Fox Bash 4 - Party for The Smile Train

Whew.... I am finally returning to a world of normalcy after the successful completion of our 4th fundraiser for The Smile Train. It's a lot of work but we are really making a difference for so many kiddos!

The Smile Train repairs cleft lip and palate for children in the US and abroad and is one of the most cost efficient charities out there. They are able to complete an entire surgery for only $250. If you take the time to look at some of the before and after pictures, it's truly amazing what this surgery does for people. 45 minutes and $250 can absolutely be the difference in leading a normal life or not. 

I've mentioned it before, but our oldest was born with cleft lip and palate. When she was diagnosed in utero, we began to research the condition and discovered how widespread - and how treatable! - it is. We've been personal donors to The Smile Train now for 10+ years and a few years ago we decided to combine our loves of Halloween and this charity to host an annual fundraiser. The first three years raised a combined total of about $30,000. This year's party raised about $13,400! That means that a few hours of a goofy house party will pay for complete procedures for 53+ kids. The event in general has now raised $43,000+, enough to cover 173 surgeries. That number is humbling and hard to believe but seriously, amazing. So blessed and thankful to be able pay it forward.

She's always been gorgeous!

Such a beautiful young lady, inside and out!

So, I thought I'd share a few pics from the event! We tent in our driveway (and put in a heating system, it was below freezing this year!) and hope that the neighbors are tolerant of the noise. Hey, it's for da kids!! :)

Part of the setup crew, taking a break!

Our costumes! We love dressing up! LOL!

One of the things that's SO much fun is that everyone dresses up! Seriously. There are always so many people that go ALL out and we always look so forward to seeing what everyone wears!

Our neighbors that dressed as us! LMAO!

The hubs in his trunks assaulting my BFF! LOL!

Nappy Roots on stage to close out the night!

We do a complete silent auction and have live music, a photo booth (the pictures are here!), snacks and drinks, etc. Each year we learn SO much about hosting an event like this and I'd be so happy to share my knowledge - and mistakes! - with anyone who is wanting to do something similar. Please feel free to email me any questions! I would be so so so happy to help!!

If you are inspired and want to make a completely tax deductible donation on our fundraising page, that would be amazing! If not, that's fine, too, but please be sure to find some way to give back. We are all so blessed in so many ways if we take a minute to look at our lives objectively. There's some way you can reach out that can seriously be the difference in a person's life! Find it!! :)

Weekend Recap!

What a crazy and busy weekend!! We started out with a fun date night on Friday. Awesome dinner at Hammerheads (review coming soon!) and from there we went to a fun fashion event, The Luxe Men's Fashion Experience, benefitting Blessings in a Backpack. So... what to wear??

* Richard Chai Silk Romper
* Alan Anderson necklace
* Marc Jacobs clutch
* Calvin Klein thigh high boots

Quick drink at Baxter's on the way!

This two night event showcased current fashion trends and highlighted Louisville businesses. The second night was an all-menswear show and was divided into segments covering various lifestyle looks - from suits to casual to shirtless. One of the best parts was listening to the women in the audience hooting over the models! Good times! LOL!

A couple of women showing the men how it's done!

An interesting presentation of fashion via light effects

Topless finale ;)

Mr. Style Icon himself, and event mastermind, Andre Wilson

Saturday consisted of University of Louisville football then a Teen Beach Movie recreation on our driveway... OMG. This turned into a make-your-own movie experience that needs to be edited then shared. These kids are such hams! LOL!

Sunday saw the start of cheer season for my little one. I hate - HATE - cold weather and I'm always so glad to have all of the girls' events to keep us busy and make the fall and winter fly! She's the youngest member on a Junior Level 2 team this year and has worked so hard at mastering all of her new skills! They rocked it out and won first place! So proud and so much fun! 

Always so silly! LOL

And now it's suddenly Monday again! Lots of subscription box review coming this week! Hope everyone has an amazing Monday!! :D

LA and Emmys Trip, Day Three - EMMYS DAY! :D

Be sure to enter my October mini makeover giveaway while you're here! :D

On to day three of this crazy rushed trip to LA, Emmys day! If you missed the start of this adventure, you can read days one and two to catch up! 

I woke up on the morning of the Emmys feeling like... OMG, feeling like I was dying. I shouldn't have had that last cake martini the night before, that was a given, but it was more than that. I was sick :( Sore throat, snotty nose, head fully stuffed up. We got some breakfast and I went back to bed. I crawled out of bed around noon, loaded up on everything hubs had gathered at CVS, and the show went on! 

Obviously, a huge - HUGE - issue here is WHAT TO WEAR. OMG... If you've been following this journey, you've seen some of my hits and misses. There were many, many more that never were shared. I had such a hard time with this one. Hubby told me to go for it and get anything I wanted. Yes, that is absolutely perfect and exactly what you want your man to feel and say, but what do you do? You could spend $15k on a dress and there are still going to be people there with NEXT year's $20k (or $50k or $100k) dress that is not even for sale yet. You can go the safe route and buy something "pretty" for a couple hundred dollars but is that really maximizing the opportunity to wear something fab?? Nope. Some of the fails....

I came up with an idea that was seriously put together at the last minute. I had a gorgeous Alexander McQueen dress from a couple of seasons ago that I had never worn. Beautiful, but it needed... SOMETHING. I enlisted my mom to make me a massive tutu. After a couple of phone conersations and lots of texting and pictures, she whipped it up (mostly from scraps that she already had!) and mailed it to me. It was PERFECT. I knew it would be! She has been the creator of my insanity for literally decades at this point. If only they would let us go on Project Runway as a TEAM... Haha!! 

So, without further ado, here's what I wore:

Custom tutu explosion

Dress by Alexander McQueen

Valentino Rockstud clutch, at Saks here

Louboutin Lady Peep Spikes,  limited edition crystal heel, simliar style sans crystals available here 

Love love love. LOVE. It was absolutely a sensation. I had countless people stop me to fawn over it. Every head turned. People who have and have seen everything were full of compliments. I caught at least a dozen people taking pictures after we had walked by. One woman breathlessly asked "is it couture????" Um... No. But it is one of a kind, whipped up from scraps on an Arkansas basement sewing machine! LOL! I felt like crap but, boy, that was a fun dress to wear!! 

Makeup and prep was minimal, which is my tendency. I declined the offer of having "Hollywood hair and makeup stylists" come to the hotel to fix me up and just did it myself! People have a way of royally screwing up curly hair anyways.... Here's the gist of my look:

* Infinity Sun Self Tanner from Summer FabFitFun
* stila eye kit from PopSugar Fall Style
* Great Lash mascara
* Julep Karmen polish from September Maven
* Benetint cheek tint from July Ipsy Bag

Thank goodness for subscription boxes, yeah?? LOL!

I am in love with this light pink glitter eyeshadow! 

Quick selfie in our sh*tty room! ;)

The limo picked us up at 1:45 and dropped us off at the red carpet entrance. This is the part where most people have a panic attack. Not us! Bring it on!! :D 

We walked the carpet then met a driver who took us by golf cart to the Convention Center for a sneak peek of the Governor's Ball and a private cocktail party. 

Kitchen in full swing! Prepping 7,000 plates!

Just gorgeous

After a couple of drinks, it was back on the golf cart and to the red carpet for real! The stars were out this time! So fun!! 

Back entrance to red carpet with our VIP host! Behind the scenes view of the camera crews!

OMG... PACKED and crazy!

Jane Lynch

Claire Danes coming off E! stage, John Hamm in white tux
  

Who are these stars??? ;)

Michael J. Fox and wifey!

Will Arnett! Woot!

Rob Reiner and Kerry Washington (in breathtaking Marchesa! *sigh*)

We got settled in for the show and thoroughly enjoyed it! We had heard horror stories about how LONG it lasts but it was fun! The worst part was not having anything to eat or drink. Some water and a couple of snacks and it would have been golden!

Bathrooms "sponsored" by L'Oreal, stocked with lots of free goodies! Love! 

And whole event sponsored by Target! Definitely LOVE! ;)

Quick pic inside

Settled in with big thick programs! 

So excited to see Elton John! We had never seen him before!

LOVED the big production numbers!

Will Ferrell and his kids... hahahaha!

After the show we walked in the crowd back to the Governor's Ball. By this time, the Convention Center was PACKED. 4,000 people I think? We had a nice meal and a few fun celebrity encounters! 

Build your own gourmet candy boxes from Marich! 

Love Conrad Bachmann! It's a Louisville party! :D

Yay Buster! And I got to hold an Emmy! Score! 

Dancers providing Gaga-like ambiance

Hard rockin' all girl string quartet!

And, just like that, it was time to call it a night. We packed up our swag (all our freebies AND our attitudes! LOL) and headed back to the limo. SO much fun, LA! Until next time!! XOXO