Congrats to Arielle Deltoro for winning the Miss Chick Lit Giveaway!
Hi, my name is Willa Tobin, and I'm a 32 year-old pet psychic from San Francisco. Because of my profession, my fondness for carrying Hello Kitty and ladybug purses, and my perpetual sunniness, people sometimes say that I'm whimsical or eccentric, but I'm just being me, a glass all-the-way-full kind of gal. I have an identical twin sister named Sloane who has no idea I'm here today. <whispers> Unlike me, she is not a fan of pageants. When we were kids and I tuned in to watch Miss America every year, she'd throw popcorn at the TV and say that the contestants' hair was bigger than their brains. </whispers> But what Sloane doesn't know won't hurt her, and I know she'll be impressed when I bring home the Miss Chick Lit title and tiara. To be honest, I don't really care about the title; I just really want that tiara (So pretty and sparkly!)
Let the games begin!
SWIMSUIT
Bonus: I got this suit for $29 at Nordstrom Rack. I love a bargain, which is why I shop at vintage stores and/or make my own clothes most of the time.
TALENT
I will be doing a dramatic reading of a monologue from one of my all-time favorite books, The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I think it's the most beautiful declaration of love I've ever had the pleasure of reading. SIGH And this gown I'm wearing was inspired by the ice blue dress Buttercup wore in the iconic film based on the book. I designed and sewed it myself!
Oh, and standing in for Westley will be my dog, Cicero.
I love you, I know this must come as something of a surprise, since all I've
ever done is scorn you and degrade you and taunt you, but I have loved you for
several hours now, and every second, more. I thought an hour ago that I loved
you more than any woman has ever loved a man, but a half hour after that I knew
that what I felt before was nothing compared to what I felt then. But ten
minutes after that, I understood that my previous love was a puddle compared to
the high seas before a storm. Your eyes are like that, did you know? Well they
are. How many minutes ago was I? Twenty? Had I brought my feelings up to then?
It doesn't matter. I love you so much more now than twenty minutes ago that
there cannot be comparison. I love you so much more now than when you opened
your hovel door, there cannot be comparison. There is no room in my body for
anything but you. My arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind
affection. My mind begs you to ask it something so it can obey. Do you want me
to follow you for the rest of your days? I will do that. Do you want me to
crawl? I will crawl. I will be quiet for you or sing for you, or if you are
hungry, let me bring you food, or if you have thirst and nothing will quench it
but Arabian wine, I will go to Araby, even though it is across the world, and
bring a bottle back for your lunch. Anything there is that I can do for you, I
will do for you; anything there is that I cannot do, I will learn to do. I know
I cannot compete with the Countess in skills or wisdom or appeal, and I saw the
way she looked at you. And I saw the way you looked at her. But remember,
please, that she is old and has other interests, while I am seventeen and for me
there is only you. Dearest Westley--I've never called you that before, have
I?--Westley, Westley, Westley, Westley, Westley,--darling Westley, adored
Westley, sweet perfect Westley, whisper that I have a chance to win your love.
INTERVIEW
Have you had any marriage proposals? If so, what were they like?
Once upon a time I received a very romantic proposal from a handsome Frenchman named Alphonse. After a three-week courtship in the City of Lights, he asked for my hand in the most romantic way. Early one morning, he took me down to the cobblestone streets of Montmartre, where he re-enacted our first meeting. Did I mention that Phonsey was a mime? So, this was a silent re-enactment and he had on the white face makeup just like the first time I saw him when I stopped to watch him perform and was mesmerized by his artistry (and how sexy he looked in horizontal stripes!)
He led me down the street where the different vendors were setting up and he stopped at one who gave him a red heart-shaped balloon with the word "Veux" on it. He handed it to me, then we walked a bit more until we reached another vendor who gave us a second balloon and this one had the word "tu" on it. I really had no idea where this was going until we got to a third vendor who had a balloon that read "m'épouser?" Veux-tu m'épouser? is "Will you marry me?" in French. Of course, the answer was a very enthusiastic "YES!" Phonsey was a struggling artist, so he didn't have much money, but he was able to scrape together enough to buy me an antique engagement ring with a pink stone (My favorite color!) It was the perfect proposal. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the marriage that followed, but I haven't given up on love. I look forward to receiving another wonderful proposal some day, except this one will stick!
Want to read more about Willa, her search for love, and her sisterly relationship with Sloane, who has plenty of romantic problems of her own? Grab a copy of Twin Piques today - e-book on sale for just $1.99!
MISS CHICK LIT GIVEAWAY
You can be a beauty queen, too! Enter to win a $100 beauty store gift card. This is an international giveaway. Prizes will be as follows depending on where the winner lives:
US/Canada winner - $100 Sephora gift card
UK winner - £65 gift card to Lush Cosmetics
Australia winner - $125AUD to Mecca
HOW TO ENTER
Answer the following question in the comments section below:
Have you had any marriage proposals? If so, what were they like?
Please include your full name and e-mail address along with your comment. We must have your e-mail address so that we can contact you if you win!
The gift card winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, May 18th.
Read all the charming and funny posts of the other Miss Chick Lit participants (see links below). You can enter the giveaway at each of these blogs, so that's 19 chances to win the $100 beauty store gift card!
OMG! This is so cute! I'll need to stop by the others when I have some time today.
ReplyDeleteMy husband proposed to me on a cruise in 2003. We were with my parents, his mom, and some friends of my parents. They were all celebrating anniversaries and stuff, so he made a toast and then said "I love Melissa and if I had a ring I'd propose right now." (Summarizing here.) So I was all embarrassed that he'd do something like that. And then he goes "In actuality, I do have a ring" and he got it out and proposed right there. :) Eleven years of marriage and still crazy in love!
Love this story, Melissa! Your husband is a true romantic! :)
DeleteBrilliant as usual, Ms. Banister! I particularly enjoy Cicero's role. ;)
ReplyDeleteHee! Glad you liked that, Glynis. Willa doesn't go anywhere without Cicero, so of course I had to include him in the pageant. ;)
DeleteI have had only one marriage proposal in my life - a sunny June Sunday on Block Island. And smart girl that I am, I said yes! I was a month shy of turning 36, and it took a long line of frogs for me to see the true prince. <3
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely, Martha! :)
DeleteGreat post Tracie :-) x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Pippa! :)
DeleteAwesome post, as usual :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Tracy! Thanks for reading! :)
DeleteGreat post. LOVED the book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Whitney! So glad you liked, excuse me, LOVED, the book! ;)
DeleteLove the talent and I want that suit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gina! There were some really darling suits on this hop, weren't there?
DeleteThis is such a fun post Tracie! I've never personally been proposed to, so no fun proposal story from me...maybe in a few years!
ReplyDelete-Arielle Deltoro
lifewithariellejoy@gmail.com
Oh, I'm sure you'll have plenty of proposal stories to share a few years down the road, Arielle. ;) Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteA dramatic reading of the Princess Bride is what is missing in my life. That's all. This blog hop has been so much fun!
ReplyDeleteLOL All roads lead back to The Princess Bride for Willa, so this "talent" seemed appropriate for her. Thanks for reading, Colleen!
DeleteI LOVE this post. I definitely think Willa should be Miss Chick Lit. Although I have been married twice, I have never had any marriage proposals. My first husband gave me a ring and said it was more of a promise ring and that one day we would get married. My mother hounded us so bad to get married, we rushed into it. The marriage didn't last but we have remained good friends. The man I am married to know was pretty much the same way. In fact, he asked me to pick out my ring. I think it was a mutual agreement both time we planned the wedding (the first time didn't happen).
ReplyDeleteWilla appreciates your support, Janine. ;)
DeleteI have lots of friends who received very casual proposals, so you are not alone in that regard. All that matters is that you end up with a ring on your finger, right?
Oddly enough, I've been proposed to by four different men... I accepted twice. The one that was meant to be, was when my lovely husband of 19 years spelled Will You Marry Me in candles... the dot of the question mark was a jewelry box. It took me a while to answer... I was halfway done blow drying my hair, so the left side was dry, the right wet, and I kept thinking, "I never thought I would look like this when he proposed!" He looked at me frightened and said, "Well?" I said, "Yes, yes, yes... but you might want to know about a lawsuit..." Great blog Tracie and thanks for being our fearless leader.
ReplyDeleteOkay, wow, you were quite popular, Celia. I'm impressed! ;) LOL about the state of your hair when the perfect proposal came. Sounds amazing, and it would work well in one of your books! ;)
DeleteBethany Clark
ReplyDeleteBethanyclark2014@gmail.com
I was proposed to at Niagara Falls at night with all the changing color lights!
Oh, how pretty! I've always wanted to go to Niagara Falls.
DeleteThanks for sharing, Bethany! :)
What an awesome post!! I LOL'ed at Cicero standing in for Westley! Loved reading a bit more about Alphonse and Willa's history. Such a sweet proposal! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I figured Alphonse had to have done something right at the beginning to win Willa over. ;)
DeleteThanks for reading, Cat!
I have been proposed to once, and I accepted! It was a full day event in Vegas 12 years ago. I had complained the day before we weren't taking pictures. I woke up with a camera in my face taking my picture. Lunch out, picture. Special spa day at Bellagio, picture. Fancy dinner, saw Le Mystere Cirque de Solei show-pictures. When we walked around the Bellagio later that night, he paused at the elevators and pulled out a key. We weren't staying there, at least, we hadn't the few nights before. He had a room overlooking the fountains, got down on one knee, said some amazing things to me, and asked me to marry him. The pictures throughout the day finally made sense and I'm glad I have the entire day documented :)
ReplyDeleteI can't follow directions. My email address is sky@sky-greene.com.
DeleteAw, that's so nice that you have all those pictures to help you remember your special day. And a proposal in Vegas is fancy! I like the way your man works! ;)
DeleteThanks for sharing, Suzanne.
I haven't had a marriage purposal
ReplyDeletejennad289 @ gmail .com
There's always time, Jenna!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and entering the giveaway. :)
No marriage proposals yet
ReplyDeletegroogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by and for entering the contest! :)
DeleteI've never had any marriage proposals before.
ReplyDeleteJessica Meddick
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com
Thanks for entering the contest, Jessica!
DeleteI have not had any marriage proposals yet..time will tell if I ever get one :) - floyddg@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteKeep the faith, Danielle! :) Thanks so much for dropping by my blog.
DeleteNo, I haven't
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks for entering the giveaway! Good luck! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete