I love Stephanie, I really do.
Last week I had the chance to spend an afternoon with Stephanie, Rachael, Jyl, and Marie at Stephanie’s home in Utah. She won a BlogLuxe award from the SocialLuxe Lounge for *most inspirational* and wasn’t able to travel to Chicago to accept it, so we brought it to her.
What’s killing me is that we didn’t have a winner swag bag to present along with the award. Stephanie’s not really all that materialistic, but it would have been nice to give one to her just the same.
Sitting in her living room having profound conversation was so enjoyable I was late to my own C’s 5th birthday party. I could have chatted all night. Hanging out with Stephanie felt like spending time with one of my oldest and closest girlfriends; she immediately made me feel at ease. Even though I once accosted her in Costco.
A few months ago, in the midst of stressful planning and preparations for SocialLuxe, I was at Costco returning something with P. I immediately recognized Stephanie and Mr. Nielson ahead of me in line. I don’t know whether to blame it on SocialLuxe stress, true emotion, or full-on Nie Nie adoration, but I felt compelled to tell Stephanie hello. It was awkward, and I still cringe and sweat thinking about it:
Allison: {approaching Mr. Nielson} Are you who I think you are?
Mr Nielson: Yes, I am
A: {breaking into the shakes and some hysterical sobs} I love you!
Mr N: ummmm, thank you
A: I….I…….I….. I’ve been praying for you {hiccup} and I’ve been thinking of you, and I just {hiccup} love you!
Mr N: {patting me now} Tell me your name
A: {sob, hiccup} Petit….All….Elef….Allison
Mr N: Have you met Stephanie?
A: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I love you!
Stephanie: thank you {?}
A: How are you? I’vebeenprayingforyouIloveyouandthinkaboutyouallthetime!! {deep breath}
S: Thank you
{Meanwhile, P was in the background really and truly hoping the floor would open up and swallow her whole}
A: {fully shaking and crying now} Oh! You just had surgery! How do you feel? You look amazing! Does it hurt?! I’m so sorry! I know everyone must say this but IreallydoprayforyouallthetimeandIthinkaboutyoutoo
S: Thank you
Mr N: Thank you
A: Oh, I should let you go! You must have things to do! You look amazing! You’re amazing! Thanks for everything you do! You keep it all in perspective! I love you!
If there ever a moment in time I wish I could erase, that would be close to the top. I felt like a crazy/psycho/stalker. Sometimes I think I shouldn’t be allowed in public. I was relieved that Stephanie allowed me into her home after the whole incident. I was horrified and flattered that she remembered who I was, but at least now she knows, I’m not crazy. Usually. Sometimes I just can’t handle being in the presence of someone I love from afar.
I mentioned Gabrielle’s idea to Stephanie, about getting Nie Nie and C Jane to BlogHer 2010 and she loved the idea. I think this needs to be my next goal. I need something to keep me out of Costco and the general public as a whole.
Allison
Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!
You crack me up so hard I have a side ache.
that is hilarious, and she is so beautiful! :)
I love this story and I'm so glad you posted it. She really does look wonderful.
This makes me love Costco even more than I did a minute ago! I run into the most random people there! Thanks for makin me giggle!
Oh my she just looks so beautiful.
I just THINK about meeting her and bawl, every single time.
I would be like you in Costco but worse….if that is at all possible ;) It would be.
Oh I want to hear everything man if I knew you guys were going I would have hidden in your trunk and come along for the ride.
Oh Allison, that is too funny. I would probably, possibly, yeah I would do the same thing.
I am all over helping to get Nie and CJane to Blogher – let me know what I can do to help :)
Vanessa,
Doesn't she look amazing? Really. Next time you can come, and I'll even let you ride shotgun. I wouldn't make you curl up in the trunk!
Oh no! I was kind of afraid that I would do this several times at BlogHer with various people…but if I saw Nie Nie and Mr. Nielson in Costco, I would probably a lunatic as well.
Excellent recovery! Did you come up with the Social Luxe awards just to have an excuse to go to their house? Be honest, I won't judge! ;)
you are totally making me laugh! We all have moments we wish we could rewind and compose ourselves better.
Looks like a great afternoon! :)
so jealous that you got to meet her irl not once, but twice. AND seriously everyone that loves her as much as "the mommy bloggers" do would have probably had the same Costco incident!
oh allison, it was my pleasure meeting you at costco. really!
thanks for this lovely post.
I love you
I love that story! And I loved this post, thanks so much for sharing. Stephanie was absolutely wonderful! I feel like we'd been friends forever. I love the blogging world!
I always make a fool of myself. I think your reaction was what we all would have done. I mean, how can you NOT burst into tears? Right?
Stephanie,
Love you too. Let's play again soon.
Marie,
Ditto that. LOVE the blogging world.
Jenny,
I'm prone to making a total moron of myself in front of people I admire. We won't even talk about me + Pioneer Woman.
I am sure I would have blathered on and on about nothing… the poor woman is probably used to it by now, so you're off the hook. Besides, Costco is neutral territory, right? Everyone seems totally psychotic under those flourescent lights.
I am so happy to see Nie getting back into the picture, literally. She looks simultaneously teeny-tiny and super strong. I am not a religious person but I think the Nielson's story is a truly inspiring contemporary showing of the power of faith.
This post made me so happy. I'm a HUGE admirer of nie nie and I'm certain that I would have had the same reaction you did in Costco!
Oh I am so happy to see both of you beautiful women in that photo…
The night I met you at Azucar's party, I saw CJane and acted like a stalker. Not the sweet enthusiastic stalker, no. The creepy kind. I got all quiet and just looked at her out of the corner of my eye, all night. And whispered to my husband about her and felt like a mo-ron!
No, you HAVE to tell about the Pioneer Woman, because I swear to you, it must be told. To me. Again. So I can laugh my guts out. One more time.
OMG that is Soooo funny. I'm laughing so hard.
And I love the picture of you and Nie. She's even more beautiful than her first "new" photo she posted after her hike at the Y. Look at her. She's gorgeous.
That was funny! I'm sure we would have all done/said the same thing.
Stephanie, you look radiant :)
Wow, Allison! What a neat thing. I would have loved to have been there. I would be exactly like you. I just love her and the world of blogging.
Azucar,
I have no ego left as it is. Why not?
MMW,
Oh, my. The fun that can be had on my behalf. She truly is amazing
Naomi,
Stephanie's flat out, no-questions-asked faith in a higher power is inspiring isn't it? She's an astonishing human being. And really really tiny. Especially next to me. :)
Kami,
You and Nie Nie are a lot alike, you'd adore one another. And yes, the blogging world is wonderful.
You crack me up! I would have acted the same way. Thank you for sharing.
I would have been the EXACT same way if I had run into the Nies at Costco.
Whimsical Creations,
Sometimes I wonder if I share too much?
Kage,
The Nies, that's cute. I never would have thought of that. The Nies didn't even make me feel like a tool, which frankly is how I felt.
so i should be in bed by now, but after chatting this afternoon i had to peek at your blog.
i love your story and it reminded me of bumping in to cjane at ikea and stopping her to chat. chup waiting patiently with the chief and cjane was so kind and gracious even though i didn't quite know what to say to this person who i felt like i'd known forever but was very aware that she had absolutely no clue who i am.
you're awesome allison. and you're right, so is nienie. she is so inspiring.
This is so funny!!!
Stephanie is such a beautiful person! I would have stumbled all over too!
Crystalyn,
I've heard CJane is pretty gracious too. I won't go into the story of how I thought CJane and Nie Nie were *besties* not sisters. Sigh.
Danielle,
Funny for you maybe. :) Happy to entertain the masses. She's marvelous, beautiful, and amazing all at the same time.
oh, you are too funny! i would truly go all ga-ga, too, if i met them in person. i adore them and really do pray for them! an amazingly inspirational couple.
how have i not already fallen in love with your blog? i just got here. i will be back. oh, the stalk is so on.
peapodsquadmom,
Bring it. I adore blog stalkers.
Why can't I see your blog? You exclusive like that? Azucar will want to join your club, she's snotty like that.
Also, Stephanie? She's beyond beautiful, lovely, and of good report.
I recently had a brush with my celebrity crush author, Shannon Hale, and I choked and didn't talk to her because I was afraid I would have your exact reaction after my deep love for her last book.
Very, very funny!
Allison – you are wonderful and special – and so honest. What a treasure for you to meet Stephanie. Like you, I thinkaboutherprayforher all the time.
xoxo
Seriously, Allison. That totally cracked me up!
Costco never brings out the best in anybody..and I think you sounded great…it is hard to maintain emotion thinking about everything they have gone through. I think we all would have reacted the same way and then thought, "What the he-double toothpicks is wrong with me?"
Hilarious and amazing story. Thanks for sharing :)
I'm new to your blog (bookmarked it already) but not to Nie. Thank you for this post and beautiful picture of the both of you. It was the happy end note to an otherwise difficult day.
Now honestly, who wouldn't get the shakes approaching someone like Nie? She's such an inspiration and so down to earth, I bet your nervousness didn't phase her one bit! I think it's great you said hello, even if it was scary:)
honestly I think that anyone who follows Nie would have the same reaction, I'm sure you weren't the first and probably won't be the last. I once met Amy Butler (fabric designer) who I love and fell to pieces myself, not quite crying, but just not knowing what to say except that I loved her, you just never know how you're going to react.
Omg, I totally would have acted the same way! She is such an inspiration!
you are so real. I love stephanie too. XOXO julie
Love the story. I love that you approached them with, "Are you who I think you are??" That's classic.
ha, you handled it better than i would have…i probably would of had snot running out of my nose with how much crying i would of been doing. so really pat yourself on the back for handleling it better than some of us would of! ;)
Jen,
I bet she would have loved it. She's a person too! At least that's what I tell myself when I approach stak-ees.
Senor Lugnut,
Happy to make you smile Troy. Anytime.
Laura,
Ugggg.
Extraordinary Mommy,
She's amazing right? I can't help the honesty it just spews and spews.
Sarah,
I wanted to die as soon as I got to the car. I spent the weekend thinking *what is wrong with me, why can't I keep my mouth shut?*
My Owl Barn,
Mostly just embarrassing. sigh.
The Dragonfly,
Glad my humiliation brought happiness to your rotten day. I try to be useful like that. ;)
Amy {progressive pioneer},
She's beyond lovely and totally tolerated my crazy. In fact, we're friends now so she must not have thought I was too bananas. :)
Nancy,
She's amazing, so you're right, I'm sure I won't be the last. I just hope the next person is more articulate and less shaky.
Jennifer O,
It's enough to make me never want to leave the house again. Ever.
Farmer Julie,
I just can't help it. !!!
Brooke,
I knew his name, why couldn't I just say it?! I probably couldn't remember my own name at the time. No wait, I really couldn't.
V & Co,
Oh I handled myself like a pro all right. A total moron.
How lucky are you to meet this lovely woman!!!