10 RUNNER-UP WINNERS:

PRIZE: $20 Gift Card redeemable towards a cut and style
with one of these stylists: Nikki, Lori or Christine,
plus a complimentary consultation with Teddie

Winning Mother: Margurite DuBart
Entered by her daughter Alexandria DuBart

My Mother---BEAUTIFUL--inside and out !! She gave me the most wonderful gifts in life. When she saw I was to be attractive--she knew I should never trade on my looks so she gave me the best thing EVER--a loving heart and soul--compassion for others and the will to be helpful and useful in life. My Mother worked so hard her entire life. Life was often unkind to this gentle beautiful creature.

She has had my love and devotion and gratitude for the life she gave me and the life she led. Unfortunately she is no longer with me. She died several years back. Now I am a Mother and hope I am doing for my daughter what my Mother did for me. I know I cannot win this because my Mother is not on this earth. But I had to tell you about the most gracious --hardworking--loving woman who shaped my life. Thank you for the opportunity to honor this incredible woman!!!

(This prize will be awarded to Margurite's daughter Alexandria -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Vero Radcliff
Entered by her son Maximo Radcliff

Dear Teddie,

I am writing you to tell you about my mother and how much she would love a day at your spa. My name is Maximo Radcliff and I am only 5 months old (6 months on the 19th). This is my first attempt at writing, so excuse me if it is not perfect. My mother is from Argentina and has been in Chicago since 1999. She and my father met on the Internet and fell in love. She moved here and left her all her family and friends behind. While I am sad for her, I have to admit that I am very grateful she did.

Before I was born in November, my mother worked every day in a very crazy office full of lawyers. I remember hearing all the noise and commotion from inside her belly. She worked up to a week and a half before I was born.

My birth was not very nice either. She went to the Doctor for a check up and they admitted her and told her I had to come and visit for good. When was admitted and the doctors tried to help her make me visit. The next 24 hours did not go too well and the Doctor had to eventually help me out through her belly. After this, I had to spend a few days in the Nice CU. My Mother was there in the hospital with me. It was nice to meet her.

When we came home, she and I began to spend every moment together. She really took good care of me, feeding me and changing my diapers. My Grandparents were here for a few days after I first came to visit, but left soon after. My poor Mother is all alone during the day. She has not been able to put much time into taking care of herself. She only takes a shower every other day and has not been able to get her hair done as long as I have known her. She is a really great Mother and I am really lucky to have her, but she needs something for herself too.

Can you please help her to find herself again? I really love her and wish she could just have a little time to relax and feel pretty again. She is a wonderful woman and I know this would make her smile.

Thank you,
Maximo Radcliff

(Although we suspect this entry was written by a ghost writer,
we could not even think about disqualifying it!  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Mary Ann Gedvilas
Entered by her daughter Sara Gedvilas

My Mother is a person that thinks of others first. She has been a Registered Nurse working in with the older population for over 30 years, and has raised us with our needs and wants first over hers. I followed in Mom's footsteps and became a Nurse in 2000. I only hope I can compare to her loving skill someday.

I cannot put into words how much my mother means to me and how I would not be the person I am today without her. My parents are divorced and my father verbally beat her self esteem to nothing. She wears no makeup, doesn't go on dates, or even go out with friends. She has been on 2 -3 dates since the divorce - 13 years ago!!!! She still wants to cut her hair "short all one length, with a tight, curly perm." Please! This woman needs help!

We need to find her a date... !!! She is only 54 and looks very good for her age, and would be absolutely gorgeous with just a little makeup and hair-do. I got her a gift card once @ T.K. and she still **to this day** she raves about it!

She has never been treated to full luxury, she feels she doesn't deserve it. She deserves the sun, the moon, and the stars above and if I could I would give her everything she ever wanted to make her happy. She has always supported me and my brother in anything we did, and encouraged us when things were very low. She protected us from my fathers wrath - taking it upon herself, to spare us. I would like to fill the hole that that has created and make her feel as special and beautiful as everyone else sees her. I love my mom so very much, and I'd really like to spoil her rotten... can you help me???

(We promise to "spoil her" when she visits -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Diana Waitzman
Entered by her daughter Melissa Waitzman

There are so many reasons why my mom deserves a day at Teddies.

First, she is the most wonderful person I have ever met in my life. I am only 26 years old, but in my short lived life, I do not feel I have ever met someone as warm, caring and generous as my mom. She has raised my brothers and I to be caring individuals and has always supported us no matter what we were getting ourselves into. Because of her generosity and HUGE heart, I feel she has neglected herself throughout the years, and I feel that she deserves the world.

My mom has been working for three years with a young girl who has spina bifida, she is dedicated to helping this girl function in everyday life, and has been very successful. In addition my mom has been a wonderful caretaker to my Grandma, her mother, who is 83 years old, and my other Grandma who is 84 years old. Also, my mom successfully completed her undergraduate degree in 2000 from Roosevelt University in Psychology. I am proud to say she finished with honors and was inducted into the National Honors Fraternity, all at age 54, GO MOM!

As you can see my mom gives a lot of herself, and it is time she is rewarded.

I always think to myself that I wish Oprah Winfrey was doing a worlds greatest mom show because I know that my mom would win first prize!

My mom is truly my hero, and an Angel in disguise. If I was able to I would give her anything her heart desired. I would love for her to be able to spend a day of complete pampering at Teddy Kossof's salon. She really is an unbelievable human being. I am so proud of my mom, her accomplishments, and that she is mine, and I would love to share her sweetness with the world, and I think that Teddies would be a great place to start. I feel that there are so many other reasons why my mom deserves this day, but I think that based on what I am submitting, it should give you good insight into who my mom is, and why I am such a lucky girl and why I love her so much!

(We are impressed by your Mom's HUGE heart and we
will give her a HUGE smile when she visits  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Diane Panos
Entered by her daughter Penny Fronimos

My mother is my inspiration, mentor and idol. I would love to see her win this contest and be pampered, albeit for one day. She deserves to be treated everyday. My entry is in the form of a letter to her.

Dear Mom,

I could never truly express my appreciation for you in words. It is too deep of an admiration and love to be expressed. Even though I am married now with a child of my own I think of you everyday. When I was having problems conceiving you believed it would happen and it did.

When I worry about money you remind me that it does not buy happiness and that everything will work out and it does. When I'm tired you remind me that it is for a good reason (raising my daughter) and eventually I will get some sleep, albeit when she's 10.

When I wonder if I should spend my money on a vacation you tell me absolutely because life is too short. When I need to cancel our plans you say no problem and never, ever make me feel guilty (this is rare for most mothers I know). When I need you, you are always there.

Your love for life and your family is endless and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am who I am because of you. I hope I can make my daughter as proud of me as I am of you. I will always love you.

With All My Love,
Your Daughter
Penny

P.S. Thank you for the flowers
(Today, May 8, is my birthday and after getting off work at 6am this morning my mother came to my office to give me flowers)

(Thanks for sharing this letter to your Mom.  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Marilyn Horwitz
Entered by her daughter Hali Perlman

My mother is 69 years old and I do not believe she has ever taken time out for herself, just because. She is always there for me and her grandchildren, she will check with me first before making a doctor's appointment, just to make sure it is not a day that I or my children might need her assistance. She always thinks of others first.

I have a 9 year old who at 2 was diagnosed with a chronic disease, to help me keep my sanity while going through 3 years of treatments, my mom was always there to lend a hand. She coordinated her work and home life to help take care of my daughter and give me a much needed break. Thank goodness that is pretty much behind us.

I also have a 2 year old son, a very active son!! My mother takes care of him once a week and even meets me at the mall on other days so that I can get a haircut or get errands done.

Every time I turn around she is there ready and willing to lend a hand. For example, just last Tuesday, she needed to do some things before going out of town, I was at home with my son, he got into something and needed to go to the hospital, my mother lives in Chicago and I live in Deerfield, she dropped everything and got out here as quick as possible to help to get him there.

My mother does not only help me, she is always and has always helped everyone. Where she lives, she is the block go to.... She holds keys for unexpected lock outs, feeds animals when people are not around, drives people places who cannot get there themselves and is someone that many feel is a person that they can rely on and confide in. She does all this and never has the expectation of getting anything in return.

So for all the reasons listed above and more, that is why I think my mom deserves a day at Teddies. Thank you.

(We think she deserves a day at Teddies too.  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Chu Hays
Entered by her daughter Eileen Hays

I have learned so much from the wisdom of my mother. Though she is only 53 years young, she has experienced more hardship than most will ever experience in a lifetime.

My mother was born and raised in Cambodia in a family with 7 additional siblings. Being the second eldest child, she had to care for her younger brothers and sisters as well as her parents since she was a child. Her family grew up poor, which meant that she had very little privileges if at all.

In the late 70's, my family was caught in the civil war that brewed in Cambodia. For 5 years, they had to survive labor camps where they would work all day and night with little food to eat. They were lucky to escape, but remained fearful for their lives.

That was until she came to America. She did not even have a dime in her pocket, but still managed to become a successful business woman. It amazes me how determined she is to never go back to her old life and provide for the future of her kin.

After my mother gave birth to my older brother, she had a daughter who passed away at 3 months old. The baby was ill and there was no medicine to treat the mild symptoms. My mother was absolutely devastated for many years after until she was surprisingly blessed with another daughter (me) a decade later.

Since I was born, my mother has done nothing but love my brother and I unconditionally. She will never allow us to suffer or struggle the way she had to in the past. She instills all these lessons that she has learned from the hurdles she has had to conquer in the both of us.

My mother deserves a break from all the stuff she went through and goes through daily to ensure our happiness. I want to reciprocate it back to her because she deserves it.

(Your Mom's story is truly inspiring,
and we are delighted to give her a prize.  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Elizabeth Kang
Entered by her daughter Janet Kang

My parents had an arranged marriage. They never saw each other in person until their wedding, but communicated through letters. They came to the US in 1986 from Korea to build a better life for themselves and for my sister and me. They wanted to provide the best education.

For two years my mom has tried to balance motherhood and student life. Since her English is not fluent like mine, she has a hard time speaking to others. It has been painful to see my mom struggle when she spends most of her time trying to learn.

Whenever my mom and I go shopping, I am the one getting extra things that I do not need. She always thinks about my sister and me before herself. She has this respect for my dad that I look up to. She never argues with my dad.

She has always tried to encourage me in my studies. Sometimes I feel that she is pushing me, but it is for my own good. I know that she wants me to be secure as an adult in all aspects weather it is financial or spiritually.

I have never been able to give something special to my mom. This time I really want to surprise her. I truly believe that she deserves this because she has gone through a lot and is still going strong.

(Your Mom's strength deserved to be richly rewarded.  -Teddie)

Winning Mother: Kathy Horan
Entered by her daughter Elizabeth Horan

Kathy Horan is a great, hardworking mother. She has four children (two of which are teenage twins). She is constantly working to make our lives better. During the day she helps out at my sisters school, is a brownie troop leader and manages the house. She is also attending college to further her education.

Then after a hectic day of running around she works nights four days a week and at times does not get home from work until one in the morning. In the midst of all of this she still finds time to be with all of us. She also can find time in her busy schedule to do many little things that make all of us feel special. I really look up to her and many times I wonder how she does it - family, work, and attend college (which she gets all A's in). I am really proud of her and she deserves a day of rest. I know that because of my mother I - along with my sisters - will grow up to be wonderful, loving adults.

(It sounds like she's a great role model.  -Teddie)

Click Here for the Grand Prize Winner