A Little Piece of Itay

This evening I was honored to be a part of annual Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA.) JCCIA serves as a congress for more than 65 Italian American organizations and are part of a host of good deeds and scholarships. My hubby is Italian and so are the Aceto's who are the directors (and the best!)of the Mrs. Illinois America pageant. I walked the runway with Mona Savard who is the wife of hockey great, Denis Savard. What a fantastic lady. Julie Aceto and I were kept busy beforehand trying on all the wares from the many boutiques which were part of the evening event. Love my new sunglasses Julie. Now, if only we could cue the sun to show...
1) Drury
2)Mona and me pre-catwalk

Shriners-Well, not today.

I have been invited to walk the runway in Oak Brook to help raise funds for the Medinah Shriners. The Shriners will always be close to my heart as they have been since I was a teen. Through the Shriners Hospital for Children, they fund medical research and treatment to children up to 18 years old regardless of their ability to pay. Years ago I was able to tour their Chicago hospital and the work they were doing then and what they are accomplishing now, is miraculous. NOW, for the funny part.I arrived to find I arrived on the wrong month!Turns out, I should be there in May. It all worked out though. The Aceto's were down the road with Mrs. Illinois Zara Johnson, Miss Teen Illinois All-American Maddie Sell and Miss Young Teen Illinois All-American Kennedy Neiwolny. They were busy meeting and greeting at Brizan Couture. Zara filled me in on her time at Mrs. America and we were able to watch the girls try on some fantastic dresses at Brizan. Lisa Neiwolny was also there so we all were able to catch up and get a group shot.

Go Illinois!

Mrs. Illinois 2011, Zara Johnson has spent the last two weeks in West Virginia at the reknowned and renovated Greenbrier Resort. She, along with 50 other women are competing for Mrs. America, which has kept them just a little busy. Zara has been golfing, fishing, building homes and rehearsing. She also says she has been having the time of her life there. Zara is one of those women you meet and immediate love. She has this incredible grace about her and a presence. As a wife, mother and grandmother, Zara is someone very special for the Mrs. Illinois family. Here's to you Zara! Good Luck!

Mr. CASAnova

I was asked to judge the annual Mr. CASAnova contest at Lake Forest College. It is organized by the Theta sorority and one of the college's largest student fundraisers. The Theta's national platform is CASA and their efforts were a large success. Although I was forewarned this was a college event containing men in swimsuits, I could not refuse a chance to see just how creative theynwould get to raise money for abused and neglected children. We judged opening number, swim, talent, evening wear and on stage questions AND it was a blast.
1)Rehearsals
2)The winner

A Strut with Purpose

This weekend I was asked to be a part of the annual fundraising fashion show for the Naperville Junior Women's Club. I gotta tell you, it is a little uneasy to hit the catwalk with professional models who are 6 feet tall and a 110 lbs;) But that is why they are the professionals and I am SOO not. But who could turn down a chance to assist the NJWC who helps provide programs for the homeless in DuPage County. Given these economic times, their efforts are needed more than ever as people get back on their feet again.

Watch Out Wisconsin!

Easter is fairly late this year, which means Spring Break for schools are all over the place. We opted to avoid the crowds of a destination such as Disney and stayed closer to home. Still, it's been cold, rainy and sometimes snowy here in Chicago. That's why we packed up the kids and headed to the Wisconsin Dells. I have never been to the Dells, but they have these enormous indoor water parks within a dozen or so resorts. John was heading out to D.C. and had a couple of big cases hitting so, we left him behind, but brought Monica and Jennifer with us for extra fun and supervision. We picked the Kalahari (the indoor park is 6-football fields large!) and proceeded to wear out the kids for a couple of days on the water slides, go-karts and arcade games. Ah, what we do for our children;)