Sweepstakes Grounds

Thanks to everyone who applied in the Shopping Spree Bonanza sweepstakes two weeks ago. And a gigantic congratulations goes out to the nine finalists/nominees who have advanced to the contender dugout, all of whom are fair game to win the shopping spree and two $20 Queequeg's Coffee & Tea gift cards provided on my discretion and featured sponsors (Queequeg's Coffeehouse, Madelyn's Closet, Target Corporation, and Banana Republic). Below is the official sweepstakes nominee roster.

Sweepstakes roster in alphabetical order by nominee

• Absidee Marano, friend and fellow fashion consultant of nominator Porschea Sonata
• Catie Goldsmith, best friend of nominator Kimberly Hallstone
• Chanelle Harrison, stepsister of nominator Brittany Menos
• Doreen Wolf, best friend of nominator Sammi Alexis Aikens
• Gabriella Martinez, best friend of nominator Liana Williams
• Jessica Jensen, friend of nominator Crystal Klark
• Laura Sorenti, daughter of nominator Renee Sorenti
• Linda Simone, sister of nominator Julie Simone
• Sidney Michaels, childhood best friend of nominator Brooke Edmonton

Now's not the time for an achievement party yet! The sweepstakes is still in progress. Calling all nominators, here is your first task. Considering the fact you have nominated one of your loved ones, find out more about their creative preferences, skills, and talents that they would not mind sharing. This may be a tough shell to pull someone out of, but you may learn undiscovered wonders in the process. However, nominee idiosyncrasies and interests must be sent in to the sweepstakes e-mail address before 12:01 A.M. on February 7, 2015 in order for the information to tally. Attributes given should be posted within the week after the above due date.

Good luck finding social treasure troves!

Nominate Your Loved One!

Sweepstakes co-sponsored by Queequeg's Coffeehouse

The day is here! Time to nominate your Poptropican loved one or friend to win a shot at winning a 15-minute shopping spree at the two select stores of your choice... possibly with your nominee too! Here are all the contest details:

Shopping Spree Bonanza Contest Rules

To cast an appropriate entry into the sweepstakes, you must provide your legal first and last name, or profile via LiveJournal, WordPress, TypePad, or AIM for AOL users in the "Name" section of this post's comment area. Inside the comment box, answer the following description requirements in a downward arrangement to nominate the Poptropican of  your choice.

• Nominee's full name; not Poptropica-given nickname [example: "Scary Flyer"]
• Nominee's age (nominee must be 15 yrs. or older)
• Nominee's hometown (must be resident of either Poptropican islet territory, Mainland Poptropica, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand)
• Nominee's primary occupation
• Your relationship to the nominee
• Nominee's interesting or unique background
• Nominee's favorite hobbies
• The most fascinating activity your nominee has done
• Nominee's list of volunteer work completed
• In your honest and kind opinion, how would you artistically describe your nominee's fashion style?

A photo will be required to be sent via e-mail to poptropicastarssweepstakes@gmail.com showing the physical aspect of your nominated Poptropican. A snapshot or picture from the Avatar Studio's blue background is accepted. The photo must be at least 150 x 225 pixels in size, text-free, unaltered in photo quality (no difference in light gradients, reversed in hue, pixelation, or upside-down pictures) and contain the nominee's name somewhere in the e-mail description. However, changes in apparel, cosmetics, hair, and lips are accepted. Only matching descriptions and photos before 8:01 P.M. Pacific Time Zone on January 20, 2015 will be successfully entered into the contest. Later entries will not be accepted.

If you and your nominee advance onto "Sweepstakes Grounds" presented on Saturday afternoon, January 31, 2015, come in contact with missions to be announced to earn the grand prize of a springtime shopping spree and $20 Queequeg's Coffeehouse gift card for each winning player! However, it is very important to check back frequently as possible for sweepstakes tasks because live feeds are not available.

Sweepstakes co-sponsored by the Poptropican division of Target Corporation.

Shopping Spree Bonanza

Nominate your Poptropican loved one to win a chance at a Poptropican shopping spree! Game deets to be posted Wed. on http://t.co/Kzp20NWL7z
— PoptropicaStars (@PoptropicaStars) January 12, 2015

In case you haven't seen the Tweet above, I will be hosting an exclusive sweepstakes where you must attach a photo of one of your Poptropican loved ones and describe their intriguing personal background, hobbies, volunteer work, and fashion style. For more opportunities, the nominee doesn't even need to like fashion. You, the entry contestant, will be able to earn a chance at winning a shopping spree at two of these stores in small print:

American, Australian which will include New Zealand territory, and British-available fashion retailers (some stores may be available in Mainland Poptropica):

• Banana Republic
• BCBG Max Azria
• H&M
• Macy's
• New York & Company
• Target

Poptropica-only fashion retailers:

• Abbey-in-Milan
• HC-17
• Madelyn's Closet
• Prezona & Davidson
• Rucker's Athletic Complex

What I couldn't fit in the Twitter post is that the candidate winner won't be left empty-handed. He or she will also win a shopping spree at the two retailers of their choice AND a $20 Queequeg's Coffee & Tea gift card.

New Way, New Fun, New Fashion - A New Year Resolution

2014 has been an uplifting adventure from running in Ellisburg's 16th Annual Health & Wellness Week to presenting new pieces from my recent design collection at the Thanksgiving Eve Fashion Show. Incredible and appreciative feats have been accomplished this year including an official reboot of PoptropicaStars Fashion Fever on Lifetime Network Poptropica after a lengthy hiatus, breaking a personal record for sketching the most concept designs in one week (24 rough drafts between July 20-26), and extracting unnecessary facial foundation from my cosmetics usage since the winter of last year. However, the most spectacular moment, and the memory I will cherish forever, will be Nathan proposing to me on Santa Catalina Island, the location of our first date. Last year embellished my timeline with personal endeavors, but now it's time to stop being greedy and have 2015 be a year all for the fans and fashionistas! The tides of this blog will flow into a river where you can splash in the waters amiably.

Let's give what seems to be a nondescript 2015 a makeover into a year full of fashion mania, friendly laughter, seasonal cheer, and more accomplishments!

A January greeting from me, two Fashion Fever alumni, Nathan and his younger 17-year old brother Drew in Manhattan, New York City!

From left to right: (Kendra Whittler, Nariah Enjares, PoptropicaStars [me], Drew and Nathan)
At the New York, New Year 2015 Haute Couture Party in Manhattan

Merry Christmas To All!

Merry Christmas! Sorry for the extreme hiatus between this holiday season lately. I feel horrible for inhaling my emotions and leaving them out of the light until now, Usually, I would have an abundance of news to announce on hand at this time of year, but it has all been kept a secret for the past month and I am fully prepared for the GIANT key bulletins to be posted on the board... and review its rewards and repercussions.

December 7 commenced as a typical day. Nathan and I ate breakfast, retrieved our mailbox items in the form of shopping catalogs and newsletters, and tended the herb garden on the patio. The phone rang just as I finished watering the basil. My mom was on the line. She told me to drive to the medical center as soon as possible so I did just as she said. I arrived at the hospital my mom was directed to and was led by a certified doctor into the ER. Scary sensations. After being consulted with the doctor taking care of my mother, I learned my 50-year-young mom had a heart attack while she was waking up that morning. I didn't know what to say, but a sea of tears began to flood my eyelids automatically. Since then, I have been assisting my mom recording weekly portable defibrillator tests. It is a very unexpected occurrence, but I'm staying strong throughout this taxing time, and hold an even more powerful heart for my mother's sake.

Sliding along to an upbeat story - December 17: Right before I left the house, my cell phone rang just as I stepped foot onto the front porch welcome mat. Eliza Darielle, the first-season judge of PoptropicaStars Fashion Fever, was on the other end inviting me to attend the Pasadena Bowl X-Mas Lighting Party. I agreed to commute there right after a morning of signing New Year's Eve fashion show paperwork. Once I arrived at the Pasadena Bowl, Eliza was standing next to a gigantic SUV carrying at least twenty pounds worth of wrapped presents. I quickly learned that those gifts were embellished with neatly tied bows to give to the foster home children in downtown Los Angeles. Thus, Eliza and I rode in the vehicle to the shelter. We spent the entire afternoon distributing Barbie dolls, monster trucks, stuffed animals, edible candy jewelry, and magical Disney toys to these energetic kiddos. Although the children there may have an unorthodox Christmas holiday, nothing can overtake the joy of seeing elementary school students and toddlers leap in excitement.

Finally on December 20, 2014, Nathan and I went on a winter boat excursion to revisit Santa Catalina Island, the destination of our first date. The locale was decorated with festive lights, rows of faux Christmas pines, and candy cane statuettes dangling from two ropes. Nathan and I went on a stroll along the marina. He explicitly told me, "The day I met you is and always will be the best day of my entire life having gone through some of the toughest situations in, like, the past several years." After I said something similar, but very cheesy, we sat down on the dock to talk about memories. Within five minutes of a full, random conversation, Nathan does something unspeakable to me... he immediately gets on one knee and says the four words I wish my dream guy would say to me in my teen years, "Will you marry me?"

I immediately shout "Yes"... and I do a sport-winning victory dance. Best moment of 2014.

Our engagement rings :)

I promise there will be so much more news to come in 2015 than this year.