Tis the Season

I want to wish everyone healthy holidays, a very Merry Christmas, and a joyous, healthy, happy, and peaceful 2010. Thank you to all my clients for their continued business and support. I have enjoyed working with each and every one of you. I wish you all the best to you and your family this holiday season and in the New Year.

Warm Regards,
Jill

Family Weekend

This past weekend – Dec 12th and 13th – was family weekend. My family and my husband’s side of the family spent the weekend in Skaneateles NY. It was a beautiful weekend. The air was cool and crisp; the sun was bright. The people in the village were smiling and very pleasant.

Skaneateles celebrates this holiday season – this is the 16th year – by transforming the village into a Charles Dickens Christmas. It is a really neat and fun. There is Christmas caroling, free cider, hot chocolate, and donuts. Mother goose and Father Christmas greet the children. There is a magic show and story time for the kids. The Dickens characters interact with residents and visitors while acting out scenes from a Christmas Carol on the village streets. It’s fun to see the Dickens character dressed in period costume and to hear the characters speak proper English.
When it was time to visit Father Christmas, my grandson Jaidyn became extremely shy. He would only get near Father Christmas if he could sit on his mommy’s lap. We all got a chuckle out of that!

Our family rented a house in the village. It was more personable and intimate than staying at a hotel. Saturday night we cooked a family dinner and then played Board games. A great way to spend time with family and have lots of fun.

~Jill

Season of Giving

It's that time of year again. Most people I know get into the holiday spirit of giving. I think it's wonderful that people still think of others and try and help in anyway they can. Where ever you go there seems to be wonderful gestures to help others - banks, shopping centers, selected charities. I would like to mention Molly's Yoga Center. Molly's is sponsoring a family from the local Rochester area. Anyone visiting Molly's has the opportunity to participate. What a great way to support a family and allow many people to participate. I am contributing a % of sales of my châle's to the giving effort. It is my way of contributing this holiday season. I wish you, your family, friends, and loved one's all the best this holiday season.

~Jill

Jingle Bell Run

Hi Everyone,


Another run! I am running with my friend in the Jingle Bell run for Arthritis. This is a national event sponsored by Arthritis Foundation. It is a festive way to start off the holidays and a way to support a good cause. The race starts at 9:00am 12 Corners Middle School in Brighton. To date, donations total $25,000. That’s awesome. I hope you will join me in spirit as I run for the Arthritis Foundation.

~ Jill

Webster Turkey Trot

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I did! I love the holiday and spending it with family. On Thanksgiving morning, my daughter and I ran in the Webster Turkey Trot. The race was either a 2.5mile or 4.4 mile course. Jenna and I ran the 2.5 mile. It was a beautiful day for a run. The Webster Turkey Trot is sponsored by Fleet Feet, on Monroe Ave. This was the 37th year for this race.

After the race, it was turkey time! I am so grateful to have time to spend with my family. I know that this can be a hectic time of year, but it is also a great time of year. Thanksgiving starts the holiday season. And, I love the holiday season.

I want to remind any of my former clients, that if you want to get on my mailing list for future events, please email me your address information. Emails can be sent to jill@jillbatesfashion.com.

~Jill

My Open House

My Open House

Hi Everyone. My open house was Saturday November 21st, and it was a blast! I first want to thank all who stopped by to say hi. Former clients, potential new clients, business associates, family, friends, and neighbors all stopped in. I especially enjoyed the brides and family members who stopped by to share their wedding stories and pictures with the attendees. I enjoy seeing the wedding pictures; it gives me a big picture view of the special day. In my line of work, I am so focused on the dresses; it is nice for me to see the entire package – men’s attire, flowers, cake, wedding and reception settings, and family. Of course, the brides are still radiant! And, if I do say so myself, it feels good to know that my clients really appreciate the work that I do for them.

Back to the open house; I had a networking table, appetizer and drink table, and plenty of candy dishes throughout the studio. Everyone appeared to partake in the goodies. Guests introduced themselves to strangers, and intermingled with other guests. The networking table worked out quite nicely. A few guests had the opportunity to talk about their business and career, which led to exchanged business cards. A great way to build new clientele!

It was fun to have folks in my shop so that they could see and experience my world. I had the shop setup to showcase my Châle’s. I am the proud owner of a new and unique boutique. How fun is that?

Again, I want to thank everyone who stopped by. It was a very special day for me and a fun day to revisit with former clients. I would also like to remind everyone that the Châle’s make a wonderful gift option for that someone special on your holiday list.

If you would like to get on my mailing list, or want to update your mailing information, please send a quick email to my virtual assistant; janice.myvaa@gmail.com

Thanks everyone, and have a GREAT THANKSGIVING!

~ Jill

A Special Halloween!

Hello everyone,
I can’t believe how time is flying by. Before Thanksgiving is upon us, I want to share a special Halloween with you. On Halloween day – October 31st – our community organized a very special 5k run. The day was raining and cool. There were approximately 230 runners. It was a very inspiring run as it was organized to help a member of our community with brain cancer. The runners and the crowd were very enthusiastic. It was a very spiritual event – meaning that folks turned out for a member in need. It can’t get much better than that!

P.S. my grandson was Mickey Mouse!

I was on TV!

Hello Everyone,
I was on TV! I was on Channel 13 this morning. Check it out.................
http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=210005@wokr.dayport.com&navCatId=212

WOW! It was exciting! I talked about the work that goes into a gown. It was fun to share my knowledge with the public. I also felt honored to showcase my business, Jill Bates Fashion Design. I also shared with the public the importance of preserving the bridal gown. As I stated in the clip, I actually restored two previously owned gowns, for the next generation to wear. So, for all you brides out there, it is important to preserve your gown. You never know, you may want to share it with someone special (daughter, niece).
Please visit my website and do some pre-holiday Châle shopping.

~ Jill

Washington DC and the Marine Corp Marathon

Hello Everyone,
I had an exciting few days in Washington, DC. I was there from October 21st – 26th.

My main purpose for going to Washington was to be a cheerleader for my training coach, Elizabeth, as she ran in the Marine Corp Marathon held on Sunday October 25, 2009. The race is 26.2 miles long and showcases areas in Arlington, Georgetown, and Washington DC. What a spectacular course; the runners pass Kennedy Center, Jefferson Memorial enter the National Mall and run by the Lincoln, FDR, Korean War and Vietnam Veteran's memorials, as well as the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol. The race consisted of 30,000 runners with 100,000 spectators. It was awesome! The race is very well organized and well received.

Earlier in the week I was a tourist. My friends and I walked around Georgetown, took the Metro to the Mall and Landmark locations in DC, and went to the Convention Center in the city. There was really neat art work displayed in the Convention Center – guitars, tennis rackets – suspended from the ceiling. We took a nighttime tour of the memorials. It was really neat to see the memorials and the city lit up.

I also had the privilege of touring the Pentagon. Prior to admission, I had to complete an application for submission. The Pentagon was fascinating! Just touring the place was awesome. The energy in the halls was incredible. The building was massive and impressive. I also visited the Pentagon 9/11 memorial. It was beautiful – simple and elegant. The memorial consists of 184 illuminated benches – each engraved with the victim’s name. I did not know this; the victims ranged in age from 3 to 71. I also learned on my Pentagon tour that the Department of Defenses finds approximately 100 MIA’s or POW’s each year. It is comforting to know that searching continues for our dedicated service personnel who have been unaccounted for all these years.

~ Jill

Rochester Women's Expo

Hello everyone,
I will have a booth at the upcoming Rochester Women's Expo being held on Saturday November 7, 2009. I will be displaying and selling my Châle's. Stop by and browse - it is close to the holiday's and the Châle make's a wonderful gift!

See you soon.

~ Jill

Running, running - Tufts 10k

October has been a busy month. I have been traveling and running every weekend. Columbus Day weekend I was in Boston competing in the Tufts 10K for women. The races motto is “Start Strong, Finish Stronger”. What a great philosophy! All of us can use that philosophy in our everyday lives.

The race goes from downtown Boston to Cambridge and back again, and is composed of 8000 women! What a thrill it is to run through down town Boston on a Monday. The weather conditions were ideal for the event. This was the 33rd annual race. My running mates and I drove, rode the subway, and walked several blocks to get to the start line. I traveled a total of 800 miles that weekend to run 6.2 miles. It was worth it! Running with that many women is inspiring. I usually run 5K’s, so this race was a big deal for me. I am proud to say that I completed the race in 1 hour and 12 minutes.

The event raised just over $10,000.00 for the American Heart Association. What a positive jolt! The winner, Molly Huddle of Providence won the race and it was the second year in a row she did so. The prize purse was $41,000.00. Not bad for running the streets of Boston. I also got to meet Joan Benoit Samuelson, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist. What an inspiration! I heard many comments and stories from women that were quite inspiring. Jessica Pelland, 33, had a stroke when she was 12, and she runs all kinds of races including marathons.

I can’t run and talk very well, but all around us we heard women chatting about life, challenges, and triumphs in their lives. The race included mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, aunts. We saw young mom’s pushing their babies, and one young woman pushing her little dog in a dog stroller! I met a family that has 8 sisters. Most of them were at the race. I ran with my sister and of course my trainer. She is the one that got me involved in this incredible race. Well actually she is the one that got me into running 3 years ago. My endorphins could not be happier!

~ Jill

October!

What a great month! I love this time of year. The air is crisp; the leaves are beautiful with rich and varied colors. On the home front, October is high school football season. I love to watch my son and his team playing the game. There is something to be said about the spirit and energy at high school athletic events. It’s fun to watch and to be a part of that spirit. As for my son, isn't he handsome?

New Website!

Hi Everyone,
I am in the process of updating my website. It is exciting to create the changes and see the transformation of the website. I’m updating the site so that it is easier to navigate, more user friendly and intuitive. The updated site will still have all the excellent information that a consumer needs to understand my business and how I can be of service. I’m pleased that my business is successful and thriving, while offering excellent alteration services and customer service. It is exciting that my business is also moving into specialized accessories with the offering of the Châle. Please visit the site often. I know that I can be of service to you on your next special occasion.

~Jill

Gown Preservation and Shipping

In addition to providing high quality alterations, I also provide wedding gown preservation. Gown preservation protects a valuable heirloom. The preservation is done by hand and is customized for each gown. Your gown is then carefully packed for protection.

I have clients that are from the local Rochester NY region, but I also have a fair volume of clients that reside outside the greater Rochester community. These clients will often use a delivery shipping service to ship their gown to its final destination. I have had clients ship their gowns to New Mexico, Florida, and US states in between. Most of my clients use The Boxman for shipping. The Boxman is family owned, user friendly, and provides great quality and customer service. The Boxman is also a FedEx authorized ship center. For any of your packing needs, you need to consider The Boxman.

Yoga

Yoga

As I move forward in my life, I realize that I need to take care of myself. As you know, I am into running 5k races, and running in general for my health. Another healthy routine I practice is yoga. Yoga is great for the mind, body, and spirit. When I practice yoga I know that I am doing something good for me. I am stretching my body – helping my joints, muscles, and internal organs. I am becoming spiritually fit. I am becoming more aware of the goodness in people and the world. I am opening my heart to gratitude, love, and grace. I recognize that people are in different places in their individual life. I, as a person try and treat everyone with kindness, respect and grace.

I practice yoga at Molly’s Yoga in Fairport. It is a wonderful environment with wonderful people. Through her teachings I have learned that if someone is unpleasant, they should be treated with kindness and love. The energy that I emit will be returned to me. So, it is better to emit positive, loving energy. It may be tough at times, but it is the right thing to do.

Try yoga. You will benefit physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Friendship

I had the pleasure of attending a dinner party for a friend that is leaving town. It was a small dinner party – six women. I knew two of the women; the other three were new acquaintances. I have to say it was a fun and enjoyable evening. It was nice to meet some new people, share stories and laugh a lot! Maggie – our friend who is moving to Vermont – had us laughing out loud. The stories she can tell!

It is always hard to say goodbye to a friend, even if the goodbye is temporary. These transitions also remind me of how fortunate I am to meet such nice people. I am blessed to have such positive, fun-spirited people in my life. And, now having a friend in Vermont gives me a reason to travel to a new destination.

A toast to friendship!

Rochester Marathon - Relay Winners

My team "Massage on University" and I completed the Rochester Marathon Relay this past Sunday. It is twice as much distance than I usually run. It is just over a 10k for each of the 4 legs of the race. I am a 5k runner, so I really worked on warming up my mind as well as my body for this event. I only ran 6.5 miles once before this. It was last year's Rochester Marathon Relay!

It was a perfect day for running, and any thing else you wanted to do outside. My leg of the race starts in front of St. John Fisher College on East Ave. and ends at Bushnell's Basin on the canal. Much of the race is on the canal which is beautiful.

Our team consisted of 4 women and our endorphins were high upon completion of the event which finished at Frontier Field. As we were enjoying the music, snacks, and FREE chair massages (complements of Onandaga Massage School at Village Gate) at the finish line, and happy with our results (4 1/2 hours for 26.2 miles), we learned that we came in 2nd in the masters division (over 40). Our endorphins then doubled and lasted a good 24 hours after the race! Our combined years of 213 and our bodies let us realize the joy of completing a physical goal.

Don't forget to appreciate your body today. Look at what is does for you.

Next race for me? A 10k in Boston, MA on Oct. 12th with 10,000 women!

The Rochester Marathon

Hi everyone,
The Rochester Marathon is happening this Sunday, September 13, 2009.

This is a great event to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. I am participating in the Mixed Master Marathon Relay - each runner must be 40 or over to qualify. Our team consists of 4 women – Susan Blease, Jill MedVed, Cathy Henry, and Jill Bates. We will be running as the Massage on University team. Look for us.

I did this race last year and it was great fun. It is a beautiful course through parts of the city, and 12 miles running on the Erie Canal. The energy is unbelievable! It’s great to see the City of Rochester turn out to support this event.

Check out the race on Sunday and cheer on the runners!

Jill

A BRIDAL FASHION SPECIALISTS “PRAYER”

A BRIDAL FASHION SPECIALISTS “PRAYER”

HER GOWN IS BEAUTIFUL, IT LOOKS PRICEY
IT IS SIMPLE AND ELEGANT
IT IS DRAMATC WITH SPARKLE.

IF I JUST TUCK IT SOME HERE
TWEEK IT A LITTLE THERE
MOVE THIS OVER AND THAT UNDER
TAME IT DOWN OR BUILD IT UP
MAKE IT LAY DOWN OR MAKE IT STAY UP

SHORTEN IT, LENGTHEN IT, STITCH IT
SEW THE BEADS BACK ON, CUT THE STRAPS OFF
FLUFF IT, SMOOTH IT, STEAM OUT ALL THE WRINKLES.

YES! I DID CREATE A CUSTOM FIT.
GRACEFULLY AND EXPERTLY, IT IS PLACED ON THE HANGER.
I CARRY IT TO HER CAR AS IF IT IS A PRICELESS CRYSTAL VASE.

PLEASE GOD HELP ME SEE TO IT THAT HER GOWN IS ALL IT IS MEANT TO BE,
BOTH PHYSCALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

Gems of the Finger Lakes

Another busy weekend! My husband and I took some time to travel and visit quaint towns in the Finger Lakes region.

First stop was Skaneateles, NY. It is a beautiful town south east of Rochester NY. The name Skaneateles is an Iroquois word meaning long lake. The town sits on the north end of Skaneateles Lake – 16 miles long and one of the cleanest in the country. . The downtown district is historical, with buildings dating back to 1796. There are many quaint shops, restaurants, and bed & breakfasts. I had a great time browsing and shopping. I also took some time to do some running while in Skaneateles. It felt good to keep up my exercise routine. On a leisurely stroll, I came across a neat café, with an excellent cappuccino. The café reminded me of Italy.

After Skaneateles my husband and I headed to Hammondsport, Penn Yan and Watkins Glen. We stayed at a lovely rustic lodge on the water of Keuka Lake. It was great to sit outside near the water, taking in the ambience while enjoying wine and cheese. I even had the courage to take a dip in the lake – or maybe it was too much wine. What ever, I had a great time!

While touring these quaint towns I decided to test market my Châle (scarves). I did several cold calls at various boutiques. To my pleasant surprise, most of the shop owners I spoke with loved my Châle (scarves) and bought them outright!

When you visit the Finger Lakes region, stop in to these shops. The business owners were wonderful to work with! And, I believe in supporting local businesses. It is great for the community and the local economy.

Cheers for now……….Jill

Browsers
33 Shethar Street
Hammondsport, NY 14840
607.569.2497

Keuka Inspirations
http://www.keukainspirations.com/

Jane Morgans Little House
http://www.janemorganslittlehouse.com/

Client Weddings

OMG, where does the time go? I am blessed that I have a busy and full life. Time just seems to run away from me.

Anyway, two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending two weddings. The great thing about weddings is that the bride and groom can personalize them as they wish. Each wedding was a bridal client. The weddings were at different times, so I was fortunate enough to have time to enjoy each of the ceremonies. Both weddings were very different, and both were very lovely. It was exciting and fun for me as I got to see my hard work in action, and could take in the many commentaries of how the brides looked.

The first wedding was a Scottish wedding. How beautiful to see the Scottish heritage being honored at the wedding. The male wedding party wore kilts. Pretty neat to see here in America. There were Scottish bagpipes playing and Scottish traditional dancing. The bride and groom looked lovely. I think it’s great that cultural heritage is carried on from generation to generation. The wedding dress was special, as it was the brides mothers dress. Part of my alterations was to match up dress material today, to fabric from years ago. Part of my challenge and fun that comes with the business.

The second wedding was a traditional formal wedding. What I mean by that is that the bridal party attire consisted of formal wear – gowns and tuxedo’s. Again, another lovely wedding. The best part about weddings is when the bride and groom are really enjoying themselves. I had a lot of fun at the reception – dancing, laughing. It looked as if the bride and groom also were having fun.


It’s nice to attend client weddings. As I stated, I love to see my work in action. And, when I hear complements, I really feel good about what I offer and contribute to my clients on their special day.

Wedding Planners

The majority of my clients are brides-to-be. It is fun and exciting to work with them, as they are full of hope and dreams. And, they are giddy in-love!

The other side of that is that during the wedding planning process, I have witnessed how the brides-to-be have become nervous, anxious, uptight, and a little short-tempered. They take it upon themselves to plan everything! There is so much to plan and coordinate – the reception, flowers, music, seating, culinary delights, gifts, dresses, shoes – the list can go on and on. After a while the pressure begins to show.

I’m a firm believer in investing in a professional Wedding Planner. A lot of people think that Wedding Planners are an additional cost. In reality Wedding Planners are an investment. It is money well spent. Wedding Planners have inside access to vendors and hospitality sites. They have a wealth of knowledge. They know the ins and outs of negotiating. They have the relationships built with vendors so there is less time wasted on phone and email exchange. They are the experts in their field, have established relationships, and get the job done. Cost can be measured in time, money, and emotional well-being. With a professional Wedding Planner, the bridal party will save time, will save on emotional distraught, and ultimately will save money.

What better way to celebrate the day, knowing that someone else has taken care of all the details.

Amethyst Gemstone

This past weekend I was in Springfield Massachusetts for the East Coast Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show. In addition to my profession as a seamstress in formal wear, I am adding to my portfolio unique scarves known as Châle (Shă-lă). These scarves are made from luxurious natural fabrics with natural gemstones designed into them. Châle’s channel positive energy around and through individuals who wear them.

While at the gem and mineral show, I was enthralled with the amethyst, a beautiful naturally occurring gemstone from crystal quartz. The amethyst displays a variety of beautiful purple coloration caused by impurities of iron or manganese. The color is as unique as it is seductive. For thousands of years, amethyst has been the gemstone of royalty. The rich and powerful have worn it as a mark of rank for hundreds of years.

In popular Greek Mythology, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness. The Greek word amethystos, means not intoxicated. It was believed that Dionysus, the god of wine and song, was very angry and vowed to slay the first mortal who crossed his path. The unlucky mortal was Amethyst, a beautiful maiden. However, Artemis – goddess of virginity and the hunt – intervened and transformed Amethyst into white stone. When Dionysus saw what had happened, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining the top of it purple. That is why the top of amethyst is purple and the bottom is white.

Another variation of the Greek mythology is that the Goddess Diana transformed the beautiful young maiden, Amethyst, into a statue of pure quartz in an effort to protect her from vicious tigers. The god Bacchus, angry because of an insult, decreed that the first person he met would be eaten by his tigers. Diana transformed Amethyst into crystal when the tigers sprang in attack. In remorse, Bacchus poured the juice of his grapes over the stone as an offering, thus giving the gem its beautiful purple color. The Greeks believed that Amethyst would prevent intoxication, calm anger and relieve frustrated passion. Amethyst has been used throughout history to guard against drunkenness and is thought to be helpful in overcoming addiction. It has also been used for hearing disorders, insomnia, headaches, and other pains.

Folklore attributes amethyst to many supernatural powers in different cultures. It was believed to protect crops against tempests and locusts, protect against black magic and dissipate evil spirits.

Amethyst is noted for its sobering and cleansing effect. The amethyst powers include dreams, healing, peace, love, courage, and happiness. In Tibet there were amethyst rosaries, as the gemstone was dedicated to Buddha and was said to promote clarity of mind. Amethyst, when worn is believed to make the wearer of this beautiful gemstone calm, gentle, amiable, and to uplift one’s spirituality.

I can’t wait to start creating the Châle with the amethyst gemstone! I’m excited knowing that something so simple and beautiful can envelope one with calming, positive energy.

Donation of Prom Dresses

I am a firm believer in giving back to the community. If you are reading my blogs, you know that I am a very appreciative and grateful person.

I love my personal and business community and try to support and stay involved in local events. An event that is now underway is donation of new and gently used prom dresses. A Second Thought is asking for gown donations so that women with development disabilities can wear them at the 25th anniversary Heritage Christian Services Silver Anniversary Ball. Men’s formal wear donations will also be accepted.

This is a great way to make someone feel special. Donating the gown is also very responsible, as it is “green”. How wonderful to recycle the gowns for continued use rather than have them hang in a closet gathering dust. And, there is no better feeling than giving generously and unconditionally.

Brides, Technology, and the Internet!

What an interesting world we live in. I have been a part of a cultural transition. When I first started in the business of professional seamstress, everything was pretty much by the book. What I mean, is that there was not too much deviation from the norm. Brides wore very simple white gowns with white shoes. Selection was very limited. Most purchasing of bridal attire was done within a 60 mile radius. And, most parents had a say in the big event.

How times have changed. It is now a global world. Brides are more sophisticated and independent. They are no longer interested in the norm – residing inside the box. Brides are interested in making their own statement about their special day. Brides and their wedding party are doing researching over the internet. There are many bridal sites available online. A favorite with my clientele is the website The Knot. Brides are buying their gowns online, which gives me the opportunity to tailor them! Brides get wedding ideas, decorating ideas, beauty, accessories ideas, and much, much more. Dress styles for the bride, attendants, and mother of the bride can be found online. Tuxedos styles for the groom is also available online.

This age of technology makes it easy to send digital pictures of the varied wedding attire to remote users. When trying on gowns in a local shop, a friend can take a digital photo using their phone, and then send it over the internet for viewing and opinions! The technology goes on and on. Brides can express their joy or frustration on websites such as FaceBook and Twitter. They can even set up their own Blog to express all they feel during the wedding planning phase.

Talk about using technology to share with others. Did you see the YouTube video of the JK Wedding Entrance Dance? I thought it was awesome! Weddings and marriage should be about celebration and love. It was refreshing to see such a happy wedding party. How many weddings have you been to where everyone walks down the aisle, looking sullen and scared?

Colors - Bright, Beautiful Colors for Weddings

Back at work! I have to say I love my job. Working with women who are transitioning to a new life’s journey is fun. My clients keep me current on new technology and social trends.

One aspect of my business that is fun, is observing how color
transcends in the wedding party. Weddings are not just ‘bridal white’ anymore. More and more color is displayed in wedding parties. Brides and the bridal parties are wearing bold, fun colors. Some brides have bright sashes or colorful beads on their gowns while others wear brightly colored shoes.

Recent wedding parties are colorful and bright! The trend is in colors of green, orange, lime, yellow, and raspberry – fruit colors! These colors represent freshness, lightness, and refreshment. My clients often ask for my opinion on colors. What about purple and green? My answer is, “what a wonderful combination”. Purple and green represent nature. Purple is known for tranquility, while green is soothing and calm.

Of course, there are still the classical weddings of black and white attire, and regal weddings using the colors of purple, brown, and burgundy. These elegant wedding themes are always in style.

The BoilerMaker

On July 12th I was in Utica, NY for yet another 5K run. Again, the conditions for running could not be better - cool and sunny. This run is the famous “Boilermaker”. Runners – 10,000 runners – as far away as Africa and Europe participate in this run. If you run or know someone that does, you have got to get yourself to the Boilermaker. It is a 15K run. However, the race is also setup to accommodate 5K trainees – that would be me! I have my sights on the 15K for July 2011.

This event is incredible. There are so many spectators that you feel like you are a famous runner. The crowd is full of positive energy. You can feel it! At the intersections and in the parks there are rock bands playing live, a 12 piece bag pipe ensemble, cheers from spectators, people in costumes, people handing out water, people having fun everywhere. It’s a great way to get your endorphins charged. I met a runner at the post party and he was 75 years young! I guess I have a lot more years of running ahead of me. It is a place where everyone is excited for everyone. It is a little bit of Utopia in all our lives.

After the run there is a huge party with Nik and the Nice Guys playing. There is FREE BEER and sandwiches. Imagine a crowd of 20,000 people partying and drinking at 10:00am. It is all in fun and in the spirit of camaraderie. It’s great to see so many diverse people – age, size, race, and gender – all in one group. The race also has a wheelchair category. How inspirational to see all types of people competing.

Can you believe it? And, all this action is happening in little Utica, NY.

Okay, now back to reality. Monday morning July 13th I now prepare for the work world. I am thinking about all the finish lines I’ve crossed in the past week, and now I have to cross the most difficult one; the end of vacation. As I think back, I realize we all cross finish lines in some fashion or form. We all have to compete on some level, whether at work, home, friendships, or relationships. The best we can all do is to cross the finish line knowing that we did our best, with integrity and respect.

As I walk into my studio I feel a sense of joy to be back. I am here to help women look their best for their special day. It really is a Yin and Yang world. I loved time off and enjoying trips around the state. I also love to hear all about someone else’s joy. It gives one a boost. It is energy in a different form. I have learned that energy creates energy. Go out there and find yours!

Upstate NY

Tuesday July 7th, my family and I went to Lily Dale, a spiritualist community in Chautauqua County, New York. It is a charming town. It is a community where spiritualists, psychics, mediums, and healers commune. Everyone should experience the energy and spiritual gifts that Lily Dale has to offer. The day we visited Lily Dale the weather was perfect – cool, breezy, sunny. By the end of the day a huge black cloud surrounded by brilliant blue sky hovered over us. It was stunning to see. As dark as the cloud was, there were only a few raindrops.

The country side of upstate NY is breathtaking. I feel it is a hidden gem. If you talk to non-upstaters’, they think NY is New York City – skyscrapers and cement! There is such beautiful country between Buffalo and Utica, in addition to Adirondack State Park

Mid week- I checked out my studio and the dresses were all patiently waiting my return.

Thurs. July 9th we are in Utica, NY in these cute little cabins on West Canada Creek. The weather is 5K running weather. Not too hot, not too muggy. We do a short warm up run on Fri. to prepare ourselves for The Boilermaker on Sunday.

A Tri in the Buff

On my 3rd day of vacation – July 5th at 7:00am – I was standing in line to compete in the “A tri in the Buff”. The “A tri in the Buff” is a triathlon consisting of a one mile swim, a fifteen mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run. The teams can be 2 or 3 people. I entered the competition with my sister. We appropriately named our team, “The Seesters”. My sister did the swim and bike portion of the relay, I did the run. We came in FIRST PLACE! We beat the “Pasta 911” team – a much younger team. I need to boast about this because I am a late comer to this athletic world. It was thrilling to receive our award and have our name announced to a sold out crowd. My sister and I were high on life realizing what we had accomplished. AND, I accomplished this after running in a 5K the day before in Brighton, and celebrating with the family – plenty of food and several glasses of wine. Not to mention that I didn’t have much sleep prior to the “A tri in the Buff”.

I started running for my health. I realized that I needed to take care of myself and to set healthy personal goals. Winning awards is an additional morale booster and unexpected fun! I have to recognize and thank my personal trainer, Elizabeth. She has been an inspiration to me. (Elizabeth thinks she has created a monster). Anyway, let me tell you about Elizabeth. She won 2nd place in the Brighton Firecracker Run and 3rd place in the “A tri in the Buff” Olympic competition. Elizabeth was her own relay team; she did all three events herself. She is training for the Boston Marathon, Spring 2010. We are going to Washington, DC in October 2009 so she can run in the Marine Corps Marathon to qualify for Boston. In October, I will be her trainer and coach.

Thank heavens for massage therapists. After running in two back-to-back 5K’s, I desperately needed a massage to soothe my achy muscles. I recommend massages. They are very therapeutic and aide in releasing toxins from the body. Check them out sometime: Massage on University

My Vacation - Part 1!

In the beginning of July, I took a week off from work. It was great to take life at a slower pace. I didn’t feel rushed or feel the need to be constantly busy. And, I cannot understand why everyone is complaining about the weather. This is great weather for running – something I love to do! I ran in three 5K races during my ten days of vacation. Two of the 5K’s were back-to-back.


I spent my entire vacation in beautiful upstate New York. I was born in New York State and love it. I think more people should take the time to travel the Finger Lakes Region .
It is wonderful to explore this region – so much to offer.

My vacation started with the Brighton Firecracker 5K on July 4th in Brighton, NY. I am proud to say that I ran with a time just under 11 min. per mile – my all time best thus far. After the race, I went to a family party. It was a great party on a fabulous sunny day, free of mugginess. As all family parties go, there was plenty of food and more importantly great community with family, friends, and loved ones. Although it was sunny, the temperature was a little chilly. I didn’t go in the pool, but the young ones didn’t seem to be bothered by it - they had a ball.

The following day family and friends gathered in Irving, NY to celebrate my mom’s 85th birthday, which is July 4th. No one ever forgets her birthday! Mom was busy cooking and baking for all of us – my sibling, grandkids, spouses, and even the dogs! Well, she didn’t bake for the dogs but they were there when a little something accidentally fell on the floor.

Spending time with family and friends helps me to realize how blessed I am. What a wonderful life; full of love and gratitude!

Independence

Happy 4th of July! Also, known as Independence Day. This weekend friends and families will get together for picnics, family reunions, parades, all the fun summer things we enjoy. I want to take the time now to remind myself and everyone to think about the word Independence. Independence is very special to me. It is a positive word. Really think about it, do you appreciate your independence? Do we really think about it on a daily basis? I don’t think I do, although I practice it on a daily basis and in my life.

It is great to live where I want, with whom I want, and do the activities and social things I enjoy. I can have my own business or I can work for someone else. I can earn any amount of money I want or I can do volunteer work and give my time and money to whatever cause interests me. I can buy anything I want from anywhere around the world. I can eat what I want anywhere at any time, and have a selection of food and drink that is endless. I can choose what time I want to sleep, play, and work. I can wear what I want and pray what and when I want. I can choose a mate, or remain single. I can disagree with figureheads, and leaders. I can protest war and I can protest for peace.

As I stated; think about your independence. It is something we tend to take for granted, but we use it every day, all the time, whenever we do anything. I am taking the time now to appreciate my independence. I really do like knowing that here in America I have choices. I can do what I want, when I want. How great is that? For some, choices can be over whelming, but we have the independence to make choices. Happy Birthday America! I am hugging our country and my independence this weekend. Would you care to join me?