Chari-Tea Party with Kelly Ripa

You all know by now that I have an obsession with this city. I love everything from the gritty subway stations to the serenity of Central Park to the gypsy swagger of the Lower East Side. I adore it so much, in fact, that I have mounting anxiety about leaving when Justin graduates from Dental School. It’s no secret that I would do just about anything to stay as long as possible.

My daily life of shuffling to two different preschools, cleaning the apartment and grocery shopping is less than glamorous, but I very much enjoy it. I love being a mother and experiencing life in this city with my children, especially because even the most mundane tasks are different and exciting when we are out and about. I’m happy and content as life is.

And then, every so often we are invited to do something so incredible that I can hardly believe it. Last week, Zoe and I were asked to attend an event at the Plaza Hotel with Kelly Ripa, in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Not only was I honored to be asked to attend, but I’m thrilled to be able to support such a worthy cause. Mothers and daughters together at an Eloise Tea Party at the Plaza Hotel, celebrating each other in support of the OCRF. Seriously, pinch me.

We arrived via town car at the Plaza Hotel, with Zoe decked out in her newest tutu, a gift from miss Maggie at Meg-Dana. We were both totally excited- though I’m sure my excitement must have been even slightly greater than hers. The little girl in me was squealing and skipping all the way down the glitzy hallways of the fabulous hotel.

The girls at the event gave Zoe and the other girls new dresses and shoes, and prepared them to get dolled up by Kelly Ripa herself… Who, I might add, is a living doll herself. Not only does she look like one, but she is simply adorable in real life as well. She is lovely and genuine and I was completely impressed by her dedication to the cause.

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For my fashionistas: Kelly is wearing a Jason Wu Dress and Brian Atwood Heels

The event kicked off a special effort in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) initiative to help find a cure. When people visit www.Kelly-Confidential.com and choose their outfit for Kelly’s Chari-Tea Party, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF, as part of their $750,000 commitment to the cause. You can also enter for a chance to win the ultimate party accessory – a Perfect Steam™ washer and dryer.

We were both completely charmed. Zoe loved getting dressed up and sitting and drinking her “tea” like a little lady (ahem, 7 cups of lemonade in fact). She was in her element, pinky up and all.

We met some new friends and learned about fancy washers and dryers (hello new obsession!), and on top of it all we were treated like princesses for a day. It is moments like these that I think I cannot possibly top. I’ll be content when it’s time to leave this fabulous city because I have a arsenal full of amazing memories that will last me a lifetime.

If you are interested in the amazing capacity of the Electrolux laundry appliances, they are the only front load washer and dryer that get 50 mommy-and-me outfits ready for crumpets and strawberry tarts. They wash and dry the most clothes in one load and the fastest wash to dry time (29 minutes- a 15 minute wash cycle and 14 minute dry cycle), and are eco-friendly.

Disclosure: Zoe and I were treated to a day at the Plaza Hotel with travel accommodations and a few new clothes for Zoe. I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.