'Tis the Season

The holidays are a great time to reflect on what the year has brought us and what goals we have for the upcoming year. It is also a great time to help those in need. There are so many little things we can all do to help those around us.

This year my husband and I chose to make a donation to the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation. As we were bringing out the winter coats and putting away things from warmer weather we noticed several items of clothing, sporting equipment and small electronics we no longer use. We bagged it all up and gave it to Purple Heart. Hopefully this small act will make a difference for someone who needs it.

Haute Holidays for the Hounds

This past Sunday I attended "Haute Holidays for the Hounds" to benefit the Washington Humane Society. The event was held at Bloomingdales in Chevy Chase. For a donation of $15 participants were able to take a holiday photo with Santa or Frosty the Snowman.

The human participants were treated to cupcakes from Hello Cupcake and the Dogs were treated to Yummy treats from Barkley Square Bakery .

A Grooming Station to spruce up before the photos was provided by Karing by Kristina. The event was a great success and fun was had by all!

Lorraine Aprile Salon

The Lorraine Aprile Salon is located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Located in a beautiful Victorian home that dates back to the 1830's. The staff at the Lorraine Aprile Salon make you feel welcome the moment you walk in the door. From the complimentary coffee to the warm fireplace the salon is a wonderful escape from the stresses of everyday life.

I had the pleasure of working with Lorraine and Jessica for my Mrs. Alexandria makeover. As you can see above they made wonderful decisions about my color and cut and executed them brilliantly.

Top Photo: my before shot

Middle Photo: My after shot with Stylist Jessica Marson

Bottom Photo: Lorraine Aprile

Holiday Tea

Friday I attended a Holiday Tea at Ann Hand to benefit Innocents at Risk. The event was hosted by Kate Marie Grinold, Miss DC.

Kate Marie will be competing at the Miss America Pageant this January! Her platform is "Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking".

For this event we were asked to bring gifts for teens ages 11-17. The gift requests were for very basic things we all take for granted, to help make their Christmas a little special. The children we brought gifts for are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation.

Innocents at Risk is a 501 (c) (3) that is working to put an end to child sexual exploitation and modern-day slavery.

(Pictured above, top; Kate Marie Grinold, Miss DC with Deborah Sigmond, Founder of Innocents at Risk; bottom photo Me with Andrea Rodgers of Ask Miss A)

Some Recent Press

Meet Mrs. Alexandria - Article written by Local Kicks.

Ask Miss A - Andrea Rodgers discusses her events this week.
In addition to attending her Holiday Happy earlier this week I will be making an official appearance at her Pink Party to benefit the Children's Miracle Network on Saturday.

Pet Photos with Santa

Last weekend Barkley Square hosted Pet Photos with Santa to benefit the Washington Humane Society. The event was a blast and everyone who came had a memorable experience and got a photo to keep for the memories!

If you missed this past weekend's event you can join us this Sunday, December 14th – 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Bloomingdale’s, Chevy Chase, Haute Holidays for the Hounds to benefit WHS. With a $15 donation to WHS celebrate your canine best friend and the holidays, by pampering your pooch with gourmet cookies and holiday photos. Bloomingdale’s , 5300 Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.

I will be there with one of Barkley’s Famous Bark Bars and a grooming station to pamper your pooch.

Here are some photos from last Sunday’s event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/washhumane/sets/72157610937130836/

Stress Reduction

One of my sponsors for the upcoming Mrs. Virginia United States 2009 Pageant is Isobreathing. Isobreathing is able to help me in my pageant preperation because in addition to several fitness DVDs, Owner and Creator, Ellen Miller (pictured above), has developed a Total Body Relaxation CD.

As I am preparing for the upcoming competition, working full time, caring for my husband and pets as well as working with the local animal shelters, I find stress can easily creep into my life. Listening to the 15 minute Total Body Relaxation CD helps ease my tension and reduce my stress level.

Earlier today I had the pleasure of listening to Ellen (who by the way is my mom) speak about stress reduction on Blog Talk Radio with The Coffee Lady. The conversation and some secrets to relaxation can be heard here.

This was not her first conversation on The Coffee Lady's show. You can also hear her speak on Weight Loss here.

Scottish Walk Marketplace to benefit The Campagna Center

I just finished taking a walk around the beautiful Masonic Temple and checked out all of the great vendors at the Scottish Walk Marketplace. 18% of all sales from this weekend will be donated to The Campagna Center.

I have to mention that Barkley Square and Karing by Kristina had a wonderful display designed by our friend Joyce Frank. Barkley is selling Holiday Dog Treats, Scottish Kilts, Doggie Bling, Juicy Couture, dog beds and more. (see picture above with owner Kristina Robertson)

Some of my favorite vendors include:

The Sugar Cube, which has a darling shop in Old Town that makes you reminisce about childhood with some of their retro candies.

The Patricia Palermino Studio, with their contemporary folk art.

Catalyst Tea Enhancers, with their innovative gourmet spice blends.

and Magical Monograms, I particularly liked their houndstooth items (Roll Tide!)

For more information on the Scottish Walk Weekend click here.

Shopping Event to Support Doorways

I am looking forward to attending a Shopping Event tomorrow at the Crate and Barrel in Arlington. The event will be benefiting Doorways for Women and Families.

I hope you will join me!

Here are the details:

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The Market Common
2800 Clarendon Boulevard Arlington, VA

Join the holiday shopping fun at an exclusive event at the Crate and Barrel Clarendon Market Common Store to benefit Doorways for Women and Families. Save your holiday shopping and major furniture and rug purchase for December 3! 10% of Crate and Barrel purchases that evening will go to Doorways!

For Ticket Purchase

Fashion for Paws Event

Recently, I attended an event hosted by Capitol File Magazine at the Tommy Hilfiger store in Georgetown. A portion of the evening's purchases went to support the Washington Humane Society's Fashion for Paws Event. Fashion for Paws will be held this year Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the Embassy of Italy 3000 Whitehaven St NW Washington, DC 20008.

Last year my company Barkley Square outfitted all of the doggie models at the Fashion for Paws event.

At Tommy Hilfiger I noticed some very cute Argyle sweaters which are a perfect match for the doggie argyle sweater we have at Barkley Square.

The event was a great success and we ran into several old friends as well as made some new ones, including Advisory Chair for Fashion for Paws, Tara DeNicolas; Miss DC, Kate Marie Grinold; Miss Teen DC, Jasmine Alexis; Katherine Kennedy and Andy Baldwin.

Mrs. Virginia United States 2009

Join me as I prepare for the Mrs. Virginia United States 2009 Competition. On this blog I will be posting information about my platform "Adopt a Pet" and the organizations I am involved with to support my platform. I will also be sharing information on my community involvement as well as information on my wonderful sponsors.