I’m excited to write this blog post because its good news all around and for those of you who have followed me and know my obsession with Bethenny Frankel, you will understand why this means so much to me.

There are a couple of things I’m excited to announce here: the first is that SkinnyGirl Margarita is now available to buy in Canada ($15/btl)! The other announcement is that Bethenny came to Canada and I met her (note the evidence in the photograph to your left)!

It’s kind of funny with the timing of this encounter. I had just written my last blog post on why I adore Bethenny Frankel and how she has been such an inspiration to me – both personally and professionally. Within a week of writing it, I found out that she was coming to Canada to sign bottles of her newly launched drink! Right then, I was on a mission like no other: to meet her in person and (hopefully) get her to sign one of the many Bethenny-branded items I had. Would it be her yoga DVD? One of her books I had on my shelves? Or the latest Forbes Magazine where she graced the cover? I know I couldn’t get her to sign them all, so I settled on her latest book, A Place of Yes because I started reading it at a time in my life (now) when I needed a book to provide some inspiration and because I related so much to Bethenny, so I knew it would resonate with me. Ironically enough, I have gotten to know the yoga/pilates expert who was in Bethenny’s video with her, Kristin McGee and I will be visiting her in NYC this summer and she will sign the DVD for me. I love networking particularly with smart, sincere women who have been successful building a business based on their passion.

After lining up for 30 minutes outside, Bethenny finally arrived at the liquor store on Bute/Alberni in downtown Vancouver. Now, I will be the first to admit that I can get star struck (ask any of my girlfriends, its true). There is something surreal about meeting someone in person who you only know through television or in the media and there is a side to me that didn’t think I would ever have such an opportunity. I had been watching Bethenny for a while, starting with The Real Housewives of NYC and now on her own TV shows, Bethenny Getting Married & Bethenny Ever After. But the TV shows are just one element to the whole brand. Like I mentioned in my last post, as a business woman, she is one tough cookie but very smart. She built a brand from nothing all by herself, and didn’t let the critics stop her. When Beam Global Spirits & Wine came along and acquired her SkinnyGirl Margarita drink, Bethenny said 2 years ago none of the big liquor brands were interested in a low-cal, all natural margarita drink because they didn’t think it would sell. All these companies were being run by men who didn’t realize there was a need in the market for such a drink targeted towards women. Boy were they wrong. Through hard work, dedicated, tenacity and well, balls, she didn’t take no for an answer and kept going for her dreams. 2 years and $100 million dollars later, SkinnyGirl is now available across North America and is flying off the shelves quicker than you can say “holy margarita balls!”

As I moved up in the line and approached Bethenny, my heart was pounding because (a) I couldn’t believe I was in her presence and (b) I had no clue what the hell to say without sounding like a total idiot! I had so much to tell her but in reality, at signings like these, you gotta keep the line moving because you are 1 of 200 people trying to accomplish the same thing, and I knew Bethenny was onto city #3 of her cross country tour. How does the girl do it?! Also, I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring her a little gift so I brought along 2 of my books that I wrote with the Smart Cookies and cute Smart Cookie t-shirt. A female entrepreneur isn’t a success without a little shameless self-promotion, am I not right?!

All in all, she was an absolute delight even if I did only get to meet her for all of 60 seconds. For all the long days, flights from coast to coast, sleeping in hotels, being away from her family, and signings she has had to do, she seemed genuinely happy to be there because if there is one thing Bethenny isn’t is selfish. She is fully aware that she would not be where she is without the support of her true fans and she was every bit the lady I thought she would be. Genunine, sincere with a big smile on her face.

Thank you for making my Saturday Bethenny. Let’s hope we meet again.