Sell, Time to Buy!

It has been a busy year for our local real estate market and we are only a couple months into 2012!  Whether you are wondering if this is finally your year to be a first time home buyer or you can’t wait to put your condo on the market, the time may be right to make a move forward.

Spring is usually the busiest time of year for real estate. Just as the weather warms up and the rains slow down, sellers are able to spruce up their yard, clean their closets, paint trim or whatever else might need to be done in order to put their home on the market.

When I say the market is off to a busy start, I am not kidding. People are out looking at homes in larger numbers than I have seen since the financial crisis started in 2008. If you have thought about selling your home, now is the time to start thinking about putting it on the market.

If I bought my home from 2005-2008 will I be able to fetch a price similar to what I paid?

Unfortunately prices are still down from the height of the market. However, if you have a house to sell in one of Seattle’s popular neighborhoods the demand is high right now and you might get a little more for your house than you think. As inventory is finally going down, sellers can stand firm ground in negotiations.

What is the best time of year to buy a house?

Traditionally, the slower months of real estate are during the winter holiday season.  However, with interest rates still hovering around historical lows, 2012 will continue to be a great time to buy a home. Sure, you may find that a few more of your fellow home buyers are out looking right now but as the weather gets nicer some of them will get distracted and some of them will, well find a home and move into it!

If you are thinking of buying or selling this year, don’t hesitate to take the next step!

Sharing online isn’t a new concept however it continues to grow into this monster where everyone knows what you had for lunch, where you found those hot shoes for 50% off, who is selling the best vegan donuts and how to “put a bird on it”. We were taught to share with our friends as little kids and now we are able to not only share with them but with total strangers around the world!

From a personal standpoint, I secretly love to show off. Being able to put my ideas, random thoughts, writings, photos and crafts on platforms such as Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, Pinterest, etc… has brought a new sense of pride to my world, and a bit of humility, realizing that I am not the only one who likes to bake cupcakes and stroll around Green Lake, smoothie in hand with my little girl wearing her new knit hat with a flower on top.

From a business standpoint, I want to make sure each company is using social media to their advantage. Not every outlet is for your company, but there is something for everyone and if you are not present in at least two platforms, you are absent to the entire world.

That being said, with every social media platform comes the obvious and inevitable questions, with the newest one being

“Are you pinnable?”

For those not in the know or were just hit over the head with a rock and have lost all knowledge of mankind, Pinterest has become the new “IT” application. They launched in 2010 and within just a couple short years exploded with a reported 11.7 million users and growing, most of those users being women. I can’t look anywhere without someone asking if I am on Pinterest and what my link is. Even as I write this, I have already gotten side tracked by “pinning” a dress from NY Fashion Week to my “My Style” board.

The way to make your company pinnable is to make sure photos posted on your website are NOT hosted in a Flash or frame format (side note: Facebook does not allow photos to be “pinned”). These formats do not allow the user or bots to grab contents from your page. The best way is to have everything in regular HTML, so that everything is picked up and readily pinnable for your consumer’s needs. You can test this by downloading the “Pin It” bookmark to your browser.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve been disappointed that I couldn’t post a beautiful dress or scrumptious food product from a website because of the way their site is built. This is a loss in my mind. Thousands of people could have seen that picture, clicked on it to go through to your site and could have become a new customer. Some might think this takes a lot of logistics; Building a whole new website would be expensive in time and money. However, if you think about the bigger picture, Pinterest and photo sharing sites alike, hold a market of consumers that want to find new products. They want to be WOW’d by the dessert made from the chocolate powder you sell exclusively.

One way around this is to build a company profile in Pinterest. Build your product boards, the many uses for those products and who might be using them and maybe a board dedicated to your workers showing off how they use your product or what their favorite item is from your company. Or even just a colorful place for you to share a glimpse into the visionary world of your company. This is also a way to ask your customers to engage with your brand and find out what they would like to see you “Pin to your boards”.

Examples of companies using Pinterest to their advantage:
Kate Spade
Boundary Bay Brewery
Glamour Magazine

AND…one company I am a bit disappointed in their showing. What do you think they should “Pin” about?
Starbucks

This is a new concept for everyone, and it might take a while for you and your company to get in the game, but lets all be proactive, send each other invites, tell your customers and friends that you have a Pinterest account and start pinning those products!

Unfortunately, on February 15, 2012, Mr. Holloway’s e-cigarette exploded in his mouth.  The explosion knocked out all of his teeth and took off part of his tongue.

E-cigarettes are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration.  Consequently, consumers are exposing themselves to risk when they purchase these unregulated devices.

More information needs to be discovered regarding these devices, including: their design, the manufacturer’s quality control testing in determining if the cigarettes are fit for safe consumer use, and what product use instructions and warnings are placed on the product.

If you have been injured by an e-cigarette, you may have a case against the manufacturer, designer, distributor and retailer of the e-cigarette.   Contact attorney Alexandra Filutowski for a legal consultation.

Copyright © 2012 The Filutowski Law Firm, PLLC.   Disclaimer: This page is intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinions on any specific facts or circumstances.  An attorney-client relationship is not created or continued.

Judy speaking with Queens ready for their makeovers.

Giving Hope is dedicated to showing women how they affect their communities through philanthropy

Some women have this amazing aura around them. They always seem to glow. You know they’ve gone through some difficult times, yet they always come out with a wink and a smile. Confidence is an amazing power every woman needs to possess and some women not only have it but they give it to others.

A Queen being escorted by a handsome sailor.

I have recently had the pleasure of meeting one of these electrifying women, her name…Judy Hoff.
Judy, a shy person by nature (or so she told me) started out hiding behind her mom’s leg. There was no reason for it she said, it’s just what she did. It wasn’t until later in life when she realized her calling as a speaker/preacher that she needed to get past that. She said she realized that people don’t like to be preached at. So by living her life in a positive, happy and healthy way, people will naturally want to follow. Now she changes the lives of thousands of women and helps to give them the confidence she exudes everyday through her non-profit organization, Queen, It’s A New Day. Queen, as she often calls it, is an organization dedicated to giving women back their self-worth after overcoming a major dilemma or ordeal such as homelessness, domestic abuse or drug addiction.

Picking out clothes for the big event

“This program has helped thousands of women and their children for over 11 years transform their lives permanently , from poverty to self worth.”

Queen puts on a two day makeover event for women with all the works. It’s not just a physical transformation, it’s a complete life makeover to make every woman (or Queen) feel loved and worthy again or maybe even for the first time. There is everything from career classes to counseling to just good old fashion hair and make-up lessons. It’s such an amazing experience not only for the Queens but for the volunteers involved. What I love best, is it’s about bettering women inside and out. As Judy said, “We don’t give handouts; we give hand ups!”

Queen, It’s a New Day is always looking for volunteers from escorts (yes, each Queen is escorted down the red carpet by a man in uniform or tuxedo) to life coaches. Of course the need for clothing is always there as well. The Queens have the opportunity to “shop” at the Queen’s Royal Closet where they can find bushiness suits, under garments and even cocktail dresses for events like Girl Power Hour.

I’m so blessed to have met Judy and am super excited to see how I can help out Queen. It’s been a long journey for her to get to this point but now she is helping set women get to that next positive step in their lives. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering or donating clothing items please visit the Queen, It’s A New Day website or contact Judy Hoff at jh@queenitsanewday.org.