A Perfect Day Wedding Planning + Coordination

06/28/2022

Things that are frustrating me today:

1- chemo side effects when there’s a good chance this chemo may not be working. Here you can see how red my face and chest are due to “chemo flush” and I’m still to expect nausea, fatigue, and other fun stuff in a few days. If the chemo were working, I wouldn’t mind, but since there’s a high probability it’s not, it’s frustrating.

2- when fake insta accounts get created with your name and a photo of you and YOUR KIDS. Like come on bro, keep my babies out of it or I will go mama bear so bad on your ass.

3- when this as***le scammer takes said fake account and takes advantage of the kindhearted people who are supporting me through my cancer journey.

PLEASE REPORT THIS ACCOUNT ASAP FOR ME. I WOULD HATE FOR ANYONE TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHILE THIS SCUMBAG IS USING MY TERMINAL ILLNESS AS A MEANS TO SCAM PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY.

04/22/2022

From the Suites at
to the Chemo Chair at
to amazing NYR vs. NYI
to the blood transfusion chair at St Francis Cancer Institute
to enjoying the spring florals outside my chair at

I’ve seen a lot of things and felt a lot of feelings in just 4 days. But I’m very grateful to be able to get around and experience all the ups and downs life has to offer with such rapid speed. Highest highs counteracted with some kinda low lows (even though those lows give me more time for those high moments … so can’t reeeeallly complain!).

Tomorrow I get to sit in the baseball mom chair, and then the hockey mom chair.

Lots of different views to be grateful for - try to enjoy them as they happen instead of rushing through life’s more monotonous moments :) it’s worth it, I promise!

04/22/2022

I love when there are reminders of who the f**k I am right there on the wall! As a person who is anxious by nature, but not nervous about my treatments and surgeries and such, today I was a bit shaky. I know it is just because I haven’t ever gotten a blood transfusion before, and firsts are scary, yo! But I’m about an hour in and feeling fine. About to put some meditation on my Bluetooth eye mask while mom sees her cousin for lunch, and let these next 4-5 hours go by. Thanks for always supporting and loving me, and listening to what I have to say along the way!

04/11/2022

So my amazing Palliative Care doctor asked me what my hobbies are…like, what do I do for FUN. And I rattled off…

Well, I obviously have stage 4 cancer so ya know…I’m busy with all the appts and treatments and procedures and side effects that go along with that.

My wedding planning business takes up a lot of time, and I love that.

My two kids command a lot of attention and I love them more than anything.

My Husband is a cop so managing his schedule and everything takes a lot of time.

The kids sports schedules take up at least 6 days a week in practices, games, clinics, and private lessons.

I’m writing articles about MBC for and raising money and awareness of MBC through

And she said… yes but which of these is not a responsibility of yours? Where is your hobby? Something just for you?

And I realized, well s**t. I don’t have anything that I do for me that brings me joy.

So she suggested I try painting or reading. Or maybe knitting.

I actually LAUGHED at knitting. But then I saw a chunky blanket and thought, well that’s kinda cool I guess. Like . So I ordered some colored yarn, watched a few Tik Toks and 2 hours later, Luca and Millie found their favorite new blanket.

And now I can officially say I have a hobby!

That being said, anyone know where I can get inexpensive chunky chenille yarn for my new hobby?

04/02/2022

Today, it was predicted that the Northern Lights were to be more visible over NYC than they have been in over 40 years. So, per my new “seize this moment, bc this moment’s all we’ve got” mentality, I dropped the kids at my parents, picked up from work, and drove into LIC for a late night date night with a view of the city, and then we parked by the Queensboro Bridge to try and catch a glimpse. Unfortunately, the cloud coverage made it impossible to see. Alas, tonight was definitely one for the books. A memory we wouldn’t have normally made if it weren’t my new life’s mission to capture every moment come hell or high water. Wasn’t feeling my best thanks to this week’s chemo and the meds to boost my immune system, but I did it anyway. We did it anyway. Thanks for going along with my crazy ideas, Babe. My Partner-in-Crime ‘til my last breath.

01/28/2022

Holed up in bed this Friday morning after what appears to be a successful 6-hour right hepatic lobe procedure (which just means - entire right side of the liver) TACE (trans-arterial chemotherapy embolization) + dominant tumor microwave ablation + liver biopsy. Feeling okay. In pain for sure. Uncomfortable for sure. But can I handle it? Suuuure can! The doc said he went hard. Aggressive. He said he did it bc he knew I could handle the pain for a week or so, and bc he really feels it will make a huge difference in my overall survival. And THAT is what matters. Not this pain today. But instead, how many tomorrow’s I have with my boys, husband, parents, brother, friends, and all of you!

So for all those checking on me; thank you. I am OKAY. I’ll make it through. Prayers now are asked for in the words that this procedure worked. That it killed the tumors. That my body becomes less cancery. That the cancer hasn’t been spreading since being off treatment. And that today’s pain will give me more tomorrow’s.

11/30/2021

Leading up to today… all I could muster inside my head was “I canNOT believe I have to do chemo again.”

Like… I knew I would have to do the hard-hitting IV chemo again eventually (stage 4 life, am I rite?) but did not expect it to be this soon. I had a plan and it did NOT include this for many years!!

But once again, this always planning, hater of the unknown, non-spontaneous, unsure-of-what-she-believes-in woman is reminded again that plans are nice…but some things are just above our pay grades.

When I walked into the infusion center today, I saw the same chemo nurse who was by my side throughout my early stage chemo regimen. Yesterday, she saw my name on the infusion center list for today and (now that she has been promoted to the boss!!!! Most deserved!!!!) she made it clear that she was to be at my cancer center every Tuesday that I will be here. She has again gone way above and beyond the call of duty.

But that act right there brought back my fighter mentality. I survived the toughest chemo with minimal side effects (go ahead, Google “strongest chemo ever” Or something like that… 20 bucks says “doxorubicin” aka Adriamycin, aka red devil will pop up) so I can do this too!

It allowed me to be at enough peace to breathe and surrender. Because, as I am reminded again and again, throughly all the horrible hands I’ve been dealt… some things are in our hands (self-advocating to the nurses to ensure I get in for chemo ASAP when there were delays)…and other things are not (having chemo on the exact right day to have Bernadette by my side).

When I switched my mindset and focused on the good… things started to shift, internally and externally.

I was able to chat briefly with another young woman going through my past chemo routine, and share tips and tricks that helped me back in the day. I was able to give and receive love. I was able to see bravery. I was able to feel gratitude. And as much as Matt is a pain in my ass, forcing water down my throat so I stay hydrated… I was able to experience the physical transformation of our spoken vows from 11 years ago - in sickness and health. He has never left my side, and I know he never will.

11/19/2021

Another one of my favorite alumni sharing ‘get well’ and ‘f*ck cancer’ wishes with ya girl.

Thank you, Dominic Moore, and

Major thanks to and the for calling in this personal favor for me! ❤️🤍💙

**kcancer

10/20/2021

In just about 7 hours, I will be walking the runway with my FU***NG AMAZING Oncologist, . I’m the 3 years I’ve been under her care, I have felt supported, hardly felt like a crazy person, and most importantly, heard and treated like a human being trying to do everything to save her own life.

TV interviews don’t scare me. Runways scare me lol. So walking the runway with her is so symbolic of us taking the steps together to go through the scariest thing I’ll ever face.

Thank you, Dr. Nouri, for so many things, but today…thank you for taking the physical steps forward with me.

Thank you, for making this happen, for dressing me in what will be the most amazing pair of shoes, for allowing me the opportunity to show off your amazing items, too, and for providing the most unreal backdrop for this all to happen.

10/20/2021

Spreading awareness about to whomever will listen. This time, it was the amazing at .

Please, please, please spread then word that . My life literally depends on it!

To see my full story with ABC 7 news, copy and paste the following link —

https://abc7ny.com/health/mom-living-with-metastatic-breast-cancer-shares-struggles-of-disease/11144011/

And please check the link in my bio to join my fight and donate to !!

10/17/2021

I put a spell on you……

Popped our drag brunch cherry today! Thank you .nyc

10/16/2021

Now this is an album cover if I’ve ever seen one!

Tonight, my amazingly talented cousin + my badass rocker friend from forever created this amazing piece of art to help me share my story, and bring awareness to Metastatic Breast Cancer!

Stay tuned….

10/14/2021

No other way to say it.

10/13/2021

10/13/2021

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

In a time where breast cancer is at the forefront of our minds, but METASTATIC breast cancer hardly ever is invited to the conversation, it’s time to shift our focus to those early detection could not save.

The old. The young. The too-often forgotten. The terminal. The “too far gone to help”.

I am here to say I am NOT too far gone for help. For funding. Research.

I am here to SHOUT that I will not let you forget about me. About my community of men and women.

I fight for my life, the lives of those who fight with me, the life’s of those who battled until their bodies could battle no more.

I fight. I scream. I educate. I share my personal and intimate details to raise awareness of this life I did not choose.

Fight with me, will you? Shout it from the rooftops. More medicines are WITHIN REACH.

Can you feel it?

REACH with me.

And please, check out the link in my bio to donate to , where 100% of your hard earned dollars go directly toward SAVING LIVES LIKE MINE.

07/03/2021

Oh my god!! This is SO beautiful.

Amanda from Live Well Paint Often is, in a word - brilliant. Erica Anne’s wedding was captured so perfectly, with the amazing touch of adding her late father in the painting, (sitting at the table, watching his beautiful girl on her big day)

The romantic glow in the room was so inspiring to paint! 💓

Recently delivered this piece to an incredible couple!

Created live on site and added the finishing touches in the studio!

Loved working with 💓

05/21/2021

Clients — Friends — Family. We love you both and are so honored to have played such a big part in your journey from I Will...to I Do...to I Still Do and Always Will!!! Erica Anne

03/12/2021

Running around planning an amazing surprise elopement for this Sunday and the chemo curls are in FULL EFFECT!!!

02/24/2021

Friends and family —

If anyone wonders why I vehemently refer Barattini Productions to EVERYONE I know, — family, friends, clients, potential clients, people I meet in the grocery store — this is why.

Not because they have MY back. But because they will have YOUR back on the journey to your wedding day.

It starts at the top with Kevin Barattini. The hardest damn worker I know. A passionate business owner. A true family man.

He busts his ass to ensure everyone on his team holds that quality and then some.

His company is the best at what they do, not simply because of what they do, but WHO THEY ARE.

Good . Human . Beings

I would never have this beautiful, amazing, successful business without you, Kev. Each and every client that comes to A Perfect Day does so without seeing a beautifully curated social media... they come to me bc they have learned —through word of mouth — that I just simply love what I do, and I will give them every ounce of what I have and then some. You taught me to believe in myself, and when I couldn’t, when I wasn’t sure anyone believed in me - I always knew you did.

You were one of the first people I told that “I was going to be diagnosed with cancer in a few days”...and you told me without concern that I was going to be okay bc you knew who the f**k I was.

And I am okay. Even though, now the cancer is incurable, and my fight is for life.

I truly have no idea how or when my story will end. But I’ll tell you this....

Because of you and Barattini productions, I have lived a life for the past 7 years filled with love and happiness, and even better, on my own terms.

I have had time to build my family, spend time with my children, meet the most amazing people and become a part of their families.

Simply put, I’ve been given the opportunity to affect people’s lives in the most positive way.

I have built a legacy I can be proud of. And I know that I did it with all the authenticity in the world, because you told me that I never had to be anything but me - OCD, slightly too hyper, F***y packs and all.

There is SO much left of this story to tell. And I want to be the one to tell it.

So I will fight. Oh man, will I f**king fight.

02/17/2021

Today may be “Random acts of Kindness” Day... but I think we all need to be doing this sort of thing on the regular.

I’ll share a story -

Last week, I preordered a pretzel bouquet as a special Valentine’s treat for my boys (thanks, ). When I went to pick up at , there was a line about 10 people deep, and the lady behind me was telling me how her kids don’t eat candy but love these pretzels. She didn’t know about the preorder, and hoped they would have some heart shaped pretzels left when she got to the counter (spoiler alert, they didn’t).

When I took some pretzels out of my bouquet to give the employee to wrap for her to take home, she was shocked. Tried to pay me for them. Obviously told her no and to just enjoy the day with her family.

She said she promised to pay the kindness forward and hoped that sometime soon, someone would pay it forward to me.

And as I was getting in my car, I smiled and told her “oh they already have. And this is me continuing the pattern”

As my fam and I were eating the pretzels later that day, I couldn’t help but think how giving up a few didn’t affect my life all that much, but really made a positive difference in hers.

And that’s what it’s all about. Doing for others no matter what the ripple effect is for you.

So buy the person in line behind you their coffee, or let them jump in front of you at the grocery store...share your abundance (whether in dollars or pretzels 🥨) with those who need.

And do it every day - not just today.

💕 take it from a girl who looks at life a very different way these days. THIS is what really matters. THIS is what changes our world.
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