Happy New Year 2015!!!

Instead of starting the new year off with resolutions that never stick I am going to share an email with you that I wrote to my friend, Terry, after she asked me to help her with something on social media…this is my way of being totally honest and authentic about who I am…I hope you get a good giggle out of it!

Terry--

If only I could turn my ineptitude into a tv series for us! Dawn could cast the rest of the parts, we could become rich and famous, be able to rent or even buy beach houses in Malibu and then, of course, live happily ever after knowing that we had fulfilled all of our dreams…

In reality though this is what you are dealing with…I hate to burst your bubble but feel as if I must be honest with you as we have known each other for so long...

FB: Have know idea what my password is or how to access anything other than the "home page"…couldn't switch my "status" if my life depended on it, let alone post a picture, share or link something, create an event invite or any of the other vitally important things FB is capable of doing…what I can do is "like" something and occasionally make a "comment"…

Twitter: A total bust…as I have no idea how to "tweet" a single letter…forget 140 characters…have no idea how to re-tweet or what that even means for God's sake...

Instagram: A total mystery to me…what is this about? A bunch of teenagers or overaged teenagers who have nothing better to do than post "selfies" as if it were some kind of fabulous accomplishment to let the world know you were just having oatmeal for breakfast in your super cool Star Wars pajamas. I'm an actress and I hate still photography of myself…if someone held a gun to my head I would not be inclined to post pictures of myself for any reason whatsoever…especially ones where I had no make-up on, looked like total shit or a total idiot…

Tumblr, Snapchat: No comment…absolutely no idea what these sites do and/or their purpose in the scheme of life's meaning…

My MacBook Pro: I can email, attach a document to an email and create a document from Word…that's about it. I know my computer is capable of doing a million other things but I am only capable of the aforementioned three things…

iPhone: Until recently I owned a Flip Phone. My son finally badgered me into buying an iPhone (I think it's a 4S though I can't be too sure). I can answer the phone, I can make a call and I can check my email…I can even look at my contact list knowing that I can add or delete someone at my whim…within the last month or so I have even begun to text…a talent that I was certain I didn't possess but apparently I do in limited form. I can not do anything else with that phone…don't know how to take a picture, make a video, send things from the phone to another device, download apps (what the hell are those things anyway?!), surf the web or anything else that the phone is capable of doing…really nothing else. Joshua however can do it all and does it as often as he can steal the phone from my purse since he doesn't yet have his own…I'm the last parent holdout I know…five extra years of therapy for him…

My new leased BMW: No clue as to how the navigation system works though I was shown at the dealership in much detail how it worked before driving off the lot. The gal who did the lease for me set up my radio stations…I am barely able to remember how to push the right button on the steering wheel so that I can then bark "RADIO", then bark "PRESET" for the list of stations that I will most likely be listening to for the duration of the three year lease as I couldn't tell you how to change or alter what I currently have. There are bells and whistles galore but all I can muster is to get the car started, drive it, occasionally put gas in it and then shut it off…oh, I can also work the wind shield wipers fairly well. Everything else is completely off the table and not possible unless Joshua does it or figures out how to do it.

Well, there you have it sweet Terry…the sad, pathetic truth of my technological failures/limitations…my future is bleak indeed…

xoxo Nanci

Me & Joshua wishing you a very Happy New Year filled with  abundance!

P.S. Thank goodness I can bake…now that's something I'm fairly good at!

The Sweetest Sugar & Stilettos News EVER!

So much EXCITING, AMAZING news in the world of Sugar & Stilettos!

1. We now have a fiscal sponsor…resting comfortably under the umbrella of Kent Seton's Edward Charles Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, Federal ID#26-4245043. As a result we are now called the Sugar & Stilettos Charitable Foundation and are now allowed to reach out to corporations and family foundations for sponsorships/donations among many other privileges. Kent is an attorney and leader in the non-profit world so we are SO BLESSED to be in his universe of philanthropy activists.

2. Joshua and his friend, Aili David, have begun a CrowdRise fundraiser called the Sugar & Stilettos Teen Holiday Challenge with a goal of raising $5,000.00 between Oct. 15th-Dec. 15th to raise awareness for the issue of hunger and food insecurity but more importantly to provide as  many holiday meals as possible for women and children in our community who are suffering. Donations can be for as little as $10.00 plus anyone who donates at least $50.00 will have the chance to win a $100.00 Starbuck's gift card in our Special Drawing at the end of the campaign.

Please, please, pretty please with sugar on top (and lots of it!) support Joshua and Aili in their campaign! If you have a teenager/college student/young adult in your life, engage them in the campaign so that they might realize the power they have, even at a young age, to make a difference in the world…

https://www.crowdrise.com/sugarstilettos/fundraiser/joshneidorf

https://www.crowdrise.com/sugarstilettos/fundraiser/ailidavid

3. We have just begun a partnership with FOOD Restaurant & Cafe in West LA. From now through the end of the year you can order my Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips and Miki's Salted Caramel Sauce for all your HOLIDAY celebrations…they also make wonderful HOSTESS gifts…just $15.00 and $10.00 respectively…

FOOD Restaurant & Cafe, West Los Angeles

Place your orders TODAY…Owner, Judy Ornstein, and her sweet staff will be happy to help you!

10571 Pico Blvd. (at Prosser)

Los Angeles, CA. 90064

T: 310-441-7770

F: 310-441-7790

Miki's Salted Caramel Sauce and Grandma Rose & Aunt Irene's Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

4. Sugar for thought...consider making a donation in honor of some (or all!) of your holiday gift recipients…what better way to celebrate the joy of the holiday season that to share it with a mother and her children who have nothing…providing them with a wonderful holiday meal…OOH LA LA...and now it's as easy as pie to donate because we have a PayPal DONATE button right at the top of our website's Home Page... 

www.sugarandstilettos.com

Also. check out the new S & S 2014 Promo video on the website (above)…you will smile and stamp your feet with joy (it is set to Pharrell William's song "HAPPY")…Merci Mille Fois to the brilliant Gabby Greigo for ROCKING it out of the park once again!

5. Lastly, Mark Your Calendars for May 9, 2015 when The Fifth Annual Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza will take place. Our goal is to raise at least $40,000.00 so that we can say that we've raised over $100,000.00 in our first five (5) years…OOH LA LA again!

I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful fall season…I so look forward to hearing from you…

Sweet Blessings,

Nanci

The Fourth Annual Sugar & Stilettos Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity FINALE 2014…Beyond Incredible!

Well, here is the extremely "Sweet Skinny' on the event...if you missed it…OOH LA LA…I feel sad for you because it was an INSANE BLAST! Swishes of pink, tiaras and stilettos everywhere, people laughing, dancing, having their faces painted, getting crazy balloon animals made, dancing and eating delicious treats, a overall sense of well being and unbridled joy…plus the sun was shining with a light breeze wafting through my garden and trees...absolute heaven!

Me with Mary Micucci of Along Came Mary

1. To date we have raised $30,000.00 with checks and online donations still being accepted (See #6). The total for the combined four years of bake sales is now over $60,000.00…amazing what a community can do together…OOH LA LA again!

2. That money ($15,000.00 each to the Westside Food Bank and St. Joseph Center's Food Pantry Program) translates into 60,000 meals at WFB and almost 2,000 bags of groceries at SJC…literally feeding thousands of women and children in need…makes me weep with joy and puff up with pride like a peacock…

3. The Mr. Sugar & Stilettos 2014 Crowning Ceremony was the BOMB…Richard Lewis and Paul DiMeo in hysterical video appearances plus Steven Weber passing the tiara, beauty queen sash and pink blinged out stilettos on to Mr. Sugar & Stilettos 2014 Bradley Whitford…hilarious video will be up very soon so keep checking the website…thank you Casey Neidorf and Gabrieal Griego for your inspiring work!

Bradley Whitford, Mr. S & S 2014 with Steven Weber, Mr. S & S 2012

4. Photos from the event will be on our FB, Twitter and Instagram accounts as soon as we can get them edited and up for your viewing pleasure…thank you Jonathan Bell, Michelle Metzger and Kori Stanton for making us all look so good!

5. Congratulations to the lucky winners of this year's raffles and silent auctions…

XIV Karats LTD. Drop Mounted Diamond Earrings - John Perry
Kaley Cuoco's Autographed Stilettos - Jasmin Hultgren
Malin Akerman's Autographed Stilettos - Molly Lieske
Pure Bred Siberian Kitten - Kiki Harris
In Home BBQ for 12 from The Blue Dog Beer Tavern - Michael Neidorf
Kneady Bakery Dessert Party - Dana Katz
Justified Swag Bag - Murray Neidorf for grandson, Joshua Neidorf
Paul DiMeo Home Design Consultation - Nanci Christopher
W Hotel Westwood Staycation - Lenny Neidorf

J'adore (one of the cutest babies ever) with my niece, Casey Neidorf (one of best nieces ever)

6. As I said, online donations and checks are still being accepted, so if you've left it to the last minute and now beyond, it's not too late! 

For the Westside Food Bank click on the link and remember to mention S & S in the Comments Section (very important!) - www.wsfb.org

For St. Joseph Center click on the link, it is a special one set up just for us - www.stjosephctr.org

7. Lastly, Mark Your Calendar for next year's event - Our Fifth Anniversary - Saturday, May 9, 2015…you won't want to miss now sweet minute of it!

xo Nanci, Your Ever Devoted Sugar Goddess/Queen

Happy New Year 2014!!!

Well, first off I have to apologize…it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have written a blog…last June to be exact. I am really, so, so sorry but life just intervened and carried me away to other things…like traveling, family/friend's illnesses, writing/working on my new play and then sometimes just plain exhaustion or laziness. What's that saying…life happens while you are off making plans…or something like that.

Anyway, here we are back together again and let me be, while not the first at this late date, but at least not the last, to add my voice to the chorus of those wishing you a very Happy New Year…may it only be filled with an abundance of good health, joy, love, laughter and of course, A LOT of sweet, sugary treats!

Great news for those of you who don't know this yet…The Fourth Annual SUGAR & STILETTOS Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity once again benefitting the Westside Food Bank And St. Joseph Center;s Food Pantry program will be on Saturday, May 10, 2014/11am-3pm…the day before Mother's Day…so plan to do all your Mother's cake/cookie/candy shopping, no to mention gift shopping and having a blast, with us…all the while helping to feed other mothers and their children suffering from hunger and food insecurity…what a glorious win/win Mother's Day celebration for all!

www.sugarandstilettos.com

Also, get over to the front page of this website ASAP (see link above) to see the hilarious Mr. S & S Crowning Ceremony video…it will make your day so much brighter and lighter that you'll feel compelled to forward it on/tell all your friends and family immediately!  Later this week we will  post the brilliant PR video from 2013…so worth your time too... ENJOY…xoxo Nanci

Steven Weber, Paul DiMeo, Richard Lewis - May 18, 2013

The FINALE of the 2013 SUGAR & STILETTOS Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity!

Well, here is the sweet skinny on the event...if you missed it, you may just want to kick yourself...it was a complete and total BLAST! Swishes of pink, tiaras and stilettos everywhere, people laughing, dancing and eating delectable treats, a general sense of well being and unbridled joy...plus the sun was shining with a light breeze wafting through my garden and trees...absolute perfection!

1. To date we have raised a little bit over $13,000.00. Our goal was $13-$15,000.00 so we have met our beginning goal and are still hoping to hit at least our mid-level range...checks and online donations are still being accepted! (See #6) The total for the combined three years of bake sales is now over $30,000.00...amazing what a community can do together...OOH LA LA again!

2. That money ($6,500.00 each to the Westside Food Bank and St. Joseph Center's Food Pantry program) translates into 26,000 meals at WFB and 1,300 bags of groceries at SJC...literally feeding thousands of women and children in need...makes me weep with joy...

3. The Mr. Sugar & Stilettos 2013 Crowning Ceremony was hysterical...Richard Lewis, Steven Weber and Paul DiMeo outdid themselves...and Bob Picardo added a bit of fun with his fabulous humor and outstanding plaid jacket...video will be up very soon so keep checking the website - www.sugarandstilettos.com -

4. Photos from the event will be up on our FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc. accounts as soon as we can get them edited and up for your viewing pleasure...

5. The lucky winners of this year's raffles and silent auction are...

Diamond Stiletto Necklace from XIV Karats LTD. - Karl Miller
Sofia Vergara's Autographed GUCCI Stilettos - Julie Bardin
S & S Custom Made Quilt by Sharon's Cozy Quilts - Susan Grode
BBQ for 12 from The Blue Dog Beer Tavern's Paul Scrivano - Laurie Newbound
Jackie Doyle's Stunning Stiletto Illustration - Nanci Christopher

Congratulations to all and thank you to everyone who participated...we raised thousands of dollars from these items alone...

6. As I said, online donations and checks are still being accepted, so if you've left it to the last minute and now beyond, it's not too late!

For the Westside Food Bank click on the link and remember to mention S & S in the Comments section - www.wsfb.org
For St. Joseph Center click on the link, it is a special one set up just for us - http://www.stjosephctr.org/sandsbakesale.html

7. Mark your calendar for next year's bake sale - Saturday, May 17, 2014 - you won't want to miss it!

xo Nanci, Your Ever Devoted Sugar Queen

Boston...how do we comprehend the incomprehensible?

It's been a week and a day since the horror perpetrated upon the Boston Marathoners, their loved ones and the city of Boston itself happened. I know that I am not at all alone, but I simply can not wrap my brain around this tragedy...especially so soon after Sandy Hook and the devastation of that community. While not an excuse of any kind it does seem like the evidence points to the fact that Adam Lanza was severely mentally ill...but what is the explanation for these two young men...immigrants granted refuge in this country as boys, welcomed here to begin new lives full of hope and promise? What could possibly prompt them to think that killing and maiming innocent people in the very city that embraced them was a justifiable act, a reasonable act, a purposeful act? How could their young minds have become so hostile, so convoluted, so evil? I am afraid that we will never know the answer to that question because their actions and state of mind defy understanding, defy logic, defy basic human decency.

So, we are all left to feel bereft once again at the vast ocean of sadness and anger engulfing us every time something senseless like this happens. Where can we put our grief, our sorrow, our fear and our sense of hopelessness? Honestly, I have no answer other than to combat it all with kindness and love. I simply don't know what else to do other than double up my efforts to make a difference in the world...even if it's just my little corner of the world, even if it's just with one little comment or gesture of compassion or humor to someone in need, even if it's just a smile to a stranger while out taking a walk.

I am re-committing myself to raising my son to become a decent, loving, compassionate man with a kind heart and a profound sense of responsibility to his fellow citizens. I am re-committing myself to look in the mirror everyday and find ways to be my best self...and then to actually BE that best self out in the world. I am re-committing myself to look at my neighbor be they next door, cross town or cross country with new eyes and a more open heart. I am re-committing myself to being as authentic and honest as I can possibly be with myself and others. And finally, I am re-committing to holding myself to the highest standard of being a human being and all that that entails.

In doing so I hope that my light will shine brightly enough to block out and eradicate some of the darkness that lives in the world.I am also hoping that even if I am only able to give someone just "one minute of happiness" it will have immeasurable value. Maybe if we all re-committed ourselves to these principles we will be able to make the world a safer place to live...a place filled with more grace, a place filled with noble intent, a place filled with unconditional love...that is my dream...please join me and make it yours too.

xoxo Nanci

Everything's Coming Up...the play, the house, the bake sale!!!

Here's the latest update of my world since my last blog post...

My play is under major reconstruction and things are going beautifully. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE working with Mark Travis...we are absolutely mining my heart and soul to create this solo show...so very exciting! We even have a new title, which I think is going to make you laugh, smile and be enthusiastic to be an audience member one day..."SUGAR & STILETTOS - a tale of panties and pastries"...now who wouldn't want to be see THAT show?!

Next, my house is still going through some dramatic changes...each one is actually quite small but the accumulation of all of them together
(and we are not even close to being finished!) is quite spectacular. The most important thing I see/feel is the opening up of space which is literally creating a sense of freedom, openness and light everywhere you turn. This new energy is infusing me and the house with a reinvigorated purpose...it is affecting my mind set, my body and the way I now am able to get through the day...simply stunning...every new curtain, appliance, piece of furniture, fabric, plant breathes with a vibrancy that was lacking before...it is all so lovely...embracing all this change can be challenging, especially for someone like me, but I am truly enjoying it and recommend that you do the same in your life...my next goal is to clean out all my clothes closets...create some space for a new look...a new "au courant" me!

Lastly, there is the planning for The Third Annual SUGAR & STILETTOS Bake Sale Extravaganza for Charity on May 18, 2013/11am-3pm...things are coming along in such a magical way...new restaurants, bakeries and stores are joining in, our PR push has begun, we are close to naming
Mr. S & S 2013 and so much more...check out all the details (our raffle items are insane!) on our website...and make sure you sign up for our email list there so you don't miss out on any of our news! www.sugarandstilettos.com

That's it for now...I hope everyone has had a wonderful beginning of spring...here's to the joy of living in the moment, the joy of being your best self!

xoxo Nanci