15 Things That All Event Managers Know To Be True - from Buzzfeed

#15 rings the most true to me - There is nothing like a happy client after all is said & done. My job isn't as "fun" & "glamorous" as people may think but being happy doing what you love is worth all the bad weather forecast stress, ridiculous food "allergy" requests, "amazing" ideas that will never be logistically possible and 20 hour days (followed by months, if not a year of calls & emails).

15 Things That All Event Managers Know To Be True

#TuesdayBoozeday: Sparkle Lounge and the Food & Wine Festival

This year I was graciously invited to The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center's  Sparkle Lounge, a showcase event for the venue. This year's Winter Lodge theme was beautifully executed. I had a blast at Booth-o-Rama's photo booth, drinking champagne, eating s'mores and hanging out with a whole bunch of super fun event industry friends. The event was originally supposed to be on Thursday, Feb. 13th but due to the snow storm actually took place on Valentine's Day and it really was a great way to spend the day as a single girl. Did I mention the event turned into the kick-off for the Washington DC International Food & Wine Festival? Oh yes. :)

Here are some pictures from the event!

Weekly Recap: What Made Me Happy This Week Feb. 14-20

I had such a great (though exhausting) week! Here's what put a smile on my face!

•  Celebrating Valentines Day with one of my best girlfriends: Valentine's Day gets a bad rap from single people. No need to sit and whine people! Grab your bestie and make a day of it! This year I grabbed my go-to girl MB and we packed the day full of fun. We started the day at Red Door Spa in Pentagon City where I had a body scrub treatment and massage (thanks to my clients Cindi & John who gave me gift certificate for doing their wedding 3 years ago that I lost then recently found!). I had never been to Red Door and it was quite pleasant, I still prefer Bliss Spa at the W though- that steam room and the brownies in the waiting room are my favs). Next we headed to Lincoln for a Valentines Day Lunch- more on Lincoln in a future post. We took a couple hours to nap & shower then met up again at The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for a great event called Sparkle Lounge (with a bunch of AMAZING event industry folks) that then turned into the Washington DC International Food & Wine Festival (with a bunch of free wine and liquor tastings)- more on this in a future post as well! We ended the night at The Loft at The Hamilton listening to music, dancing and entertaining a group of 21 years olds visiting from Vermont. 
  

   

• Trips Home: My Navy-jet-flying brother Seth has been back in the States from Japan for the last few weeks for training in Norfolk so I had to make a last trip home to see him before he heads to Nevada for more training today. I was super lucky that he arrived the day before my 30th Birthday party so I had seen him once before. Here's the thing about home...  I had a great night with my brother and his long-time Navy buddy Dan eating at our favorite Mexican place in Virginia Beach then seeing a movie. Then I got food poisoning.  It was TERRIBLE... but I was home. I was in my parents house, the house I lived in more than any other home in my life. I was miserable, but I was home. I was able to curl in a ball on the couch and still participate when our dear friends came over for our traditional pizza night (a tradition since they 3rd grade) - no I did not have pizza. Maybe this sounds ridiculous but if you have to be sick, I recommend doing it at home. **Shout out to my mom who always takes the best care of me**

  

• Capitol Romance:  I should potentially subtitle this one "Social Media Stalking" since it's pretty much why I met Bree, who is the Editor and Founder of this creative, fun and beautiful blog/brand. Bree has been super supportive in the social media realm of some of my work ventures and I have been and on & off reader of her blog (I go through wedding blog phases). She had a meet-up to celebrate her 3 Year Blogeversary and it was open to the public, so I showed up. I'm surprised we hadn't run into each other previously but am excited we've finally connected (along with all the other awesome people I met). We actually have a meeting later today, so I'm sure I'll be gushing more about her then. She's original, smart, dedicated to her mission of helping DC couples and entrepreneurial in all the best ways. Please check her out and keep tuned! @CapitolRomance 
• The 9 Songwriter Series: I met Justin Trawick at Tea Time DC's premier event at the Ulysses Room a couple weeks ago and as a folk music addict and live music lover in general, I was pretty thrilled. Justin is a local singer-songwriter who shortly thereafter won the Washington Area Music Award's Song of the Year (see a video of "All the Places that I've Been") and Folk-Contemporary Vocalist of the Year. Justin has his hands in many pots (also check out his podcast, The Circus Life & newest venture unrehearsedDC) but on Tuesday I was able to support him and experience my first 9 concert series at IOTA Club in Clarendon. The 9 was founded in 2008 and is a touring live music event, based in DC but with performances up and down the coast. The premise is to get 9 artists together in a venue they may not be able to book as solo acts, and then perform rotating sets (the lineup is picked from a hat right before the show). The show is intimate, engaging and full of talent. The artists sit in with each other and also randomly invite each other up on stage allowing for spontaneously inspired moments. It was one of the best musical experiences I've had in DC and I'll definitely be hitting up another show soon! Check out the set list below for the artists I heard! @Wearethe9
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Happy Friday friends!!

Weekly Recap : What I Love This Week

Here are a few things I came to love this week so much, I had to share with you!

• Waterlogued App : This app, available for iPhone and iPad transforms your photos into watercolor pieces of art! I spent way too much time going through my old vacation photos, DC scenery and of course, my foster dog Dori. I think one of my favorite uses for this app is to use it to create backdrops for quotes I like (in conjunction with the Over App)- you saw them here, here and here!
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• Thunder Beast Root Beer : I met owner and brewer Stephen at Tea Time DC's Premiere event Sunday night at the Ulysses Room. He brought a couple kegs of his absolutely delicious and refreshing, non-alcoholic brews. He told me they brew a number of seasonal root beers each year but their flagship has highlights of maple and butterscotch. I don't usually drink sodas but this brew had me wanting more and more! Find out how to get a taste of your own here!
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• Business Cards : I finally have business cards!! I've been networking and walking around town without them for over a month! It feels so good to be able to connect and be sure people know how to find you. I found a general design I liked at Mallory Hope Design on Etsy then worked with her to tweek it and make it my own. I'm working on my personal brand so I decided to promote that on the back of my card.
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• Dori, my first foster dog : I received notification late last week that I had been approved to be a foster mom for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and I took my first dog home on Sunday afternoon. Dori is a 15 month old Shepard mix. When Dori was born, one of her back legs had two paws on it and that leg eventually stopped growing, so it was amputated and she now has three legs. She is the sweetest and cuddliest and sleepest puppy I've ever come across, but still playful and full of puppy play. She went to her forever home on Wednesday and I know she'll be happy.
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• My Dad : Well my dad certainly isn't new :) But, this picture is an outtake from a family portrait session with Leigh Burnette Photography . Leigh is a super talented up-and-coming photographer based in Virginia Beach. You'll be hearing more of his praises from me when I get around to talking about my 30th birthday party. My dad is one of the most thoughtful, caring men I've ever met and I'm very lucky to be his favorite (and only) daughter!
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Quote of the Day: #TuesdayBoozeday - Tuesday Night Drinking Club

I run a happy hour club here in the city called the Tuesday Night Drink Club (or TNDC). We're not exclusive, but we also try to keep our membership organic- friends of friends of friends.... I fondly call us the Band of Misfit Children simply because we are composed of so many different people doing so many different things with our lives. The one thing we all have in common though is that we find great joy in getting together each Tuesday to enjoy each others company, have a few drinks, engage in meaningful conversations and to help save each other's sanity in this crazy city. I inherited this group from a friend of mine who started it with a group of people she interned with years ago who had suddenly all found themselves back in the city. The first few gatherings inspired her to start an email list, which I took over when she went off to UVA Law School. Each week I choose a different bar in DC (and sometimes Arlington) for the group to meet at. Sometimes there's trivia, sometimes karaoke. Sometimes there are 30 people and on one occasion I found myself alone for an evening of BOGO at DC Reynolds (if you plan to end up alone at a bar, BOGO and DC Reynolds are both highly recommended.) People come and go as they tend to in this transient city with a core group always happy for a new face, a new story and a new bar.

For the two years I've been organizing the group, I've had little gifties made at the holidays. Last year I designed huggers (aka coozies):

     

This year, I designed glasses (I also always bring decorations to the bar for the TNDC prior to Christmas- a little holiday spirit never hurt!) using today's Quote of the Day:

Hope you get to enjoy your beverage of choice tonight too!!