I Bought Myself a Cameo for My Birthday - And No, I Haven't Watched it Yet...
I’m alone in my car, waiting to pick up my daughter from musical theater class. Any mother knows that sometimes, sitting alone in your car, just waiting, can feel like the loneliest place in the world. Other times, it’s a sanctuary.
Right now, at 3:30 on a hectic Wednesday, as the sun starts to dip and my body begs for a giant glass of water and an early bedtime - it feels like a mix of both. Lonely, yet gratifyingly quiet.
There's nothing like the soundproofing in a car, amiright, moms?
This little phone booth of sorts is about to be bombarded with chaos.
Aka, my four-year-old, excited to see me.
I guess chaos is the wrong word. Maybe sparkles or glitter or a thousand butterflies being let go into a perfect blue sky would be a better metaphor for the joy and beauty my daughter brings to my life, even when she’s bringing chaos to my quiet sanctuary car.
But anyway.
I think the loneliness today is coming from the little moments - snippets of conversations or things that did or didn’t happen. The kind of small stuff that somehow still manages to burrow under my skin.
As you guys may or may not know, I’m turning 44 tomorrow. But I still feel like a teenager socially sometimes.
Even after years of blogging, I still have thin skin. I am sensitive. An empath. I am endlessly fragile - more so than most people. And the day, normal or not, always seems to eat away at me. I ruminate and overanalyze. But sometimes, that sensitivity is a gift. If it’s good stuff, I glow extra bright. Gratitude runs deep. I'm good at noticing the good. But if it’s hard stuff, it makes me feel heavy.
And as I sit in my car, a little ding pops on my phone. "Your video is READY!" Eeeks.
The Birthday Gift I Bought Myself
For my birthday, I might buy myself a new pair of jeans - the fancy kind. Mother, Frame or Paige - not sure. And a casual facial is on my schedule.
But the gift I’m most excited about?
Something a little different.
I bought myself a Cameo.
Cameo Videos: The Perfect Gift for Yourself
If you don’t know what that is, Cameo is a website where you can pay celebrities - big and small - to send you personalized messages. Yes, it sounds like something straight out of Tiger Beat (that’s a 1990s reference for all you Gen Zers). Cameo kinda feels like one of those ads from the back of a teen magazine - “Send fan mail here and get a shiny, fake-autographed photo!”
But it’s actually kind of amazing. And no, this is not a sponsored post.
Elise Myers on Cameo - My First Cameo Experience
The first time I ever used Cameo was for Elise Myers. If you don’t know her, she’s the Taco Bell girl. The “Thank you for asking, I would love to tell you…” girl too. The Taco Bell date story is how I found her and fell in love with her content.
Back then, I had no idea what Cameo really was, but I saw that Elise had one, and I thought - why not? I sent her a message telling her how much I loved her work. That I was feeling like I was failing at being a mom because I couldn’t juggle my career alongside it. I wanted to connect with her because I knew she also just had her first baby and was navigating that same intersection of creativity and motherhood.
Elise’s response was beautiful. She was tearing up as she spoke about motherhood, and it was so warming to hear. She told me that me, just thinking about this, asking, worrying, just caring so much about being a good mom, meant I already was one.
It was such a simple message, but it meant so much.
After that, I started to see Cameo differently. It wasn’t just a fun novelty - it was a real way to connect with people I admired.
Mr. Puppypaws on Cameo - A Birthday Surprise for Rosalie
Not long after that, I decided to use Cameo again - this time for my daughter.
For her birthday, I had James Monroe Iglehart, the voice of Mr. Puppypaws from SuperKitties, a show she was OBSESSED with at the time (and still loves), record a birthday message for Rosalie. If you don’t know, Iglehart is a Broadway star (he played Genie in Aladdin on Broadway!) and he absolutely nailed the message. It was the best thing ever.
Rosalie loved it so much, and I loved seeing how much joy it brought her.
So yeah, as cheesy and corny as Cameo sounds - getting a celebrity or artist to send you a message - it’s actually really special. For kids of all ages.
Why Does Celebrity Status Matter, Though???
So why would anyone care what a celebrity has to say - versus a close friend or even a therapist? Well, some people truly don’t care. And that’s fine.
But I’ve always been fascinated by the power of celebrity. It’s not just luck that brings these people into our cultural zeitgeist. They create something - whether it’s art, music, storytelling, or a persona - that resonates. Their voice, their presence, their work has shaped pop culture in some way.
And when someone like that acknowledges you personally, even just for a second? That’s kind of magical.
The Cameo Sitting in My Inbox
So for my birthday this year, I hopped on Cameo and sent a request to one of my favorite people on the planet.
The amazing. The sparkly. The incredibly sensitive and authentic and vulnerable - JVN. Jonathan Van Ness. JVN on Instagram.
And I have to tell you guys… I have the video in my inbox right now.
And I haven’t watched it.
I’m just picturing them saying, “Hello, Kathy!” in their sparkly, magical, sweet, kind voice, and I just… get really embarrassed. Like, I don’t even want to watch it. That’s how it always goes with this sort of thing. I just feel so stupid.
But writing this? It’s reminding me that it’s not stupid.
It’s cool. It's inspiring. It's fuel for life.
Why This Gift Matters
I think sometimes, when you admire someone from afar - someone whose voice, or kindness, or presence has meant something to you, it can feel surreal to have them say your name. To speak directly to you.
There are so many ways JVN has inspired me. The way they are endlessly kind on Queer Eye. The way they live their truth so fearlessly.
The only thing I watched all winter break? Queer Eye Vegas. It was the soulful mood boost I craved.
I love them so much.
So. That was my birthday present to myself, and I wanted to share it with you guys.
And no, I still haven’t listened to it. But when I do, I know I’m going to get a huge smile on my face.
HOT TIP: I never make my Cameos public. You have the option of posting them on their public profile, which I’m sure they love. But I wanted it to be just for me.
My Advice for You
If you have a birthday coming up - or anything worth celebrating - definitely check out Cameo. I am a LOW KEY birthday lover, and this little tech wonder of a gift was a perfect add on for my day. Cameo and a spa day? Kind of the perfect combo.
Oh, and maybe a new fancy pair of jeans.
HBD 2 ME. PS: TY JVN, ILYSM, LUV, K
