A Thousand Words

What Was That?!

I am coming off the success of the NYC Chocolate Show. I guess I should write about what an amazing success it was and post photos (which will come soon), but I am sitting here still trying to get my head around it all.

The more I experience life, the more I realize how insane I really am. Who goes to NYC in front of the world's press and chocolate industry to try to pull off a chocolate dress with no kitchen, no reputation and no practice? I do, apparently. (Brandon has to be at least half as insane as me to go along!)

The experience of pulling it off was thrilling. To dare to dream so big, to work a plan so carefully, to carry all your eggs in one basket and watch it all come together like a jigsaw puzzle with every breath you breathe, is quite an amazing experience.

How is it that a thought can grow into a vision that can be translated to a medium and shared with the world? How is it that the world can be impacted by an artist's creation in a way that brings growth and change? How is it that I have been given the opportunity to bring a vision like this forward?

God was real and present. He was writing the story, we were eagerly turning the pages. It was beautiful to feel God move through me as I laid out the chocolate tiles in a spectacular random mosaic, art unfolding in front of my eyes. I will never be the same.

I think I am a little insane. I really do. I have given this a lot of thought. For an artist to open up that channel, to let the pleasures of the world and the beauty of humanity flow through their mind, their hand, their fingertips onto the canvas, the paper, the sidewalk, the runway, to let that happen, the power of those moments is more than a sane mind could process. It is almost too much for my crazy mind to bare.

I just hope that my insanity doesn't affect those close to me in a devastating way. I hope that they are able to see the beauty in the gift that flows through me and are able to forgive the shortcomings that reside with it.

I'm impulsive, impatient, restless, independent and unpredictable. But those are the things that allow me to live in a moment, to take it all in, to feel the music, taste the colors, trace the humanity with my fingers. Allow me that, forgive the rest. It will be beautiful, I can promise you that...

This is Tina posting. I just talked to Bethany and Jesse. They are having trouble getting internet connection so I am helping out.

The night was amazing! The press is in love with Jessie Lyric and Bethany said it could not have been any better. Everyone was overwhelmed with the evening and on cloud 9! The dress was perfect and Bethany said it would take hours to recount the day’s events. It sounds as though the end result was perfect though!

The are celebrating and getting some rest before they head to CBS first thing in the morning. Don’t forget to set the tivo!

Thursday Morning Update

I am at the Gershwin Hotel. We had several set backs last night with the dress. So we are up at 6AM. We are hopeful that we will have it done by 4. We are encouraged at the progress that we are making on it and it looks very cool. Let’s just hope all goes as planned. We have to be at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 4 and the dress is only half done and the headpiece…well I have not even started on it!

I will try to give you another update later in the day. Please say a prayer.

CBS early morning show is TOMORROW, FRIDAY morning so set your TIVO’s on CBS for 7-9AM

Cart Before the Horse

Well, I just realized that you have no idea what I am talking about. I have been so caught up in the drama with The Cocoa Tree that I haven't had much time to stop and relish the event that is just 3 days away. (very short days)

I am good at putting the cart before the horse, in fact I think it is the only way that I know how to travel. I would switch it around if I knew how. I have lived my whole life ahead of myself.

So, that is why I told you about the CBS Early Show before I told you about the NYC Chocolate Show. And that is also why I submitted my name to the organizers of the show this year. I wanted to be included in the VIP high fashion runway event that kicks off the chocolate show every year. The only problem was, I have never made a dress out of chocolate before...

I still haven't actually - which is the scary part. I have made it over and over in my mind, but with a small business that is seeping with drama, a book to write and 4 children, there isn't much time for practice.

Not that we haven't been working on it for 3 weeks. We have created all the pieces for it and we have practiced all the techniques that we will be using, but the dress has not been assembled completely yet. The reason? We have to get it to NYC without incident. So, that is why we made the decision to assemble it when we get there.

I am so excited, and quite terrified, to be involved with this event. It is a dream come true and I can't believe I am actually going to walk down that runway with my daughter (who designed the dress) and a high fashion model who will be wearing my chocolate dress in Manhattan at the 10th annual Chocolate Show. Amazing.

Here's to the American dream!

CBS Early Show

Jessie Lyric and I will be on the CBS Early Show on the morning of November 8th. That is THIS Thursday.

So, here's the story. I got an email at 2:30 today that was sent to all the chocolatiers who will be part of the runway event on Thursday night. It was asking for 2 of us to volunteer to appear on the Early Show. I had about 30 seconds to spin it around my mind, knowing that if I wait much longer, I may not get the chance back. I could hear my husband's voice in my head, "you think you can do these things. . ." as he smiles and shakes his head.

I don't know why I said yes. I guess I like swimming up stream. . .so, here's to sink or swim!!

Wish me luck. I am going to need it. :)

I'll keep you posted...