Thursday, September 29, 2011
Mrs South Carolina to be an "Avatar"!
And the opportunities keep coming!! Next week, our own Mrs South Carolina International, Elizabeth Malvasia, will shoot the first of a series of spokesmodeling videos for a national brand and website. The company is Planet Ballroom and Elizabeth will be the company's official, on-line spokes-model!! We are so proud of our Mrs South Carolina 2011! Good luck Elizabeth...we know you will be amazing!!
I Will Be True to the Promise I Have Made....
I have received SO MANY well-wishes and congrats for our two-year wedding anniversary and I wanted to take a moment to say a huge: THANK YOU!! Truly, it means so much! This year's celebration was simpler than year's past, but every bit as wonderful. Between being in the midst of the biggest construction project we've ever undertaken and all the amazing opportunities and growth of our careers, not to mention my busy schedule of appearances and charity work, a simple weekend getaway to the beautiful coastal town of Wilmington seemed to be the perfect fit!!
When you are on a beautiful beach with the one you love, even the rain seems perfect! :)
Getting ready to board the USS North Carolina!
And as for the actual "day" itself, we celebrated with our annual tradition. I bake us a special cake (this year it was a cookie cake with my famous and secret cookie recipe!) and then wear my wedding dress while we dance our "first dance" again, make a wish, and blow out the candle! Cheesy-yes! But in life, how many opportunities do we get to really celebrate our lives and the ones we love? Or even to create a fun and photo-worthy memory?
Wishing everyone a lifetime of precious moments and special memories,
Your Mrs South Carolina International,
Elizabeth
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Walk for St.Jude!!
Sunday Sum-up!!
The Southern Paradise Ball Newcomer's Challenge was a such a fun day! It was filled with all things sparkly, glamorous, and over-the-top...definitely my kind of event to host! It was also a loooong day! Starting at 5:30am and ending sometime after 12am THE NEXT DAY!! Fortuntately we are all having way too much fun to realize we are EXHUASTED! :)
Ready to go check on the ladies' dressing room bright and early...wish me luck!! 
Whenever I am hosting an event, modeling, or dancing, I always use any breaks as a chance to run to my room and slip into my "cozies"...even if its only for 30 minutes!! 
Taking a quick time-out to hug my husband! It always amazes me how in the chaos of an event, we can be in the same place all day and yet not see one another at all! 
The live-music Salsa party got more than a touch wild! Here's is Planet Ballroom Matthews' manager, and one of my dearest friends (second husband really!), Bradley, "worming" acrosss the dance floor!
Ready to go check on the ladies' dressing room bright and early...wish me luck!! 
Whenever I am hosting an event, modeling, or dancing, I always use any breaks as a chance to run to my room and slip into my "cozies"...even if its only for 30 minutes!! 
Taking a quick time-out to hug my husband! It always amazes me how in the chaos of an event, we can be in the same place all day and yet not see one another at all! 
The live-music Salsa party got more than a touch wild! Here's is Planet Ballroom Matthews' manager, and one of my dearest friends (second husband really!), Bradley, "worming" acrosss the dance floor!
Fun with the crown! One of the event's top pros!
Somehow, I ALWAYS end up on stage.....
The band was FABULOUS!! "Manny and sus Trubacos"!
A tradition....
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Happy Fall Y'all!!
Hoping this new and beautiful season finds you well and you all are enjoying pulling out your space-bags of fleecy socks, cozy hoodies, and coats with faux-fur collars as much as I am!! And of course, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin spice coffee cakes....pumpkin spice EVERYTHING! In case you didn't catch the sublety, I love the Fall!! I am origininally from New England (shhh....we don't really talk about that!) and have the most amazing memories of this time of year. New England truly is paradise in September and October. Well worth a trip if you have never been.
Last night was the first night of one of my personal favorite Fall/Winter traditions....fireside picnics!! These have become a favorite "date-night" of my hubby's (and mine!) and so I thought I would share as it is such an easy well to enjoy the season and each other!
Spread a picnic blanket out on your living room floor in front of the fire, fill your room (or entire downstairs) with only the light of dozens of yummy, fall-scented candles, and prepare a "picnic friendly" dinner. Some of our favorite are a tray with crackers and cheese, grapes and apples, veggies and hummus; a mix of chicken tenders (buffalo, terriaki, jack daniels, etc) with veggies and dip; homemade panninis and chips; homemade chinese stir-fry; and of course, pizza! Unfortunately for my diet (especially on the nights we go for pizza instead of veggies and dip), these evenings ALWAYS include a pint of Ben&Jerry's (Well, technically two. One for each of us. But we'll keep that quiet too!). There's just something about being cozied up on a picnice blanket by the fire and eating it right out of the carton. That's when I KNOW Fall has truly arrived!
Another favorite Fall tradition of mine is "Baking Dance Parties", but we'll save that for another post! In the meantime...
Happy Fall Y'All!!
My September - In a Minute!
SO sore from the fitness classes I have been taking at Planet Ballroom Dance Studio. DanceFit, CardioLatin, Pilates, and even Ballet-for-Ballroom! Sooo fun, but WOW! I am feeling it today!
Pulling my wardrobe together for an event I am hosting tomorrow at the Ballantyne Resort. It's the "Southern Paradise Ball Newcomer Challenge". Its from 9am-5pm (which means hair and make-up at 6 - bleck!) and wraps up with a live music salsa party from 7pm-10pm. I am so excited to see all the beautiful dresses, fabulous dancing, and hopefully even get to dance myself during the Salsa party! I'll post whatever pictures I am able to take in between all my duties as the host and face of the event.
Also coming up this week is an appearance with MRS INTERNATIONAL for Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Does an appearance get much better? The most beautiful (not to mention most fun!) woman in the world and being essentially FORCED to eat as many warm, gooey, Krispy Kremes as I can handle?? I am guessing not, but if so, I hope I get that appearance too!
And finally, I am so excited to announce that I will be spending Halloween Night with the families and volunteers of Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte!! Making dinner and having a pumpking carving party!! And of course, dressed up in costume! I am in the process of rallying my troops to see whose in with me! Can NOT wait!
On a fun and personal note, one week from today is my TWO YEAR wedding anniversary!! In many ways, it feels like so much longer. Good ways! So many wonderful things have happened in our lives since that incredible day and I feel like I have had so much more than two years worth of love, laughter, happiness, and BLESSINGS. I pray that it is like this for the rest of our lives!
Your Mrs South Carolina International 2011,
Elizabeth Malvasia
Pulling my wardrobe together for an event I am hosting tomorrow at the Ballantyne Resort. It's the "Southern Paradise Ball Newcomer Challenge". Its from 9am-5pm (which means hair and make-up at 6 - bleck!) and wraps up with a live music salsa party from 7pm-10pm. I am so excited to see all the beautiful dresses, fabulous dancing, and hopefully even get to dance myself during the Salsa party! I'll post whatever pictures I am able to take in between all my duties as the host and face of the event.
Also coming up this week is an appearance with MRS INTERNATIONAL for Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Does an appearance get much better? The most beautiful (not to mention most fun!) woman in the world and being essentially FORCED to eat as many warm, gooey, Krispy Kremes as I can handle?? I am guessing not, but if so, I hope I get that appearance too!
And finally, I am so excited to announce that I will be spending Halloween Night with the families and volunteers of Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte!! Making dinner and having a pumpking carving party!! And of course, dressed up in costume! I am in the process of rallying my troops to see whose in with me! Can NOT wait!
On a fun and personal note, one week from today is my TWO YEAR wedding anniversary!! In many ways, it feels like so much longer. Good ways! So many wonderful things have happened in our lives since that incredible day and I feel like I have had so much more than two years worth of love, laughter, happiness, and BLESSINGS. I pray that it is like this for the rest of our lives!
Your Mrs South Carolina International 2011,
Elizabeth Malvasia
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remembering....
I have admittedly been terrible about keeping up with my blog since returning from nationals! But my directors have asked us girls to write our memories and experiences from 9/11 and I can't think of a more worthy topic to bring me back...
Interestingly, I had been in NYC competing with my pro-partner at the World Trade Center on August 11, 2001. I wish photos were digital back then (yes, I am that old) because I have the most beautiful photo of my best friend and I in front of the twin towers. We had my dance partner lay on his back on the ground and take a photo "up" at us, with both towers visible behind us, standing tall and proud into the sunshine. And I swear, the towers are radiant and actually glowing. Our arms are wrapped tight around one another in that "best friends forever" embrace that only girls can do and we are smiling so hard we are actually laughing.. mouths wide open in joy and eyes sparkling. Of all that strikes me when I look at that photo today, the innocence of us in contrast to what happened on that very spot 30-days later is what hits me the hardest.
We were barely 19 at the time and my freedom was never something I questioned or even thought much about. War was something I knew my grandfather had fought in and I'd read about, but had little meaning to me in my life. Fear was a word I associated with failing a test or not making a final in competition. I had never before associated it with my life, my freedom, or the safety and security of my country. 9/11 changed that for me.
I had just pulled onto campus when the radio reported a plane crashing World Trade Center. Of course we now know that this crash would later be refered to as into "the first tower". I called my best friend and ran into class. I sat with my peers and teachers, my cell phone to my ear, and we watched the second crash. There was absolute silence. I knew beyond a doubt what President Bush would announce hours later...we had been attacked. The vulnerability of that realization was a kind I had never experienced prior to that moment and hope I never feel again. It is one thing to feel vulnerable as a person, but to feel vulnerable as a NATION is a sickening feeling.
I try not to focus too much on that feeling when remembering 9/11. I believe that was the goal and I refuse to give such awful people and such horrific intent satisfaction. Instead I think about how in life's most terrifying and horrific of moments, true hope and courage can emerge. I remember that while 1,000s ran screaming from the chaos and fire, there were people running into it. True heroes. I remember the stories we all read and continue to read about complete strangers holding hands while running for their lives in stairwells and comforting one another in final moments. Firefighters who had just come off 48-hr shifts, no doubt hungry and tired and ready to spend time with their families, only to turn around and put their lives back on the line for people they didn't even know. And it makes me proud.
9/11 taugh me fear. It taught me that my freedom is not something to take for granted and it is NOT free. But more than that, it taught me how deeply and truly proud I am to be an American. It gave me a pride in this country that I could never have understood before. I am grateful to live in a nation where in the presence of true evil, our unity and love for one another and our great country is not muted, but instead shines more bright.
My dad is a true lover of history and sent me this quote this morning. Wise and comforting words from a great lover of his country, Ronald Reagan. May it bring everyone the peace and pride it brought me.
"We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free."
Interestingly, I had been in NYC competing with my pro-partner at the World Trade Center on August 11, 2001. I wish photos were digital back then (yes, I am that old) because I have the most beautiful photo of my best friend and I in front of the twin towers. We had my dance partner lay on his back on the ground and take a photo "up" at us, with both towers visible behind us, standing tall and proud into the sunshine. And I swear, the towers are radiant and actually glowing. Our arms are wrapped tight around one another in that "best friends forever" embrace that only girls can do and we are smiling so hard we are actually laughing.. mouths wide open in joy and eyes sparkling. Of all that strikes me when I look at that photo today, the innocence of us in contrast to what happened on that very spot 30-days later is what hits me the hardest.
We were barely 19 at the time and my freedom was never something I questioned or even thought much about. War was something I knew my grandfather had fought in and I'd read about, but had little meaning to me in my life. Fear was a word I associated with failing a test or not making a final in competition. I had never before associated it with my life, my freedom, or the safety and security of my country. 9/11 changed that for me.
I had just pulled onto campus when the radio reported a plane crashing World Trade Center. Of course we now know that this crash would later be refered to as into "the first tower". I called my best friend and ran into class. I sat with my peers and teachers, my cell phone to my ear, and we watched the second crash. There was absolute silence. I knew beyond a doubt what President Bush would announce hours later...we had been attacked. The vulnerability of that realization was a kind I had never experienced prior to that moment and hope I never feel again. It is one thing to feel vulnerable as a person, but to feel vulnerable as a NATION is a sickening feeling.
I try not to focus too much on that feeling when remembering 9/11. I believe that was the goal and I refuse to give such awful people and such horrific intent satisfaction. Instead I think about how in life's most terrifying and horrific of moments, true hope and courage can emerge. I remember that while 1,000s ran screaming from the chaos and fire, there were people running into it. True heroes. I remember the stories we all read and continue to read about complete strangers holding hands while running for their lives in stairwells and comforting one another in final moments. Firefighters who had just come off 48-hr shifts, no doubt hungry and tired and ready to spend time with their families, only to turn around and put their lives back on the line for people they didn't even know. And it makes me proud.
9/11 taugh me fear. It taught me that my freedom is not something to take for granted and it is NOT free. But more than that, it taught me how deeply and truly proud I am to be an American. It gave me a pride in this country that I could never have understood before. I am grateful to live in a nation where in the presence of true evil, our unity and love for one another and our great country is not muted, but instead shines more bright.
My dad is a true lover of history and sent me this quote this morning. Wise and comforting words from a great lover of his country, Ronald Reagan. May it bring everyone the peace and pride it brought me.
"We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free."
God Bless the USA
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