Mary Foley's Bodacious Blog

We Could All Use a Smile :D

Between stock market chaos and election battling, we could all use some good news, huh?

The tales from my latest adventures won’t recover Wall Street, but they just might put a smile on your face.  And right now, we could all use one.

Smile #1

First, my breast-cancer fighting and winning friend Casey and I went to the 3rd Annual Survivor Celebration put on the Susan G. Komen affiliate in Richmond, VA.  It was early Friday morning at the "crack-ass of dawn" as my friend Susie likes to say.  But, it was so worth it to celebrate Casey's courage.  Camera phones don't take the best photos, but here's Casey & myself at the breast cancer Survivor Celebration breakfast none the less.

She and I are continuing to celebrate all next month with the nail color we co-created called "Mammo Mango" for the Live Like Your Nail Color Club.  She discovered her had breast cancer through an annual mammogram.  "It saved my life" she says.

Smile #2

After the breakfast I had an hour to make it to the Virginia Press Women conference.  Fortunately, it was being held at the VA State Capitol building, only a few minutes away.  But, I couldn't have done it without my fabulous assistant Vicky who already had things setup.

Often when I travel to speak the meeting planner tells me how wonderful it was to work with Vicky to coordinate everything.  How cool is that?  I just hope she keeps mum about some of my crazy antics in the office to keep myself - and her - entertained!  

Smile #3

There is no end to inspiring women to be bodacious and live like their nail color!  I couldn't even stay for lunch with the gals at the VA Press Women conference because I had to catch a plan to share with the gals at the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) in Indianapolis. (Normally, I don't have so many events so tightly back to back but, for some reason, Fri, Sept 26th was a very popular day!)

Turns out my flight was delayed so I missed my connection to Indy. Fortunately, there was another connection with some open seats.  Phew!  The ABWA gals had already heard what happened to me last week going to Vegas and were hoping I'd show up with all my clothes.  I got in late, but I got in, and that's what counts.  The next day, Saturday, we had a fun time at the event!

Even I laughed at this photo!  I know I'm talking about nail color because clearly I'm cazed!

Then all of a sudden I became Wonder Woman! That's right, a woman wondering what the heck happened to my life -- and striking a pose, of course.

When I asked what are some of the roles we play as women Cindy shouted from the back of the room "Sex Goddess."  I am not making this up.  After that she was the perfect volunteer for an exercise to help us all get a vision of today's wonder woman, Sex Goddess and all!

Let's just say that the rest of the luncheon we had a very good time! I shared my 4 steps for doing your nails and living like your nail color.  If you haven't heard them or you want to hear them again, then grab a copy of my free MP3 audio.  And share it with a girlfriend who you know could use a smile on her face.

Thanks to ABWA gals Diane, Cyd, Tracy and Susie who did so much to make this event possible and put a smile on MY face!

It happened in Vegas …

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, BUT not this time. 

What happened there was a first for me - - - and is every speaker’s nightmare!

You see, last week I was in Lancaster, PA and then Las Vegas speaking to events by the American Business Women Association (ABWA).  I met some great women in both places.  We had a great time DESPITE what happened in Vegas! 

First, a big hug and thanks to all the women in the Lancaster, PA area who came out to celebrate ABW-Day!  There were 60 women there who came who weren't even members but kept hearing about the event in the paper and on the radio so they had to check it out.

  A big thanks to Pam Carvell who bodaciously asked me to speak!  What a hoot you are!

Notice my new, shorter hair-do and my jacket that's outlined liked a children's coloring book...LOL!  Thanks to friend and beauty expert Susie Galvez for de-poofing my hair and for enabling me to find fun fashion at fab prices in NYC!

The gals in Lancaster are a bit uptight (RIGHT!). 

Here I am cutting up with Kelly West, vioted most popular morning DJ in the area, and Beverly Trimble, an ABWA gal who was so excited to tell me about her new job with promotion...congrats again, Bev!

Kelly West & I were given the important and diffilut task of judging the "Most Bodacious Bag Contest."   Have to say that this bag just screamed "bodacious" to us.  Congrats to Jill Kurtz for creating the winning bag!

After Lancaster, I headed to Las Vegas to celebrate ABW-Day with the ABWA gals there.  That's when it got interesting.  Ok, more than interesting.  It was a speaker's nightmare!  I arrived at 8 pm on a Friday night but my luggage was stuck in Pittsburgh.  The event was the next day at 11 am and, you guessed it, my luggage was still in Pittsburg!

By the time I concluded that my luggage wasn't likely going to arrive in time, it was too late for a WalMart run.  All my fun props, all my clothes, and all my toiletries were having a party in the luggage storage at the Pittsburgh airport.  So, I bodaciously came up with a Plan B and kept smiling.  I was really living like my new nail color "Wine Not?" 

Why not give a talk in jeans in front on nicely dressed women about living like your nail color?  Why not come up with make-do props and at like you do it that way all the time?  Why not just roll with it and focus on why I'm really there?

After a shower, borrowed make-up, and an extra toothbrush from ABWA gal Jeannette Snapps, I did what I came to do.  As they say, the show must go on!  Fortunately, the women who came to the luncheon were more than understanding. 

Here I am with my first-ever speaking engagement in jeans and a red t-shirt.! Hey, at least I had on my colors, right?!  It was a BoMo - bodacious moment - for sure.  What mattered most is that I was able to inspire, touch lives, and laugh at myself.  Believe me, I was more than ready for a shower and nap when I got home to Richmond!

This Friday I'm speaking at the Virginia Press Women Fall Conference and then in Indianappolis (Details and to register contact Cyd or Susie) at the ABWA event there.  Want to join in to see what happens next?  ;D

 

Join me in Lancaster or Vegas?

As I like to say, the speaking season has begun!  This month I’m in 5 cities sharing how you can live like your nail color – even if you have naked nails. 

It’s already fun!  Last week at Northern Virginia’s Largest Nail Party, over 30 women did their nails in just 90 minutes.  As they used my 4 steps for taking care of their nails they were taking care of themselves and each other.  They were reminded of how good they already are, that their dreams count, how risk and change don’t have to be scary, and how to laugh easily and often.

Here are some fun party photos:

Later this week and this weekend I’ll be in Lancaster, PA and then Las Vegas speaking to American Business Women Association groups.  These events are open to all women even if you aren’t an ABWA member.

Wanna join me?  Go here for more info and how to sign-up:

9-18:  Lancaster, PA
ABWA Lancaster/York County Council, 6:00 pm.  Details

 

9-20:  Las Vegas, NV
ABWA Southern Nevada Area Council.  Details  To register contact Jeanette

As always, I’ll bring back pictures and stories share.  This is one trip that what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas!

Join Me at an Event This Fall!

Ready to jump into your fall schedule?

 

If you need a boost to get excited about your fall, why not join me at one of these events where I’ll be appearing?  I’ve just posted my entire fall schedule below.

 

There’s one event I want to tell you about right away.  It’s Northern Virginia’s Biggest Nail Party and it’s this Wed, September 10th starting at 6:30 pm. 
 
Not only will you learn my 4 steps for doing your nails and living like your nail color, you’ll be actually doing each step that night!  Plus, there’s going to a yummy chocolate fountain, door prizes, and everyone receives an autographed copy of my book “Bodacious! Woman.” 

 

You know we’re gonna have fun!

 

Space is limited and I found out there are only 10 spots left.  If you’re at all interested check it out now! 

 

 

Fall 2008 Schedule

 

9-10:  Fairfax, VA
Northern Virginia’s Biggest Nail Party, 6:30 pm.  Details

 

9-18:  Lancaster, PA
ABWA Lancaster/York County Council, 6:00 pm.  Details

 

9-20:  Las Vegas, NV
ABWA Southern Nevada Area Council.  Details  To register contact Jeanette

 

9-26:  Richmond, VA
Attending the 3rd Annual Survivor Celebration Event along with my dear friend Casey Quinlan who got “cancer for Christmas”.  Casey and I will be at the breakfast session. Join us! Details 

 

9-26:  Richmond, VA
Virginia Press Women Fall Conference, 9 am.  Details

 

9-27:  Indianapolis, IN
ABWA Indianapolis Charter Chapter, 11:30 am.  Details and to register contact Cyd or Susie

    

10-16:  Richmond, VA

Attending the It's In The Bag silent and live handbag auction to raise money for the Legal Information Network for Cancer.  I've donated a Live Like Your Nail Color bag, my friend and radio show co-host Susie Galvez donated a Hello Beautiful bag, and together we donated a Girlfriend We Gotta Talk bag on behalf of our radio show.  Join us!  Details

 

10-21:  Lynchburg, VA
Mammograms Annually a Must (MAAM) Luncheon by the Centra Foundation, 12 pm.  Details:  Contact Mary Simonetta

 

10-24:  Springfield, VA
Women Entrepreneur’s Expo, 8:30 am.  Details

 

11-14:  Lakeland, FL
Women in Philanthropy Annual Luncheon by the Lakeland Regional Medical Center, 11:30 am.  Details

 

12-4:  Richmond, VA
Fan Women’s Club, 7 pm.  Details

 

7 Steps to Closet Clean Out

Why not de-clutter and organize your clothes closet with me this weekend?  I’m using Elizabeth Hagen’s fabulous 7 steps below. 

 

After my closet, I’m anticipating that the energy surge will put me on a roll to de-clutter my office, bathroom, and living room cabinets!  When I’m all done (or maybe before) I’m going to celebrate  by putting on Less Stuff, More Life nail polish. 

 

7 Steps to Closet Clean Out

By Elizabeth Hagen

 

Do you open your closet and get depressed - instead of getting dressed?  Now is the time to clean out your closet and feel good as you look at your clothes instead of getting stressed.

Step 1
Take everything out of your closet. Yes, I mean everything. If you just go in and move things around you're cleaning, not organizing.

 

Step 2
Try everything on. I know that no one wants to hear this but this is the only way to really know what you want to keep.

Step 3
Ask yourself the following questions as you try on the clothes:

- When did I wear this last?

- Does it still fit?

- Is it still in style?

- Does it need to be repaired or altered?

- Does this look good on me?

- And most importantly - Do I love how I feel when I wear this?

Step 4
Based on the above answers you will either put the garment in the keep pile, throw away bag, repair bag, or garage sale/donate bag. We only wear 20% of what's in our closet. Feel good about getting rid of the 80%!

Step 5
Purchase enough white hangers for your clothes that are left. Put them back in your closet in categories: Shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, jackets. Then from sleeveless to long sleeve, short skirts to long skirts, and by color: Light to dark.

Step 6
Get the bags out of your room today. Throw the trash, bring the repairs to your alterations person, bring the donate bag to the appropriate charity. If you're having a garage sale keep the garage sale bags in your storage room to collect until you have the sale.

Step 7
Stand in your closet and go WOW! (and put on some Less Stuff, More Life nail polish)