My Sweet 16/Happy Christmas 2012!

On December 24th 2012 at 9:15 in the morning, I officially became 16 years old. I still can't believe it! Time has gone oh so fast, but it's been such a great year. I've met such wonderful people, performed at The Laugh Factory, took part in my first protest and my dream of meeting Gwen Stefani even came true. I have such a wonderful life here in Hollywood and I'm so happy that I'm doing well here. I am very grateful to be here, so grateful to be living.

You are probably wondering how I spent my "Sweet 16". Since my birthday is on Christmas Eve, We never did too much because of places being closed for the Holidays. But now that we live in California, for the past two years I've spent my birthdays at Disneyland. For this visit we went to the California Adventure section of Disney. I think it's my favorite because I grew up with Pixar rather than the fairy tale and princess movies. And they have a huge Ferris wheel and roller-coaster! As we were walking around, we saw a bit of the Play Parade and when Sulley from Monsters Inc and Frozone from the Incredibles saw me, they looked very excited since my blue locks matched them!!





We roamed around looking for the characters to take pictures with and we found Donald! Then over by the Roller-Coaster, we got to meet Buzz, Jesse and Woody from Toy Story, another childhood favorite of mine! I got their autographs as well. I don't know why, but for some reason, before I walk up to the characters, I can't help but to be a little nervous... I grew up watching all these movies and it's just so amazing to meet some of my childhood heroes. (I know that they're costumes, but they're real to me!!)

















We wanted to meet more of them so we went to the Wilderness Explorers' forest and met Dug and Russell from UP! When we met Dug, he was so adorable!! He was all fuzzy and he stuck his paw in my ear, hahaha! I played in the playground and then we went to go see the "Ceremony" where everyone became Senior Wilderness Explorers! I volunteered to march with a bunch of little kids to open the show. The whole thing was just too cute but when Russell came out, we were all in awe. HE WAS SO FREAKING CUTE. We took some more photos then found Minnie Mouse down the road!















The most amazing person I met there was Santa Claus. I got photos, an autograph, and he had an awesome sense of humor. I am positive that this was the real Santa. He was so amazing...







We walked around for a while and rode some rides! We went on the Monsters Inc one for about five times and the bumper cars in the A Bugs Life part and then we went into Cars Land. Unfortunately, the ride broke down and so instead, we went to the little diner to eat. Afterword, it was up and running again and since I wanted to go on it, we waited in line for literally 3 1/2 hours for nothing. The ride kept braking down and most of the people waiting in the never-ending line gave up and left. Every time they announced that they were having "technical difficulties" I began lose more and more hope. Feeling utterly exhausted, we complained to the 'Chamber Of Commerce' which wouldn't do anything for us. We called the next day and told their employees the whole situation and got free tickets! (Score!)



Before we went to Disney I received the best cake ever! It was an ice cream cake with candles that spelled out "Sweet Sixteen"! Before I could blow them out, they all melted together and they all went out from my hysterical laughing. I love this cake so much...





I opened up gifts before and after Disney. I got some makeup, magazines, postcards, new boots, a pillow that looks like an ice cream sandwich, an awesome book about Mod fashion in the 60s and this amazing dress...











Seriously. It's the best dress ever.

The next morning I walked into the living room and saw that Santa had left me a new Buzz and Woody doll from Toy Story (a huge part of my childhood). He also left a note on my stocking that said "Merry Christmas! It was very nice to meet you, Lacey!" It was so magical...





















I got so many great presents! Everything from Mod clothes and books to Japanese candy and Gwen Stefani stuff! It's hard to pick favorites when you get so many awesome things... :)

That day we just stayed home and my mom made pasta salad which was so yummy! I had such a wonderful Christmas and birthday and I hope your holidays were great too! I am very happy and grateful for living 16 amazing years and 15 years out of my bone marrow transplant. Life is precious and I'm living it well. :)

No Doubt's Seven Night Stand at the Gibson Amphitheatre/My Dream Finally Came True

For the past two weeks, I have been rather busy. I am very proud to say that I've been busy going to quite a few No Doubt shows at the Gibson Amphitheatre! We've been to five out of the seven of them!!

Night One was really exciting. Especially since it was the very beginning of their "Seven Night Stand"! For this night, we sat more towards the back of the venue. Although it seemed a little distant from the stage, I liked it because you could see what was going on on the whole stage.

When they came out, my eyes got all watery. I haven't seen them since their last tour and I was so happy to see them again. I danced and sung along until they got to their sentimental songs which I started to cry to. Their lyrics are just so powerful and from growing up listening to these songs, it brought back so many memories and so I got a bit emotional.

And I think Gwen got a little emotional, too... Right after they played the last note of Sparkle, I could've sworn I saw two tears stream down her cheeks. She's so amazing... I love how she puts so much feeling and emotion into music.

That night, when we went home, I made a video expressing my feelings for the band. I've been a fan my whole life and through their albums playing all the time, I learned what music was through them. They mean so much to me...

http://youtu.be/I4I62YhJKlU

The Second Night was even better. Originally, we only planned to go to the first and last concerts of the Seven Night Stand, but we ended up winning tickets! The seats we won were much closer and that meant we could see the band a bit better!

When they performed certain songs, it almost seemed as if Gwen kept looking at us! When she pointed at us, me and my mom were shrieking in excitement!

One of my favorite parts about the show was when they performed Looking Hot. Gwen had changed into an amazing sparkly red outfit that she was definitely "Looking Hot" in!

The Third Night was pretty rad as well. We had seats that were pretty close to the stage again! They performed perfectly, I cried again, and also... I got interviewed for their website!

When the show came to an end, she pulled some fans onstage! I was very happy for them, but as each night went by, I started to lose a little hope. It seemed like whenever I got closer, she got farther away. That night I even had this wonderful dream that she pulled me onstage and took a photo with my drawing I did of her. I woke up the next morning sadly disappointed. It was my biggest dream to meet her. I've wanted that so much...

But the night I want to focus on is Night 6: the most amazing No Doubt show I've ever been to, and also it was the best night of my life. Since LiveNation saw my video, they gave me and my mom free pit tickets! We rushed to the pit and waited and waited until our favorite band arrived.

The concert is even better if you're in pit!! When Gwen was singing, dancing and walking around, I now could tell that she WAS making eye contact with me!! They performed a few more amazing songs and after they ended New, the blonde, beautiful woman came back to our side saying "Now, there's this little girl..."

This wasn't happening.

My eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped. "Oh, my god... Oh, my god..." Was the only thing I could say. Was she talking about me?!
"She needs to get up here!"



This wasn't happening.

I started to feel a bit... Sparkly. (The sensation i have throughout my body that is a sign that i might faint.) I handed my mom what I thought was my sign and I attempted to get onto the stage myself.

"Can't you just pick her up? She's like 40 pounds!" Gwen jokingly suggested to the security guard in front of me. The man, much taller than I am, picked me up and took me to the stage. There she was.

This can't be happening.

The first thing I did was cover my mouth with my hand. She was so beautiful and I couldn't believe this was happening. I wanted to cry, but I was in so much shock, I didn't. I walked up to her and gave her a hug. "I wanted to see what you look like, you are so CUTE! Oh my god!" She pointed to my purse and said, "That is some old school Harajuku Lovers, girl!!! I felt the crowd cheering as I said "I have something for you."
















I took my sketchbook out of my purse and showed her the drawing I had been working on of her. "Aw, look at that! It's so GOOD!" I pulled out a sharpie and she baptized my drawing with her signature and a kiss. We hugged again and she smelled so good! As we parted, I bowed and blew her a kiss and she put her hand to her chest and made a motion with her hand like blowing a kiss.























I don't know how I got off stage, but when I was reunited with my mom... It was such a powerful moment. We were sobbing and sobbing... "I-I'm so happy f-for you" my mom kept saying. My mom was a huge No Doubt fan who gave birth to a huge No Doubt fan. My whole life I've admired them and it meant everything to me to have met her. Those words now sound so strange to me...

"I met Gwen Stefani"

I've been trying for so long and it finally happened. It finally happened... The next song they played was Hey You and it was almost coincidental that they performed it after I met her. I used to relate to the lyrics because I always thought that meeting her would just forever remain as a fantasy in my mind.


"Hey you with the dreams in your head, You've been so mislead by your heart's pull... I know you're waiting for your ship to come in, You anxiously wait for such a long time... Hey you with the eyes full of hope, You think you can rope your desire... I know you're waiting for your tide to roll in... How did you ever set such high hopes? ...You're just like my Ken and Barbie Doll... In a plastic world of make believe."


I no longer have to relate to that song anymore. I no longer have to feel sad anymore. Back when I went to my first concert, Gwen's Sweet Escape Tour at the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ back in 2007, I thought that that day was the greatest time in my life. Who knew that when I was crying out in the field watching the show that five years later I would be ON STAGE with this marvelous woman... Who knew that when my mom carried me in her arms singing Don't Speak as a lullaby to me that someday I would be in the arms of the wonderful woman who sang that song. Who knew...

Ugh... I am just so happy. That night was the greatest time of my life. I met my idol and I now have an even better relationship with my mother. She is the best mother I could ever have...

The last show was amazing. They played Excuse Me Mr. and Gwen pulled some more lucky fans on stage! I felt incredibly happy for them, knowing how good meeting Gwen feels. I love how much they appreciate their fans and it makes me love them even more.

I am so blessed with the honor of Night 6. So blessed!! I will treasure the signed and kissed drawing and treasure that moment for the rest of my life.

I would like to give a special thanks to LiveNation for the tickets and my mom for being the best mother ever. I love you, mommy. You are best friend and mother I could ever have...



Photo credit: Jason DeBord of Rock Subculture, Missy (I like to call this woman, "Mommy") of Miss Missy Photography, Leslie and Keith.

This is a video I made after I finally met Gwen. Please watch:

http://youtu.be/l7SlFZ9RHe8