Auction Anxiety

Last night Torrey and I attended Leavenworth's Annual Chamber Auction, a great fund-raising event for our local Chamber of Commerce. I was recently elected to the Chamber Board, so this year I felt particularly "motivated" to do some serious bidding. Maybe a little too motivated...

We arrived early to check out the scene, and get aquanted with the evening's host, John Curley, who is by far one of the best auctioneers I have seen (despite the fact that he forgot to take home the Mapel bag full of goodies I had prepared for him - what's up with that John?!). He has this great way of making you want to spend more $$$ just by making jokes about you to the rest of the audience as you raise your bidding card. More about that later....

The evening began with the silent auction, in which Torrey and I made our way around the room, checking out various items - from Walmart gift certificates to Cheesemongers gift baskets. We got caught up in the excitement of bidding on some good deals, and started placing silent bids all over the place, assuming we would be outbid as the evening progressed. We had not really factored in "current economic conditions" (am I the only one completely sick of hearing this phrase???), and as the bidding tables closed, we soon realized that we were going home with a lot of $#?+!

But we didn't stop there....oh no - the LIVE auction was where the excitement and anxiety really grew. The butterflies in my tummy (along with the baby) were constant reminders of my nervous excitment about the live auction. This was Mapel's first year participating in the Live Auction - we donated a $250 shopping spree, and outfitted 2 local "models" to strut their stuff on the Bavarian catwalk. I kept wondering what would happen if no one bid on our item, or if the bidding was so low that I would have to sneak out the back door before the evening was over. To my great relief, Mapel's shopping spree generated a lot of excitment on the bidding floor and ended up selling for more than the $250 value.

I thought I would be able to relax after Mapel's item was auctioned off, but Torrey and I had some serious bidding to do. During the live dessert auction, we bought a lemon lover's cake for $40. Who would have thought the day would come when you could buy an entire lemon cake for only $40 (I stole that joke from my buddy John) Well, mama was craving lemon, so Torrey came through for me on that one.

Next up was the HOT ITEM of the evening - dinner for 10 at the Mayor's house. Me and my "posse" of youthful Leavenworth community members were determined to have dinner/drinks with Mayor Rob no matter what the cost....Torrey was in charge of the bidding for this item and it got INTENSE. We weren't the only ones hoping to wine and dine with the all-powerful of Leavenworth, so the pressure was on. As John openly questioned Torrey about what a young guy with a trendy haircut (huh?) could possibly want to talk to the mayor about, the bidding continued....And thanks to the generous contributions of the fabulous Miss Rebecca Wadkins, our group ended up with the prize! So stay tuned this summer for a follow-up blog featuring pictures and details from our dinner at the mayor's house....

All in all, it was a successful evening for the Chamber, and Torrey and I ended up with a lot of fun items. Once back at home, we had to decompress, take some blood pressure medication, and start planning on what to bid on at next year's auction....(the collection of 108 bottles of local wine is currently at the TOP of our list)

Mapel Launches DAILY Online Happy Hour

If you're familiar with Mapel (meaning you have either met Jenelle or myself, or been into the store) you know we are a little obsessed with Happy Hours. I won't even go into the quantum physics of why Happy Hours are so great.... they just are.

Many of you know www.shopmapel.com offers an Online Happy Hour every Thursday 2-6pm. Well.... we have received such a great response that we decided to share the happy love by extending Happy Hours to Every Day.

That's right.... starting today Mapel is launching a Daily Online Happy Hour. Every day you can find a different product featured on our Happy Hour menu. Simply log onto www.shopmapel.com between the hours of 2-6 and click on the beer mug- you'll be connected to that days Happy Hour Special! Voila'

Now back to the "log" part of this web log:
Mapel defines Happy Hours as any moment or time that might entail a memorable experience, laughter, friends, possibly an adult beverage. Happy Hours are not confined to a restaurant setting or bar. Happy Hours don't have to include food or drink. A Happy Hour might even be in the comfort of your own home, or maybe on an airplane. Possibly dressed up- or dressed down. Essentially a Happy Hour is any space of time that is totally enjoyable and relaxing.

To launch our new Daily Happy Hour feature Mapel wants to ask YOU to send us a picture of a memorable Happy Hour moment. We'll share these pics with a panel of very educated and happy experienced judges and choose our favorite. If your picture is chosen as our favorite we'll send you a gift certificate for a Mapel shopping spree.
-Pictures can be mailed into info@shopmapel.com or text to 206.229.8784

The get the ball rolling I have pulled a few pics from our Mapel friends. Below you can find a few memorable Happy Hour moments.

Gone are the Days of Fluorescent

Jenelle and I hate fluorescent lights. We didn't always feel that way. We were young once and hit up the dance clubs, getting our "unce unce unce" on (that noise should be the sound of a back beat). We would dancing the night away while an ever present (at times flattering) fluorescent strobe light initiated the beat to our feet. I have certainly grown up since then (just ask my mom) and Jenelle is pregnant so she has no choice.

What I am saying is that we have no need for fluorescent in our lives any more. We do however think everyone deserve bargain basement blowout bashes- without those fluorescent lights. So just like clockwork we planned our annual Mapel Road Show. The concept is simple. We pack up our cars (filled to the gills) with some super sale product along with a few new spring teasers.

We show up to a residence in Seattle and "set up shop"- literally.

We bring our famous signature chocolates, uncork some wine (you just knew I would mention wine eventually) and I even made some heart day cookies.

We invite our friends- and they invite their friends. We mingle, giggle, shop, sip, eat and savor the fashion goodies all night. It's fabulous.

Below are a few pics from last nights rendition of Road Show '09. Tonight is round 2 and then I'm off to Leavenworth to kick off our Heart Day Marketing campaign with a few other local business'.

Jenelle and I want to thank everyone that helped make this years road show possible!!! We always appreciate the support of our friends and family- it's what keeps small business' alive.

Ultimate Power House

Not long ago Marc Jacobs had a hard time staying focused while sitting in on a meeting to discuss upcoming Louis Vuitton advertising campaigns. I guess that's to be expected after spending the previous night at Madonna's Concert in Paris. Simultaneously "the light went on" and Jacobs blurted out "I think we should do Madonna". Once the internal giggling over said comment "do Madonna" subsided LV's top executives took quite kindly to the idea.

In a matter of minutes Jacobs send a text message to Madonna and she soundly replied "I'd love to". And that is the massive unstoppable power of fashion. I can't imagine a stronger campaign than Madonna, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and to top it off Steven Meisel if the photographer.

Once again Jacobs exceeds expectations.