Bucket List | Chad Michael Peters Auditions for the role of Edna Turblad

I can relate to the character of Edna Turnblad in the production of Hairspray. She spent a good portion of the 1950's stuck inside the house, running a laundry business and afraid to pursue her dreams of being a lingerie designer.

That is so me on many levels. I love this character, I can feel this character inside of me. I have been practicing, every day, working, honing and preparing for the audition which I will do this Sunday. Of course I am nervous, but confident that from the performance you see here on this video to my live audition performance on Sunday, that I will only get a bit better.....fingers crossed.

I was up late last night filming this, I want your reaction. If I am going to do this live, in drag no less, I want to make sure that it is the performance of my lifetime, because this is after all on my bucket list, I am turning 40. As Edna would say " If you don't like the way I look, well I just don't give a damn." Well I do really. What do you guys think?

One Moment in Time | Rest in Peace Whitney Houston

My heart sank when I read last night that our beloved national treasure, Whitney Houston had passed away. From her humble roots and singing in church, to the international stage she will be remembered for her unsurpassable contribution to our memories and musical history.

Who can ever forget or surpass the performance of the then young, vibrant and passionate voice from God lifting our spirits and national pride with her rendition of our National Anthem? I cry every time that I see it and now more than ever will do so in the future.

And then there is "One Moment in Time", written as an anthem for the special Olympics, Houston once again reminded us there are few if ever that will challenge her vocal range and pitch. The song for me  over the years has inspired me to move forward with what passion tells me to do. I too, want that one moment in time, when I am more than I thought I could be, when all of my dreams are a heart beat away and the answers are all up to me.

I listen to just a limited range of music on my itunes, Whitney of course is right in there. Her music has become the soundtrack to all of our lives.

Her death saddens me. Her addiction and spiral downward with drugs took from her what made her famous. She died, just Whitney Houston, a woman with her own set of problems like the rest of us, albeit exacerbated through fame and money. I am relieved that this is her time to leave us. I want to remember her as the angel running through the clouds, young, fresh, nubile running into the arms of her lover, not the Whitney Houston who spiraled out of control in the end of her short sweet life.

There will be critics of her passing and those who will use her death to make fun of her addictions and the demons that she was trying to suppress. But not I. I will not judge the other side of her fame or her personal life. I will only be a fan of the Whitney that I remember, hair slicked back, soft apricot gown, a restrained sex appeal and a voice that could only be a gift from god.

Thank you Whitney for giving us your moment in time. You are free.

You will be missed.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bobbi Kristina and the rest of Whitney's family. RIP

Cape Cod Style Wedding Invitations | Chatham Men's Stripe

The process of design is two sided. I need the input from the client on the finished product. I want what we do for them to be better than the best thing that they could ask for. You saw last week that I worked on a wedding stationery suite for a client of mine. In it I introduced the Chatham Stripe pattern which is filled with pink and had touches of sea blue to compliment. When I spoke to my client she seemed kind of afraid to tell me that it was just too much pink. Not to worry. She wanted more green, more sea, less pink. I thought about it for a day or two and then finally sitting down last night at my computer I was able to draw out this pretty compliment to the Chatham Collection, The Chatham Men's Stripe. I could see this as a men's dress shirt, or lining to a summer suit of linen. Very English, very Cape Cod, very my bride and groom.

We were able to produce this suite on budget for the bride and will also compliment it with custom postage for both the outer envelope and the return envelope with the response card. So cute with the little botanical scallop and quahog shells. We did recommend an additional card for information on travel and a separate invitation to the reception given that it is a couple of hours after the ceremony. If you did not include this, I can assure you that your guests would be lingering, waiting for the bar to open and the food to be served. This way there is time between the wedding and reception for them to relax and to enjoy the beauty that is seaside in Chatham.

Winter Wonderland Wedding Invitation and Custom Envelope

We have not had the kind of snow this year that New England is famous for. We have actually had the kind of snow that Florida is famous for, none, practically. Aside from a dusting on Halloween and a small dump a couple of weeks back, this winter has been void of the major element that makes it winter SNOW!! I pray next year at this time that there is a dusting, a beautiful white, crystal dusting for my bride to celebrate her wedding. Her mother had a winter wedding and now she too will have similar. We have to reflect her style AND the venue that will celebrate at. In this case it is the majestic, five star hotel, the TAJ where this winter wonderland theme wedding will take place.

I knew that it was important from the beginning to convey a sense of winter, the brides color choices and a lighthearted whimsy WITHOUT looking like Christmas. Not always easy. The bright white birch mixed with the opalescent hues of winter provide a perfect, polka dotted back drop to convey, fun AND winter. I know that she is going to love the look of this wedding stationery suite.

There will be revisions to the printed words and adjustments to these printed pieces prior to the launch of a custom website that will coordinate with this suite and show off the amazing engagement session that this bride and groom took with Person and Killian photography. One word, Amazing, as always. We have the details to the wedding in place, now time to hone, design and craft this winter wonderland.

Is it wrong to be singing " Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow?"

Bucket List | I want to play Edna Turnblad in Hairspray

I am turning 40 this year, in a few months as a matter of fact. It seems that in the blink of an eye my life has gone past. I think back who I was, who I wanted to be. Now is time to reflect and think who am I? Why am I here? I know that I am still as passionate about design as ever. You can see that I crank it out all day....and all night long. I know in my heart that this is what I am meant to be doing. It is fueled by passion.  I know what passion is. It is what has me up at three in the morning drawing, typing and thinking. I think that you realize what life is all about you have to go for what your passion tells you to do. I have and I do not regret it, although I realize that there is always a price to pay.

One of my goals for this year and in years beyond is to challenge myself to do new things. I love that charge, the thrill, the excitement. I guess that it is my own sort of bucket list. My challenge is to BE Edna Turnblad from the Broadway production of Hairspray. I have been singing every day, thinking, breathing, trying to get through her big high energy number of "Can't stop the beat". I am getting better, I can actually sing and dance my whole way through without passing out. I want to wow, I want the applause, I want that moment. I am 40, I say screw it, I am going for it.

So for the past five hours, it is now close to four in the morning, I have been drawing the looks of MY character, Edna. I want to adhere to the role at the same time bring myself into it. You have to BE the role. I say this like I have starred on Broadway, I have not AND to be honest probably never will. Although would totally love it!! I do know the parts that she plays in and what she should look like. In the end I want that wow with the "Christmas Ham" line....cue gorgeous gams in sparkly high heel reveal.

Trust me it is not just the gorgeous outfits that this famed drag character has to wear......ok you got me, it is the gorgeous outfits and the singing and dancing and letting it all out. I want that moment, I am 40. I will continue to practice and yes, I will fill you in. I actually am going to audition. Yes, chad michael peters, me, is going to get out there and shake my rump and sing my little heart out. If only for the sake of the thrill that comes from checking it off of the list.