When @JenniEpperson talked the walk: The Fashion+Food Book Signing

I've always wondered how am I going to meet Jenni Epperson in person and how will I get my Fashion+Food book signed. I have already envisioned myself holding the book before and next thing I know, a friend got it for me! (Thanks again Yeye, read the post here)

Before we go any further, this is a long post because it took me days to transcribe the Q&A portion just so I can share it to you. :)

Anyway, last March 8 or 9, I saw in my twitter timeline that Ms. Jenni announced that she'll have a book signing event on March 10 weekend. I happen to be in the same area so I immediately grabbed the chance to see her. I already missed the chance of attending her book launch and there's no way that I will be missing the second one.

So I brought my book with me and headed to the area. Thank God I arrived at exactly 4pm and I was anxiously waiting for her because I am excited what she looks like in person.

I did not recognize that it was her already, seating 5 chairs away from me because in person, she's no primadonna, no commotion of being a celebrity and she looks so YOUNG and EVEN PRETTIER in person!

I brought my two girlfriends who never heard of Jenni Epperson and while I was listening intensely to her talk, my friends googled her and one even wanted to get her haircut!

Here are the excerpts from Ms. Jenni’s Q&A

1.     Do you have any plans of publishing a new book?

I have plans of doing something different ,I cant say anything right now but I want it to pe a surprise just like when I published this book no one knows until 2 months. Ayoko ma unsyame.[jinx] Im working on something  special that’s for sure, you will find out is you visit my website, jenniepperson.com. 

2.     Where do you get all the inspiration in your work? You have a family and career, where do you get all the energy in your work?

That’s a  really good question. I want to say I’m naturally hyper. But this is the secret. My main mission for doing all these things is really just to share information to women because we  women are excited to share tips to our friends and I think that’s the inspiration. How do i do it? I love what I do. When you love what you do it doesn’t feel like work. I love fashion, maybe that’s why I became I celebrity stylist. I love cooking, maybe that’s why I have this book. How will we know what we love? The only way you will find what you like or love to do, is to try different things. I didn’t start as a stylist, I didn’t start as a cook. I used to sell clothes for a store and from there I started to find out that I have a knack for putting things together. I didn’t know that I would be a writer or a fashion editor, but I know was I love sharing information. When you operate from within, it will really transcend outwards.

How will we know what we love? Then  try different things because you will not know what you want if you don’t know what you don’t like. You have to keep on trying and trying. You might say I have connections, that is not true. I lived in San Pedro Laguna when I was young til 15, after college I went to Makati to work. I didn’t know anyone, I didnt know celebrities I didn’t know any fashion editors but my work  and passion lead me to meet these people. That’s when I started having a network or a pool of celebrity stylists.  In fact one of the celebrities that I work with, KC Concepcion, KC started when I styled her for a magazine. Then she left for Paris, then when she came back for showbiz she said “Babe, can you be my stylist?” When I applied for Chalk Magazine as a fashion editor, that lead me to meeting KC and from meeting KC then I became a fashion stylist. That’s how it is. Where the inspiration comes from? It’s from everyday life. 

3.     What are the other achievements that you have other than coming up with the book?

I started blogging 7 years ago and I started in Multiply,and I also used to write for magazine and newspapers. The reason  the reason I started blogging it it was to control my fear of technology because Im a traditional writer. And also in news papers and magazines very limited yung space ko. I really have a passion for shairng information, we women like to share becauswe we are natural nurturers. I moved to website for the last 7 years, I blog 3-7 times a day. But some thing recent came about and I was a nominee for NuffNang awards for Acia Pacific for Best lifestyle blog. Nuffnang is like the red carpet of bloggings. 50& vote, 50% content. So I won it in Malaysia, short story lang, when I got there I didn’t know who am I competing with. They were saying do you know you were up against? 

(Jenni was told who she was up against with and told her that the girl has been winning the best lifestyle blog for several years already) Oh My God my confidence level was[low], why am I here? So I just went there. In my mind I have no chance because she was really unbeatable. So when they announced the winner, they called my name...they mis pronounced my name, instead of “Jenni Epperson” they said“Gennie Pearson”. So I was clapping and looking for the winner, I thought she was someone else and suddenly people were telling me “you won, you won!” So, Im happy to announce that I won the Asia Pacific Lifestyle Blog award, so it’s good for the Philippines.

4.     This book is about being a wife, a woman, a mom,would you advice this to men, househusbands, would this book cater to them?

From girls to guys to gays.That’a good point, There are a lot of househusbands but this book was written for women because they are really my market. I speak about women in this book because they are really my target audience. But in my book, my husband, he shared here his recipes for men. He calls it man food. It’s for everyone who learn how to cook or learn new things. It’s for everyone who learnes how to tcook and learn a new recipe. It’s really an inspiring book. I put my heart and soul writing this pook. I tell you what to wear on a date, what to wear on mother’s day, father’s day.

5.     Who influenced you in fashion? And do you sometimes get frustrated? Because when I read your blog and your book you’re always very positive.

I think like every little girl, we’re influenced by our moms. My mom is fasyon, even before couteriers are in, she’s already in to couterier. I just trained my eyes. I love looking at magazxine. I love how poeple dress. I immediately knew that it’s something I love doing. It’s through reading that we learn what we like and don’t like.It’s through readingthat inspires us to learn something or do something. In fact its through reading that I learned how to be a better mother, because growing up my mom is always away because we have business and she's always abraod. When I had my children I did not know how to be mother, Of course I have tips from my mom but it’s through books that I learned everything.

But what’s the beauty of our time. If you google it and read it, we already have information. Using that information and applying that when we become better people, so fashion sense – I think it’s from my mom, I love fashion and I like styling and see the finished product. 

Jenni also said that even if we become confident we should always find ways to learn new things and always thirst for knowledge.When she was asked if she get’s frustrated, she said: 

I get frustrated, sobra but I don’t show it. I try to take negative and turn it to positive experience. It’s not easy. It’s like for example you are used eating unhealthy food, if you slowly change it to healthy food at least a portion a day, then soon it will be your character (positive character). I dont talk about I think it’s I think my readers have enough problems of their own. That’s how I am. I guess in some way, when Idon’t absorb it, automatically it becomes positive. I leave the bad vibes to the others, that’s not my forte. 

6.     For the spur of the moment date, what is your go to outfit?

 I am an ambassador of the Little Black Dress. Its the most flattering piece of cloting in the world. No matter what shape, it looks good on you. By wearing it you can personalize it by putting a stamp on it by using accessories. 

I asked my husband and he is a photographer. I asked him what outift for you makes a woman sexy. He joked that anything that he can take off fast.I’ve been attaracted to women who wears simple dresses. I saw you with the white button down shirt, denim jeans and you were wearing rubber shoes.I was like? What? All this time I was buying expensive things and that’s the only thing that you wanted? Obviously for them, they see women beyond. Of course my husband was attracted to me at first but when I asked my other guys friends, actually I have few guy friends because majority of my guy friends are gays, I asked them what makes a woman sexy? They said there’s something about the white button down shirt that makes a woman sexy and it gives a down-to-earth feel. I think what makes a woman sexy, this is regardless of what my husband’s (or friends) opinion tell me is being true to your style.  Which means part the reason is not because of that button down shirt because I was a confident woman when he met me, so it was beyond the white button down shirt. Because I’ve always been sure about who I am, and I’m not embarrassed of who I was. Of course I had to work through that, but it’s only confidence that makes a man/woman/gay sexy, oh diba?

7.     This has nothing to do with your book, I saw your shoes and they’re really pretty and I would like to ask where did you get them?

This is the part where practically all bloggers in the event went in front of the stage to take photos of Jenni’s shoes and she gamely posed infront and said that she totally gets all the bloggers (passion for taking photos).

These shoes  from Jeffrey Campbell.  They are available at SM.  What I love about this brand its super stylish and kinda edgy but not as expensive but a bitpricey. About 5k-6k. My shoes in the book is form Kermit Tesoro, it’s his sample and it fit me so I bought it. It’s 8.5 heels... only. So it looks like I’m really tal when you see my standee in National Bookstore.

8.     Do you have plans of putting up your own clothing line?

If SM approaches me of course why not. I think that every fashionista’s dream, to create her own line.

Then she said in a joking manner (to someone in the audience):

These are not planted questions, ha? You know that Anton, these are not planted questions! (I’m assuming Anton probably is someone from SM and might have invited Jenni for booksigning and talk).

Then she continued:

Ive been thinking about it, but I came from a clothing busines. What I am sure about it this line is for women for the flattering and with silhoutettes.  I’m loving this Q&A by the way and kahit mag Q&A hanggang bukas kaya ko (Even if we stay up until tomorrow, I can do this.)

9.     Can you tell cite 3 reasons why we should buy your book?

 1)     First because this is a Fabulous book, full of information . It is worth 1,100k but it  is wprth 50k of information. I dont want a picture book but write a helpful book.  I want something to inspire people.
2)     It gives you an idea how to live life in style. Its like a manual for living in style.
3)     I think it’s a good book because I am proud because I want you to experience it. It’s not about the money or the grandeur. It’s about making each moment memorable. If you like to dress it 

      I've attended symposiums and graduate school seminars but have never held the mic to ask a question. It's only in Jenni Epperson's book signing that I gathered my guts to stand up and my hands were shaking when I asked her the question: 

10.  I’ve been a follower of your blog since Mabuhay Girl, to blogspot and I’m one of the fans who are waiting for the 10am surprise when you launched your official website. My questions were already asked by the others and I just want to say that I’ve been reading your book when I am supposed to read my masters thesis. I’ve been reading your book several times now since I got it and I just want to ask where is baby Dylan?

We also looked for it. When I was working on my book, Dylan and I had a picture but due to last minute changes it sort of diappeared so we were not able to put it last minute. I’m supposed to have a family picture at the back but watch out for more surprises and wait for the launch of baby Dylan.

After that question, a fellow blogger came up to me and commented "fan na fan ka talaga nya no?" (you really are her fangirl, aren't you?)  And a guy came up and asked where he can purchase Jenni's book.

I will not post my picture while I am asking Ms. Jenni because it looked like my cheeks are about to burst from holding it in! Anyway back to the other question...

Then she told the audience that she's got a 15-year old daughter, Aryanna and a 2 yr old toddler, Dylan.

11.  Can you give tips on how to raise a teenager?

I wish I can say it’s easy. I’m a virgo and I’m a planner. I think the best way to raise your children is by living an example. By becoming a happy person, you raise a happy children. By becoming a smart person, you raise smart children. My mom tells me, you cannot give what you do not have , you cannot give wisdom if you have not lived. You can not tell them don’t do this/that if you have not tried it. You have to raise the bar of yourself. I guess there are kids who sometimes lost their way because some parents might have been out of focus, I guess there comes your prioritization. 

I raised Aryanna (Jenni’s 15 year old daughter) in such a way , I let her be her own person,. Example, when it comes to clothing, when she was 3, I let her wear whatever she wants to wear in school.  One time she wanted to she was wearing tie dye pants, tank top, barney slippers, like wow! But it was her choice. I let her go to school looking like that, and she was so happy and all her friends complimented her. I never dictate that style to her. What show my daughter by doing that, I am supportive of her choices, by being supportive of your kids’ choices, it empowers them and it gives them the confidence to be the person that they are.
 

Sometimes us mothers, are very annoying or dictators. Im one of them at home, I really try not to because we want to raise children that are empowered. We don’t want to raise mommy’s boy or daddy’s girls, or children that are dependent on us. We want to raise independent children.Its really about teaching them and givng them the tools to become good indivuduals. 

Spending time with your children makes a whole lot of difference. I dont work a 9 to 5 job, it’s harder, for example if I have a  5am call time for TVC shoot, I also go home at 5am. Even if I want to get a massage the next day, I really spend it with the kids. That's what parenting is all about. Our lives  are slightly over once we have kids but its also a new phase of our lives, its sharing ourselves to younger ones. We have to embrace the fact that once we become parents we are responsible for another life. Live by example, live style...Oh?

I cannot believe how down to earth she is! 

I finally got my book signed!

And because, just as Jenni Epperson always say - Sharing is Caring - I hope you like my Jenni Epperson experience and have enjoyed learning from her.

I literally couldn't stop smiling while walking around the mall after the book signing. I only stopped when we had to eat, but really. I really could not stop smiling!

Meeting and talking to Jenni is really surreal, I did not really expect that it would be this soon. When she talks and answers questions, you can feel her sincerity, you can feel that she really wants to share what she feels like if only she can open up her heart literally just for us her audience to see what's inside, I bet she would do it.

I'm very fortunate what I happen to have a portable voice recorder when I attended the event because I was scheduled to interview a Congressman in a few days. Call me crazy, but I like to play back Jenni's Q&A over and over again when I want to feel inspired.

Yes, I belong to Team JENNIration!