It’s Not the Destination…It’s the Journey!

source: http://www.cbs.com

I have never been so excited for Sunday night television!  After an exciting 2-part premier of The Amazing Race I couldn’t wait to sit down and watch how our ‘now famous’ photographer Marcy and her boyfriend Ron would perform this week!  The Amazing Race is my ultimate favorite show and like everyone in the office I have been very excited to cheer on a team that is part of our ‘le•top family.’

This leg of the race was quite intense!  Starting from Ho Chin Minh City in Vietnam Marcy and Ron had to obtain their first clue from the mouth of a very fast water dragon puppet – way to go Ron for having speedy reflexes since those puppets were tricky and swift!  The clue then directed them to the Main Post Office where they had a diversion – they had to choose from “Child’s Play” or “Word Play”.  Marcy and Ron choose “Word Play”.  They quickly made their way to the observation deck of the hotel where they had the task of scanning the crowded intersection below with the goal of identifying six Vietnamese letters moving along with the very busy traffic.  They rapidly recognized the first five letters but had some trouble with the letter ‘D’ – mistaking it for an ‘O.’  They were finally able to correctly identify all the letters and then had to hurry into town and attempt to unscramble these letters to make up the word “DOCLAP” (a well known word that means independence.)  This challenging task, using only the signs around them was slow going – but they were able to get some help from a local who was quick to assist them and the word was finally unscrambled.

The next clue led them to travel a very busy intersection of Durong Vinh Vien and Durong Ly Thurong Kiet – with another clue that led them to a road block – where they were presented with their next challenge.  Ron decided to take on this next challenge.  He had to disassemble a VCR, separate all the parts, and then place them in appropriate piles in order to receive another clue.  Although Marcy and Ron were the last team to arrive after completing their task, it was a close race with the other contestants.  Marcy pulled out her “taxi” whistle and was able to flag down a cab quickly!  Good thinking Marcy – use your whistle! (If I ever get to participate on this show I have to remember to ask Marcy for that whistle!)

Unfortunately the team to step on the mat last was Marcy and Ron – so sad! They were out of the race!

“My dad always used to say, ‘You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate.’  And I think going on THE AMAZING RACE was stepping up to the plate!” said Marcy (about the end of her incredible journey!)

I had a lot of fun watching Marcy and Ron run this race – and it was very inspiring.  They worked hard as a team and finished strong. Congratulations Marcy and Ron for running a great race!  Everyone here is very proud of your achievement on this adventure!

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Oldest ‘Amazing Race’ Contestant Fit to Play

Once again we find our famous photographer Marcy Maloy in the news.  Check out this great feature on her from our very own San Francisco Chronicle!

Marcy Maloy - Photo Courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle

For her 60th birthday last fall, San Francisco photographer Marcy Maloy donned fishnet stockings and climbed a ladder that led to a waiting trapeze bar. About 100 supporters – including her 89-year-old mother, Barbara – stood below, craning their necks upward to see whether Maloy would complete a full flip, a stunt she’d practiced for three months.

“I told myself when I get older I’m not going to be one of those people who sits on the sidelines,” Maloy says. “I want to be active, in the game.”

Thanks to a vigorous exercise regimen and playful nature, Maloy is now in one of the biggest games around: She’s a competitor on CBS’ “Amazing Race,” which premiered Sunday. Along with her boyfriend, Ron Shalita, 59, the pair represents the globe-trotting show’s oldest competitors.

“By far,” Maloy said.

Before the show was taped, she did something every day to get in shape, because “I didn’t want to embarrass myself among all these young kids.” Maloy lives near Golden Gate Park, but she’s not much of a runner, so the hard-core Rocky Balboa regimen was nixed early on.

Instead, she bought a balance beam and placed it in the middle of her studio, often walking back and forth while discussing business with her assistant. The increased balance helped strengthen her core muscles, which helped during her twice-a-week kung fu classes. She also took archery lessons in Golden Gate Park and started rock climbing at Planet Granite in Crissy Field.

Marcy Maloy Balances! - Courtesy of SF Chronicle

Although she loathed running the park’s trails, Maloy speed-walked up to an hour a day to increase endurance while listening to the theme songs from “Indiana Jones” and “Wonder Woman” for inspiration. Soon she was able to complete 20 men’s-style push-ups every morning after stretching and sit-ups. After each workout with her trainer, Alyona Aikina, she hugged herself and repeated the positive mantra, “I’m so proud of myself!”

“One motivation can be fear,” Maloy said. “As you get older, you won’t be able to continue to have fun if you get too achy and stiff. And if you get too stiff your fun factor goes down, so you have to keep at it.”

During her time on “Amazing Race” – Maloy could not divulge any details on locations or how she and partner Shalita finished – she continued a morning stretching routine but was usually wiped out each night by the vigorous activities the show demands.

“I didn’t even know about the show until Ron asked me to do it,” Maloy said. “It was our third date, and he said, ‘Hey, you wanna apply for this show?’ ”

Once the couple learned they were semifinalists for a slot, Maloy said, they worked out three times a week.

For her birthday trapeze act, Maloy said she was nervous she’d bail into the net after all the training and let down her audience. But as she swung through the air, she flipped, reached forward, and caught the hands of her fellow trapeze artist.

She heard the roars of approval below.

“They called for an encore,” Maloy said. “So I gave them a couple more.”

This article has been corrected since it appeared in print editions.

This article appeared on page E – 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Article By: Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, September 28, 2009

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Eat Wasabi!!!!

Sunday night our now FAMOUS photographer, Marcy Maloy, made her debut on The Amazing Race on CBS! I had such a great time watching and rooting for someone I personally know, it added a completely new and exhilarating dimension to a show that already puts me on the edge of my seat – I loved it!

Their first challenge was participating as contestants on a fictional “Japanese Game Show” in the center of Tokyo, Japan.  Marcy chose Ron, her partner, to scarf down a “Wasabi Bomb”, a seaweed wrapped cone filled with rice and about a 1/3 cup of straight wasabi!  To proceed in the challenge he had only 2 minutes to finish the “Wasabi Bomb”, but unlike some of the other contestants, he finished the first time around!!!  WAY TO GO RON!  Once they accomplished this task Ron and Marcy had to lead their assigned crowd of fans through Tokyo. Watching Marcy lead 20 Japanese Tourists reminded me of watching her work a photo shoot – full of energy, playing her harmonica and firing out directions.  I couldn’t help but yell at her through the screen- “Run Marcy RUN!!!!!” They finished the first leg of the race in 4th place!  WAY TO GO!!!!

le•top Daisy Duck monokini from the Spring 2010 Collection

Sunday night was the season premiere, a special two hour episode, so the program continued with the second leg of The Amazing Race, which took Marcy and Ron to Vietnam!  Marcy did a remarkable job of rounding up a gaggle of lively duckies and guiding them into a pen, but we all know that this is second nature to Marcy as she is always rounding up our “little duckies” to photograph!  In light of this great accomplishment, we couldn’t help but to reveal a sneak peak of our Spring 2010 Daisy Ducks Collection!

Stay tuned for more sneak peaks of the le•top spring 2010 line and Marcy and Ron’s adventures on The Amazing Race every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m.!

In case you did see the link above check out the video here.

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WOW! Our Amazing Photographer is now a Celebrity!

Marcy Working Some Magic

Marcy Maloy, the very talented photographer that takes the amazing photos of our clothing, is now a true celebrity!  Marcy and her partner Ron are one of the couples selected for this season’s Amazing Race on CBS!  This is the 15^th season of The Amazing Race, with a huge audience and fan base. 

Marcy has been photographing le•top for over 10 years – our offices are filled with her fabulous photos!  It would be impossible to describe how Marcy works – her energy and connection to all the children is truly legendary!  Marcy is a very well known fashion photographer; she has national ad campaigns in her portfolio.  When we met Marcy we knew we were very lucky to have someone with her talent to capture the essence of the “le•top look!”  Every time we have a photo shoot I look forward to hearing about Marcy’s new adventures (trapeze lessons, hula-hoop lessons, traveling to exciting locales!)  Wow!  The next photo shoot should be enjoyable …just hearing about her ultimate adventure!

We are really excited that one of the le•top ‘team’ will be featured on this very entertaining and exciting show.  Knowing Marcy we are POSITIVE she will add enthusiasm and her own special vibe to the show! The Amazing Race season 15 premieres Sunday, September 27th 8/7c.

Marcy – we can’t wait to watch you – hope you do great!

Marcy Generating Excitement

Marcy with Three Little Cuties!

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