Greetings from Keystone!

Greetings from the Keystone Conference! As I write this article, it is Saturday, March 22, and I’m in my room at the Harrisburg Hilton. I’m getting ready for —and looking forward to — the big Gala Dinner tonight! But I’m actually here to tell you about all the fun things that happened on Friday at the conference.

After a wonderful lunch, CDH held our annual Keystone Meet-Up. I swear, we had more CDH members per square inch in that room than at any time in our site’s history! Literally dozens of our lovely ladies were there, and everyone looked fabulous! Many were first time attendees — including myself! It was so overwhelming seeing people I have known for years — and meeting them for the first time! What a thrill!

Kelly Rhoads was our Mistress of Ceremonies. She started off by reading a welcome message, written by our founder herself, Vanessa Law. Here’s an excerpt:

Ladies, welcome to the Crossdresser Heaven get together at Keystone … A conference is a special time. A time to express yourself, make friends and build memories that last a lifetime. And as much as the world has changed, one thing hasn’t — the courage it takes to live an authentic life, to be who you are even if it’s met with disapproval by society. Each of you has shown the strength to be graceful. The fortitude to let your beauty shine. And the boldness to step elegantly into the world.

Following this, we had an award ceremony, where some of our staff received medals. Yes, my friends, CDH has medals! The “Guardian of Our Gals” medals (see photo). Starting last year at Keystone, we awarded medals to some of our moderators in attendance. Those who work so tirelessly behind the scenes to make CDH a safe and secure place. Here is a little more from Vanessa’s welcoming message:

Today there are many Crossdresser Heaven Ambassadors here with you. These are special ladies who volunteer their time to keep our community safe and welcoming. They help members new and old feel that our home is also their home. As you know, keeping a good home also involves less glamorous tasks, such as cleaning the dishes and taking out the trash. While you may not always see it, each of these wonderful ladies — and especially those earning medals tonight — have taken on these tasks to keep Crossdresser Heaven a place we are all proud to call a home.

This year I presented medals to Fran LaRosa and Kimmie for their work in Media. Melodee awarded a medal to Patty Williams for her work in Chat.

And the best thing about this Medal Ceremony? None of the recipients knew ahead of time that they were going to receive medals!

Surprise!

Immediately following the meet-up, CDH hosted a workshop: Tips for a More Feminine Appearance with Your Sisters from CDH. The participants were Alex Kline, Kelly Rhoads, and Trixie Valentine (see photo). And I have to tell you, I attended this workshop simply with the intent of writing this article about it. But I wound up learning a lot!

Alex talked about shapewear. I found her discussion of the use of adhesive in breast forms to be enlightening. She also took a deep dive into the basics of press-on nails. I don’t use them myself, but after hearing her talk about their advantages, I might give them a try!

Kelly talked about wigs, including the pros and cons of synthetic versus real hair. Plus a useful discussion of how to clean your wigs. Kelly also discussed accessories, and gave what I think was the most useful bit of advice at the workshop: the use of magnets to open and close necklaces. No more fumbling with those teeny tiny clamps and hooks!

Trixie talked about makeup, and it was eye-opening! She discussed makeup fundamentals I had never heard of. Things like primer, color-corrector, and setting spray. But what really opened my eyes was her advice to just go to makeup salespeople and simply ask for help — even in male mode — and how friendly and helpful they will be answering your questions and showing you what to do. Trixie also gave a tutorial on posture, movement, and confidence. I know full well that, regardless of how feminine you look, if you walk and gesture like a man, it’s a dead giveaway. Trixie didn’t just give great advice on all of this. She walked the walk. I mean … literally. She demonstrated the right and wrong way to walk as a woman right there in front of us.

Overall, it was a lively workshop, and the best part is that everyone was engaged. Not only did attendees ask important questions, but many of the audience members also provided their own useful tips. Truly, it was an event that was as fun as it was informative.

So that’s my report on a very vibrant and thrilling Friday at Keystone. Honestly, and I say this without exaggeration, it was one of the best days of my life.

Now, if you excuse me, I need to get ready for the big Gala Dinner tonight.

Where did I put my nail polish? …