So after receiving the very exciting news yesterday that I was invited to attend a taping of the new season of Oprah the very next day, I asked my friend Charmelle to keep my two youngest kids for the day while my best friend Brigid and I spent the afternoon at the taping.  ( I was only permitted to bring one guest.) My sweet friend, Charmelle, said yes without batting an eye…  (she is truly one of a kind!)

I spent the ride into the city on the phone with Rocky as she prepped me for any opportunity to talk about Mother Fighting for Others and was ready should the opportunity arise.  I had no idea how to even bring it up.

Since Brig lives in the city, she took the bus and met me there.  We stood outside for about 45 minutes before we went inside.  It was blazing hot as the sun beat down on us at noon. 

When we got inside we had a purse check.  No papers, (even receipts) cameras, cell phones, letters, gifts, care packages, or notes were allowed to be passed to any staff member.  If you had anything like that with you, you had to check it at the door.  There were SOOO many people that had driven up from places like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Utah!  It was crazy.  We found out we were actually going to sit through two different tapings with the same guest.  ( Yep, how lucky!!!)

I’m keeping you guys in suspense though, I haven’t even gotten to the good parts!

They had catered lunches ready for all of us when we passed through security.  I had a delicious fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwich on fresh sour dough.  We had several choices, but Brig and I got the same, it’s one of our favorites!

We went to sit down and a few minutes later a voice came over a loud speaker.  “If I call your name, will you and your party please make your way downstairs…. Your not in trouble, but we’d like to see you on the first floor.”

I was WAY too interested in my delicious sandwich to think about any reason that anyone at Harpo Studios would want anything to do with me so I started to dig in when I heard….. “Julie Ferenzi”

WHAT?!!!

We slammed those sandwich boxes shut so quick, and made a beeline for the stairs.  (I will add, to many envious stares of almost every woman in the crowded room.) We were two of 24 women chosen to be part of the “set” on the show.  It was a show on women’s health and we were representing the 30 something age group….  I have no idea how, and I have no idea why we were chosen, but today was one of the best days of my life!!!

After some more waiting, and a few delicious bites of that beautiful sandwich, (which I was much too nervous to enjoy by now….)  we were ushered onto a gorgeous white and cream set that was beautifully decorated with pillows and plush carpeting.   We found out later that it was the first time Oprah had seen the set herself, because she had commented on how it hadn’t been there earlier in the day, when she walked on stage.

We were in one of the larger sets which held approximately 300 guests.  It truly was beautiful!  Since I didn’t have my camera, I had to take the old fashioned mental photographs that had served our parents and grandparents so well.  I took it all in so that I could remember every detail.

I was moved next to Brigid at the last minute, so I was within arms reach of touching Ms. Winfrey!!!  We were close enough to be sharing the very same air!!!

She made very little eye contact or conversation with anyone, but was still very likable, personable and funny to both the staff and audience as a whole.  After I thought about it, I realized that while I was here on an amazing adventure, Oprah was working.  Chatting and losing focus would take away from the amazing production we look forward to watching while our kids are taking their morning or afternoon naps!

I studied what the richest woman in the world really looked like up close.

She has a flawless smooth complexion, perfectly pedicurred toes that were painted in a sheer nude polish.  Her finger nails we neat and closely trimmed and they were not painted at all.  She has very dainty thin hands and fingers.  She changed shoes after she made her way up the stairs to the set and her assistant quickly whisked away her more obviously worn comfortable shoes.

She seemed to clearly be uncomfortable with her hairstyle that day as she periodically fussed with the length of it between commerciall breaks.  At one point in the taping of the second show she called, “Anton!!!” to come fix her hair.  She got a chuckle from all of us.

One thing you should know is that a commerical break, as long as they may seem when they are stuck in the middle of our favorite shows are truly only about 1-2 minutes in length during a taping.

Oprah never did a second take.  She was perfect ever time the cameras rolled.

Her guest was an M.D. named Christiane Northrup who has written three New York Times Bestsellers, The Wisdom of Menopause; Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom; and Mother-Daughter Wisdom.  She’s a very pretty woman… funny, frank and to the point.

I have no idea what I did to get so lucky to spend such an amazing day with my best friend, but WOW, I won’t forget this day as long as I live!!!

Oprah mentioned quickly after the show that she was getting ready to leave for South Africa to choose the new 7th grade class that will be attending her new academy!

Unfortunately because of our double taping there was no “Oprah after the Show” so I didn’t get a chance to mention Mothers Fighting for Others.  In a strange way though, it wouldn’t have seemed right to infringe on the gracious invitation that was given to us at the studio.  You really get treated like royalty by the staff and team at Harpo Studios.  I’m sure they are inundated with requests for notariaty and suggestions.  There were a few people there that did try to “go there” and it just looked tacky.  I didn’t want to be that person.  Someday it will happen.  When the time is right we will have her full attention.

So… I left a thankful and happy person.  Today was some kind of Karma reward… or something because it was completely unexpected and totally appreciated!!!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor® and resident of Plainfield
Plainfield Real Estate

Century 21 Hometown
7821 W. Belmont Ave.
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
630-673-6233….  Call me!

A few weeks ago I was introduced to a little 6 month old boy named Trevor Kott, through a friend I met in an on-line mom’s group called Cafe Mom. The Kott family lives near Sacramento, California. His courageous story of bravery, strength, and the will to live, reached halfway across the country to meet my heart here, in Plainfield IL.

When I first heard about Trevor back in mid March, he was given 6-8 weeks to live unless a bone marrow donor could be found. He had been diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) only 1 day after his birth when his mom, Angela, noticed a rash under his arm. She was dressing him to get ready to leave the hospital for his first trip home.

The doctors prepared the family for the worst, but Trevor wasn’t going to give up that easily.

After 3 rounds of chemotherapy, he now needed a bone marrow transplant; but because of his rare tissue typing… there was only a 1 in a million chance of finding a match for him. His parents then began a grass-roots campaign to try to save the life of their beautiful baby boy.

I immediately began searching for a way to help. I told all of my friends, but more importantly, I went to the National Bone Marrow Registry website and immediatly located a bone marrow registry drive in our area. I found one being held the following week at Midwestern University in Downers Grove. I showed up at the busy college campus with high hopes of becoming a match for Trevor.

I knew I could do more to help, so I arranged to host a bone marrow drive here in Plainfield IL. Mrs. Kristina Davis, the principal of Meadow View Elementary School, graciously offered to allow me to host my bone marrow drive on campus.

The drive is scheduled to take place on Saturday May 12th, 2007 at Meadow View Elementary School, located at 2501 Mirage Ave. Plainfield IL. The drive will run between 9:00am and 2:00pm. In addition to the Bone Marrow Registry Drive, the student council of Meadow View Elementary will be hosting a Blood Drive and being directed by Mrs. Gail Wengelewski.

It is with great sadness that I tell you, we weren’t able to find a match for Trevor in time. On Wednesday, April 25th 2007, Trevor Kott passed away.

Even though the drive I intended to hold in his honor will no longer benefit him, it will probably save someone else’s life.

I think that’s what Trevor’s message was all about. He was sent here to help save the lives of others… and I heard him loud and clear.

Please join me on Saturday May 12th, 2007 and become a member or the National Bone Marrow Registry so that what happened to Trevor, doesn’t happen to someone else.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

In addition to being a real estate agent, I am also a hair stylist! I have been a licensed cosmetologist since 1996 and have worked in many salons within the community.

When my 3rd child was 6 months old it became too hard to keep working in the salon. I couldn’t stand missing little league games and soccer practice, but it wasn’t long before I really started to miss a so many of my clients. There were quite a few families that I had grown to love that made deciding to “leave” the salon world behind me… bittersweet.

One of those families were the Fishers. I met Carrie and her daughter Casey on the first day back from maternity leave with my 2nd child. Casey was probably no more than 4 years old at the time and is such a wonderful little lady now. I love it, Casey’s full name is Acacia, which is how I was first introduced to her.

I remember her first visit to the salon because Carrie shared with me the story of how her son Oliver (Ollie for short) had been born on New Years Eve the year before. They were new to the Plainfield-Naperville area and Carrie had told me all about the places they had lived before she and Rich finally decided to call Plainfield home. Their last home was in Denver, Colorado.

Carrie and her husband Rich are two of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. You can tell a lot about someone just by being introduced to the company they keep, and I got all the proof I would ever need after meeting the guests at Rich’s 40th birthday party a couple of years ago. Everyone at his birthday party made us feel like we had known them forever. I wanted to collect everyone’s phone number at the end of the night and have them all over for dinner at our house! It was one of the nicest parties I have ever been to. Not to mention that Carrie is one of the most amazing chef’s I’ve ever met. 100% Gourmet!

I have since started working again from home, and taking clients on a more flexible schedule that works for both me and our family! My hair clients and my real estate business have given me a unique opportunity to earn a living while I available to my kids when they need me.

Tonight Casey asked me cut her hair 10 inches shorter for Locks of Love! I’m not surprised at all by Casey’s generosity because her parents have done such a great job of raising her, but it still amazes me when I see such a generous spirit in such a young child!

Casey never frowned, acted anxious, or uttered a single wavering word of uncertainty as I cut away at her 10 1/2 ” pony tail! Casey did a wonderful thing tonight and I am so proud of her!!!

Here is Casey’s transformation…

It’s been more than 6 years since I first met the Fishers. I am officially naming The Fishers my longest reigning clients and one of my favorite families! Thank you Carrie, Rich, Casey and Ollie!

One more thing. It took me quite a while as to decide whether or not I should charge the Fishers for Casey’s haircut tonight because of the generous nature in which it was being donated.

Ultimately, I decided to charge the normal rate for a child’s haircut because I am donating my profit from it to the Trevor Kott fund to help off-set the cost for donors to register with the National Marrow Donor Program.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL will once again join the fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society and residents of Plainfield Illinois can participate in the Relay for Life this June 30th, 2007 by registering for the event here.

The Relay for Life is an overnight event taking place at Plainfield North High School at 12005 S. 248th Avenue, Plainfield, IL. [map]

The Relay brings together those that have been touched by cancer in the Plainfield IL community. During the event team members take turns walking or running laps. Each team will try to keep a member of their group on the track at all times.

At the end of the Relay there is a Luminaria Ceremony that honors the memory of those that we have lost in the Plainfield community to cancer. It is an extremely emotional part of the event… you will need tissues.

My mom and sister participated in Relay for Life in 2003 in Joliet… which happened to fall on the 1 year anniversary of losing my dad to cancer. My dad lost his battle with esophageal cancer on May 28th, 2002. He was just 62 years old.

This is one of my favorite pictures of him… doing what he loved to do… FISH!!!

If he could have done one thing before he died, I know it would have been to teach his grand kids how to fish! They were all so young when he got sick.

We found out he had cancer a few weeks before my husband Tony and I got married. We were all just about to move into our new homes here in Plainfield during that time too. I guess I should mention that my parents, my sister and her family, and husband and I all built new homes in the same subdivision! Little did we know how beneficial it would prove to be as my dad’s illness progressed.

I’m looking forward to participating in the Plainfield Relay for Life this year.

It’s been 5 years, and I sure do miss that guy…

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Ooooh, does this mean I don’t have to make breakfast this weekend?!

This Sunday, March 25th, 2007, the Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its 46th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station #1, located at 15025 Des Plaines, Plainfield IL 60544. [map]

Breakfast is being served from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. Admission for adults is $6.00 and children $4.00

I got the chance to meet with some of the fellas down there at the station today. When I asked if they were going to be the cooks behind the counter, the answer was enthusiastically YES! They have been doing the cooking for this event for the last 45 years.

I should probably mention that this is an ALL YOU CAN EAT event!

Maybe… I should warn them we are coming!!!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

We hadn’t even been married for 4 days when I started my search for the nearest Humane Society here in Plainfield…

I ambushed my newly married husband, at his first day back at work since our wedding!

“Hi baby… watcha doing?” (Said in my sweetest voice, of course!!!)

“You know… I was just driving through that downtown area in Plainfield… you know, near 59 and Division Street? Yeah, I came across the Humane Society of Plainfield here in town…. it was so weird… I didn’t even know it was there…” (Uh-oh! He’s on to me.)

“I stopped in to see the puppies…” (Silence on the other end… not good… think, think, think.)

“I know we said we were going to wait to get a dog… but you have just got to see this puppy! He is so cute! He’s black, and really furry, and he has huge paws… and floppy ears… can we get him? Puh-leassse???” (Oh no, this wasn’t going like I had planned!!!)

“Will you at least go back with me later to look at him?” (Compromise and negotiate! Always make the other guy feel like he’s gaining something!)

“Okay, I promise I will never bring it up again… if you just go with me tonight to see him. I mean it, never again. If you say no… then the answer is no. That’s fine with me.” (He’s softening - yessssss!)

These are what we came home with that night!!!

Ceaser AND Cleo

Humane Society of Plainfield
14411 S. Route 59, Plainfield, IL 60504

phone (815) 436-8387 | website

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233