Old Vanna’s!

It was a BEVY of BEAUTIES! Just one after another! I had called in the interns for the Art Center Benefit! AND THEY CAME! One after another arrived on Saturday evening, looking so adorable and chic in their LBD’s! AND THE SHOES-so FAB! It was also a homecoming! I hadn’t seen some for months!!! Lots of hugs and kisses..OMGoodness…We have an event that is beginning!! The nice thing about interns is that you have all different ages…in fact, dear friend Anne Jameson said that she would come and help and be an “Old Intern!” We both settled on “EXPERIENCED Intern!” I now even have management levels. Come to find out the Fashion Designer intern is 30 years old, so I have given her the title of Managing Director of the Interns! She loves it and is busy writing a manual for the interns! How strategic is this??!!! I gave her the task of organizing the live auction spotters. Another intern is 25 and trying to switch professions, so I gave her the job of explaining how to close out the Silent Auction. Of course, so thrilled that my “Experienced Intern” was a greeter at the door! Could it get any better than this! No need to worry about Check In! Anne to the rescue!! This is truly what friends are for!! Then, Carla Vorhees arrived with her 8th grade daughter and friends to “Model” the jewelry that we had on auction! Of course, the all looked ADORABLE and so chic!! Had them walk around doing a little “informal modeling” for all to see! It was a happening! Just had to LOVE all the energy of these wonderful young women!

The evening moved along! The models were modeling…the raffle ticket sellers were selling and the “management” level interns had things moving at a fast clip! Out came the chairs for the Live Auction and suddenly it was lights..camera…Live Auction! Somehow, I found myself at the front of the room with the Benefit Chair, instead of off to the side! Oh well…not really wanting to be up front and center (I know you will all find this hard to believe-but this is for my job, after all!). I had two interns assigned to be the Vanna’s (holding up each Live Auction Item)-a nice change from previous years, when it was all men! Unfortunately, one of the interns started coughing and had to leave the stage. The other “Vanna” had to close out part of the auction…SO….I looked at the Benefit Chair and said…WE ARE ON! And she looked at MOI and said, “OLD VANNA’S!”

The evening continued at a fast clip-everyone seemed to do their job PERFECTLY! We all were ready for a post-event celebration at a local bar! Everyone was talking about clothes, shoes and hair…OF COURSE…I am SO ALL ABOUT THIS! Then, the talk changed to how adorable the 13 year old girls looked and so sophisticated. The 22 year olds all commented that they didn’t look like that in 8th grade. Some things never change!

This time of year, the interns graduate and new ones arrive! Of course, discussion follows about the fact that they NEED TO GET A JOB THAT PAYS! Perhaps, I should let their parents know that I am also on THEIR side, trying to get these kids out their looking for jobs! One intern is so adorable and just can’t bear to look for a job. I have her now in Paula’s Boot Camp program for looking for a job! It is SO much easier, when it isn’t your own child!! Step one: Spreadsheet with all jobs applied, follow-up, next steps…You know the drill!

I try to stress that you also have to network! You can’t just apply on line-you have to get out and try to have informational interviews!! It is surprising how many young folks DON’T know this!

Step two: Interview suit! “Where are their Mother’s??” I am often surprised at how many interns don’t have something to wear to an interview!! Since I am, of course, the surrogate (or local) Mother…it is my duty to get these kids SOMETHING to wear!!

I was taking them to an Arts Conference in the city. I told them they had to wear something PRESENTABLE! NO JEANS!

One showed up with Grey Slacks (they were hemmed) and a long thin turtleneck sweater…o.k…so far, but finished off with a bolero sweater in lime green and a little neck scarf. That Bolero…maybe not what I would have done, but it worked!! The other had a skirt (good start) and then several layers of T-shirts and ballet flats. ALMOST there!

Step two was heading to Thrift House for a few wardrobe additions! I told them that these clothes were donated by business women and would be the perfect accent to their wardrobes at very little $$$! You would have thought I had asked them to jump in freezing water! Undeterred…we head to the shop! I march them in and head straight to the “suit” section! I could see their looks of DISDAIN! Ah….ye of little faith! What are these kids thinking…that they can wear just any old thing to interview??? Again, WHERE ARE THEIR MOTHER’S??? I looked at both of them and started to pull out as many “acceptable” jackets as possible! I just said…REMEMBER, you only have to wear it for a few hours…during your interview….YOU DON’T HAVE TO WEAR IT CLUBBING!!! That seemed to resonate! They both passed on a Max Mara Black jacket…too much GSP (GINORMOUS Shoulder Pads)! The Fashion Designer was also with us (she had a suit, but came along for the ride!) and she was trying to help convince them that you could TAKE the GSP’s out of the suit. There we were in Thrift House, turning the Jacket inside out to see if we could take the shoulder pads! We both agreed that it could be done! Still rejected (I was too busy to try it on, but may head back for it!!!! Max Mara is Max Mara!), but success with a tweed jacket. Upon inquiry to see if she had slacks or a skirt to go with it…she assured MOI that she did…HMMMMM…She also picked up a Vera scarf –“it’s Vintage!!” Don’t you just love that things you used to own are now VINTAGE!

From one extreme to another! Spend the other part of the week with the Ohara School Sensei from Japan. I had been designated the Welcome Hostess, since he was staying at a hotel, close to our house. I was to meet two Japanese women (WHO SPOKE JAPANESE) at the airport, since we weren’t sure how much English Nishi-san could understand and speak! I arrived at the airport early (I know HARD TO BELIEVE!), only to find his flight was early….HMMMM….where are those lovely Japanese ladies??

I started calling them..they were stuck in traffic….HMMMMM….had seen a small photo of Nishi-san..but, well…not sure I could identify him with so many Japanese people coming from the flight! Rummaged around my purse, NO NOTE PAPER (note to self, you have so many FABULOUS note pads…why don’t you carry one around???)…so, used the back of a check to write NISHI-SAN on it and held it up like all the other drivers! For those of you wondering…I did write it very carefully-so easy to read!! O.K., here come all the people…Where are the Japanese ladies????

All of the sudden…NISHI-SAN appeared! Of course, he is adorable! In his late 40’s—so nice!! He sees my sign and I give him the Big Wave!! Lots of Cheering…I am sure the guy almost had a heart attack! I told him we had to wait for the Japanese Ladies, who arrived within a few minutes! Lots of conversation and explanation-Nishi-san was going with MOI to the Hotel. He seemed to speak English perfectly (although, he really didn’t have a chance to say too much with all of us!). I told him that if he had any questions, he should ask the Japanese ladies now or it would have to wait until tomorrow!!

The Japanese ladies had instructed MOI that I needed to get Nishi-san a “Welcome Basket” for his hotel room! Of course, in Japan, this could mean just about anything…..It could cost hundreds of dollars!! They also said that Nishi-san likes to drink wine! SOOOO…headed off to the local grocery store and ordered a large Fruit Basket (you know the kind), and found these six packs of small individual bottles of wine (who knew!), chips, nuts, beef jerky (I couldn’t remember if Japanese people like jerky or not…..) and cookies! It took up two grocery bags-that fruit basket stood alone!! I had enough food for an army!! I was worried that he would wake up in the middle of the night and be starving!! I had it in the car-ready to Welcome Nishi-san!

We started driving to the hotel – it’s funny how you notice your surroundings in a new light, when you are driving someone who is new to the area…HMMM…. “Much Construction on Roads” What can you say?? Plus, spring had just started, lots of trees were just starting to flower, so a bit stark….We both discussed this….Nishi-san seemed a bit concerned that we would be able to find suitable branch material. I told him not to worry….This is Chicago…we can get anything!!! We continued to chat about Japan and Ikebana International…I told him that I used to make an arrangement at the annual meeting at the Tokyo American Club. They always had all the Master Sensei from the different schools make large arrangements and then they would ask Ikebana International members to do small arrangements around the room. For some reason, I was always asked (I say this because I have no idea why they would ask MOI-since there were so many arrangers to choose from. I think my Ikebana Sensei always put my name in-one will never know!). I would always get the first spot at the entrance-maybe because of my last name being DA…..

For some reason, we discussed this topic in detail. Nishi-san asking many questions about what years I was there….We arrived at the Hotel and I helped him with his bags and check in-then presented him with my “Welcome” presents. I must have totally overwhelmed him! He just stood there-speechless! I thought all he probably wanted to do was to get away from MOI! As we were leaving…he said, Danoff-san, I remember you from those Ikebana International shows….

Time to shop!

Steve Madden shoes at Jildor are FAB! Follow this link and it will take you to other FAB shoes too!

And Fab jewelry at Tina Tang. This ring is adorable. It is on back order, but worth the wait!! I bought it earlier!!

Time for self-tanners: Nivea continues to improve and Nivea Sun-Kissed Beautiful Legs at your local drug and grocery store is very FAB! Remember…NO STOCKINGS! Only Nude fishnets!!!

AND…Neiman’s Last Call has opened at Gurnee Mills! I was trying to get there this weekend, but alas…it just didn’t happen! Word on the street is that it is WORTH THE DRIVE!!!

Have a great week!

Love, P