I had been so hurried to get out of the house, get the babysitter set up and follow my GPS in a city I had never been to that I never really stopped to think about what I was about to do.

“Your destination is on the left,” my phone yelled at me as my gas light was also starting to blink.

There was a moment where I questioned if I was taking on too much. If any of this was even worth it. Did anyone even care anymore?

The sea of red carpet poured from the doorway and the sun was shining onto the salon at what will now forever be known as the event that started it all.

The idea came to me from my own life as a caregiver. I was given a massage as a gift while 8 months pregnant and stuck in the hospital with my very sick husband. I took one day of 46 and took a minute to breathe and realized the power in taking care of yourself.

So, here we are. Joe told me to “Stay Glam” so that’s what we are paying forward.

I can never thank the beautiful women of Katrina Salon in Batavia, Illinois enough for all of their help and donated time.

12 caregivers were pampered and $1,700 was raised to help our mission.

Once I saw these faces and hugged these caregivers, I knew it was more than worth it.

Look at these beautiful, GLAM and strong women! Little did I know “my destination” would feel so much like my destiny on this special night.

It was the friendships and connections made that were truly priceless.

I saw moms still wearing their hospital bracelets stumble in the salon and into the twinkling lights of chandeliers instead of hospital lights.

Grown women, who had forgotten what it feels like to be taken care of, as tiny little appetizers and sparkling champagne replaced the tastes of over processed hospital food for just one night.

Most of the caregivers were with their phones still glued to their hands in case of an emergency and ready to spring back into reality and out of the dream the salon became that night for so many.

One women cried as she met another women whose husband is living with the same brain cancer. She stood in awe to hear about how he’s been living with this rare disease for 13 years and hope flushed across the young mom’s face.

We sure never had hoped or dreamed to be here but here we stood. We embraced our destination and clung to those around us to help us find our way. We weren’t alone and we looked pretty good too.

 

Our first Stay Glam event was more than I ever could have imagined. A giant thank you to all who made it possible.

If you’d like to host a Stay Glam event in your town, email me at Amanda@CocktailsandChemo.com