Recovering from The Today Show

I cannot believe it’s been one week since I was in N.Y.C  I forgot how much I love that place. The people, the vibe, the energy.

I asked my friend Debbie to model one of my swimsuits on national television and, hmmm, she said yes better her than me.

I got to New York on Monday and stayed overnight. I met Debbie at the NBC studio on Tuesday at 8 a.m.That was about the time that I got a phone call that my wonderful web designer, who I truly adore, decided to surprise me and re-design the website. Oh yeah, I was surprised, or should I say Iwas in a state of panic? Well, it wasn’t going so well. Can’t really deal with this now, I’m going to work The Green Room.

I try and take it all in. Oh look, there’s Carol Burnett and Didi from American Idol. Wait, here comes Hoda and Kathie Lee. That’s when I pounce … I stand up and walk over to them and introduce myself (might of been stuttering at this point) They were both gracious and engaging (kept thinking take it all in!).

Then the moment comes. “All swimwear models upstairs!” One of the producers said to me, “It’s very crowded up there, you may want to stay here.  Oh, that’s not happening, Sorry! I follow everyone upstairs to the set and along the way we meet Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer. Very nice!

The time has come. I am standing by the camara man and I hear Hoda say, “Here is our first model Debbie and she is wearing Swankini.” That was the moment that made it all worth it! All the ups and downs. All the stress. All the late late nights. The hard work.

No one said this would be easy.

Swankini on The Today Show

In case you missed us on The Today Show, click here to watch the video!

Swank-tini of the month: April 2010

Lemon Drop Martini

Ingredients

• 3oz. Vodka
• 1oz. Triple Sec
• 2.5oz. Lemon Juice

Shake in an ice filled Martini Shaker for a minute or two then pour into a chilled Martini glass

Watch Swankini on 10TV’s Female Focus!

Click here to watch the video

Just your typical Sunday

You know life can be very odd. Sitting at home relaxing late Sunday evening when the phone rings and it’s the fashion segment producer from the Today Show. She was so personable and very easy to talk to. They ask me if I would like to come down to the show for a segment they are doing on swimwear on April 6th. Um, hello? They asked me to consider modeling, which was never going to happen, so I call my friend Debbie who graciously told me she would do it. So Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, here we come! Am I dreaming? Could this actually be happening?

The waiting game…

No word back from the two national magazines yet. Dear God, are we in or out? Can’t take the waiting. Sitting here all stressed out from the anticipation, so I end up meeting my ‘not so silent’ business partner (a.k.a. my husband) for lunch. On the way home, the phone rings. Holy crap – it is an editor from Redbook magazine! They love the suits and want to shoot them for their June swim issue. Can this really be happening? As soon as I get off the phone, I call our public relations/marketing person (Staci) to share the great news.

In the midst of all the excitement, a pick up truck crashes into the back of my SUV as I was stopped at a light. Fortunatel no one was hurt and the car is fixable, but who cares? Looks like we are in Redbook’s June issue!!!

Swank-tini of the Month: March 2010

Marvelous Melon Martini

Ingredients

• 4oz. Vodka
• 4oz. Midori
• 4oz. Pinneapple Juice
• 1 ½ Tablespoons of Cream of Coconut

Shake in an ice filled Martini Shaker for a minute or two then pour into a chilled Martini glass

Swankini goes local

The news station, our CBS affiliate — WBNS 10TV — is coming over today to tape a spot on Swankini for their Female Focus segment to be aired on the 5 p.m. news on Monday, March 22.  I think it went well, but I really have no idea. Really interested to see how they put it all together.

You’ll never believe this story

Holy crap – This only happens to me … On my way to New York to drop off the samples, the plane gets re-routed to Allentown, P.A. because of some sort of air traffic control system issue. On the descent to Allentown, I begin to get lightheaded and start feeling really sick. Imagine the worst hangover of your life, even though that’s not what I had. Plane lands and I cannot get up without feeling like I am going to fall over. So picture this: everyone gets of the plane and the flight attendant says, “Ma’am you need to get off the plane,” and I simply respond with, “No, I am good here.”

She quickly realized that something was wrong and next thing you know there are two paramedics on the plane putting monitors and sensors all over my chest. Oh yeah, and of course I am in a Swankini top because I thought that was a good idea at the time.

Next thing you know they carry me off the plane, giving me oxygen and an IV in the arm — quite a scene. As they are wheeling me out of the airport terminal, I overhear the flight attendant telling the gate agent to send my luggage through to LaGuardia. I spring up, rip off the oxygen and shout, “No! Leave my luggage here! Do not send it to LaGuardia. I will be back for it!” Sounds crazy now, but at the time, the most important thing was keeping my samples close by.

Thank God, it ended up being some kind of inner ear infection with the altitude and rapid descent creating havoc with my equillibrium. After panicking my husband, other family and friends, I made it back to Columbus and the samples were overnighted the next day.

Facebook is the best

Another national magazine is doing a June feature on the best swimsuits for different body types and has asked me for samples. I am getting on a plane to go to New York in person and meet the folks I have been talking to. Another Facebook success story! I think I may qualify as the poster child for Facebook addiction.