I’ve been enjoying all the pictures friends are posting on social media featuring beautiful fall foliage, the leaves ablaze with red, orange and gold.  The screen grabs of weather apps proclaiming cooler temperatures is admittedly a foreign concept to me.  I do love fall in Florida.  The children and I go to the pumpkin patch and choose the perfect pumpkin.  Their Halloween costumes have been planned for months, but I have been known to procrastinate and scramble to put together a costume at the last minute.

I have mentioned in previous posts that I moonlight in PR, and one client that is especially fun to work with is Goodwill of Northeast Florida.  Goodwill is a non-profit organization that accepts donations of clothing, shoes, books, and housewares.  The money generated from the sale of those items in their stores helps people with disabilities and special needs receive job training and meaningful employment.  For more information, go to www.goodwilljax.org.

In October, they showcase Halloween costumes that have been purchased at the Goodwill store.  These costumes are purchased for a maximum of $10, and purchased at the last minute.  Several lucky models appear on a live morning television segment to show off the creations.  I am one of those lucky models when my schedule permits.

In a blog post written in June, I promised to share the story of how I accidentally flashed Jacksonville viewers.  October 2014, I dutifully reported to the television studio “bare faced” at my call time of 7:00 a.m.  Goodwill teams up with make-up artist Jay Woodley to complete the looks the stylist has shopped for at the store. I was dressed as a princess inspired by the Disney movie Frozen.

Jay applied “ice crystals” to my face, shoulders, and hands.

“What are those?” I asked.

He said, “You know when you buy a new pair of shoes or a new purse, and they have the little packets that say Do Not Eat, I opened the packets.”

“Ah ha!”

I’ll be honest, my strapless dress was too big, but all parties involved felt it was the best look.  We decided I wouldn’t be shot from the back.  I was also wearing heels 3 sizes too big.

We shot the segment outside that particular morning.  The camera man announced, “The bump shot is in three or four minutes.”  According to Wikipedia, the bump shot or bumper shot is an element that acts as a transition to or from commercial breaks.  I was prepared to smile and wave for the camera as they teased the Halloween for Less segment.  Thinking I had time, in an attempt to avoid a wardrobe malfunction, I turned to the side, facing the mirrored windows of the station.  I bent over, and was doing a shimmy of sorts, my upper arms pressed to my side, pushing up and together…well…the “girls”, while at the same time pulling up the top of the dress with my hands.  I heard startled voices.  I wouldn’t have wanted to be the person on the other end of the camera man’s headphones.  I don’t know exactly what he said, I just knew that based on his tone, something was amiss.  When I realized what had been captured for the bump shot, I couldn’t help but ask, “What was on camera? I know what I was doing.”  I was immediately reassured with, “Don’t worry about it.  It was fine.  It was fine.” Okaaayyy…the show must go on.   For your viewing pleasure, here is the link to the actual segment below.  My part starts about 50 seconds into the clip.

www.news4jax.com/news/morning-show/more-goodwill-costume-inspiration

Just to review, I flashed the audience before the segment aired.  Please be kind when you watch, although I realize I won’t be quitting my day job to pursue a career in television.  I teach preschool, and after the segment, I drove to my four-year old classroom to surprise my students with a visit from “Elsa”.  Some were convinced that I was Elsa, and some were quick to declare, “That’s just Mrs. McAfee in a wig!”  The look on their faces was priceless.

On a side note, for my Outlander, Sam Heughan fans that read my blog, this appearance inspired me to work out.  In my opinion, my look was more like Elsa from the future where she’s found her true love, gotten married, and is expecting the royal heir of Arendelle.  My Peak Challenge was unveiled the January after this appearance.  I signed up as soon as I could.

I haven’t dressed as a character from Outlander for Goodwill, but I dressed as Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones in October of 2013.  Jay Woodley applied fantastic wound make-up for the realistic Red Wedding look from the show.  The process took about 45 minutes to complete.

I don’t have a video link for that segment, but I did receive some interesting and some nice feedback, “Jenny, your knife skills?” and “I like the way you stayed in character for the whole segment.”

At the time, I hadn’t seen Game of Thrones, but based on the summary I was given, Catelyn wouldn’t be acting happy about the decision she made.  I’m now caught up on all six seasons of Game of Thrones.

I did not go to my classroom after this segment.  I drove home, and immediately took a shower. The red water droplets scattered on the tiles looked like something out of the movie Psycho.  I knew the blood wasn’t real, but it was disconcerting none the less.

Jay Woodley is on Facebook at Woodley Special Effects LLC, https://www.facebook.com/woodleyspecialeffects/. There is still time to go see him to bring your Halloween ideas to life.  Check out his schedule on his Facebook page.

I am dressing as a monkey for the Halloween Parties in my Preschool classroom.  Sadly, I will be in the classroom when the Goodwill Halloween segment for 2016 airs.  I need to figure out where to wear this pirate outfit though.  Hurricane Matthew swirled too close to Savannah for me to go to the Outlandish Gathering this month.

Please share photos of your Halloween creations with me.  Thank you so much for reading!

Jenny Mc

Jenny Mc @jennymcinspired – Twitter

Jennifer McAfee – Facebook

inspiredbyoutlander@gmail.com