Who is the heck is St. Valentine anyway?

I'm always fascinated each time a holiday rolls around how and why we have come to celebrate it. Why do we give each other chocolates and go out to fancy dinners on February the 14th? Who the heck is St.Valentine anyways and what did he do? Well, (according to Wikipedia) Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14, celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.

The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs*, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines.") The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. 

* Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith in effectual, commended him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded, which was executed on Feb. 14th, about the year 270. 

OK good to know, now at least I have a better idea of what this holiday is all about and who St. Valentine is. This truly is one of my favorite holidays because it includes lots of  food, wine and tons of chocolate. And if there is one group of people that know about  all of the above it would be the Italians. Italy has to be one of the most romantic places to be in the world for Valentine's Day and Italians really know how to love. Whether it's their love affair with food, wine, or each other,  they are categorically  a passionate and romantic group of people. I remember when Markette and I were at NIAF's 35th Anniversary Convention and Gala celebrating 35 years of the Italian American community interviewing all the Italiano's, from ESPN's Tony Reali to Mama DePandi. So much food and fun all in one room! 

Here are some helpful and romantic Italian phrases you can use! 


Mio amore-my love
Tesoro mio-my darling
Passerotto mio-my little bird
Mi manchi-I missy you
Ho bisogno-I need you
Ti adoro-I adore you
Sei la mia vita-you are my life
Mi vuoi sposare? -will you marry me? 


Ciao bella!

Besos xoxoxo,

Vanessa

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"Red Hot" Heel of the Week and Stop Heart Disease!

I love the month of February because it signifies that Spring is just  around the corner. So as we finally purge ourselves of the "winter blues" we get to start seeing, thinking and living in red. The color red can mean love, fire,  and passion. Red is hot and its counterpart for cold is blue and lets face it, I'd rather be red hot than cold blue any day of the week. It's all about roses, love, and passion this month, and I for one fully embrace it.

Oh and big shout out to my hubby who also just so happens to be born on Valentine's Day.

But this month is also a huge reminder, that if you have the passion, fire and desire to live--then you have to take care of yourself too. Heart disease is the # killer of women in the United States. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. It's the major reason people have heart attacks. And the older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But it can effect women of all ages. Just like it did with  Lauren and Amanda.

Click HERE to read about Amanda's story. (Scroll on right arrow)

Click HERE to read about Lauren's story (Scroll to right arrow)

This month DC on Heels is partnering with our sponsor ShoeDazzle to help raise awareness about heart disease and its deadly effects. We will be wearing our heartfelt Lauren pumps paired with our Amanda clutch and help share these two young girls incredible stories. 10% of the proceeds from these ravishing red beauties will benefit WomenHeart. Click HERE to signup now.

The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women can take steps to prevent it by practicing healthy lifestyle habits. So take the necessary steps to help knockout this deadly disease. Remember aging is a privilege  not a birth right. We owe it to ourselves. 

If you have a health story that you'd like to share please email us at dconheels@gmail.com. 

Besos xoxoxo,

Vanessa

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Knock Out Abuse: Photo & Video Highlights

What started out 17 years ago as 20 women at a dinner party at Georgetown's Cafe Milano, is now a must-attend charity event that Thursday night filled the ballroom at the Ritz on 22nd Street NW with more than 750 of Washington, DC's most prominent, powerful and passionate women. 

KNOCK OUT ABUSE is all about raising funds and awareness to help end domestic violence faced by women in the National Capital Area. 

The annual gala and related activities has raised more than $7 million in 17 years by its founders, Jill Sorenson and Cheryl Davis Masri. 

Local newswoman Andrea Roane emceed the event.

Meanwhile, real-life domestic violence survivor and New York Times best-selling author Leslie Morgan Steiner shared her own shocking tale of abuse. The Harvard graduate (whose mother, father, grandmother and grandfather are also Harvard alum) said she thought because of her education and family background, "It would never happen to me." Her new book is titled, "Crazy Love."

The gala, in general, took on a an upbeat tone, as it celebrated the accomplishments of women who have strong enough to stand up, speak out and give a helping hand.  

Actress Agnes Nixon of "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" was honored for her work in bringing awareness of the issue to the small screen. 

Exquisite dinner from the chefs' of the Ritz Carlton

Wonderful ladies on hand to support the cause

Vanessa and Markette pictured with Erika from RHODC

Fabulous items at the silent auction

Iconic song and models  for Robert Palmer song "Addicted to Love"

Tune in to the DC on Heels entertainment segment on TBD TV at 4:30pm and 6:30pm Monday, Nov. 15 for a full reap of the event. Until then, here are some more  photo and video highlights: 

Andrea Roane talks DCOH glam cam

Erika talks to DCOH glam cam

"You don't even want to know how much
I paid for these!" --Kelly Lovallo 

DJ Sixth Sense of BET and WKYS 93.9 fame
spins with DC on Heels!

Markette with PR superwoman Aba Kwawu

Miss & Mrs --> K Street Kate (Miss DC 2006) with
Markette (Mrs. DC 2008)

Dessert!

Vanessa clearly having fun with fireman

But she wasn't the only one...

All in good fun of course. 

We wouldn't be DC ON HEELS without checking out the shoes! This was a room filled with beautiful women and beautiful shoes!

And remember, look out for more about this event in our weekly entertainment segment on TBD!

xoxo,

Markette

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