Colour Me... Not Happy

Ana and I had the opportunity to attend Colour Me Gorgeous today at Twin River. 

When I tell you we were excited for weeks, its no understatement.  Having just come off Style Week Providence a few months ago I was beyond excited for this event.  I had heard this was supposed to be the biggest thing in fashion that Rhode Island has ever seen. 

Spoiler alert, it wasn't even close. 

Had you purchased tickets ahead of time they were $25 regular admission (vs the $30 at the door) ... you could also get a VIP ticket for $45. 

Ana and I?  Had the VIP tickets... which listed VIP privileges as: champagne reception, hors d'oeuvres, sweet treats on arrival.  Relaxing in a pamper pavilion for glamour makeover or relaxing spa treatment.  VIP coat room, deluxe goodie bag, complimentary gift wrapping, VIP picture with Sexy Santa, and VIP door prize tickets.

We got all dressed up and headed down for the 11am opening.  We were there a few minutes early so we got in line.  No VIP line, which was OK but we noticed most people in front of us were paying to get in...only the cashiers were not taking money.  We waited in that line for nearly 40 minutes as someone would come over periodically to announce that the vendors were "not ready" so they had to delay the opening. 

Horrible.

Once they finally let us in, general admission got an orange bracelet and VIP a green.  I wanted to introduce myself to the event organizer and speak to them regarding another blog I write for (Buy-Her), but was told that one organizer would not be there and they did not know where the other one was.  I overheard someone else getting quite upset because they were there to meet an organizer who had supposedly put tickets aside for them and no one knew anything about it.  She had waited over an hour.

It didn't seem to matter which ticket you had purchased, everyone got the same gift bag (which was fine) ... but there was nothing marked VIP... we had no idea where to go and the people working the event seemed difficult to get ahold of.  Quite surprising to me after coming off a fantastically run Style Week Providence not too long ago.  Ana and I looked around a bit, still couldn't figure things out.  We stood at the Salon Bianco tent where there seemed to be several people inside and someone getting their hair done, but no one working the tent looked at or spoke to us, despite seeing us stand there looking at them.  Then Ana noticed an employee outside the hall doors and flagged her down.

Ana asked where the VIP's were supposed to go and the woman actually laughed at us.  So embarrassing.  Then she stopped and said she was so sorry, she shouldn't have laughed but we had "wasted" our money... she went yesterday (because she was working it today) at the general admission and it was "all the same" as the VIP.  She then pointed to a roped off section - with no one in it - and told us to go see the employee standing there for our champagne and food, then we would be shown to where we could get a massage or our nails done. 

We went over and the guy poured us each a small cup (I'm talking smaller than the size of my palm) of champagne and you could help yourselves to an olive and cheese tray or get some salad.  Uh huh.  We had a drink and went over to the 'pamper pavillion' where we then waited over a half hour (with only 3 people in front of us) so Ana could get a manicure and I could get a massage.  The manicure?  Turned into just a polish change for free because Ana hadn't brought cash and it was actually $5 for the manicure for VIP's.  The massage was free... and felt awesome.  Curiously enough, people with orange general admission bracelets could also get the VIP services.

After asking about the glamour makeovers we were directed back to the Salon Bianco tent where we had started out.  The girls in line in front of us were told it would be "hours" before they could get their nails done and they were put on a list to be paged.  This was less than an hour after the event began.  I asked how long for hair and she said it wouldn't be too long, that there were only a few people on the list and added my name.  I took a look myself and saw just 6 in front of me.  With 4 chairs going at once I thought I would be paged in no time.

Ana and I spent nearly 2 hours milling around chatting with people, taking a look at different vendors, even got a drink at the bar.  Still no name.  We headed back to the tent for an update and there were STILL 6 people ahead of me on the list.  But how could that be.  I then took a look at who was in the chairs and while I don't know for sure, judging by the type of makeup they had on and the hairstyles they were getting, they appeared to be runway models being prepped for the fashion show. 

At that point, Ana and I decided we would just leave.  Quite honestly I'm not sure what the prices of the tickets covered.  Any makeup application stations or other places all came with an additional price to pay, even if it was at a discount.  The '$500 gift bag'?  Had a bottle of water, antibacterial wipes, one Redken shampoo and conditioner sample, some coupons and a small gold colored heart in a bag that looks like it could be put on a necklace... but no mention of where it came from if you liked it and wanted to see more of the line.

Don't get me wrong, I know how bad this all sounds.  The truth is Ana and I had fun just hanging out together.  We met some really nice vendors and I got some additional ideas for things to look into and write about at Buy-Her.  But what Colour Me Gorgeous advertised and what they actually delivered were two totally different things. 

And I don't know what time the fashion shows started but by 2pm there still had not been anything but a few dance numbers from some adorable kids... who were now running all over the event.  Very poorly organized overall and not very well attended.  It seemed there were just as many parents of the kids who performed the dance numbers as there were people who paid admission to attend.  There also seemed to be several people complaining about the price they paid to get in.

I have since spoken with someone else who said it was a terrible event for vendors and most that he spoke with will not be coming back the next year.  Seems like bridges burned all around.  Such a shame considering the 2 day event was to benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.  Due to what I saw myself, as well as heard from others at the event, I think it will be quite difficult to put Colour Me Gorgeous on again next year. 

They need to make a lot of changes next time around for a successful event.

Style Week Providence - Opening Night

That's right my loves, it's that time again.  Style Week Providence!

This time around you get a whole week of posts about it!  I will be there all 6 days baby!

I looked forward to this for weeks and weeks I tell you.  After last week's drama and craziness and being glued to the weather channel due to Hurricane Irene and all I was no longer feeling the excitement.  Opening Night at the Providence Performing Arts Center was originally slated for Sunday but due to the hurricane it was pushed to Monday.  My mom came to watch the boys and Ana and I were off, just like last time.  Only this time we were seasoned vets.

OK, not really.  But we got downtown without incident after missing only the first show.  I parallel parked (clap for me people, you have no idea what a feat this is!  So what I didn't have to squish in and there was a giant spot waiting, I still did it!) and avoided the parking garage fee.  I walked over cobblestones and this time managed NOT to fall (it's true, I'm as amazed as you are right now), down the street and into the PPAC we went.

I apologized to the girl at the desk for being late and explained I was media.  She smiled, said no problem and sent me to the next girl who told me I was VIP. 

I? 

Was VIP! 

Stage seating!

Still not sure what that meant but I wanted to shriek.  We went through the doors, took our photos at the step and repeat... how cute are we...

(Side note: Yeah yeah yeah, you've seen that top before.  I have to come up with a week's worth of cute outfits people!  This time around I'm recycling.)

We went right over to the doors only to be turned away by a guy at the door - in front of everyone milling around the lobby. 

Embarrassing.

We hit the bar, got a drink and waited.  By the time I was almost done with my wine we were allowed inside.  When my bracelet was checked we were told to proceed to the stage.  The stage!  Imagine how shocked I was to be seated on stage, FRONT ROW, feet touching the runway.  They actually had to remove 2 girls from our seats because they were supposed to be seated elsewhere. 

I had my little Elle Woods moment... am I really here?  How far I had come from January when I was standing in the back of the Biltmore trying to see around people.  Here I was now seated by the cameras and lights.  Just amazing. 

We were able to catch the runway shows for Denise Hajjar, Kara Wickman and Samuel Vartan.  Loved the styles from Denise and Kara... Samuel?  Not so much my taste.  More on that at Buy-Her. 

And the swag! 

We missed the first bag but got the next two.  So many cool things, haven't even been through it all yet.  $100 gift certificate to Optix eye wear is one of the items.  Yeah I'm about to be rocking some Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses soon!  I don't know what else to say except the night was incredibly exciting and each event I go to it just reaffirms for me more that writing is what I am supposed to be doing.  Words can not express how much I love this and how amazing it feels to get to sit front row and cover this for Buy-Her and even get to talk about it here too.  And Twitter.  Style Week Providence actually retweeted a few of my tweets from the show!  How cool is that?!

I even got to say hi to Audrey and her mom Sharon who were just a few seats down from us.  We also met some really nice girls seated in the row behind us.  Shout outs to Jane from I am the everyday girl and Stephanie Afonso Blanchard! 

What was that I was saying about no longer feeling the excitement?!  Scratch that. 

This?

Is awesome!

Not only a mom

Feeling beyond frustrated this week.

Last night I took the boys to the rally at Cranston East to support the Cranston Public Schools.  It was hard for them to last the whole hour but I felt good being there, like it was where I had to be with them - whether we stay in Cranston or not, this is where I grew up.  I came home prepared to blog all about the rally.

Something happened that took me right out of the blogging mood shortly after I walked in the door.  I checked my cell and realized I had gotten a DM from another blogger that I had been cut from the Triberr tribe I had been on for the last week or so because they were cutting back on the mom stuff.  I was so mad it actually surprised me.  I had not sought out this tribe, it was a blogger I sometimes chatted online with who told me about it and invited me to join. 

I did have some reservations about all the auto tweets going out from my account.  I worried a little I would lose some followers...which I believe I did.  But my blog views?  Soared through the roof.  Higher than I thought possible in such a short period of time.  And some of the other bloggers in the tribe were really nice and supportive on Twitter.  While I wasn't tweeting out the same kind of things I was writing I still thought it was kind of cool we all seemed to be writing about different things.

No one likes to be rejected, I get it.  If you ask Al he will tell you it's one of the things I hate most (and while I don't usually admit it he's probably right).  What upset me most is that I was cut from what I was invited to join... and so soon...for writing 'mom stuff'.  It's not like they didn't know what I blogged about in the first place.

Now I seriously mean it when I say I am not trying to start Internet drama... because I'm really not.  This is just me venting it out... in word vomit.  Which is what I seem to do a lot of lately.  I check Facebook and see the person who cut me from Triberr posted to someone to join a group being created called:

"Not another mommy blogger." It involves Twitter and sharing great tweets. It's a group for women who are cool enough to think beyond the diaper.

I can not even help it, it kind of cut me to the core.  While not directed at me I still take it personal.  I AM a mom.  A mom who has spent the last 3 days chasing after 2 four year olds and 1 five year old who have:

dumped out the shampoo bottle in the sink just to fill the bathroom with suds

dropped a tube of Desitin in the toilet and took turns peeing on it to see what would happen

turned the outside hose on the house and open windows and tried to claim the water was not on

used my eyeshadow and mascara to 'decorate' a sink

managed to destroy a playroom, basement and 2 bedrooms during a playdate

AND MORE!  In just 3 days.  But I'm going to stop here for now.

The point is yeah, I write about what happens to me every day... which involves me being a mom and the things my kids do.  But if you keep reading it's not ALL I write about.  And it's not the only place that I write either.  Buy-Her is an online shopping blog...which you know, isn't about things we buy for our kids, but the things we buy for ourselves.  I'm about to cover Providence Style Week.  I could go on.  But I also know it doesn't matter.  Wasn't the right fit and I'll find where I belong I guess.

I just don't like feeling judged on one aspect of my life.