Mary Foley's Bodacious Blog

Living Like Their Nail Color in West VA!

I have one of the best jobs on the planet because I get to talk with so many heartfelt, fun-loving, making-it-happen women. Like when I spoke in Beckley, WV earlier this month at the Women’s Empowerment Conference. I shared the morning session and lunch with this group of gals who were a hoot!

Then what cracked me up is to discover that the local TV station did a piece on the conference and I was broadcast in my Wonder Woman outfit all over Beckley! Wanna take a look? Click here

Love to Meet You in Bethesda, Fort Wayne or Richmond!

Wow, what a year already!  I’ve been to 17 cities already to inspire women to be bodacious and live like their nail color!   Here’s where I’ll be in May.  I’d love to meet you!

May 10:  Bethesda, MD
Live Like Your Nail Color PARTY!  Take a break, be inspired, and have fun painting your nails as Mary leads us through her 4 steps for doing your nails and living like your nail color. Held at the Be You, bi yu Wellness Center & Spa, 3 – 5 pm.  Call 301-493-4911 to reserve your space!

May 15:  Richmond, VA
American Society of Women Accountants, 5:30 pm.  For more details call Cindy Stanley at 804-553-1900 or email reservations22@aswarichmond.org

May 21:  Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne, IN chapter of American Business Women’s Association, 8 am for a “Live Like Your Nail Color” seminar (For details call JoAnn Burnau at 260-356-5300) and 6 pm at Business Associates Night (For details call Michelle Crone at 260-365-3700).

4 Cities in 7 Days... Whew!

My head is spinning from all my travel recently.  In the past week I’ve been to 4 cities in 7 days and I’m thinking of changing my nail color name to “Tired Pup”!  But, I had a good time inspiring women in Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas to be bodacious and live like their nail color.  Thanks to all the wonderful women at American Business Women Association chapters across the country for inviting me to share and for all the hard work you’ve done to put these events together!  Here are some photos:

                  

While in Minnesota I was able to spend time with my cousin Sara Discenza.

Here I am in Kansas City at the American Business Women’s Association MoKan Chapter.  They say it takes guts to be foolish in front of a group.  Believe me, it’s not that hard, especially when you attempt to look like Wonder Woman.

Thanks to the gals in Columbia, MO (and their boyfriends) who took me out for some great laughs after speaking to their ABWA chapter.  What fun!

Power Brokers & Smart Women

There’s a reason why I don’t read much fiction these days – because my real life has got enough stories to keep me entertained! LOL! A good example is last week. It was filled with lunch Power Brokers and Smart Women.

Last Tuesday at the Women in Business Conference in Rockville, MD I had the privilege of being the lead Power Broker at lunch with a table full of female Power Brokers. Among other things they shared one nail color name that describes them and why. You won’t be hearing such inside scoop around the table with a bunch of guys now would ya?

Thanks to Amy Gearhart, Stephanie Cromwell, Lauren Ishmael, LeAnne Stefl, and Naomi Abrams for choosing to Power Lunch with me!

Last week I also shared that I was going to the WOW! Conference for women in Richmond, VA. In addition to having a good time and being energized, I was a finalist for the Smart Woman of the Year Career Changer, someone who left one successful career and has successfully started another. Thanks to everyone who sent me a note hoping I would win. Well, dang if I didn’t win! It was such an honor to be thought of so highly by such smart women. Put a “WOW!” on my face, if you know what I mean!

I’m thrilled to be considered a Smart Woman!

Fun Photos from Fort Walton Beach, New York, Annapolis & Palm Springs

Phew, this whirlwind speaking tour gal is off the road and needing some rest.  (Don’t worry, by Easter Sunday I will rise again, if you know what I mean.  What a good idea Jesus had!)

Thanks to all of the fun gals in Fort Walton Beach, New York City, Annapolis and Palm Springs who came out to join me these last 2 weeks.  What fun we had! 

In Fort Walton Beach, FL I had the extra special treat of seeing my Aunt Mary and Uncle Art.  Aren’t they a handsome couple?  Special thanks to Jo, Lisa, Bev, and Bonnie for making them feel so welcome.

Here’s the “crew” who put on the sold-out event with 141 women!  Clearly they got the memo about wearing red.  :-)

Here are 2 fun gals - Amy and Valerie – who I met at the Barnes & Noble in Pensacola, FL during my book signing.  We closed down the place!

Here is a glimpse of Damu in NYC being today’s Wonder Woman.  I might be wearing the Wonder Woman outfit but she’s wondering what the heck just happened to her!

It was quite a treat to inspire the mother-daughter pair of Chelsey and Becky at the Annapolis ABWA event.

This gal decided to fully embrace the “ta-tas” definition of bodacious with some temporary “pasties”.   LOL!

Thanks to gals of the ABWA Trendsetter Chapter we had a full-to-the-brim crowd of 75 for dinner in Palm Springs, CA!

Don’t you just LOVE this red, black and silver bag?  Teri Howard, who owns www.ATEHO.com , had  beautiful “art to wear” jewelry and hand bags.  I picked up a pair of styling black onyx and sterling silver earrings!

Join Me in Ft Walton Beach, Annapolis or Palm Desert!

To celebrate the release of my book Bodacious! Woman by my new publisher Morgan James Publishing, I’m traveling the country on a national speaking tour to over 30 cities (and counting)!  Am I coming to a city near you?  I’d love to meet you! 

Here’s where I’ll be in March:

March 3:  Pensacola, FL
I’ll be stopping by the Barnes & Noble in Pensacola, FL at The Cordova Crossing (1200 Airport Blvd) starting at 7 pm to sign books and show off my latest nail polish!  To contact the store directly call 850-969-9554.

March 4:  Ft Walton Beach, FL
Emerald Coast Chapter of American Business Women’s Association networking dinner starting at 5:30 pm.  For more details and to register go here: www.abwa-ecc.org

March 13:  New York City
A private event for the 41-74 Club, a premier association of dynamic professional women in the travel industry.

March 15:  Annapolis, MD
Maryland Capital Chapter of American Business Women’s Association breakfast rendezvous starting at 8:30 am.  For more details and to register go here: www.abwamdcap.org.

March 17:  Palm Desert, CA
I’ll be stopping by the Barnes & Noble in Palm Desert, CA at Westfield Shoppingtown starting at 6 pm to sign books and show off my latest nail polish!  To contact the store directly call 760-346-0725.

March 18:  Palm Desert, CA
Palm Desert Trendsetters Chapter of American Business Women’s Association networking dinner.  For more details and to register visit: www.abwatrendsetters.org or call Carol Carpenter at 760-902-5063.

Check out my entire 2008 schedule by scrolling down on my blog below.

Photos from Bill’s Bodacious Birthday Surprise and More!

Thank you for the amazing creativity and support in surprising Bill for his birthday!  I’ve received dozens of nail color names to surprise him.  He LOVED them!

Names like…

“Whodo Voodoo because you are in for a huge birthday surprise that will be magic!” (from  Susie Lee)

"Billiscious Redish because being part of Mary's life must be incredible." (from Julia Figuera-Wade)

“Jamaican because you're jamaken me drool!”  (from Betty Baldwin)

“Livin’ On the Edge because weekends with Mary take you both to the edge.  Fortunately you both get to the same edge (or beach) together.”  (from Smokie Sizemore)

“Rock of Gibraltar because I have seen how supportive you are of Mary's bodacious ventures! Looks to me like you are a keeper".  (from Gail Patterson)

We had such a great time getting away for a few days by ourselves.  Here are some photos to share:

If you ever have a chance to stay at or eat lunch at the Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Petersburg Beach, FL do it!  The pink hotel right on the Gulf of Mexico beach is amazing.  We didn’t want to leave!

But, we did leave and head over to Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic ocean where Bill spent some misspent youth.

One big surprise was an unexpected get together with his sisters and their husbands.  Here they are goofing around after a night of fun!

Also while in Florida…here are some fun pics when I spoke at the Lakeland Downtown Chapter of American Business Women’s Association and at the “Be a Bodacious Woman…and Invest Like One” event at the Eaglebrook Country Club hosted by Kim Andreadis, Lakeland Investment Advisor.

Here I am celebrating Bodacious, Chico’s Women at the new Lakeland Chico’s store!  Have to say I bought this fabulous red and silver necklace that night I just love.

“Hello!  Are you living like your nail color?” I asked the sold out ABWA luncheon crowd.  Their enthusiasm gave me a resounding “YES!”

Gina, who owns a costume shop, dressed up like Mae West in honor of Bodacious Women everywhere!  I was so proud.

Remember that Chico’s red necklace I mentioned?  Kim Andreadis had to straighten it out to look right.  Bodacious Women need each other to look good!

    

Janet had so many name tags she wasn’t sure who she really was!

Am I Coming to a City Near You?

Here it is!  My national 2008 speaking schedule to celebrate the release of my book "Bodacious! Woman" by my new publisher Morgan James Publishing.   

More dates are under discussion now and will be added.  Plus, I'll have photos and fun to share from the women I've met.  So, I'll keep posting up photos of places I've been and update you on the places I'm going in the month ahead.  Join me if you can!  I'd love to meet you!

January
1-9-08  New Virginians, Richmond, VA
1-16-08  ABWA, Dothan, AL
1-19-08  ABWA, Gulfport, MS
1-26-08  ABWA, Orange County, CA

Feb 12:  Lakeland, FL
Celebrating Bodacious, Chicos Women at the Chico's store at Lakeside Village in Lakeland, FL, 6 - 8 pm.  Complete with chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling cider!  Call the store at 863-686-2629 for more details.

Feb 13:  Lakeland, FL
Lakeland Downtown Chapter of American Business Women's Association luncheon, 11:30 am - 1 pm.  For more details and to register go here:  www.lakelandabwa.com

"Be a Bodacious Woman and Invest Like One" at the Eaglebrook Country Club, 7 - 9 pm, hosted by Kim Andreadis, Lakeland Investment Advisor.  For more information call Kim at 863-701-5280.

Feb 21:  Reston, VA

Women & Wine Book Party hosted by CEO Mary Saily. Private Event. 

Feb 29:  Springfield, VA
Luncheon keynote speaker at the Financial Success Conference hosted by the Financial Education Center for Women Entrepreneurs, 8 am - 3 pm.  For more information call Leslie Bott at 703.768.1440 or go online to www.cbponline.org

March
3-3-08  Barnes & Noble book signing, Pensacola, FL
3-4-08  ABWA, Fort Walton Beach, FL
3-13-08  4174 Club, New York, NY
3-15-08  ABWA, Annapolis, MD
3-17-08  Barnes & Noble book signing, Palm Desert, CA
3-18-08  ABWA, Palm Desert, CA

April
4-8-08  ABWA, Mount Airy, NC
4-18-08  Southern Women’s Show, Richmond, VA
4-21-08  ABWA, Rochester, MN
4-22-08  ABWA, Columbia, MO
4-24-08  ABWA, Kansas City, KS
4-25-08  Branding & Marketing Seminar, Lee’s Summit, MO
4-29-08  ABWA, Detroit, MI

May
5-1-08  ABWA, Boone, NC
5-2-08  ABWA, Ashville, NC
5-14-08  ABWA, Boise, ID
5-21-08  ABWA, Fort Wayne, IN
5-23 thru 5-27 Unforgettable Adventures, St. Lucia

June
6-7-08  New Visions, New Ventures Gala, Richmond, VA

July
7-9-08  Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Chattanooga, TN

September
9-19-08  ABWA, Las Vegas, NV

Kicking off My National Speaking Tour!

Was I California dreaming?   Was that really me in a Wonder Woman outfit?  I have to say "yes" to both!

Last month I kicked off my national speaking tour to share my message of "Live Like Your Nail Color - Even if You Have Naked Nails" to celebrate the release of my book "Bodacious! Woman:  Outrageously in Charge of Your Life and Lovin't It!" by my new publisher Morgan James Publishing.  I'll be traveling to over 30 cities across the US, plus the Caribbean!

I started things off in my own town of Richmond, VA and then went to Dothan, AL, Gulfport, MS and Orange County, CA.  Here are some fun photos...

< --- I was honored to be introduced by Julie Kangas, THE national American Women's Business Association (ABWA) Woman of the Year!  That's me bowing before her majesty. Thank goodness Julie is a a great sport!

<--- The women of New Virginians in Richmond were bodacious enough to start off their 2008 living like their nail color - and eating amazing italian food.  My kinda party!

Thanks to Leigh Isles (far left) and Shannon Hollway (far right) of ABWA who invited me to Dothan, AL and convinced me that having 4 or 5 kids is NO REASON not to live like your nail color...in fact, it's even MORE of a reason do to so!                --- >

< ---I showed up at the Barnes & Noble in Dothan and dang if they didn't have a bunch of my books there.  So, why not have a book signing, I thought!  I found these women throughout the store and paid them to pose with me.  Isn't that right, Leigh?

< --- It's fun to speak and eating ain't bad, either!  Thanks to the gals in of the ABWA Singing River Charter Chapter Gulfport, MS who shared with me one of their favorite Canjun restaurants.

And, yes, finally, here I am in my Wonder Woman outfit!  Why?  Well, you're just gonna have to come hear me speak to find out.  Let's just say, I'll make it worth your time.  ;)