Meet & Greet with the Miss Torrid hopefuls

Last night, Judy of Photo Artistry by Judy and I set in on the “Meet and Greet” with the thirty-some girls interested in entering the first Miss Torrid Pageant. They were all different ages and from different backgrounds. The really neat thing was that the very “first” Miss Torrid was sitting right there in the room. Of course, she hasn’t been picked yet. The girls have about five weeks to get their sponsors and registration fee turned in just to be a part of the pageant.

It is very exciting to be in the beginning planning stages of an event. The staff at Torrid is working really hard to make this a fun event for the girls. Both Judy and I agreed that we will attend the pre-events as they come up and as our schedules permit.

The staff at Torrid is still working on the venue for the pageant. It will tentatively be at the North Side High School Auditorium on Sunday, July 20, 2008 (at 7pm). So as the details are written in stone, I will share the information. This should be a very exciting pageant for all to attend.

Bridal Breakfast at the Monogram Shoppe

I had a fun morning with the ladies at The Monogram Shoppe in Covington Plaza yesterday. They had a bridal breakfast as the kickoff to the Mindy Weiss collection. Sara arranged for a “donut cake” from Krispy Kreme donuts at Jefferson Pointe. The store even matched the “tiffany blue” color from that is used in the Mindy Weiss wedding assortment. The “cake” was almost too cute to eat. I hope that you had a chance to stop by the shop to see the new collection. They have some delightful items for brides.

Toasting Tips tonight

Tonight is the March session of Bridal Academy. I am very excited about sharing my presentation on “Toasting Tips” to Brides and their guests.

Too many “Best Men” and “Maid’s of Honor” have fallen victim to too little preparation and practice before they spill their guts and their champagne in some cases for the bridal toast. I know that public speaking is one of the biggest fears so I hope that the tips I share this evening get passed on to all who need preparing for hopefully only five minutes or less of speaking praises to the new bride and groom.

Hope to see you there!

The Lincoln Museum Closing

The Lincoln Museum Closing

Fort Wayne got the shocking news that The Lincoln Museum will close to the public on June 30, 2008. Not only will Fort Wayne lose one of the most comprehensive collections of Abraham Lincoln history, we will also lose a site where many couples celebrated their wedding.

Many couples selected the Museum for the upscale down-town feel with a wonderful touch of history. Over the years, many of our Megasound Brides and Grooms got the double benefit of The Lincoln Museum for their most special day.

Once the “formal” parts of receptions were completed, guests could dance with the newlyweds or take a stroll through the Lincoln historical exhibits. The Museum offered self-guided tours as well as Docents who provided group tours during the evening.

After June 30th, couples will only be able to point to an empty building and say “that is where we had our wedding reception.”

From a historic stand point, hopefully, the Lincoln Foundation will be able to partner with other local museums such as The History Center to keep some of “Abe’s stuff” local. Traveling exhibits are wonderful for the masses. Let’s hope that Downtown Improvement District has the forethought to find someone to reopen the building to better serve wedding couples or repurpose the structure to keep the downtown area full of life.

"I Will Survive"

This day, in 1979, the song "I Will Survive," by Gloria Gaynor topped the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks. Some people dislike the song as something that is whiney and harsh; while others see the song as gaining realization and strength when the one they loved left them.

Even after 29 years, dancers still flock to the dance floor and sing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. People tend to identify with certain songs and even make them their personal anthem.

I guess that I like the version of the song that came out a few years ago on the internet with the “disco alien” singing her heart out. Any way that you look at it the song gives people a reason to get up off their seats and dance. Isn’t that the most important thing?

Daylight Savings Time

Since today we “spring ahead” for Daylight Savings Time in this part of Indiana, I thought that it would appropriate to think about songs that have to do with “time.” Over the last twenty-plus years of playing music at weddings and events, it is pretty interesting that there are so many songs about time. This list includes just a few of the titles and artists that I have actually played at events. Of course, there are songs that reference time in their lyrics and that list could go on forever.

“Time after Time” by Cyndi Lauper
“Summertime” by Will Smith
“Forever and Ever, Amen” By Randy Travis
“As Time goes by” by Al Martino
“Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley
“Yesterday” by the Beatles
“Twilight Time” by the Platters
“Walking after Midnight” by Patsy Cline
“Manic Monday” by the Bangles
“After Midnight” by Eric Clapton

"Miss Torrid Meeting"

Miss Torrid 2008

Judy (Photo Artistry by Judy) and I had a great first meeting with Jama from Torrid at the mall last night. Judy and I will be working together with Jama on the first “Miss Torrid” Pageant that will take place on Sunday, July 20, 2008.

This event is set up with a stylish pageant format. This will be a great opportunity for girls in the Fort Wayne and surrounding area as the winner will also have her portfolio submitted to “America’s Next Top Model.”

More details are coming soon so I will share the updates as I get them.

“A Complaint Free World”

I was asked to share a follow up about the “Complaint Free World” bracelet. I wear my bracelet almost every day as a reminder that constant complaining is bad for me.

Ideally, it would be great to live a life where everyday:
“I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong

We are faced with daily choices and we decide how we make our lives and our world around us. We each must find our own way to make our life more positive and “complaint-free.” I enjoy and find strength in music. I thought about how our lives are filled with positive messages through music and came up with a few examples to share:

1. “In every life we have some trouble. When you worry you make it double”
(Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFarren)
2. “Cause when you worry--Your face will frown--And that will bring everybody down”
(Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFarren)
3. “Eliminate the negative--Latch on to the affirmative”
(Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive by Ella Fitzgerald)
4. “You've got to spread joy up to the maximum--Bring gloom down to the minimum”
(Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive by Ella Fitzgerald)
5. “There are miracles in life I must achieve…But first I know it starts inside of me”
(I Believe I can fly by R. Kelly)
6. “Just whistle while you work (whistle)…And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place”
(Whistle while you work from Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs)
7. “There's no load I can't hold…Road so rough, this I know”
(Life is a Highway by Tom Cochran or Rascal Flatts)
8. “Can you practice what you preach…And would you turn the other cheek”
(Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas)
9. “If your life was bad to you…Just think what tomorrow will do”
(Don’t Stop by Christine McVie)
10. “When you get so sick of trying…Just hold tight to your dream”
(Hold on Tight by ELO)

Now, I have been accused of being “too happy.”
Maybe they were really just jealous that positive bubble was bigger than theirs.
I am willing to share my positive vibe “so come along for the ride.”
(Good Vibrations by Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch)