Operation Glitterball

Today marks kicks off Operation Glitterball: Team Awesome to Win!

We know we can rely on Ali & Brian to deliver outstanding performances.
It's up to us to deliver the votes.

Say NO to Team Awesome in the dance off!
Say YES to Team Awesome lifting that glitterball!

Vote Ali & Brian to WIN!

Please grab the code for the button below for your blog or website.
You can also right-click on the photo and save it to your computer.
Upload it to your Facebook and Twitter.
Remember to tag your tweets with #teamawesomepower!

Fortuna's Fantastics UNITE!

<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/couples/2009/ali_brian.shtml"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/marvellous_mouse/Blog/operationglitterball2-1.jpg" /></a>




<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/couples/2009/ali_brian.shtml"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/marvellous_mouse/Blog/imanff.jpg" /></a>

Fortuna's Fantastics Giveaway: Week 11

Oh, what a night!!! Oh, what a week, I should say. With Team Awesome's future uncertain, they came out Saturday all guns blazing and wowed us all!

Ali, our wonderful Ali, with ankles taped and in pain, danced her way to a well-deserved top of the leader board. No fuss, no complaints. That is a true competitor. Our fantastic Brian, outstanding partner, true friend, and amazing choreographer, supported her every step of the way. That is a true partnership.

I stand proud and say:
I am a member of Team Awesome!

I am overwhelmed with gratitude with all of you. You rallied around our team in incredible force and I am privileged to have been a part of that.

* * * *

I have a little twist to this week's giveaway: the first 10 people who comment on this post will receive a FREE Fortuna's Fantastics Wristband, as well as being entered into this week's giveaway. Now, up for grabs this week are two fabulous Fortuna's Fantastics wristbands,


plus a Team Awesome t-shirt (winner to specify size)! These shirts are only available in Brian's Cafe Press shop (and are selling for a great introductory price).


So, leave your name and comment in this post for your chance to win!

The contest closes at 11:59 p.m EST on Friday, December 4th.
The winner will be announced here on Saturday, December 5th.

*Image credit

We Have a Winner: Week 10!

Using my handy-dandy random number generator, I'm delighted to announce this weeks' Fortuna's Fantastics Giveaway winner:

LIZZI!!!!

Congratulations, Lizzi!! You've won two fantastic wristbands. Please send me your details and I'll pop them in the mail to you right away!

* * * * *

Tonight is show night and Team Awesome needs your help more than ever. With a badly injured foot, minimal rehearsal time, and a brand new dance, Ali & Brian will take to the floor and give their Charleston, as well as their group Viennese Waltz, everything they've got.

We've got to give them everything we've got, too.

Tonight, PLEASE VOTE for Ali & Brian, our TEAM AWESOME!

Ali's injury and all it's entailed should not forfeit their place in Strictly. They've worked too hard and come too far to let something like this stand in their way.

Fortuna's Fantastics Unite!
Team Awesome have the POWER!




<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/couples/2009/ali_brian.shtml"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/marvellous_mouse/Blog/imanff.jpg"/></a>

Choc-O-Swap 2009

I've had great feedback about this year's Choc-O-Swap. Mr. Friday and I LOVED our swap package! Our partner really went to great lengths to ensure we had a fabulous one!

If you have not received your swap package, please email me and let me know. If you have not sent your swap package, please let me know when you will be sending it ASAP and I'll let your partner know.

Thanks to everyone who joined the swap!
I'm planning a new swap for January 2010 and would love to have your feedback.
I will be posting a poll in December, so please leave me your ideas in this post.

Team Awesome: Calling All Fortuna's Fantastics

Team Awesome needs our help.

On Monday during training, Ali badly injured her right foot. She couldn't walk the rest of the day and could not continue training. They missed training again on Tuesday.

Yesterday, Brian joined Claudia on It Takes Two to let us know what's happening. After seeing a specialist and having an MRI, Ali has been diagnosed with severe bone bruises on both sides of her foot. Brian knows the seriousness of this injury. His distress for his dance partner and friend was clear to all. My heart went out to both of them.

Every week, Brian & Ali have delivered outstanding performances. Their Viennese Waltz made Strictly history. The night of the Paso Doble, Ali danced not one, but TWICE, with a badly injured left foot. She danced with no fuss and no complaints. That is dedication. That is determination. That is teamwork.

You have consistently delivered the votes. You have tweeted, emailed, posted, rallied, and recruited.

Please continue to support Ali & Brian.
This injury should not forfeit their place in Strictly.

Wear your Fortuna's Fanastics Wristband.
Wear your Team Awesome T-Shirt.
Wear your Fortuna's Fantastics badge.
Wear Fortuna Blue.
Tweet #teamawesomepower to spread the word.

Most importantly, please vote Team Awesome on Saturday.

Please grab the code for the button below for your blog or website.
You can also right-click on the photo and save it to your computer.
Upload it to your Facebook and Twitter. Let's get the word out.

Without Ali & Brian the light goes out of Strictly.





<a href="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/marvellous_mouse/Blog/imanff.jpg"></a>

Thank you to Carol for the beautiful Support Team Awesome photo.
Thank you to emmabtvs for the gorgeous video.

Thank you to all of the Fortuna's Fantastics who have rallied around our team and brought their unconditional love and support.

Your Support is Needed

Today, Brian went on It Takes Two by himself to let us know what's happened with Ali. She is injured, but it is neither a fracture nor a ligament tear. She's badly bruised the bones and is having a lot of difficulty moving her foot.

It broke my heart to see Brian in that interview. It broke my heart to see him do it alone.

I don't know what will happen on Saturday. I know that I trust Brian implicitly and the right thing will be done. I am hoping that the precedent set for Jade also applies to Brian and Ali, should they need it.

Thank you to everyone on the Fortuna's Fantastics thread on the BBC message boards. I am so touched, as I know Brian and Ali are, by your incredible support. Now, more than ever, Brian and Ali need that support. We know how well they're doing in Strictly and how much more they can give. Continuing to back them 110% is the best gift we can give.

Brian is the 'official' twitterer for Team Awesome. You can post your messages to them here. You can also keep posting them on this thread, as I know they are seen by them.

Hope is not lost. Team Awesome has the power to succeed. Let's give them all they need to get there.

The Young Victoria

I cannot wait to see this movie. Forget New Moon, The Young Victoria is the one I would gladly stand in line for.

Stellar cast, amazing story, and spectacular costumes and scenery. What more could you ask for?

What movie(s) are you looking forward to seeing?