Charlotte Fashion Week

A special thank you goes to Rita Miles for organizing the “MiLES of iMpact” charity fashion show during Charlotte Fashion Week.

WSOCTV Host Natalie Pasquarella & me

Myself along with over 20 other celebrities gathered together on Saturday night to walk the runway in Uptown Charlotte to showcase up-and-coming designers.  It was a heartwarming event and I had a wonderful time mingling with folks who are like me and don’t really have a lot of ‘down time’. 

Charles Grayson Spa Staff

Me & Jessica from Charles Grayson

Another thank you to Jordan from Coplan’s and the team from Charles Grayson European Spa for making me look spectacular. 

Me & Jordan from Coplan's

Jordan is very involved with the community and is working on a charity fundraiser scheduled for late February which he created to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Crossing paths with him was meant to be as The NASCAR Foundation will be partnering with him for his event.

Janet Bolin

Spring 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: J. Mendel

We'll wrap up our fashion week highlights with J. Mendel and his lovely vertical color block pieces. Some of us avoid stripes like the plague for fear they will make us look fat. While horizontal stripes have that effect, vertical stripes are elongating and can actually make you appear taller and slimmer.  J. Mendel's collection of vertically color blocked pieces and feminine, fluttery dresses with surprise pops of contrasting colors.  Overall it was modern, sophisticated, and extremely flattering.

Images from Elle via Imaxtree.com and Matteo Volta 

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Licking Valley High School and Duncan Falls Elementary School

Born and raised in a small town, I enjoyed school assemblies where outsiders would come and share their experience and encourage students to dream big. This Friday, as Mrs. International, I have the opportunity to be one of those visitors at two schools in hopes my words of wisdom and experience can help an impressionable youngster to follow their dreams.   I’ll be speaking with two classes at Licking Valley High School, including a Women’s Health Class, and then speaking at the Pep Rally for Duncan Falls Elementary School.

I also look forward to sharing the information available from the American Heart Association so these students can be armed and prepared should they, or anyone in their family, encounter symptoms of a heart attack or other heart disease.  As a certified fitness professional, I always embrace the opportunity  to do my part to motivate our youth to find a fitness routine they enjoy so they can commit to be fit for life.  I appreciate the opportunities both of these schools have provided me and look to share many wonderful pictures with you all.  

Janet Bolin

National Book Festival

I, along with NFL star Chris Draft opened the 2^nd day of the National Book Festival with reading and physical activities!  As part of Chris Draft’s Let’s Read, Let’s Move initiative, I read a story and then we all participated in physical activities modeled after NFL drills.

I even joined in on the action!

Afterwards, we autographed pictures and visited with our fans.  I am always humbled by the support that I receive.  I think kids have a bling radar and when they see a crown they go nuts!

Then it was off to the Press Tent to be interviewed.  I had a great time promoting First Book and Reach Out and Read, as well as sharing a little bit about my journey to becoming Miss International.

Lucky me!  I bumped into one of my favorite authors, Terry McMillian! She was very kind…until she asked for my crown!

Enjoying a quick chat with author Terry McMillian

Finally, I got a chance to explore the Festival and visit with the participants!

Two teachers that I met who were at the Festival to gather resources for their students.

There is always one little girl in the bunch who wants to be a pageant queen!

The Magic School Bus!! I loved reading these books when I was a child!  You can only imagine my excitement when I saw the bus!

I had a fantastic time at the National Book Festival!  This annual event is a great opportunity for people of all ages to explore the world of books.  It is definitely on my calendar for next year!  

Happy Reading!

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

Spring 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Tory Burch

We could have used color day to showcase the colorful collection by Oscar de la Renta, but we're betting that our average reader is probably more in tune to a collection that can be worn in more of an everyday kind of capacity, like that of Tory Burch. This collection features a little bit for everyone with bright colors (Why, hello there, yellow!), polka dots and ruffles, tiers of fringe, and fun studs and sequins.  Maybe it's a love for Gatsby or maybe it's the popularity of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, but our favorite flirty and sexy 1920's flapper style made its way into the Tory Burch collection too.  Take a look:

  Images from Elle via IMAXtree.com and Matteo Volta

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Dog Jog

From Labradors to Chihuahuas, dogs and puppies alike took over Winger Deer Park this weekend at the annual Tri-Cities Dog Jog! Barks filled the air as dogs ran a mile around the park to raise funds for the new Washington County Animal Shelter facility!

It was a joy to see so many pets and their owners jog together along the mile-long trail! My dog, Chi-Chi, was the smallest (and most spoiled) dog there, complete with her pink painted toenails! While I was leading her along during the Dog Jog, I felt a tug on the leash. I turned to see Chi-Chi sitting in the middle of the trail, staring at me as if to say, “My legs are too little. I just can’t walk another step! Please carry me.” So I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way as we finished the race together. What we do for our dogs!

Many other activities took place during the Dog Jog: the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners of the jog were “crowned”, an award was given to the youngest and oldest dog, and a K-9 demonstration was held, reminding the crowd how important dogs are in humans’ lives. Special thanks to my good friend, Katie Edwards, who volunteered at the Jurnee’s Journey booth. We sold lots of Paws and Claws jewelry and t-shirts. We were happy to make a donation, on the spot, directly to the Washington County Animal Shelter! Executive Director, Debbie Dobbs, and I reminisced about my donation to the shelter in 2007.  The Washington Co. Animal Shelter was the first ever recipient of a donation from Jurnee’s Journey. We were happy to help them once again!

I had such a fun day with all the rescue dogs! Please adopt from a shelter, because every pet deserves a chance, or second chance at a loving, forever home!

Jurnee Carr

Comcast

With Veronica Santos, Community Affairs Consultant for Comcast, after my interview

On Thursday morning I taped a segment on literacy for Comcast Newsmakers! I majored in journalism, specializing in broadcast media, so it was a bit nostalgic to be back in a newsroom.  It was also daunting sitting next to the anchor because there is a tremendous difference between interviewing someone and being interviewed. But, the team at Comcast did a fantastic job of prepping me. We went through talking points, they mic’d me up, powdered my nose and in 5 seconds we were taping!  We started with soft ball questions and then we got into the meat of the discussion. 

We discussed the current state of literacy in America, the ways that organizations such as First Book and Reach Out and Read lead the fight against illiteracy and small things that each of us can do to help eradicate illiteracy.

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss my platform on a national stage.  One of my goals for this year was to bring literacy to the forefront of the national agenda.  As a titleholder, I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to promote my platform and to reach as many people as possible.  Television is just one of those tools.  Companies such as Comcast play an integral role in making sure that the voices of everyday citizens are heard.  By lending valuable programming time to the cause of literacy, Comcast demonstrated its commitment to the community.   Thanks Comcast!

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

Spring 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Charlotte Ronson

Charlotte Ronson's collections are always young and fresh and her Spring 2012 collection certainly lived up to our expectations.  We love the country meets city look and various textures and flirty, feminine colors and sheer fabrics! Charlotte does dresses very well and this collection is light, breezy, and definitely wearable.  Plus, we're not sure if you're aware, but Charlotte Ronson's "I Heart Ronson" Collection is available at JCPenny and features some really great designer apparel at incredibly affordable prices.  We hope to see some of these frocks there this Spring!

XOXO

Jen & Saira

My Love of Donuts

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to meet all the General Managers of Krispy Kreme at their annual leadership meeting in Charlotte.  This was an honor to be able to personally thank them for all their love and support for Victory Junction.  Together, Krispy Kreme has raised almost $400,000 in three years to send children to Victory Junction Camp.

Mrs. International, Janet Bolin, and Steve Graves, Vice President of Retail Operations

Victory Junction Camp in Randleman, North Carolina was built in honor of Adam Petty, and provides life-changing experiences for kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illiness.  The cost for one child to attend camp is $2,500 but through the generosity of many sponsors, like Krispy Kreme, children don’t pay a dime.  Victory Junction is one of the over 150 charities whom The NASCAR Foundation helps raise funds, annually.

The annual fundraising effort of Krispy Kreme is their “Drive for 45” program which runs 45 days, starting April 5th with the goal of raising enough money to send at least 45 children to camp.  Each general manager rallies their staff, empowering them to share the stories of all the children who’ve benefitted from the camp and in turn rallying the Krispy Kreme customers to help support future children so they too can have that same experience. 

Kyle Petty and Krispy Kreme CEO, Jim Morgan, and I all were able to talk with the group and share our appreciation for their efforts.  I shared with them that you would find “donut lover” on my list of fun facts about Mrs. International and that my husband likes to call me the “Krispy Kreme Queen.”   While they call the camp experience “life-changing” I add to that by stating it is also “life-saving” in that the children who attend camp will always have the love of their family, but gain the admiration and support from the peers whom they meet, peers who are dealing with the same physical or medical challenges.  They ‘get them’ on a different level. 

I also had a chance to curb some myths about “beauty queens” in that I’ll roll up my sleeves to help - with the crown – because I am not just a smile and wave.  So, as they look to put the final touches on the Drive for 45 fundraiser for 2012, I look forward to helping do whatever I can to raise awareness of this fundraising drive. 

Be on the lookout for additional information on how you can join me and Krispy Kreme raise funds to send children to Victory Junction Camp. To learn more, I invite you to visit www.krispykreme.com or www.victoryjunction.org. 

Janet Bolin

Shelter Shock

A few days ago I visited my local animal shelter. As I walked in, animal control pulled up with a trunk full of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. It absolutely broke my heart to see these poor creatures going into a place that is, quite frankly, more harsh than where they were on the streets. It took everything inside me to not take them all home.
 

When I passed the front desk I overheard the receptionist tell someone on the phone that a certain animal was on the “kill list”. A living, breathing being has its destiny laid out on a piece of paper. This jostled my stomach.

Animal control agencies and animal shelters receive approximately 10 MILLION animals a YEAR. The workers are forced to kill on dog or cat ever 6 SECONDS. Why? Simply because of overpopulation in the shelters.

If you are searching for a new furry friend, please visit your local animal shelter first. These animals deserve more than to live in a cage and die within days. It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to round up, house, kill, and dispose of homeless animals. Rescue a pet from this horrible situation.

For most shelters, the cost to adopt a pet includes spay/neutering. To ensure that the pet population with not over exceed, please spay/neuter your pet as quickly as possible if you haven’t already.

Pets deserve a chance or second chance at a loving, forever home just as much as humans. Save a life and adopt!

Jurnee Carr

Miss Teen International 2011

www.jurneesjourney.org

Spring 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Ralph Lauren

We love Ralph Lauren's spring collection, possibly because it's reminiscent of The Great Gatsby (and you know we love our Gatsby). We love the soft, pale pastels and the fluttering dresses, which create such beautiful and romantic look. There were way too many pieces to choose from, so instead we focused on our favorite part of the collection: the evening dress. We wish we had some sparkly event to go to where we could wear these gorgeous, beaded, floor length dresses without looking ridiculous or over-the-top. This may be one of our favorite evening wear collections.

Image Credits: New York Magazine



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Goodyear Support Our Troops®

Bid now through October 10th on authentic autographed memorabilia and race-used, special-edition Goodyear Support Our Troops® tires from the NASCAR and NHRA race events the weekend of September 16-18th signed by your favorite drivers!  Goodyear is the Official Tire of NASCAR and the NHRA, and is showing its continued support for the men and women of the United Stated Armed Forces.   Join us in showing our gratitude and recognizing their service to our country by raising funds to benefit them and their families through the Support Our Troops® charitable organization.

Fifty-nine different driver’s tires, including the race winner for the Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Tony Stewart, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Austin Dillon, are available to bid on now by visiting NASCAR.COM/foundation.  I also invite you to visit www.goodyear.com/saluteourtroops to watch the video of the Goodyear Boot Camp Challenge with your favorite NASCAR and NHRA drivers.  These brave competitors take on a tire obstacle course to drive donations for our troops.  You can pledge to support your favorite driver now through December 3, 2011.

Janet Bolin

Spring 2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Bill Blass

So we're not going to lie, we had no idea who Bill Blass was until we started blogging about Fashion Week. But now that we found him, we love him! His collection has strong, vibrant colors and is really ready-to-wear.  The collection had a strong nautical theme without being too gimmicky (only a few anchors and stripes overall), and we really loved the simple prints. Like Victoria Beckham, the collection had a very preppy and athletic feel that we could see rocking in real life.

Image Credits: New York Magazine



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Books in Baltimore!

This past Friday I had the honor of working with Reach Out and Read to do a site visit at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center!  I was even featured on WBALTV NBC in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center has consistently been ranked one of the best in the nation and after visiting, I know why.  It is a one stop shop that is committed to making sure that children are not only physically healthy, but that they have the resources that they need to succeed.   A big part of that is Johns Hopkins’ partnership with Reach Out and Read.  The goal is to encourage early literacy and to make literacy a family affair. 
 

Although it was early in the morning, I had a very good audience.  We read a number of books, including one of my personal favorites, How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms? by: Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

A very special thank you to Andrea Pyatt-Johnson (pictured here), Judith Forman and Deanna McCray James for making my visit possible.

I look forward to continuing my work with Reach Out and Read! Please check out Reach Out and Read’s Facebook Page to learn how to get involved or to just keep up to date.

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011

The Survival Capsule Hotel

First created for accommodation as an art project in 2004, owner Denis Oudendijk has different models ready for use and is currently working on additional locations in central Amsterdam and Nantes, France.

Moored in F.A.S.T. (Free Architecture Surf Terrain) – a unique and artistic surfers village at the boulevard of Scheveningen near The Hague, Netherlands, your room is a bright orange survival pod made from travelling oil rig survival capsules. Originally built in 1972 they are 4.25 metres in diameter and unaltered apart from the addition of a lock on the outside and an ‘emergency’ chemical toilet inside. While not everyone’s luxury choice, each pod provides cosy protection from the elements for up to three occupants.

Source: capsulehotel

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