Here are pictures from my book signing for The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men at Nordstrom’s Holiday Shopping Party! The event was incredibly fun and festive with sparkling decorations, bands playing favorites, champagne, and fancy hors d’oeuvres. In the spirit of the season, Nordstrom asked me to wear a holiday cocktail dress. Not like I needed an excuse:) I loved meeting everyone there!
EVENT ALERT
The bubbles in champagne tickle the tongue and transfer wonderful aromas to the nose.
What: I will be signing copies of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men at Nordstrom’s Holiday Shopping Party! It’s a wonderful event. You can shop while enjoying complimentary gourmet refreshments and live music. The party will be open to those who have Nordstrom’s credit or debit cards, and their guests. I look forward to meeting all of you who attend!
When: Wednesday, November 30th at 7:30PM
RSVP at 1.866.543.4206
Where: Nordstrom – 100 Bellevue Square, Bellevue WA 98004
Upon scanning any newspaper in any US city, it’s clear that we live in a hyper-partisan country, but today we pause to join with family and friends—regardless of their beliefs—to be grateful for what we have. There was also partisanship in this land at the first Thanksgiving, but the camaraderie of diverse parties made it possible.
The Mayflower Pilgrims who sailed to the New World in 1620 were Christians who had fled England because of religious intolerance. The voyage was difficult. The first winter in the New World was dire. Nearly half of the Pilgrims died, and the survivors debated returning to England. Then one afternoon, while Captain Miles Standish was contemplating defense plans in the event of an Indian attack, Samoset, an Indian, came to them. He wanted to help, and was able to converse in broken English he had learned from a British sea captain who made an earlier trip. Samoset told them of Squanto, another Indian, who spoke English well.
Governor William Bradford explained in his memoir, “Of Plymouth Plantation,” that Squanto had been kidnapped, brought to England, and sold into slavery, but he was rescued, educated, and taken home. Squanto taught the Pilgrims farming, fishing, and how to make peace with local Indian tribes. In the fall of 1621, they reaped a bountiful harvest. In gratitude, they invited the Indians to a three-day feast and thanked God, Samoset, and Squanto. They did not believe that those Indians came to their rescue by accident.
Squanto died from a fever in 1622, and, as Governor Bradford wrote, gave all his possessions to the Pilgrims “as remembrances of his love.” Squanto could have been bitter over what happened to him. He could have withheld his help and even incited war between the Indians and Pilgrims. Instead, he buried the wrongs some Englishmen had committed against him, was thankful for his blessings, and helped them.
Despite the strong differences of opinion in our country, we can be thankful for having the longest enduring nation of free men and women governing themselves, and the potential to create an even greater nation than we have ever been. Everyone faces hard times, but everyone has experiences to be thankful for, and many of them come from others, just as the Pilgrims’ blessings came from the Indians.
There are many things that I am thankful for. One of them is Thanksgiving. Another is all of you!
While I was in LA, I had the opportunity to speak at UCLA’s Tri Delta. The girls were excited to discuss Europe, and either anticipate or reminisce about their study abroad adventures.
I’ve spoken at several universities. Before UCLA, I went to WSU. The girls sent me this adorable card!
Jackie, the girl who arranged for my WSU event, sent me this note. I’ve been extremely impressed at how many people have written me thank you notes after book signings. I really appreciate it and LOVE meeting you all!
Thank you to everyone who supported me at Bellevue Club’s Holiday Bazaar! I met so many great people—from single girls wanting to read the romantic stories in my book or planning a trip abroad, to parents and grandparents getting The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men as gifts. My book means a lot to me. It’s based on my experiences and those of friends. We all had a terrific time in Europe and want to promote positive relations with those from other cultures and countries.
To kick off the holiday season, these girls sang carols. Some of them were preparing to leave for Europe and got my book for their upcoming adventures.
This mom with the adorable baby is married to a European man. She got my book for a single friend.
This is Gary. He said that he went to the Club’s hardest step class before getting a copy of my book signed as a gift. I saw others come out of that class looking like they had been run over by a Mack truck, but not Gary!
EVENT ALERT
What: I’m signing copies of The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men at Bellevue Club’s Holiday Bazaar! After all, a man can definitely spice up the mistletoe madness. At the Bazaar, festivities will be in full force…and admission is FREE. There will be over 100 venders featuring jewelry, purses, clothing, paintings, glasswork, wine, floral arrangements, and—one of my personal favorites—books! Guests will enjoy complimentary hot cocoa, gift wrapping, and a photo booth, as well as caroling by the Seattle Children’s Chorus. I would LOVE to see you there!
When: Saturday, November 5th from 9AM-3PM
Where: Bellevue Club Gymnasium/11200 SE 6th Street, Bellevue WA 98004
This is a private club; however, the bazaar is open to everyone.
I just returned from a slew of NYC book events and meetings. I learned that The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men sold out in every Manhattan Barnes & Noble store! One of the managers ordered more copies while I was with him. That’s good because New York is like calling all Europeans. I got to know so many there!
People say that this is the city that never sleeps…I say it’s the city that never stops having fun.
Times Square is like Disney World for adults with all of the lights and street performers.
Some B&N stores in NYC are HUGE! I’ve done events at stores in several states and the people are normally chill, but in New York, everyone hustles and bustles around the books. I felt like we should bring a band and start a dance party!
The M&M World was my favorite place to take a break between meetings.
While in town, I met great people from Africa, India, Australia, Israel, Europe, and, of course, America. A lady from Australia tweeted requesting that I make a video about how to meet and greet guys in different European countries. I took the opportunity to work on it here. These are some of the Spaniards I met. They want all you traveling girls to know that they would like to wine and dine you in their country:)
I’m a strong believer in having balance in life. Fortunately, TKTS sells half price tickets to Broadway shows the day of. Since meetings were constantly being added to my scheduled, this worked out perfectly. A friend and I got Spiderman tickets less than an hour before the show and lucked out with great seats. The performance was awesome with characters flying out into the audience on ropes.
I couldn’t leave town without seeing the Tony-award winning musical Memphis!
Here are pictures from my Meeting European Men book event at Washington State University’s Chi Omega. It benefited Make-A-Wish Foundation, the sorority’s philanthropy. The WSU girls have been able to grant two wishes. They said that it was an amazing experience to see the children’s happiness when they learned that their wishes would come true. The chapter wants to be able to grant a third one this year. I hope that my benefit helps make that happen!
This weekend, I attended a cosmetics trend show. It was a fashion show where models showcased the hottest cosmetic products while wearing the latest looks in clothing and accessories. The event was hosted by Nordstrom, and the theme was “Red Carpet Glamour” because, as the MC explained, “You don’t have to be a celebrity to look like one!”
The show featured stylists giving away beauty products, a DJ playing top hits, and baristas passing out beverages …basically it was girl heaven:) It was really fun to hear cosmetic experts who had come from coast to coast. Since I wrote The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men, I especially enjoyed meeting Bertrand Thomas, the creator of Caudalíe, a vinotherapy skincare line, who flew in all the way from France. His wife’s family owns a winery in Bordeaux. With Caudalíe, the couple has unlocked the amazing antioxidant qualities of vines.
Lately, people have been asking me about long-distance dating, which made me think of my brother. He and his wife are rock and ice climbers. In addition, she teaches winter Olympic athletes, and he does trade shows for a premiere manufacturer of climbing equipment. They recently returned from Spain where she taught school for several months. He eventually got to join her, and they had a terrific time climbing in that region─but he missed her greatly when they were apart. It made him realize even more how much he loves her. During that time, Skype was their mode of communication. Since my brother could see his wife while Skyping, he felt like she was much closer. And since there are no long distance charges for Skype video chat, the money he saved helped him afford the trip to Spain. The night before he left, he was so excited he couldn’t sleep. Isn’t he quite the romantic?!
There are other popular video chat options for keeping a long distance relationship alive. They include Google Chat, AIM, and the Skype-powered Facebook Video Chat, which recently launched. With that program, you can even leave behind a video message if the person you are calling does not answer.
I have a vast array of single girlfriends who have traveled to Europe. Each is drawn to a different type of guy and was hoping for a little romance along with the castles, culture, and history. They all found what they wanted, and the ones who made lasting relationships used Skype to keep the flame alive after they flew home. Some even married their European sweethearts! It was predictable. After all, it’s not hard to see where a relationship is heading when you start your day by turning on Skype to touch base with the object of your affection, and end it back online with him before heading to bed.
Lately, several friends have said they’re traveling to France and need to brush up on the language before boarding the plane. Potiche is perfect for just that. It’s a French film that can be seen with English subtitles, so even if you don’t speak French, you can still marvel at this timeless story and the magic of Catherine Deneuve.
Potiche is a master of sly humor with clever dialogue. The title loosely translates into “trophy wife.” Catherine begins the movie as a perfectly-appointed corporate spouse, but this trophy doesn’t stay on the shelf for long. After her husband is held hostage by his union workers and suffers a heart attack, she rises to the occasion and runs the family business with the staff in mutiny. And, wow, can she run that business in whip-smart fashion. I won’t tell you what happens because I don’t want to ruin the movie, but I will say that she always had it in her. She had to believe in herself before others could believe in her. Throughout her transformation, she remained true to herself. When it was suggested that she remove her pearls for her first negotiation with angry union leaders, she demurred, explaining that she wouldn’t apologize for being a woman.
One of the memorable moments in this film occurs when Catherine is abandoned by someone she thinks she can trust. She is left alone in a secluded area and expected to haul ass five miles back to work in heels. Do you think Catherine removes those heels or hauls herself? Not at all! Through intelligence and charisma, she returns to the office without missing a beat or getting a hair out of place. Catherine skillfully deals with obstacles through humor, charm, and perseverance. She proves that beauty comes in all ages while embodying strength and femininity—a combination we could use more of today.
If you live in the US like me, and are taking a trip to Europe after the summer days die down, you can seamlessly travel across the sea in the latest style by wearing pleats. No they aren’t just for school girls this fall! Many American and European fashion designs are embodying what I call “powerful femininity.” They’re emphasizing elements of architectural sophistication while adding girly flair. This is done in some fall lines by incorporating pleats—from subtle to pronounced.
Take the Spanish designer Amaya Arzuaga. Her fall collection, shown at the Paris Fashion Week, is inspired by mathematics. She uses shapes ranging from linear to curved pleats—often in the same garment. The combination of stark lines with curves says, “I can be both kick-ass and cutesy all at once!” Other European brands, like France’s Derhy and Givenchy, also feature pleats for fall.
Likewise, American designer Vera Wang focuses on pleats in her fall collection. Jonathan Simkhai, a New York designer whose brand is self-described as bringing “forth classic codes translated into sexy and feminine silhouettes” also has pleated items for fall. Notably, Milly designer Michelle Smith has followed suit. She received her training in New York and Paris—mixing the best of both fashion hubs.
No matter what your budget is, you can look ravishingly stylish. LA-based StyleSpot.com shows celebrity outfits with links to places where you can purchase more reasonably-priced look-alikes. If you want to go econo, there are always knockoff outfits at outlets like the American company Forever 21 and the Swedish H&M. Who says you can’t be star-studded without maxing out your credit card?
To see how easy it is to double dip an outfit—wear it at home and overseas—while being trendy in both places, here is a picture of me wearing a Calvin Klein dress from the American fall line next to a model wearing a Derhy dress from the French fall collection. Although the French dress is fuller and made from softer, more flowing fabric, both garments have diagonal pleats beginning at the right shoulder and going toward the left hip, and more pleats starting underneath the bodice seam. They also each have one accent piece. The French dress has a decorative bow, and the American frock has a decorative gold zipper on the left shoulder. I got this Calvin Klein at a discount during a 2011 fall presale. Such sales can help you save on your new look. Then you can show off your powerful femininity regardless of whether you stay at home or travel abroad. According to MillionLooks, a cutting-edge fashion site, pleats will be hot not only for fall, but for winter…so this one wardrobe tip can make you a style queen until spring!
The events of the past few weeks are a touching reminder that we are all traveling through history together, and the paths we take can make a difference not just in our own lives, but in those of others.
Prince William and Princess Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wrapped up their trip to Southern California. Americans warmly greeted the attractive, gracious, caring couple at every stop as they participated in a polo match, hobnobbed with celebrities, encouraged children at an arts school in a notorious skid row area, and attended a job fair for military veterans. The British royals deliberately met an array of Americans and promoted service.
At the same time, Europeans wrapped up an eight-day celebration of American President Ronald Reagan for his role in ending communism and reunifying Europe. They raised statues of him, named streets after him, and held a formal dinner for dignitaries in London’s stunning Guildhall. Krakow held a thanksgiving mass in which Cardinal Dziwisz echoed a common theme: “President Reagan…took great pains to bring about the demise of that which he so aptly named ‘the evil empire.’ This empire of evil denied many people and nations their freedom. It did so by way of a pernicious ideology…the result of this experiment was the death and sufferings of millions.” Dziwisz and others across Europe recalled Reagan’s style of peaceful liberation. They said that by making America strong, economically and militarily, by being serious and focused, and by speaking plain and true, he both inspired the victims of communism and weakened their oppressors. He did it by instilling confidence in America, and developing a close personal relationship with the head of the evil empire. He did it without firing a single shot. These European leaders never want their people to forget the service he and his fellow Americans performed for them.
A week later, America’s New York Times and Britain’s The Guardian, worked together to strategically expose the phone-hacking scandal in Rupert Murdoch’s British media empire. At about the same time Manchester United, the world’s most popular soccer team, played the Sounders FC in Seattle. The success of United is another trans-Atlantic collaboration. It is an English team owned by the Glazers, an American family, and managed by England’s Sir Alex Ferguson. Part of its popularity comes from its tradition of playing fair—a characteristic valued by both countries.
Last week, candlelight vigils were held in Europe and America honoring victims of terror attacks in Norway. More than 500 people gathered at the Nordic Heritage Museum in the Seattle area. The crowd was so large that many had to stand outside. Kim Nesselquist, honorary consul for Norway, compared the attack to September 11th in the United States, and noted that the two countries have something else in common…”great resilience and an absolute belief in our democratic values.” Dr. Loren Anderson, president of Pacific Lutheran University, told mourners, “Tonight, we are all Norwegians.”
Every day, we are all citizens not only of our own countries, but of the world.
