Rebecca Walker

Forget the laundry and errands the weekend of April 13 and 14.
Grab a friend, mother, sister or daughter, head to the Gulf Coast Women’s Expo at the Pensacola Civic Center and immerse yourself in everything women love: laughter, learning, shopping, pampering, sampling, wine tasting and just having fun.

The focus of the two-day event — presented by the Pensacola News Journal, PNJ.com, Baptist Health Care and Norwalk — is total wellness from health, home and family, to personal finances. More than 120 businesses, organizations and practitioners will display products and services all geared to inspiring and enhancing the lives of women.

“The expo is a perfect place to expose Norwalk to women who want to learn about things that are important to them,’’ said Michelle Spencer, owner of Norwalk of Pensacola on 12th Avenue.

“I wanted to do the show because there are so many women out there who don’t realize how easy it can be to decorate their homes,’’ she said. “I wanted to show them that at Norwalk, we make it very easy to decorate, and it’s fun and interesting and something they don’t have to be afraid of.’’

Some lucky lady who registers for Norwalk’s hourly drawings will take home roughly $15,000 worth of furniture that is covered in an amazingly durable material called Sunbrella. Other winners will take home all sorts of home accessories and accent pieces.

The expo — sponsored by Bella, Gulf Power, Wachovia, WXBM 102.7, Soft Rock 94, Cox Communications and Pensacola Civic Center — is the brainchild of Kevin Doyle, publisher of the Pensacola News Journal. He organized a similar event while at his previous paper in Oshkosh, Wis.

“It was quite successful there, and Kevin said, ‘Let’s make it happen here,’ ’’ said Patricia Anderson-Colip, operations and special projects manager at the Pensacola News Journal.

“As we moved ahead organizing it, it has been so much fun and very much embraced by the community.’’
So many things will be going on at the expo, that attendees will have a difficult time doing everything, Anderson-Colip said.

For example, nine nationally acclaimed speakers jumped at the chance to be a part of expo. Among them:

-- Rebecca Walker, author and well-known speaker on issues of race, gender and human awareness. Speaking Friday and Saturday.

-- Kim Alexis, supermodel and fitness guru. Friday only.

-- Lt. J.G. Meagan Varley, one of the final four pilots to be selected for the F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot program. Friday and Saturday.

-- Leslie Sbrocco, a national wine expert and award-winning TV host and author. Saturday only.

-- Joe Ruggiero, host of HGTV’s “Homes Across America.” Friday and Saturday.

-- Eldred B. Taylor, M.D., known as “The Hormone Doctor,’’ is a nationally known expert in diagnosing and treating hormonal imbalances. Friday and Saturday.

There are plenty of local shinning female stars supporting the event, too and they include Carol Carlan, West Florida president of Wachovia Bank; and Susan Story, Gulf Power Co. president and CEO.

“Their support shows that our community has a lot of powerful women, and that this is an event whose time has come,’’ Anderson-Colip said. “It’s going to be a huge success.’’

JUGGLING, ADVICE AND BEAUTY SECRETS …
Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get to sample at the expo:

• Juggling for mind, body and spirit. Gulf Breeze resident Heather Wolf, a member of the International Juggler’s Association and owner of Focus Pocus Juggle, teaches juggling as a means to release stress, burn calories, meditate and expand your brain power. Catch her class at 2 p.m. Saturday.
•  Check in on your health with health screenings by Baptist Healthcare.
• Connie Williams, a certified yoga instructor and director of the Center for Pranic Healing and Wellness in Gulf Breeze, will teach classes on office yoga.
• Financial seminars hosted by Wachovia bank.
• Hair demonstrations by Experience Salon.
• Sample beautiful fruit bouquets by Edible Arrangements.
• Get organized by California Closets.
• Book parties with Pampered Chef, Southern Living, Mary Kay and Passion Parties.
• Learn beauty secrets with Portofino Medical Spa and Still Waters Medical Day Spa.
• Get a pucker that never fades with Lip Sense.
• Get healthy with Pharmanex natural products.
• Discover how to step out in style during Fashion Connections runway show.
• And, so much more.