Arrive in style in your Aston Martin, drink only the best shaken martinis, and channel your favorite James Bond or Bond Girl for Spinsters of San Francisco‘s 007 Shaken, Not Stirred Charity Party! 007 will be held at Mayes this Thursday, March 6 from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
This party is open to anyone in the Bay Area community and all proceeds from 007 will benefit our charity partner, Edgewood Center for Children and Families. Tickets are $40 and are available for purchase here. Guests will enjoy hosted cocktails for the first two hours with signature drinks “License to Kill”, “From Russia with Love”, and “For Your Eyes Only” from FAIR Quinoa Vodka and “GoldenEye” lemon infused lager from Palmia.
As with any themed Spinsters of San Francisco party, we insist you play the part ~ get creative with your Bond-inspired duds! The tuxedo is obviously what makes Bond so dashing, but what about the Bond Girls? From Dr. No to Skyfall, the James Bond franchise has created some iconic leading ladies.
Don your stripes and grab a sailor; Fleet Week is finally upon us and I couldn’t be more excited for the main event ~ Spinsters of San Francisco‘s 4th Annual Fleet or Flight Charity Party! The party will be held at Qi Ultra Lounge this Friday, October 11 from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
We want to kick off our year with a bang and raise as much money possible for our charity partner, Edgewood Center for Children and Families. Tickets are $40 and are available for purchase here.
Our festive event encourages you to get creative with your cocktail attire, wearing your best sailor or aviator-inspired duds. If there is one thing I’ve learned from Fleet or Flights of yesteryear, it’s that a sultry, yet classy, pin up-inspired outfit will keep a sailor’s heart racing. So channel your inner Betty Grable with voluptuous curves, pin curls, bright red lips, and Mary Jane heels.
A huge trend for spring/summer 2013 is casual glam fashion. Models are strutting the runways with denim pants & black blazers, accessorized with an over dose of stacked diamond jewelry, as well as chambray tops & glittery sequin mini skirts.
Spinsters of San Francisco‘s winter charity party is a running with this emergence of casual glam into the fashion scene by incorporating it into our theme. I am proud to co-chair the Spinsters of San Francisco Denim & Diamonds Charity Party. The party will be held at Monroe this Thursday, February 7 from 8pm to 2am.
This party is open to anyone in the Bay Area community and all proceeds from Denim & Diamonds will benefit our charity partner, San Francisco Food Bank. Tickets start at $40 and are available for purchase here.
Haven’t a clue what to wear? Have no fear! Here’s some sparkly & chambray inspired fashions to bring out the casual glam in you!
At Klout, our community outreach is through a program called Klout for Good. The goal is for our users to leverage their influence to make life better for others. This February, Klout for Good has a partnership with Cycle for Survival, where Team Klout has pledged to raise $25,000 for rare cancer research. Beyond our fundraising efforts, Klout employees will ride as a team in the San Francisco Cycle for Survival event on February 2.
What is Cycle for Survival?
Cycle for Survival is a national, indoor team spinning event that raises critical research dollars for rare types of cancers. Founded in 2007 by Jen and David Linn, Cycle has become the country’s fastest growing athletic fundraiser. Within 6 months of the events, 100% of every dollar raised is allocated to research and immediately put to work. Cycle has raised $20 million and counting and has funded 53 early stage clinical trials and research studies led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
#JointheBattle #Cycle2013
Rare Cancers?
Rare cancers each individually effect under 200,000 people annually and as a result, they do not receive the funding they desperately need. However, when you group the rare cancers together, they account for 50% of all cancer cases. These so-called rare cancers include commonly heard of forms of the disease such as pancreatic, brain, ovarian, leukemia, lymphoma, all pediatric cancers and many others.
Why do I Cycle?
This November my close friend Jessica Leung found out she has cancer. While most people would lose their spirit with finding out this news, Jessica has remained the motivated, winsome and playful person we all love. She even refers to her cancer has “schmancer” and created the hashtag #HeyLadiesRToughLadies for her fight.
#HeyLadiesRToughLadies
Jessica was diagnosed with nasopharynx cancer, a rare cancer in most parts of the world. In North America, it occurs in about 7 in every 1 million people. About 2,800 cases occurred in the United States in 2012.
What is even more rewarding about participating in Cycle for Survival, is that I know Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has actively been doing research on nasopharynx cancer. A team of international investigators from North America and Hong Kong, led by a Memorial Sloan-Kettering radiation oncologist, reported that adding a particular drug to the current standard therapy might prevent the spread of nasopharyngeal tumors to other parts of the body. You can read about their findings here.
How Can We Help?
I didn’t know what to do or how to respond when Jessica told me she had cancer. When I found out that Cycle for Survival & Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are doing research on her specific cancer, I felt like participating in the ride was a step in the right direction.
I am cycling to honor Jessica. She is inspires me and Cycle for Survival is a way for me to support her. I would love if you would donate to my effort: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/aggiemichelle
To get a sense of the fun, energy, momentum and impact of Cycle for Survival, watch this inspirational video.
Fleet Week, one of San Francisco’s most celebrated traditions, officially kicks off today. Between the Parade of Ships, Blue Angel Air Show and rooftop parties, this city becomes absolutely electric during Fleet Week.
This year, I am proud to co-chair the Spinsters of San Francisco‘s 3rd Annual Fleet or Flight Charity Party. The party will be held at the brand new Alibi Restaurant & Lounge this Friday, October 5 from 8pm to 2am.
What’s most exciting about Fleet or Flight is that all proceeds from this event will benefit our charity partner, San Francisco Food Bank. Tickets start at $40 and are available for purchase here.
In case you didn’t already know, San Franciscans, Spinsters and especially me love to celebrate in theme. What would a Fleet Week party be without festive nautical and aeronautical attire? So don your best sailor dress whites or pin-up couture and party the night away in style!
At Klout, our community outreach is through a program called Klout for Good. The goal is for our users to leverage their influence to make life better for others. In March, Klout for Good had a partnership with Charity: Water where you were asked to donate your birthday.Rather than gifts, you pledge to ask for donations, which goes towards providing clean water to people in need. Not giving much thought to it, I clicked on the ‘Donate Your Birthday’ button and filled out the little form with my birth date and email address. After that, I went on about my business.
Months later, exactly one month before my birthday, I received an email from Charity: Water reminding me that I had pledged my birthday. I decided to take a peek at what this “donating your birthday” entailed. After perusing the Charity: Water website, I was compelled to actuallydonate my birthday!
Each September, Charity: Water takes on the water crisis in one country. This year’s September Campaign, they’re focusing on Rwanda.
What’s the Water Crisis in Rwanda?
Up to 70% of rural Rwandans rely on local rivers for their drinking water. Sadly, most of these rivers are contaminated with pollutants from villages upstream and bacteria that can cause diarrhea. The time it takes to collect this water and the toll it takes on people’s health means missed work, missed school and missed opportunity. For many Rwandans, it means an unbreakable cycle of poverty.
The Rwandan government aims to cut poverty in half by 2020. To do this, the country must first grow its economy. That means the people of Rwanda must be healthy and productive. For that to happen, everyone needs to have clean, safe water.
70% of people in rural Rwanda lack clean water
What’s the Solution?
Charity: Water’s September Campaign will go to help support the Rwandan effort of Water for People, a global nonprofit focused on the development of sustainable drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Water for People has partnered with the local government in Rwanda’s Rulindo District to launch the Everyone Forever campaign. The goal is to achieve district wide access to clean water by 2014 through a permanent infrastructure solution.
How is Charity: Water Helping?
Charity: Water is seeking to raise $1.7 million to support the Everyone Forever campaign’s construction of two new large-scale water systems in the town of Ngoma and rehabilitation of five run down systems in the town of Shyorongi.
$65 is enough to give one person in Rulinda clean water
How Can We Help?
This year, I’m donating my birthday to Charity: Water. Instead of giving me presents or writing on my Facebook wall, please donate money to Charity: Water’s September Campaign. 100% of the money we raise will directly fund the water project costs in Rwanda and Charity: Water will prove every single dollar.
To win the title of Mr. Marina, one must embody the spirit of San Francisco’s Marina District. Mr. Marina is judged in four categories: “Marina wear”, swimwear, talent and fundraising. With John’s campaign efforts going strong, we now set our sights on John’s talent.
The Talent:: Interpretive Dance of San Francisco Districts
When compared to the other contestant’s weak performances, John literally stole the show with his talent! The contestants left to shot-gun beers, sing off tune and dance with two left feet, didn’t stand a chance against John’s spot-on interpretive dance.
As expected, John won the talent category and ended up with a fourth place finish overall in the Mr. Marina competition. Between raising $5,600 for blood cancer research, entertaining all of my and Noble’s crazy antics while filming the ‘Tuttle for Mr. Marina’ video, and enduring 2 AM dance rehearsals leading up to the main event, John was completely dedicated to his Mr. Marina campaign. I’m so honored to be part of his fun and worthwhile campaign.
Brianna’s Slap Cancer, Save Lives fundraiser was a smashing success. She ended up raising $207,000, the most for any LLS San Francisco Chapter nominee! This HUGE accomplishment, ultimately earned her the title of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year.Brianna is such an inspiration and someone I absolutely admire. You go girl!
In order to participate in the Mr. Marina competition, each contestant is asked to fundraise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. With John being selected as a finalist, Noble and I jumped at the chance to volunteer and help with John’s campaign efforts.
Mexican Horse Ping Pong Tourney::
What do you get when you combine Mexican Independence, the Kentucky Derby and Beirut? The Mexican Horse Ping Pong Tourney, or in layman’s terms, my and Noble’s fundraiser to support John Tuttle’s run for Mr. Marina. The tournament was made up of 2 person teams, using World Cup rules, and a buy-in of one pitcher of beer and $15 per teammate. The winning team received 2 tickets to a San Francisco Giants baseball game! The tournament was a huge success, raising $1,385 for John’s LLS campaign.
Beirut Champs, Jieren Chen and Daniel Kochis, with their Giants ticket winnings
Tuttle for Mr. Marina Video::
Coming off the success from the Mexican Horse Ping Pong Tourney, Noble and I decided to have a little fun with John’s campaign and create a ‘Tuttle for Mr. Marina’ video. As you may have guessed, John was the only Mr. Marina finalist to have a campaign video. Needless to say, this video was a viral hit (in the Marina).
Couple of shout outs to:
John Tuttle for being an amazing actor and such a fun Mr. Marina contestant
Matt Childs for superb audio and video editing
Noble (& myself) for story idea, screenwriting, and filming
With the Smurf movie premiering soon, I have a sneaking suspicion that Smurf costumes will be popping up a little more than usual. Want to make like Katy Perry and get your Smurfette on? I sported my best Smurf chic for this year’s Beirut tourney (country: Smurfville) and can provide a step-by-step guide on how to be the best dressed Smurfette in town!
Step 1:: Buy Blue Body Paint
I used Graftobian Liquid Latex. It made me the perfect hue of smurfy blue, but don’t necessarily recommend it.
Liquid Latex
Cons
Stinky Smell
Easy Application
Latex covered body parts stick together (think forearm stuck to bicep or calf stuck to hamstring when bending your arm/leg). When you do make skin-to-skin contact, you have to basically rip off a gigantic blue band-aid to break free. This is vexatious.
Pros
Easy Application – Just use a wash rag and wipe the liquid latex on (but it needs to be an old rag that you can throw away afterwards).
Easy Removal – Note: I said easy, not painless. Latex peels right off your skin…pulling your hair out with it.
Step 2:: Clothe Yourself In White
To complete your Smurfette look, pair your beautiful blue body with a white dress, white beanie and flower broach. Be sure to turn on the pizzazz, Smurfette is quite the charmer!
She’s bubbly and funny and has this remarkable way of having a sincere conversation with just about anyone. But I would have to say my favorite trait about Leanne is how being around here, you immediately fell like she is your best friend.
Leanne's Always Fun!
When I heard the song ‘I Can Tell that We are Gonna be Friends’ by the White Strips, Leanne popped into my head and I started thinking about how effortless if was for Leanne and I to become friends. I knew that if I felt this way, her other friends would probably share my same feelings. This gave me the idea to reach out to Leanne’s closest friends and collaborate on a birthday gift explaining when we could tell that we were gonna be friends with her.
Here’s the Final Creation::
And Here’s How We Made it Happen::
Hi Everyone! You may or may not know me. I’m Michelle and I, like you, am friends with Leanne!
Now, I have some good news to share with you – Leanne’s birthday is March 25th. What do you say this year we do something a little different from just the tiresome birthday phone call/text/facebook wall post? Great, I’m glad you’re on board, because I need your help in creating a surprise birthday video for Leanne, kinda like this one (but different).
The Vision: The other day I heard the song, ‘I Can Tell that We are Gonna be Friends’ by the White Strips and I immediately thought of Leanne. It’s because the thing that is so great about Leanne is that time spent with her is so special. She is so personable and lovable and relatable that she makes every single one of her friends feel unique. So I thought it would be fun if we could create a little birthday video telling Leanne when we could tell that we were gonna be friends with her.
Your Assignment: Think of the moment when you could tell you would be lifelong friends with Leanne. Now describe it in 5 words or less. Now write it down on a sheet of paper. NOW take a VIDEO of you holding up that paper (short…like 10 seconds or less, but make sure it’s enough time so Leanne can read what you’re holding) and email it to me no later than midnight Sunday, March 20thso I can slice it and dice it and put into one cohesive video of all her friends. There will be no audio, because I am going to put the video to our little White Stripes song, so NO TALKING, just actions!!! iPhone/pocketcam vids are perf.
Be creative: You don’t just have to write on a white sheet of paper, hold it up and smile for the camera – write on a volleyball, use lipstick on the bathroom mirror, pretend it is a verse in the bible. And recreate the scene where you and Leanne became buds – camping in a tent, running on the treadmill, shakin’ your boo-tay. Also, make it is group project – husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, group of bff’s are strongly encouraged to do this together. Whatever your video is, be original and make it personal.
Need an example to help you get my ‘I can tell that we are gonna be friends’ vision? Here’s what I’m doing: Leanne and I became close when we lived together in college. We completely bounded over our mutual love of Dawson’s Creek. We were so devoted to Dawson’s Creek that we would watch DC reruns in her bed every morning at 9am for an ENTIRE semester! So I would describe the time I could tell that we were gonna be friends in 5 words or less like this, ‘DAWSON’S CREEK MORNINGS IN BED’ and my video would be me holding up this sign, laying in bed, with my eyes glued to the TV with Joey and Dawson on the screen (or let’s be real, Team Joey & Pacey all the way).
So kick your schmaltzy side into high gear, because the real thing with all of our videos will be a zillion times cooler than me describing it!
Also, if I left anyone important off this list, please forward them this email (and cc me) so we can be sure to get all of Leanne’s closest friends!
Last thing. This is a surprise. obvi. Leanne doesn’t get to know about it until her birthday.
Now, reply asap if you think this is an idea you’re supes excited to participate in!!!
Spazzin' in San Francisco 