It's Time To Party!

OGGW stands for Old Girls Gone Wild.  This is not a new reality TV show, but an actual weekend that joined 15 of my sorority sisters from the University of Florida.

This gathering occurs almost every year at different locations in Florida cities. This time, we were in the tropical paradise of Key Biscayne near Miami.

If you remember my first blog three years ago about being President of Over-packers anonymous, I didn’t disappoint. It was cheaper to upgrade to first class than pay the excess baggage fee for my trip!  What can I say, a ChaChagirl has got to have choices!

After meeting in 1988 at the ripe age of 18 at the ZTA sorority, we now officially know each other more than half of our lives.  These gatherings are ChaCha essential as we re-tell stories, bond, discuss our children, husbands, ChaCha life, and we get to just enjoy our friendship.  Of course, sun and some alcoholic beverages help the weekend right along!

In true ChaCha spirit, there was a theme with blinged shirts/hats to coordinate.  Our OGGW on the Key made an impact wherever we went.  At UF, the Zebra was the animal of the ZTA sorority so I made cute ChaCha gift bags that had Zebra notepads and zebra mints in it.  ChaCha rule number one: You can’t go empty handed to a party!

Sadly, the hostess of our event was very sick and couldn’t participate in our weekend, so we included her in the most ChaCha creative way.  If you are familiar with the book series, Flat Stanley, we had Flat Amy!  She was a cut out of our friend who was truly the life of the party, even from her hospital bed.  Flat Amy went on the boat, sang at karaoke, ate our catered dinner, and sadly, she even had too much to drink!   We can’t thank Amy’s husband enough for captaining us on his “All Smiles” boat and giving us the ChaCha special treatment.

In honor of Amy, we made a donation to her favorite ChaCha Charity, IPADs for Soldiers. This is a wonderful cause and I invite you check out their website at www.ipadsforsoldiers.org. 

 In 2010, Amy’s friend founder Winnie Pritchett, whose son Wes was serving in Afghanistan, realized the needs of troops risking their lives far away from their homes and loved ones. Recognizing that those serving in the more remote regions have no TV or cell phone, and no way to carry heavy books or computers in their 110‑lb rucksacks, she decided to do something about it.  Can you imagine having no ChaCha communication with those you loved?

The girls on this trip are as different as the books they read, from the Hunger Games, to the sexy novel Shades of Grey, and a story of WWII survival and redemption called Unbroken.   We had one thing in common though, we loved singing the song, “We Are Young,” as we felt like we were back in college when we all got together.

In the true spirit of girl’s weekend, I only had one ChaCha photo to share since the lawyers in our group had us sign a non-disclosure agreement.  What happens on the Key, stays on the Key!  Actually, do you know how hard it was to get 15 girls all looking great in one photo…almost ChaCha impossible!

If you have a group of friends that have kept in touch for more than 20 years, send me story about your girlfriend getaways and be entered to win a ChaCha Friendship ring! s@chachabella.com

Celebrate Your Time!

The expression, time really flies, is appropriate when we lose an hour for daylights saving time, but my dad just said, How can I have a 42 year old daughter?” We are able to judge our own existence and time through the age of the others. 

Did you know that Oreo Cookie and the Girl Scout Organization are both 100!

Two Icons of American culture celebrating their ChaCha day!

 

With a blink of the eye, we grow, we age, we mature. People make a bucket list so they can try to reach some of their ChaCha goals and dreams before they turn 100.  ChaCha girls live each day to their fullest so they can take advantage of the opportunities around them.  It’s not what you do before you die, it’s who you do it with. Friends, family, loved ones make the journey ChaCha complete.

If you have a special birthday this month, take the time to reflect on what you have accomplished and what you want to complete. Set the goals in motion, so it isn’t ten years later and you are in the same spot.    

Challenge yourself to have more ChaCha fun
Participate in ChaCha charities
Compete in ChaCha sports
Rise up the ChaCha corporate ladder
Enjoy your ChaCha loved ones
Eat more ChaCha chocolate

Remember, time flies when you are having rum, I mean fun!

Send me a cute girl scout story and be entered to win a ChaChabella ring. Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com.

Celebrate Leap Year 2012

Modern Family’s TV personality Cameron has a birthday on February 29, Leap Day, the day the show airs, and it is about his party.  He claims he is ten and not forty!  I am sure the show will be hysterical, but it does raise a point, how do you celebrate a day that appears every four years?  If the day fell on a Saturday and that was your wedding date, how would you track your years?  Unofficially, a year is a year, but officially is another debate.  I imagine that getting your license would be a ChaCha challenge or turning 21.  On the bright side, no one would forget your birthday!

As you probably know, Leap Day is a date that usually occurs every four years.  This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days.  Did you know that  in the British Isles, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years.  

I loved that cute movie, Leap Year, staring Amy Adams on her travels to Dublin to propose to her boyfriend. She of course falls in love with someone else shattering the tradition.  In Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky.  One in five engaged couples in Greece will plan to avoid getting married in a leap year.  Is that ChaCha Superstitious or smart?

In actuality, your chances of being born on leap day are about 1 in 1,500.  If you are born on a Leap Year, each state decides if you get your driver's license on February 28th or March 1st. It is an ambiguous question that is decided by each state. Most states, however, consider March 1st the official day. For instance, the Michigan Vehicle Code states that people born on February 29th "are deemed to have been born on March 1st."  A fun ChaCha fact is that there are about 187,000 people in the US and 4 million people in the world who were born on Leap Day.

If you need an excuse to throw a party, Leap Day, could be your lucky break. You only have to pull it off every four years.  You could have key headlines from the last four years to stimulate conversation, you could list the top songs and television shows of the past four years for fun mingling, and your menu could be french fries four ways or four flavors of pizza.  Be ChaCha creative!

If you were born on leap day, let us know and we will enter you to win a ChaChaBella ring of your choice!  Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

Visit the ChaChaBella site to see the complete collection of fun sparkly gifts for all occasions.  http://www.chachabella.com/store/home.php

SPRING IS IN THE AIR!

http://www.chachabella.com/store/home.php

Love Is Always The Answer

Can you still believe in love when power couples separate like J-Lo and Marc Anthony, Demi and Ashton, and now rumors of Jada and Will ending their marriage? Ok, we all saw some of them coming, but still, they embodied love. Even if it was Hollywood style. As we near Valentines Day, I say, “love is in the air!” Haven’t you seen all the Match.com and E-Harmony commercials that swear they lead the industry in finding you a mate. So, we know people are still looking for the one that will complete them. Wait, wasn’t that line in a Tom Cruise movie?

This Valentines day, if you have a mate or don’t, it is still a day of love. Love your family, your friends, your neighbors, and you will enjoy the day. Be a secret admirer. Leave chocolates on a co-workers desk, leave potted flowers at a neighbors door, write love notes to your children, and you will make someone’s day.

I heard a radio commercial about a stop light dance party on Valentines Day. If you are single, you wear green. If you are a risk-taker, wear yellow, and if you are committed, wear red. Now, that is putting yourself out there. No hiding behind a computer screen and dating online, but actual conservation. The one thing I do know is if you want to be noticed, get complimented, or have someone start a conversation is to wear a ChaChaBella ring. Women love them, Men ask about them, and bartenders compliment them.

If you are looking for last minute gifts for him, check out www.gifts.com or www.redenvelope.com for unique ideas. Tell your husband or boyfriend about www.chachabella for your gift!

Editors note: This Valentine's Day is very special as we are offering our newest Spring Collection, and the one the Executive Director of ChaChaBella chooses to feature is "Courage". It is dedicated to the care providers of loved ones with breast cancer. It is their strength in the face of pain that helps us thru our darkest days. A tribute to my girls, Heather & Anji for their unwavering courage. I love you, Mom

Contact S@chachabella.com with your favorite valentine gift you have received or given to be entered to win a pink ring!

ChaCha Super Bowl!

It’s Superbowl time alright, but for me, the musical guests are what’s super-exciting. Is this a football game or a music concert? With Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and the Mega Madonna, I almost forget that the hype is about football. Even B.O.B. and the All American Rejects perform for the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam the Thursday night before the game.

Indianapolis won’t be the same for Superbowl XLVI (I have no ChaCha idea how to translate Roman numbers, that information flew out of my head when I graduated high school) with the rematch of the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. The Giants took the title in 2008 with a 17 to 14 score, and the Patriots were the favored team back then. Now, it is any team’s game as this re-match wasn’t the expected turn of events. They are calling it a border war, since both teams reside in the NE.

All ChaCha girls unite with the sparkly pink football, tail-gaiting food, and the chance to watch Multi-Grammy award winner Madonna perform. She will rock the house at age 53! This ChaCha star gets better with age and her music will always be timeless. Kelly Clarkson just has to sing the words correctly, since last year Christina Aguilera flubbed a line in our national anthem. Hey, I am sure she was ChaCha nervous as she sang in front of the largest TV audience ever! If Kelly kept her cool on the first year of American Idol and won, this should be an easy event for her. Either way, two powerful women perform on Sunday, Feb 5 at 6:30pm.

Country duo and married couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton will sing America the Beautiful before the game kicks off.

So enjoy your Patriot punch and your Giant guacamole and any other creative tail-gating food you ChaCha create. We always say, ChaCha girls make parties Super-events, so wear your team’s colors on a specially made ChaCha ring. Order now for the party or after the team has won...team pride is always ChaCha cool.

Tell me something ChaCha about your superbowl party, and I’ll enter you to win a ring of your choice. S@chachabella.com

Think Pink & Fight The Winter Blues

As you take down your holiday decorations and bring your Cha Cha glitzy dresses to the dry-cleaner, are you having the post-holiday depression blues? ChaCha girls can step it up and create a reason to party during these winter months.

Let's copy Oprah's original favorite thing party, but throw a ChaCha curve to it. Have your friends bring their favorite holiday gift they received in December. Have each friend bring their gift and explain why they love it to a restaurant for lunch, or to your house if you are still in the mood to be
ChaCha creative.

You can type up a little invitation on leopard print paper and note that the words are from Sound Of Music's, "My Favorite Things" song.
Here's a brief sampling you can use...

Girls in black dresses with Spanx on their asses

Mascara that says on with no clumps on my lashes
Mani's and Pedi's and ChaChaBella rings,
These are a few of my favorite things!"

Please bring your favorite gift you received to share over cupcakes and cocktails at designated location.

My girlfriend and I threw this party before the holidays and had our friends bring their favorite item under $20 to be a Secret Santa exchange. But, the concept works great now too with some tweaking.

If at your house, you could have peppermint rimmed glass coffee mugs to mix your Bailey's liquor or hot chocolate in.

You can line your front door pathway with our favorite store's shopping bags and candles, setting the theme from the get-go!

A talented MAC user cropped Oprah into a picture of my girlfriend and I and we had table dedicated to her, with books, magazines, and trivia questions that we asked throughout the night. One guest brought complimentary hair certificates for everyone and we had a sound-alike Oprah contest saying,

"Everyone Gets One!"

This makes the party an event. ChaCha girls always take it to the next level!

Another simple idea is to grab a chalkboard or
dry erase board and write Winter Pick Me Up Punch on it or Winter Wonderland Water.



Have each girlfriend bring their favorite ChaChaBella ring and talk about the great spring colors you can't wait to order.

Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com if you have done a Favorite Things party and be entered to win one of my favorite ChaChaBella rings, the Annabelle.

ChaCha DIY Holiday Projects!

If you find yourself cursing under your breath as you string lights – you aren’t alone!

Decorating for the holidays should be fun, and not stressful. Yet, many ChaCha women strive to find something new and creative to do with their old decorations. Recently, I was told about the website Pinterist, which shows amazing decorating ideas as well as day-to-day things like recipes, clothes, and do- it-yourself projects. Check it out and enjoy some of their ChaCha creative ideas!http://pinterest.com/

We all eventually love our end result, but getting there (with a few trips to Michaels Arts and Crafts in-between) seems to be the ChaCha trouble. So, I recommend this DIY project…drink white wine (or Perrier mineral water) and save the bottles! Remove the labels. Wrap the mid-section of the bottle with a silver or gold wrapping paper and then add a thin bow or ribbon around the paper. Add a taper candle to the top and you have created a lovely ambiance. If you have a glass cutter, you can also cut the length of the bottles to have varying heights. How fun, classy, and easy to do – that’s my idea of a ChaCha DIY project!

Another easy decorating idea is using candy as a filler for vases. Stick with a ChaCha color theme, for example white pretzels, white gumballs, white rock candy sticks, etc. You can fill in with marshmallows, sugar cubes, Epson salt, white/silver ornaments, and the fake snow also. A single color unifies and has a powerful effect. Of course, red is the season’s color with the cranberries, candy-candies, and poinsettias, would work great too. A hot ChaCha chocolate or smores station is always cute too in vases, Hershey Chocolate Bars, Graham Crackers, and Marshmallows, and loose Chocolate mix. Add some holiday mugs, and your guests will want to stay!

Please let me know about your latest holiday DIY project and you will be entered to win a handmade ChaCha Bella ring! Contact Suzanne at S@chachabella.com

If you aren’t sure what to ChaCha say on Thanksgiving Day, I found this great prayer written by Scott Wesemann. During these difficult economic times, I find people more appreciative of everything. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and can find many things that make you thankful.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minutes more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

ChaCha Girls love Pink, but is it OK for Turkey meat on Thanksgiving?

According to the USDA, The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. Only by using a food thermometer can one accurately determine that poultry has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product. Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. And, the meat of smoked turkey is always PINK.

For more detailed information with all the ChaCha technical information, please visit
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/is_pink_turkey_meat_safe/index.asp

As you will read, there are many reasons turkey may be pink, so, please be safe, use the meat thermometer to ensure the temperature is 165 °F. More tips on ChaCha holidays. Coming Soon!

Don't let Halloween pass you by without creating something ChaCha fun with food!

Mom’s always say, “Don’t play with your food," but this is the perfect time to play, create, and of course eat with our fingers! I am not Martha Stewart in the kitchen and I don’t take on any challenging cooking task, but arranging carrots in the shape of a pumpkin - that is right up my alley!

My girlfiend told me about the Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies dipped in white icing to make ghost figures and I found these cute ones on a site by former art directors for Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings, Angie and Kristin at Blonde Designs.

I also love the idea of the Milano cookies used as tombstones with RIP written in black icing on them. Use them to be ChaCha clever in decorating your cake.

If you are into scarier shaped foods, then check out this gross website for ChaCha creative ideas using jello, brain molds, and a kitty litter them

e to highlight a few of their ideas: http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/halloween-party-food.html.

Who doesn’t want to devour crescent rolls made to look like mummies? I have also seen them twisted with an almond sliver at the end to look likefingers. Really, kids and adults will howl at the moon over these fun snacks.

If you have a unique Halloween treat you like to make, please share it with us and be entered to win a black ring of your choice. Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com

At a recent football game, the players were all wearing hot pink socks with their uniform and cleats.

Gone are the days of whispering “breast cancer" - it is now front and center in society. Men wear "Save the Ta-Ta shirts," boys wear hot pink socks, and ChaCha women of all ages run/walk marathons to raise money. As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and it is a reminder to get your mammogram.

Last spring, I had a scare with breast cancer and had to have a small lumpectomy to remove some cells. My results came back good, but now I have to be monitored every six months.


Some of my friends have not been so lucky, and have had mastectomies, radiation, and/or chemo treatments. More than likely you know someone who has been affected and can understand the reality of the situation.

The Granny of the owners of ChaChaBella had breast cancer and they now have a ring in her honor. In addition, they have a specific breast cancer charity ring called ChaCha for the Cure, where profits are donated to help find a cure.




More than 230,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 will die of the disease, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Department Secretary Kathleen Sebeluis said in a statement that regular mammography screening "can help lower breast cancer mortality by finding breast cancer early, when the chance of successful treatment is best."



So grab a ChaCha friend and schedule the mammogram. You can laugh afterwards about the awkward position and pressing strength. Be ChaCha strong and smile!

Send me your mamogram story and you will be entered to win a pink ring. I can be reached at s@chachabella.com

Have you ever left a speech or a program and been Cha Cha motivated to change the world?

Recently, I attended a presentation about Rachel’s challenge at my son’s middle school. Rachel Scott was the first person killed at the horrible Columbine school shootings in April 1999. In addition to Rachael, 11 other students and 1 teacher made this horrific event the deadliest High School massacre. The two killers were students who felt bullied, hated life, and were depressed. They ended up committing suicide that day. If this information is new to you, I know it is Cha Cha disturbing, so imagine my surprise that something so wonderful could come from such a tragedy.

There is no doubt that Rachel had those Cha Cha amazing qualities that were larger than life. She based her life on doing the right thing and making a difference. Her family has her legacy living on with Rachel’s challenge of starting a chain reaction.

I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same.
- Rachel Scott

Upon Rachel’s death, the family found tons of notebooks and a paper she wrote about her ethics and code of life. You must ChaCha read this and embrace her compassion and passion for kindness.
http://www.rachelschallenge.org/LearnMore/RachelsEssay.php

I can’t put her life into words, but her actions are still speaking today. Anti-Bullying laws, kindness acts, paying it forward all stem from her challenge.

Please visit the entire website for more information and how to get involved at http://www.rachelschallenge.org/LearnMore/MeetRachel.php

As we approach the anniversary of 9/11, I can think of nothing better than showing kindness and Cha Cha compassion throughout our day, our lives, and to our family and friends.

If you have done a recent act of kindness, please share it with me to be entered for a ChaCha ring of your choice. Contact Suzanne at S@chachabella.com

Happy first anniversary to Lindsey Atkas and Henry Ambroseo!

The couple ChaCha celebrated the big day on August 7, 2011. As I approach the ChaCha milestone of fifteen years with my husband on September 7 (lucky #7!); I asked Lindsey what advice she had for new brides and she said, communication, communication, communication. In addition, I would also throw in that you can’t sweat the small stuff, in life and marriage!

Their wedding was at the Waterview, in Monroe, CT in front of 160 guests. Black ChaCha rings were made to match the bridesmaids dresses. Lindsey also has a brown and pink ring (or in ChaCha wording, yummy chocolate and pretty princess pink) named after her for ordering the first bridesmaid rings of 2010.

One of the best gifts that the couple received was a frame personalized with their names and wedding date from the Sandals St. Lucia resort, where they stayed for ten days over their honeymoon. They wake up and go to bed looking at the picture from one of their romantic evenings, and relive those great memories.

Henry and Lindsey met through one of her best friends, who ended up marrying Henry’s cousin. That’s another thing we have in common, as I married my cousin’s best friend.

The engagement was all Henry’s planning. He invited Lindsey for a day of shopping in NYC, and then they had plans for a ChaCha fun evening including a hotel in NYC, which was unusual, since they live close to the city.

The restaurant was where they had their first date, yet Henry didn’t eat much. He claimed he wasn’t feeling well. So, they headed back to their room and Lindsey was disappointed that their evening plans had fizzled, so she changed into her PJs since they weren’t going out now. Of course, Henry came out of the bathroom and said, I hope this ring makes you feel better. Needless to say, it did and they are doing ChaCha great!


Contact Suzanne at S@chachabella.com to tell me your favorite wedding gift or first year marriage advice, and be entered to win a Lindsey ring!

What’s a ChaCha?

Recently, I was looking through my ULTA beauty magazine and saw an ad for Benefit’s ChaCha tint, a mango-tinted lip and cheek stain which is sheer and sexy for a tropical flush.
It retails for $29 at ULTA. This product started me thinking, what else uses the ChaCha name and what does it all mean? (See, my ChaCha blog inspirations come from anywhere!)

Did you know there is a search engine called ChaCha? It began in 2006 in Carmel, Indiana. The name ChaCha comes from the Mandarin Chinese which means "to search." One of their sources they use are ChaCha guides and this was the requirement: "ChaCha Guides are curious, professional, Internet-savvy people, just like you, who enjoy learning new things, sharing their knowledge with others, and being part of a fun, diverse community. Sharp minds are important, but you do not actually have to be a ‘know-it-all’ to be a Guide."

If I replace Internet-savvy in that description with fashion-savvy, girlfriend-savvy, and just plan super-savvy and you have a ChaCha girl!

OPI nail enamel has a color called Cha-Ching Cherry. This makes me think of a casino slot machine where you want three cherries in a row! That would be ChaCha lucky.

Now, who hasn’t heard of the famous ChaCha slide song and dance by Dj Casper:

To the left, take it back now ya’ll
One hop this time, right foot let’s stomp
Left foot let’s stomp, Cha Cha real smooth...


Heather aptly named her company ChaChaBella after her two sons, Chase and Chandler. The Cha from the beginning of each of their names and since she had two twin boys, she needed and wanted a little (ok, a lot) of femininity in her business. Hence, she added bella, which stands for friendships, beauty, and of course sparkle! And actually, in many Spanish speaking countries, ChaChaBella means Beautiful Girl – PERFECT!

If you have a product in your house that uses Cha or ChaCha in it, let us know and be entered to win a ring. Contact Suzanne at s@chachabella.com