Fit for the Cure at Dillard's

October is breast cancer awareness month, but the "Pink Out" in Monroe started early this year! On Wednesday, September 28, Dillard's at Pecanland Mall in Monroe held their "Fit for the Cure." The lingerie department manager, Kacey Nelson Holifield, and her staff did a phenomenal job, and I was so honored to be a part of the event. Customers and employees competed in a "Bling Your Bra" competition, there were lovely refreshments including pink lemonade, cookies, and cake, and for every customer that had a complimentary custom bra fitting that day, Dillard's donated $2 to breast cancer research, as well as donating a portion of their sales for the day. Kacey was kind enough to allow me to share some educational materials from the American Cancer Society with her customers, as well as the opportunity to meet several breast cancer survivors and their family members.

If you're in Monroe, be sure to stop by Dillard's during October to see the adorable decorated bras, and make a bid on their silent auction. And don't forget to say hello to the Dillard's lingerie team - you'll find their caring and professionalism is second to none.

With Kacey Holifield at Dillard's Fit for the Cure

The Louisiana Pecan Festival Pageant

In the early morning hours on Saturday, September 17, 2011 I drove to Colfax, Louisiana, to judge the Louisiana Pecan Festival Pageant. I wasn't sure exactly where Colfax was, but Evie Lou, my trusty GPS, got me to the Civic Center right on time.  It was so much fun getting to spend the day with my director, Amanda Thille, and seeing the excitement on the faces of the newly crowned queens and kings. This was my first time to judge a Festival pageant, and I very much enjoyed getting to know each of the Miss contestants during interview and was impressed with their poise under pressure on stage. The hospitality of the Pecan Festival Board was top notch, and I know they will have an amazing festival!

With my director, Amanda Thille

The Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

This fabulous weekend started out on Friday, September 16, 2011 at noon when I had the opportunity to introduce Mrs. Louisiana Plus America (most of you know her as my mom, Kathy Lied) and the Woman Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Queen, Amanda LaBorde, to Laughter Yoga. This is a wonderful, uplifting experience in which you use deliberate laughter to induce endorphins and basically put yourself in a positive mood. It was at Laughter Yoga that we adopted our official "cheer" for the weekend - "Very good, very good, yea!"

With smiles on our faces, laughter in our hearts, and enough clothes, makeup, and crowns loaded in the car for the weekend, we headed to Natchitoches. We could hear the music from the festival as we arrived in the historic district, and we couldn't help but laugh as Amanda grabbed that big crown and put it on in her truck and started waving at people on the streets. A Meat Pie Festival queen had arrived, and she was so excited! Mrs. Natchitoches Meat Pie, Lori Adams, joined us at our inn, and after a "quick freshening up"  (insert sarcasm here), we were festival bound. The music was great, the food smelled fantastic, but the laughter and friendship will be the long term memory. It was amazing to have people ask about the purple ribbon in my crown, and having the opportunity say, "I represent the American Cancer Society." We ended the night with dinner at The Landing, and some of the best boiled shrimp I've ever eaten. I shall skip the part where our room had no air conditioning, and we had to sleep with the doors open, but needless to say, I just knew I would be waking up with a a Cane River critter in the bed.

This was my first festival weekend as a member of the Rhinestone Sisterhood, and I can't wait for the next!

Louisiana Plus America Alumnae

Lori Adams, Kathy Lied, Amanda LaBorde & Tonya Lied Kidd

With Mom at the Festival

Why Do I Relay? For Heather Hirschfeld Bellanger

I met Heather Hirschfeld Bellanger during a party at the Sigma Nu house after a Southern Miss football game in September 1993. As a 16 year old college freshman, life was overwhelming, and I was struggling to "find my place" on campus. Heather kind of adopted me that evening, and spent the night introducing me to her friends. We had a blast at countless Sigma Nu parties during our college years. Heather was the kind of girl that always had a smile on her face and had the greatest sense of humor. I never really told her how much her friendship meant to me when we were at USM, and then, unfortunately, we lost touch after college.

When I was crowned Mrs. Louisiana Plus America in April 2010, I was so lucky to have Bobbie Watts as my director. And it just so happened that Bobbie and Heather were scrapbooking friends. Through the miracle of mutual friends and Facebook, Heather was back in my life!

Heather was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma in November of 2010. To quote her blog, "CANCER was NOT on my Christmas list, but since there is no return line at Walmart for that special gift...It's mine all mine :)." The kind, bubbly girl I knew in college had cancer - Heather was the first one of my friends to face cancer. And for the first time in my life, I felt my own mortality.

Heather has handled her fight with cancer with a humor, grace, and dignity that I admire so very much. When I hear the words, "fight like a girl," it's Heather that always comes to mind. Check out her blog at laughoutloud-heather.blogspot.com. She is not only a survivor, she's a wife, a mom, a friend, and an inspiration.

So why do I Relay? For my friend, Heather Hirschfeld Bellanger.

Click to donate to the American Cancer Society!

Visiting the Natchitoches Meat Pie Pageant

In the midst of Tropical Storm Lee, I made my second appearance as Ms. Louisiana Relay for Life at the Natchitoches Meat Pie Pageant on September 3rd. It's amazing how graciously the ladies of the Rhinestone Sisterhood have included me in their family. During the pageant, I had the pleasure of visiting with my dear friends, Lady Ray*la*ne IX, Heather Hickey Fox, and her sweet mom, Granny Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival, Rhonda Hickey. Any conversation with these two precious ladies will leave you in stitches - they know the pageant world so well, but have such an incredible sense of humor about it. I also had the opportunity to get to know the lovely and talented Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, Ruth Fruge (ChaCha enjoyed her evening nap in Ruth's lap). It was an honor to represent the American Cancer Society among so many beautiful, well-spoken women.

It was so exciting to see two of my dear friends crowned in their respective divisions. Lori Adams won Mrs. Natchitoches Meat Pie, and the greatest excitement to me of the evening was seeing the lovely Amanda LaBorde crowned Woman Natchitoches Meat Pie Queen. These are two incredible women, and I know they will do a fabulous job traveling to represent their festival over the next year.

After the pageant, we discovered that all the restaurants in Natchitoches that serve meat pies close at 10pm, so we had a lovely dinner at Raisin' Canes. On the drive back to Monroe, my Southern Miss Golden Eagles won their football season opener against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. All in all it was a fabulous Saturday!