Number Thirty-Five

When I wrote the List of Thirty-Nine, the idea for Number Thirty-Five was just a tiny seed.

Plan a huge benefit gala for charity. Sounds simple enough.

I was a meeting and event planner for fifteen years before ditching the career in favor of the glamour and glory of stay at home mom-ness. So I kind of assumed that putting together a benefit for our local Dress For Success affiliate would be easy. Just get some folks to donate some cool stuff for a silent auction, sell a couple hundred tickets, and find a fancy dress. No big deal.

I talked to my friends over at Triad Moms on Main and they agreed to help organize, promote and sponsor the event. I don't think any of us had any idea exactly how much work it was going to be. We employed the help of Kristen from Four Hens and a Rooster, and a crack team of volunteers and spent the next six months busting our asses.

Last night, the four of us, all the volunteers and 250 of our friends came together at the amazing Millennium Center and partied. Hard.

We had over 100 silent auction items, generously donated by individuals and local businesses, and executed with perfection by the Charity Chicks.

The Millennium Center is a stunning building, full of architectural detail and with an amazing history.

Let me just say friends, until you watch a 40 year old drunk ass neurosurgeon do Da Butt, you have not lived. I used my drink tickets, The Husband's drink tickets, and a significant amount of cash. At some point, I remember having a conversation with a couple of friends about hemorrhoids and thinking, why the fuck am I talking about hemmies? It was great.

DJ Miss Eaves started the party.

And The Ardmores shut it down. Late.

At one point, while my husband and I danced, I just about cried from happiness. Happy that it was done, happy that it was successful, happy that so many people came out to support an organization that's making a real difference in the lives of women in our community.

What a handsome guy I have.

I am truly thankful to everyone that supported the event, especially Kristen, and Katie and Rachel from Triad Moms on Main.

Katie, Rachel, Me & Kristen

I am marking this one off the list, in style.

Hope In Heels

I stood in my kitchen just a few minutes ago, feeling completely overwhelmed. With baking and wrapping and planning, and trying hard to get someone -anyone- to answer a freaking e-mail. I stood there getting hot faced and weepy and indignant and thought, 'Shit! I also need to e-mail Glynis!'

I met Glynis several months ago, when the women from Triad Moms on Main and I approached her about doing a charity event. I liked her immediately, it would be hard not to. Professional yet warm, with an amazing dedication to her passion: helping women through Dress For Success Winston-Salem. I thought, it must be nice, being able to dedicate yourself to a charity.

Glynis doesn't just dedicate herself to it, she started the local affiliate from the ground up just 18 months ago. Relying on grants, a shoestring budget, and a handful of volunteers, Dress For Success Winston-Salem started suiting clients in August of 2010. They provide interview clothes, coaching, and a working wardrobe at no cost to women sent to them through social organizations.

Did I mention that In addition to running DFS, Glynis also has a full time job? And a husband and two kids? And, no doubt, just as much baking and shopping and holiday school performances as you and I do?

The mere thought of Glynis humbled me this morning. How often I complain about all I have to do, when there is always someone doing so much more.

You may have noticed the button to the left, where you can purchase tickets for Hope In Heels. We're hoping to get a couple hundred people together at The Millennium Center in Winston-Salem for dinner, a silent auction, and live entertainment from a local favorite, The Ardmore's. It's going to be an amazing night, and it's all to benefit Dress For Success Winston-Salem. Bring your partner, bring a friend, bring a whole group of friends...just come out and support one of the most worthy causes I've ever had the privledge of being associated with.

Ticket prices increase in January, so buy yours now. And wouldn't a night out on the town be a great gift?

If you're not local, look for a DFS in your area. They are doing good, every day.

Who Wants to Party?

Some of you may remember me mentioning my burning desire to wear a fancy dress somewhere fancy. The Husband suggested I throw a Mom Prom - a bunch of friends dress up and have a date night. That sounded fun enough, but if something sounds a little fun with half a dozen couples, it stands to reason that it would be even more fun with a couple hundred people. Right?

That's exactly what's going to happen on March 24, 2012, thanks to the amazing women at Triad Moms on Main, who are sponsoring a gala event to benefit our local chapter of Dress for Success. Dress for Success is a global not-for profit organization that helps clothe, train and support disadvantaged women to help them achieve economic independence. Who wouldn't want to be part of that? 

There will be dinner and entertainment and an auction, all held in the incredibly beautiful Millennium Center in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. It is going to be swank.

If you're in the area and want to get involved, there's a few ways to do it:

• Buy tickets and attend (more to come on this)

• Volunteer your time and talent to help plan the event

• Donate a product or service to the auction

If you want to help with the planning, come out to Christopher's at 712 Brookstown Avenue in Winston on September 15 at 7:00 PM for an informal meeting. If you can't make it, or you want to donate a product or service, you can e-mail me at southernfriedchildren@gmail.com.

If you're not local, and would like to donate to the auction, send me an e-mail!

I am so excited to be part of this, and I know it's going to be HUGE! We are lacking a good name (2012 Dress for Success Spring Gala does not exactly flow from the tongue), so SFC is going to run a little contest. Submit your proposed name for the event via e-mail by October 1, 2011. The sponsors will vote on the names and the winner will receive 2 free tickets to the event! Sweet!

I'll be mentioning more about the event throughout the planning process, but until then be sure to check out Triad Moms on Main and Dress For Success!

 (and by the way, this will totally cross #35 off the list of Thirty-Nine.)