Writer and Advocate for Women

Writer and Advocate for Women
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” Maya Angelou

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

definitely catherine design & custom events

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style"    Maya Angelou   



definitely catherine design & events


Real Estate professional

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Globe Trotting with Mallory and Clara

Shelter Island, NY

Sunday Funday!!!! The sun is glistening above the water wine glasses are filled with chilled Rose and the girls are doing the Happy Dance!!! Clara and Lilly are laughing with friends from the city NYC. Lilly has broken another heart and is now getting her flirt on at the Sunset Beach Resort. The energy is contagious as others join in on the Happy Dance. We are on the upstairs patio overlooking the water. Dancing and laughing, hands up in the air and feet swiveling. Where is Mallory? She is missing a great time. Must post lots of pics on Facebook for Mallory to see. She is in France with the family.

Lilly and I are feeling fabulous after our morning of shopping and beauty.  I am loving my new outfit, off one shoulder multi colored dress with matching orange sandals with a gold starfish, Gold hoops and a big cocktail ring.  Lilly is the opposite, long black halter dress, she looks stunning with diamond studs and lots of bangles on her arm. So happy Lilly has a place in Shelter Island, its good to have friends with houses in the Hamptons. As the sunsets, the brilliant colors of the sky are mesmerizing. Boats are anchored off the resort. It has been a glorious day on the patio. Now time for food. Off to Sweet Tomato’s where the locals go for some Prosecco and Italian.

We settle in at the bar and order mussels, pizza and prosecco. The laughter and great conversation continues.  Love, when you ask for your check and find out it has been taken care of. The very kind gentlemen next to us paid and invited us to join them the next day on their boat. Of course, we accept the invite.

Home after an amazing day! Blessed and grateful!!




Thursday, June 5, 2014

Globe Trotting with Mallory and Clara

Paris, France

Black Dolce & Gabbana fitted dress, Christian Louboutins, french manicure and red pedicure. It’s my (Clara) Birthday dinner at the Buddha Bar. I feel like a princess ascending the massive staircase that takes you down to the candle lit dining room. Mallory once again out does herself planning and executing a memorable event.
It is a large elegant room filled with pretty people enjoying decadent food and drink. Laughter fills the room. I am there with 6 of my closets friends. A few are local Mallory of course and Jacqueline a few are from London, Danielle and Anthony and then there are the one’s who flew in from the states, Lilly and Joey. What a very pleasant surprise. I had no idea that Lilly and Joey would be there. I am a very blessed woman. Champagne is being poured and sushi is arriving at the table. It is an eclectic group and easy to have conversations with adjoining tables. Champagne keeps flowing, pictures are snapping and hours pass. Yes, there are lots of posts on facebook. By the end of the evening we are a table of 16.
Walking to the ladies room is an experience unto itself. It is like walking the runway. Head held high, Big smile and the air of confidence. Women always look better in candlelight. I reapply red lipstick and return to my party!!! I simply love Bubbles lots and lots of bubbles………….

Stepping outside the air smells delightful and the sounds of the city coming to life is magical. We walk arm in arm down the street laughing and embracing the joys of life. 

What an amazing evening!!!


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Globe trotting with Mallory and Clara

After climbing the steps up to Sacre-Coeur we stop at a café in Place de Montmartre. Sipping Kir Royales, laughing and watching people our waiter Alain engages in flirtatious conversation. Never being one to turn down an opportunity to flirt Mallory and I engage. Our stimulating conversation attracts the attention of the gentlemen sitting at the adjacent table. We are speaking both French and English.  As the evening progresses the two men (they do not speak French) invite us to join them for dinner. Mallory and I agree, why not have some fun. Before we leave Alain invites us to lunch the following day. I happily accept the invitation and give him my address and phone number. I will pick you up at 1pm. Looking forward to it.

Off we go in a taxi to a small Greek restaurant in the 4th Arrondissenment. Mallory and I have a plan. We will have dinner and then excuse ourselves to go to the ladies room where we will exit the restaurant and get in a taxi and leave. No harm, no foul.  OOPs the restrooms are the opposite direction of the entrance and we have to walk past our table to get away. So Plan B! we leave the restaurant with the men and get in a taxi. Mallory speaking fluent French tells the young man driving the taxi to drop the men off first and then us….he understands the situation and is agreeable. The men are not to pleased when we get to their location and we stay in the taxi. As the taxi speeds away we begin to laugh about our adventure that evening. The young taxi driver is generously tipped.

The following morning Mallory and I stop for a café. I am sitting with my back to the entrance and Mallory takes a gasp and proceeds to lower her head like she is hiding. Before I can turn around she says…no, don’t turn around. Its them, the guys from last night. They are walking in right now. Oh I hope they don’t see us. Quick, lower your head and stay still. Maybe they won’t notice us.  Every time I try to turn around Mallory says, no don’t.  She is giving me a play by play of their actions. After about 5 minutes she can know longer control herself and starts laughing. The two men were never there at all. She was having fun with me. She really had me going…….we laughed in hysterics, which we did quite often. I love Mallory and our many adventures. Everyday with her is a fun day filled with lots of laughter.  She is a great friend.

Many more adventures to follow so please stay tuned.



Saturday, August 31, 2013

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

I wanted to share this with y'all today.....Great story, we all need Friends!!

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.
"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.


Saturday, May 25, 2013

Apples on Trees


Women are like apples on trees. 
The best ones are at the top of the tree. 
Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are
afraid of falling and getting hurt. 
Instead, they just get the rotten
apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy....... 
So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality,
they're amazing. 
They just have to wait for the right man to come along,
the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.
Share this with other women who are good apples, even those who have
already been picked!

And... Men are like a fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up
to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something
acceptable to have dinner with. 

Keep a Healthy Level of Insanity




1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on And Point A Hair

Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries With

That.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone Has Gotten Over

Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch To Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Sexual Favors"

7. Finish All Your Sentences With "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8. Don't Use Any Punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Ask People What Sex They Are. Laugh Hysterically After They Answer.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."
 
12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All

Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party

Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Coworkers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Hard.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot, Yelling

"Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To
Have To Let One Of You Go."