Maybe the 2024 Dallas Community Partners Chick Lit Luncheon should have been renamed Chic Lace, along with the co-chairs. Cathy James And Lisa Ogle and keynote speaker Rita Wilson all dressed in different styles and brands of lace at the Hilton Anatole on Friday March 22nd. Bucking the lace trend, NBC 5 Morning Co-Anchor Laura Harriswho was going to interview Rita and was dressed for the occasion in a denim pantsuit decorated with sparkling hearts.
The fashions were no less eye-catching at the VIP reception in the Wedgwood Ballroom, packed with guests like Jennifer Swift from Nashville, Ryan Ross, Robbie Kruithoff, Mary Bowman Campbell with Jimmy Heinpelformer president and CEO of the CPD Paige McDaniel, Holly Huffines, Stacey Walker with his mother Kay Simshonorary president Christine McKenny, Tricia Georges, Cindy Turner, Heather Boulanger, Kristen Gibbins, Andrea Nayfa, Kennedy Donate with Michelle Donate and “Real Housewives of Dallas” alumnae like LeeAnne Locken with Dallas Community Partners, Board Member Vince Ceccacci and her husband Brian Harkins. Speaking of husbands, LeeAnne reported that hers, Rich Emberlinhad an appointment with a surgeon for spinal surgery.
Across the Room, “Real Housewives” Andra Simmons Lock was with his mother Dee Simmonswho had just turned 83 but looked decades younger.
As for D’Andra, she was slim, with less than 19 percent body fat thanks to an intense workout regimen and healthy diet. She was looking forward to a project that had been in the works for a long time – a theatrical “design” start planned for the coming days.
Another girl with long-standing plans featured Co-Sponsor Lara Tafel, which was nearing the opening of a nail salon called Polished. Lara emphasized that the salon will focus on services to keep nails healthy and beautiful. Will it open in Dallas proper? No. Lara opens Polished in Grapevine because, as she explained, she doesn’t want to exploit the goodwill of her friends and family. Rather, its goal is to make Polished emerge on its own merits, particularly in terms of programs and customer service.
And speaking of health-conscious types, red-haired Dr. Stacie Stephenson made her head turn as a videographer followed her into the room. Her pink and white plaid Barbie outfit that showed off her legs longer than a telephone pole complimented a display of her two books – “Vibrant” and “Glow,” both of which would be in the goody bags of the event. She made more than an impression with her looks and her books. She was there to support the mission of the DPC and her friend, Co-President Cathy, as the event speaker and sponsor of the VIP reception.
As the VIP ceremony concluded and more than 1,000 of the day’s guests made their way to the cavernous Trinity Ballroom for lunch, whose honorary chairman was Christine McKennythey were greeted first by blaring disco music just outside the ballroom, then by a DJ Lucie Wrubel spin “Higher Love”. Installed at their tables, they were welcomed by Cathy and Lisa in front of the Reverend. Elizabeth Mosley of the First United Methodist Church of Dallas delivered the invocation.
Savor their meal prepared by the executive chef Arnaud Masset — Greek Salad with Harissa-Marinated Chicken and Blackberry-Glazed Cheesecake — Attendees Watched CPD President and CEO Joanna Clarke presented the Paige McDaniel Partners for Children Award to a group called Capital for Kids. It is a Dallas-based network of volunteers from the investment management community supporting children in need across North Texas, including CPD clients.
Joanna also explained that this year, community partners will care for more than 20,000 abused and neglected children in Dallas County, providing them with everything from pajamas to holiday toys. Before asking guests to open their wallets and donate to the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser, she assured them that 81 cents of every dollar donated would go “directly to changing lives children.”
She then thanked the main sponsor of the event for 16 years – Lara and Dr. Robert Tafel – and raised Laura, who introduced Stacie.
Best-selling author, philanthropist, doctor of chiropractic and pioneer of functional and integrative medicine, Stacie revealed she was “a little shaky” as she made her first public appearance since the birth of her third child today now six years old. – one week old baby girl. She told guests she left her clinical practice to write books because she could persuade more people to “get back to the basics” of good health through what’s called the Vibrant Triad: diet , exercise and connection with others.
With that, Stacie brought up Rita, who settled into a chair across from Laura for the main lunch conversation. The multi-talented singer-songwriter, actress and producer then discussed a variety of topics, from how she gathered the confidence to continue singing to what she does to recharge her batteries. Here are some highlights:
- When Laura asked him if “there’s nothing you can’t do?” “, Rita replied: “There are so many things I can’t do. I can’t lose the 20 pounds I’m trying to lose! And I don’t even take vitamin O/Ozempic, like everyone else in my hometown. What motivates me is curiosity. I’m curious about things. I feel like I was put on earth to do something, and I try to listen to what that might be. So I go wherever this voice takes me.
- Explaining her decision to pursue music, Rita said she once read an interview with Oprah Winfrey in which Oprah explained that she was able to do everything she did because “I know what I want. And when you know what you want, you can take the steps to get there. Applying this to her own life, Rita said it seemed selfish at first to “want” something, because she was already blessed with good health, good parents and a family. “And then, two or three months later, the answer came to me, and it was music,” she says. “When you think back to what you loved doing as a kid, it’s probably something you’re good at. For me, that thing was singing.”
- Rita said she was half Greek and half Bulgarian and was “so proud of my heritage”. She described taking her Greek mother to a screening of the film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” produced by Rita and which critics say portrays Greek families as close, traditional, often ridiculous and a little weird. After the movie finished, Rita asked her mother what she thought about it and her mother replied, “Oh, ho ho ho ho ho!” This movie, these people are crazy! This is nothing like us! Rita disagrees, pointing out that, for one thing, her sister lives right next door to her mother.
- When Laura asked if the Hollywood red carpet was as glamorous as it seems, Rita replied: “It’s as fun for me as going to prom.” It doesn’t get old. I still like it. I appreciate it all and feel lucky to be able to do it. The only thing I don’t like now is heels. And yet I wear them. I want someone to invent the coolest flat shoes! »
- Explaining how her new album of duets, titled ‘Rita Wilson Now And Forever Duets’, came to be, Rita said it was inspired by her love of 1970s music, featuring songwriters like Joni Mitchell And Carly Simon, a body of music that she considers the “book of modern American songs.” She was like, “My God, I don’t think there are any duets of these songs!” “So, I started contacting people with this idea, and people [like Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson and Jackson Brown] said yes. I revere these people so much. I feel very lucky and hope to be able to do it again – maybe with women.
- Rita said she strongly believed in “giving yourself time to think”. This is an important thing that seems so important to me. As Dr. Stacie said, we need to find time to be alone, to think, to meditate, to pray, to know that we are in touch with our higher power, our God, and ourselves. So we are connected to that.
- “How to recharge your batteries? » asked Laura. Rita replied: “Outside. I need to be outside – walking, hiking, swimming, skiing, whatever is outside. I love the outdoors.
- Rita said she has observed that male journalists, unlike women, tend to focus less on their creative endeavors and more on their relationship with her famous husband. [actor Tom Hanks] and his family. “I’m obsessed with my husband,” she confessed, noting that “we’ve been married 36 years next month, which is awesome. It’s like a thousand dog years, Hollywood years. But I say: “There is nothing new to report. We are still here, still married, still on the road. Most men haven’t started asking you what you do yet.
- Laura ended the conversation with a “lightning round” of short questions and quick answers. “Are you reading now?” ” she asked. Rita replied, “I haven’t started it yet, but a bunch of Raymond Carver stories.” I also read, in audio, “Tom Lake”, by Ann Patchett. Meryl Streep is the narrator. Your happy place? “Every time I’m in the water.” The best part of being a mom? “Your children teach you.” Favorite restaurant in Los Angeles? “Probably Giorgio’s.” Wonderful fresh Italian food. The best beauty tip? “A good night’s sleep.” When Laura then asked Rita to name a designer whose clothes she would wear for the rest of her life, the Chick Lit Luncheon 2024 star brought down the house. His answer: “Spanx.”