Rest in Peace My Friend...

Last Saturday morning, June 18th 2011, I remember hearing Patty crying on the other end of the phone as she told Jorge the devastating news. Omar had passed away that morning. I felt a mix of anger, sadness, confusion and a strange sense of peace knowing that Omar was in a better place with the Lord.

For those of you that don't know about Patty and Omar, let me tell you, they're two of the most giving, loving and supportive people I've ever met in my life. Since I first met these two a few years ago, I've always known them to be attached at the hip. Not only were they a married couple, they're best friends. To have one, you always get the other. Omar always tagged along with Patty and I while running errands for our businesses (they own the accessory company Cherry and Olive), or just with us to go out and have a good time. They both always bring a smile to my face and know how to brighten a person's day.

Omar was a great man, full of smiles and always offering a hand. He had so much love for Patty, his friends and family, and always wanted to do what he could to take care of everyone. I remember staying at their house a few months ago when I moved back to LA. I got a kick out of the way he would dote on me and make certain I was ok, even packing a sack lunch for me one night when I had to go on a freelance job the next day. All I could think of was how lucky Patty was to have such a great man in her life. These two truly get what love is, and have experienced it in it's fullest form.

Not everyone gets to experience the blessing of love on the same level that Patty and Omar have. The reason for this is because not everyone makes the effort to know and experience love like them. They opened my eyes to this. Love isn't something you receive out of luck because you've met your soulmate, love is so much more than an emotion. Love is a decision and an action. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, it always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." To me, Patty and Omar got this, whether knowingly or not. And they are the perfect example for this.

So, here's the reality... we're all going to go someday. It could be years from now, next week, tomorrow or within the next hour. We never know when it's our time or our loved ones. All we can do is be the best we can for each other knowing that we made life as full and beautiful as possible for those we care about in the short time we have on earth. It's not easy, sometimes even those we love the most make us want to scream in frustration, we're all human. But, it's not so much the little moments that matter, but the big picture and what we've done for each other that have an overall impact.

I wish I could articulate myself more eloquently on this subject, and possibly make more sense. But all the thoughts I have racing through my head on this subject are so numerous it would make a novel. This is the best I can do. But, I'd like to add how inspirational of a person Patty has been throughout this whole thing. Her grace and outlook on life as she deals with her loss are incredible. I've grown to love and appreciate her so much more.

Benefit show for Omar "Topo" Cordova

Time: Monday at 9:00pm - Tuesday at 12:00am

Location: Spikes Bar Rosemead Ca 626-674-4665
7813 Garvey Ave.
Rosemead, California

Please join us and help celebrate the life of an amazing person, Omar "Topo" Cordova. Special thanks to the following bands, of caring and giving individuals, who will be donating their time: Pachuco Jose y Los Diamantes, Rhythm Rockets, The Sugar Daddys and Matamoska. Thank you all for your support

In addition to this outstanding musical line up, there will be raffles thru-out the night to help the family with their unexpected expenses. If you can't make the event, Donations of any amounts can also be made to Patty Cordova via paypal (pattyc@cherryandolive.com)

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Nicole Katherine Designs will be donating our Gwen dress for this cause. All sizes will be available to the winner of this fabulous piece at the time of the event. Please come by and show your support :)

Nicole Katherine Designs "Jivin' Jumper" Super Cute!

Quickly becoming a new best seller, the jivin jumper! Made of an airy cotton, this cute little black and white polka dot ensemble is wide leggged, with adjustable straps, and buttons in the back creating a two piece effect from behind llike our Polly playsuit. Affordable, beautiful and a unique piece for your summer wardrobe. Wear it with a blouse in cooler months... so versatile!

Purchase yours from www.nicolekatherine.com

New dates for Women of the Military Contest

If you didn't catch the updates on facebook, here you are...

We've extended the deadline for the Women of the Military blog contest. Tomorrow, June 6th 2011 is your last day to enter your submissions. After that, we'll have all the blogs posted for your commentary. The winner will be announced on June 14th, 2011.

We're very excited to honor one of these lovely women with a new dress and gift bag of donations from our sponsors. We feel that they make such a sacrifice for this country that it's nice to give something back to them.

Happy June everyone! :)

Women of the Military contest... Meet Alysha Anderson!

Hello! My name is Alysha Anderson, And I am a PROUD army wife. My Husbands name is Paul Anderson and he is a Staff Sergeant for the 1-79th Mortars Platoon. He is Currently in the middle of training for a deployment to Afghanistan this summer.
Paul proudly serves our country and love's his job. He joined in 1998, and this will be his 6th deployment. Paul is my whole world, He is the best husband a Girl could ever ask for. I knew he was going to be my husband from the first day we spent together!
I have never met a man like him, he is sooooo giving, Sweet, funny, and can put a smile on anybody's face. Being a military spouse is incredibly difficult already and he hasn't even left the country yet. It doesn't just include not having your soul mate by your side and missing him every minute of everyday...always looking at your phone to make sure you dont miss calls..... or having skype become your best friend. It makes you The man and woman of the house. You have to deal with dreaded questions. I dont worry about my husband not coming home, beacause I know he was a born soldier...and an amazing one at that. What gets us through the time apart is knowing that nothing can ever bring us down after this deployment and we will be incredibly strong together!!! I wouldn't change a thing because my husband is my everything. <3 :)
(P.S. If I happen to win a Nicole Katherine dress i will be picking him up from the airport in it) :)

Women of the Military Contest... Meet Kristal Tangard!

I am on Orange County Army Wife, a mother of 3, and an aspiring Pin Up Model! My husband and I have been serving the United States Army for 6 years. My husband is in the Infantry previously stationed in Fairbanks Alaska for 4 years. He just recently transferred over to Air Traffic Controller. That's re enlistment for another 6 years. He plans on retiring wt the US Army. Being in the military at times can be HARD! My husband has no idea i'm writing about this, he thinks i'm blogging about something silly, possibly something about modeling, little does he know, I'm confessing how much in love, and how much i do support his career he has choose for our family. His jaw will drop to the floor when he reads this, i have never expressed my true feeling like this about our life as a military family. My husband has only been home for 1 of our children's births. The others, he was over seas. It can be terribly difficult to say good bye for 14 months at a time. This years deployments for him is only 6 months. My three little boys DO NOT like saying good bye to their daddy. They know he is a G.I. Joe though, and they think that there is nothing cooler than that. He is their hero. Just as he is all of ours. We all know the army wife puts the H.E.R. in hero though.
The day we all look forward to the most as a family is when he comes home. A grand reunion, a hot shower for him, and a love fest for my 3 little boys and myself! Our time spent at home is as important as our time spent apart. We ensure our relationship as husband and wife is as strong as being a mom and dad. Coming home for an Army Dad is hard. Transitioning to Civilian life after being at war for a year is trying for the whole family. We consider LOVE, and RESPECT, as rules in our home to keep our family strong. Being an army wife is quite possibly the toughest job in the military. When my husband is over seas i have to be strong for both us, and my children, and our families. I have to keep him up to date with current events, the children and of course my new pin up adventures and photos. It can get lonely out there, I take joy in knowing my husband has my photos at his side at all times.
Offering support to soldiers over seas is difficult. The men in the infantry that are out in the field will work 14 hr. days wt 2hr. of sleep. They go weeks wt our showers, and probably would cut some one for a bag of beef jerky. So, when i ask my husband what i can send to him......i know all he wants is sleep, a shower, and the children and i in a box. How do you do that? Its impossible. They all want the same thing. Its just not something you can cram in a box. Being alone when he is over seas is hard and can at times be trying. Fro the time i take my first sip of coffee in the morning, till i lay my head on the pillow at nite. I think of my husband, my best friend, and the father of my children. Its just not a HOME when he's gone. There is always something missing when he is away.
My husband, after re enlisting for six more years does not know where we will live later on down the road. Saying good- bye to our friends and family can be very, very difficult. It is hard to let go of the people you love. My sons 6, 2, and 4 months old, miss their Dad terribly. When he leaves it takes them a few months to get it out of their system. Web cam, and email are the source of our communication. Sometimes we just sit on the phone in silence, but that's o.k., because there is nothing to say sometimes. Its the comfort of knowing we are there for each other, and it melts my heart. My husband loves fighting for his country. He is a solider through and through. I couldn't imagine him ne where else, other than the United States Army! That to me is a joy in its self. Some women may not have the heart to write about this kind of stuff because they feel it can be depressing, or over whelming. Yes, it is both of those things, but this is something he loves, and i will support him as he supports me! Making us a happy healthy family. This year my husband will come home for a four day weekend in july for the Hootenanny. I am competing for Miss Hootenanny at this current time and plan to wear my new Nicole Katherine dress to the event. Weather i wear that crown or not, i will be sporting my new dress like a champ! Just because you don't win things in life, doesn't mean your not winning at life!

Nicole Katherine Designs Women of the Military Contest: Meet Amanda Hess!

I am an Army Wife. I am proud of the life I have chosen. I have a deep sense of duty and loyalty, to my country and my husband. I wait, in the early morning light, as he packs up his gear. He has to make two trips, always two trips to the truck. I’ll wait, in the slider door with the kitchen light behind me. Our dog will sit at my feet. She’s waiting too….
Always waiting, for a soldier to come home from where ever they decide to send him. Usually he heads to Battle Creek, Mi. for Battle Assembly (BA) once a month for a couple days, give or take a couple more days. This year his Annual Tour (AT) will be in Ft. McCoy, WI. He will be gone the entire month of August.
I’m a lucky one, a grateful one. My Private First Class (PFC) is a Reservist. Ready if needed. I like to pretend he will never deploy but I’m also not a naïve little girl anymore. It seems silly to think he could get orders for deployment any moment of any day. While it may seem unlikely, it is possible. And that is what I live every day, with grace and love in my heart.
I occupy myself while he’s gone. I’m a hair stylist, photographer and model. I love to take vintage themed pin-up photos for my soldier and he sure does love taking them with him on long field training exercises. Nicole Katherine Designs offers the perfect look to keep my husbands heart racing from the perfect fit of each custom garment. He’s jealous the dresses get to hug my curves while he’s away. If I were to win a dress, I’d have to orchestrate an elaborate photo shoot with my soldier in full uniform. That would leave me tickled pink for days, maybe even years to come.


Amanda Hess
626 Lafayette Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503