Gentlemen, start your shavers! On your marks, get-set, MO!

Today is Movember 1st - time to get clean shaven (no cheating), and begin documenting your mustache's growth! 

I sent my long blog about Movember last week (in case you have no idea what this MOvember is that I am referring to), but today is THE DAY – the day to sack-up fellas!  Those of you that were on the fence about participating, need to get off it and join the fun, look like a stud and be a do-gooder!   

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime!  1 in 6!  Get involved and experience the euphoria of giving back!  While I want you to grow a mustache or join a team, if you just can’t swing it, you can still attend the fun events and help fundraise!

There are a bunch of fundraising events coming-up that are TBD as Mo Bros and Mo Sistas secure the final details of their events, but in the meantime, these two are shaping-up to be badass!

The Best FN Moustache Party Ever (This Friday):

What do you get when you mix infused vodka, with moustache themed shots, the Moustache Hall of Fame and Week One Mo Growth?  The Best FN Moustache Party EVER!  Join Team Movember NY for a night of revelry to change the Face of Men’s Health. 

Music from DJ Sex Johnson.  $10 suggested donation at the door.

The Houndstooth Pub

520 8th Avenue

8:30 PM to 2:00 AM

Friday, Movember 5^th

The MO-lympics (Mid Movember Check in Party):

Support Movember and check out your moustachi-oed competition at the first annual MO-lympics. Featuring ping pong tournaments, suck and blow games, and hula hoop contests.

Only one Mo-bro or Sista will walk away with the gold in each "sport."

Open bar from 10-11 pm.  $15 suggested donation at the door!

SPiN

48 East 23rd Street

10:00 PM - 2:00 AM

Thursday, Movember 18th

If you don’t feel like participating, but still want to make a contribution, you can do so HERE and we truly appreciate the support!

Mo Bro George has an awesome blog following his Movember challenge (and will be featured on NY1 getting clean shaven).  Check-it out to get Mo-inspired HERE!

Also, Asylum.com  featured Movember (and a certain overcommitted blogger in the video) HERE – Shout out to Mikinzie! 

Mo Bros, there is an awesome new app for your phone, for photo-documenting your ‘stach:  Movember Mo Phone.  It’s free – download it HERE!

Also, Lisa sent our team an update hyping the free Movember, personalized business cards, provided by Moo.com – all you pay for is shipping.  So fun!  I ordered mine today.  My title – Movember-ista!  Get yours HERE

If any of you want more info, want to join our team, have a fundraiser you want me to hype, any fun Mo News, have a blog or mustache-related product – holla!  (Either use “contact me” on the blog here or go to my MoSpace HERE 

Below - captains Keeley and Lisa know how to turn any event (including Halloween) into a Mo Event!

PS – I featured a bunch of fun Mo Gear on my last blog, but MB got me awesome Mustache bandaids!  THANKS Girrllll!

MO Time!

It’s MO Time People. 

Movember is the month, formerly known as November, where men grow mustaches to create awareness and raise funds for men’s health. 

It is truly the most fun I’ve ever had while fundraising.  Basically, every party is cheap, involves booze, and is extremely campy and fun!  Mo Bros grow the ‘staches and Mo Sistas help recruit more Mo Bros and help raise funds. 

Fellas, don’t be shy, even if you feel like a tool with a ‘stache (or your attempt at one), it creates conversation and every time someone asks you about it, you get to bring awareness to the cause.  Plus, chicks dig a dude with facial hair (or at the very least, a dude with a good heart for a great cause).  The funds raised go the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Livestrong Foundation.  Movember started off with a couple of Aussies having a bit of fun and grew into a worldwide foundation.  In 2009, they raised $42 Million Dollars!

Although the cause is badass and loads of fun, the real reason we get involved is:

-    1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime

-    1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

HUGE NUMBERS!  Everyone is affected by this; it could be your father, brother, husband, partner, son, friend….

If you are reading this and not in NYC – not to worry, you can go rogue and raise funds and awareness solo or join a local chapter!  Most major cities have one.  Find your local chapter HERE.

The month of Movember is one big party in NYC!  Some are missing deets, but this will be updated once the event approaches.  If you want to stay posted on Movember fun, either subscribe to this blog or e-mail me to keep you in the loop on this specific topic!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

November 1st  time to get clean-shaven!

November 5^th is The Best FN Mustache Party Ever at the Houndstooth Pub  

November 18^th is the Mo-lympics at SPIN NYC (save the date)

December 3^rd is the Movember Gala Night at the Hammerstein Ballroom (costume party). 

There will be a lot more fundraiser events coming-up, and I will keep the blog updated.

Check the website for the mustache rules (including you must be clean shaven on November 1^st and there is no connecting that ‘stache into a goateeJ).

If you don’t want to start your own team, you can join ours HERE

If you just want to throw some dough at the problem, we’ll gladly take it HERE

Make sure you drop by the Movember Lodge to learn more!

A few fun paraphernalia for the month of Movember:

Wax ‘Staches by “Mr. Stache” can be found at Economy Candy, and on-line at old school candy stores. 












My favorite new find is Whisker Works, who sells on Etsy.

Actually – if you click HERE Etsy has loads of badass handmade Mustache gear (83 pages of 40 items each)!

Fingerstache tattoos are available on-line and at Urban Outfitter



My Mo Sistas Lisa, Val & Felicia



Fall'n for NYC

Summer ended yesterday (sighhhhh) and while that brings regret of the days I didn't go to the beach, it also means that today is officially Fall - my absolute favorite time of year!  The sun is out, but the air is crisp with a breeze… this weather makes me so happy!  Plus, it is the season of pumpkins, and I am from a town famous for a pumpkin festival (and the world's heaviest pumpkin contest) - I love pumpkin everything (including our dog, Pumpkin). 

Central Park in the Fall by Stephen Davis Phillips

Here is a rundown of free, cheap and fun events coming-up through October!

 * Tomorrow, Sept. 23 - Rachel, Elsa and I are having a little fundraiser for the Light the Night Walk, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  $10 gets you in with great drinks specials at ReUnion Bar tomorrow night from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (204 Park Avenue South at 17^th Street).  RSVP HERE. 

*Sept. 25 - Steuben Day Parade and Oktoberfest. 

*Sept. 25 - Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  Free admission with a required ticket from the website.  There is a huge list of museums participating.

*Sept. 25 - Stone Street Oyster Festival.  Ulysses hosts this outdoor fest featuring “freshly shucked oysters, perfect pints, live music, DJs and special guests.” 

* Sept. 24-26 – Coney Island Film Festival

* Sept. 24-26 – DUMBO Arts Festival

* Sept. 24-26 –  New York Surf Film Festival.  Yah, bro.

* Through Sept. 26 – San Genarro Festival in Little Italy.

* Sept. 27 – Opening of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2010-11 season, including simulcast in Times Square and Lincoln Center Plaza.  Deborah Voigt hosts the pre-show at 6:15 pm and the performance begins at 6:45 pm.  Head to Broadway (between 43^rd – 45^th Streets) and there will be 2,000 FREE seats provided.

* Oct. 1-3 –  New Yorker Festival

* Oct. 7-10 – Food Network’s New York City Wine & Food Festival

* Oct 9-10 – Open House New York Weekend

* Oct. 8-10 – New York Comic-Con

* Oct. 11 – Columbus Day Parade 

* Oct. 16 - The band Your Vegas (above) will be performing for FREE.  Fresh off the farm (literally… these Brits JUST finished recording their sophomore album at a ranch in Texas), they will be performing at the Brooklyn Bowl.  If you have never been to Brooklyn Bowl before, it is a kick-ass 21+ venue with food from Blue Ribbon, a huge bar, a big stage and concert area that is adjacent to the bowling alley.  You can RSVP for free entrance HERE. 

* Oct. 28 - Edward Hopper Exhibit at the Whitney Museum begins.  MODERN LIFE:  EDWARD HOPPER AND HIS TIME

* Oct. 31 – Village Parade on Halloween http://www.halloween-nyc.com/

 

 

Obsessions:

Girly moment.  I was so excited to make the transition back to fall nail polish in my dark shades of sole mate, wicked, very vamp… but I noticed the trend of taupe lately.  I actually think it is a kinda gross color, but I found a shade I could love – a taupe-gray with a hint of purple, by Essie, called Merino Cool.

Ya’ll l know I love purple and now I am…obsessed. 

 

Movie:

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps  Starring Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin and Carey Mulligan, opens September 24^th and takes place all over NYC!

Broadway Shows Bring out the Stars and the Divas!

* Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown  (Previews begin Oct. 5) – I am totally nerding out for this one – so many Broadway divas in one place, taking on Almodovar  – I can’t wait!  Patti Lupone, Sherie Rene Scott, Laura Benanti, Brian Stokes Mitchell and, um, Justin Guarini (seriously, one of these things is not like the others).  Fierce!

* Driving Miss Daisy (Previews begin Oct. 7)  Starring Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones.

* Merchant of Venice (Previews begin on Oct. 19)  After starring at the Public Theatre during Shakespeare in the Park, Al Pacino makes the move to Broadway!

* Lombardi (Previews begin Sept. 23)  Want to get your man to take you to a Broadway show?  This football biography about Vince Lombardi should be good bait! 

* A Life in the Theatre (currently in previews)  Starring Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight. 

* The Pee-Wee Herman Show (Previews begin October 26)  Paul Ruebens brings Cowboy Curtis, Chairry and Miss Yvonne along for the ride too.

***
Next week’s Blog will feature fun outings for tree peep’n without having to rent a car or get a hotel room.  There are some stunning places in NYC and greater area where you can fall in love with fall foliage!

***

Light the Night for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

September 23rd Drinks = Light the Night Walk on October 14th = Saving Lives!

Light the Night is a fundraising walk that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and happens all across North America.  The event raises funds for vital, lifesaving research and patient services and, on this night, the walkers carry illuminated balloons in a show of support.

Although I attend fundraising events throughout the year that support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it has been a decade since my last major fundraising effort.  I ran the Country Music Marathon and trained through Team in Training.  At the time, I ran in honor of Nicolas Hanson, who was six years old and a survivor, but a few years later he passed away.  This year I will walk in memory of him during the Light the Night Walk.  

Rachel, Elsa and I are having a little fundraiser on Thursday, September 23^rd from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm.  The venue is ReUnion Bar (204 Park Ave South at 17th St.).

It is ONLY $10 per person and there will be great drink specials ($4 draft beer and $5 mixed well drinks and wine) and you get to leave with that warm and fuzzy feeling about giving to a good cause!  We are really hoping to see you all there!  Please RSVP HERE so we have a good count.   If you are unable to attend, but still would like to make a donation, please see the web links below.

Rachel is walking in HONOR of her brother, Jacob Blumenfeld, who has been in remission from Leukemia for 23 years!  Find her fundraising page HERE.

Elsa is walking in MEMORY of Marlene Davidian, her boyfriend Gregg's mother, who just passed away 7/28/10 from Chronic Lymphoctic Leukemia.  Find her fundraising page HERE.

My fundraising page can be found HERE.

We are walking with the Society Ties Team.  Society Ties is the young professionals committee of fundraisers, supporting the New York Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  In addition to Light the Night, Society Ties hosts super fun events throughout the year, such as Black Tie & Black Jack Casino Night, Fighting with Fashion, and much more!  If you are interested in participating in Society Ties Events, you can find more information HERE.

Tina Fey is the spokesperson for Light the Night and the funds raised through the walk will support the work of hundreds of the world's best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Anyone can take part, so if you are interested in walking, or just learning more, check this Light the Night website http://www.lightthenight.org to find your local chapter.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $680 million in research funding.

Thank you so much for supporting one of my favorite organizations!

Beck

PS - I am blogging from over 10,000 feet in the air, somewhere over the midwest, on my way back to Cali for the weekend.  I love technology!  Wish me luck in helping my sister find the perfect wedding dress this weekend!