The end is here...

Bitter sweet would probably be the only way to explain my entire experience. I am so happy and lucky for my internship, all the people I have worked for/with and met, and all the knowledge that I got. This has completely prepared me and made me more at ease with the idea of getthing a "real" job and starting this new chapter in my life. However, it went by so fast! Too fast! My internship, senior year, my entire college experience is coming to an end. I want to thank everyone for all your help throughout our classes that we may have had together over the years, and I will miss you all! Good luck with everything, and keep me posted!!

I am going to be staying in Arizona over the summer and will continue to work at Table Tops for the events we have in June. I am also going to be working by the pool at the Arizona Grand so come stop in and see me! Other than that, I have no idea what lies ahead for me. Wish me luck!

<3 MARNI

Cinderella!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!! This last weekend was very busy and full of fun! I attended the Governor's Ball this past Saturday and had the time of my life! I met many different influential people that are big people throughout the city. I got to wear a beautiful gold dress, got my nails done, new shoes, 5 course meal, dancing, drinks, must I go on??!! The night was so fun, and it was even better because we worked our butts off to make it look nice and we got to enjoy it for once! Everyone loved the decor, the centerpieces were amazing and were there for people to take home...which everyone did! I really did feel like Cinderella, and then next morning I really felt the opposite! AHH!! This week we only have one wedding so it is a little slow around the shop, but I actually like it like this since the last month has been non-stop! We are almost there everyone! Congrats!!
XO

Culinary Fest

I almost forgot to tell you all how great networking is!! Table Tops helped on Friday night at the Culinary Fest doing centerpieces and give away roses, and I was there for the drop off. Since I have only been to the Culinary Fest once last year I was still unsure about what it has or where to get tickets or prices, etc. As I was dropping off our work I met with one of the guys that was in charge there and he gave me his business card. When I attended on Sunday I called him and he let me and my friend in for free and right into the Absolute tent! I felt like a super star with that hook up, going right to the front of lines and everything. It really has a lot to do about who you know, and I met this guy that not only helped me and my friend out, but someone that was willing to talk about any future plans and questions I may have in the business. Get out there and make conversation with these people, you never know what they can do for you!!!

P.S. The Culinary Fest was sooo fun!!

Gov Ball!!

This Saturday is Governor's Ball at the Arizona Grand where I also work part time. My internship, Table Tops, is doing the decor for the event and I am also going as a guest! I am so excited because I get to set up and create the event as well as attend it. I have not yet found my long fancy dress yet but I have been looking!! I love being able to get all dressed up and this time it is for a very eligant ball.

I am also going to the Arizona Grand tomorrow (Tuesday) for a photo shot that we are going to have displayed in the Arizona Bridal Magazine. We are going to set up a ceremony setting right in front of the water fountain when you enter the resort. I have only done two events at this resort which I like since I work there also. I get to see these fabulous events at a place that I have worked at for the past 2 years. It's a totally different side of the Tourism/Hospitality side.

I hope everyone is getting ready for graduation, let me know if you want pretty floral centerpieces for your grad parties!! Chow!

New Day-New Events

Last week Sara came to visit the shop and it was a very fun and laidback visit. She got to meet one of my bosses and see where I work. I cannot believe we are this far and almost done! I also just bought my cap and gown which really makes it feel real!!

Work has been very busy and exciting, lots of weddings and new designs for the events. In a few weeks we are doing a bar mitzah which looks like it is going to be so cool! I am a bad jew and never had a bat mitzah, but my brothers and all my cousins did have them and they were so fun! So besides doing floral decor and centerpieces we are doing a sports theme for this bar mitzah and doing the coolest pieces for it. It is so great for me because I am able to work with different types of designs for big events that are not just flowers. Lahiem!! ("to life" in hebrew)

Other than that, I am still making lots of connections and trying to network to get the for sure sign that I have a job after graduation. I am really trying to go oversea that I would be willing to commit to for a year. I never studies abroad so I feel like this would be a great opportunity for me at this time. Wish me luck!

Hope everyone is well! Chow!

HIP Breakfast!

This past Tuesday I attended a H.I.P Event *Hospitality Industry Professionals* with my boss from my internship. We had breakfast and there were a few guest speakers that talked about how they got into the industry, what they love about it, some of the up's and down's, and some important things to maintain to keep your business getting recognized. The most stressed factor that we all should be doing and should keep doing is blogging!! There are so many blogs out there that people really do read and use. You get to meet lots of people, get advice from professionals, hear stories, and really follow along others that are doing jobs that we want to eventually do. So, BLOG BLOG BLOG and FOLLOW FOLLOW FOLLOW! At the end of the event they had a raffle, and after my boss bought tickets for the two of us she gave them all to me right before it started. There were three prizes and gifts, and you would not believe it but I WON!! I won the last and best prize there was! A one night stay in a studio suite at Gainey Suites Hotel in Scottsdale! I also get free breakfast and a reception that night before! I had the best morning and day, and I cannot wait until I have a good long weekend and use my new prize!! Cheers!

www.tabletopsetc.net

5 MORE WEEKS!

I cannot believe that graduation is really just around the corner! I have been having the time of my life at my internship, and have been learning so much! I have now moved on and am taking more of a lead role in my work instead of waiting to be told what to do or getting my work checked. I am now working on big events doing a lot of the centerpieces alone, and working even more with the client and helping with their plans. I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone and how much more I now know about making contracts, talking business, and mostly putting on a very successful event! I know even more now that this is exactly the type of industry I want to be in, and am so excited for my next steps and chapter...whatever and wherever that may be. Feel free to look at the website for my internship and some of the work we have done, IT IS SOO BEAUTIFUL! Hope everyone is doing well!

*M

First Event = Successfull!!

This week has been nothing but crazy! Wedding season has offically started, and when I say started I mean we are doing 3 or 4 weddings a day for Saturdays and Sundays. I was also assigned a big job that I was the main contact and coordinator. I worked with the Royal Palms and with a company that is staying there for a Corporate Meeting that lasts 3 full days. I had to work with the Event Coordinator for the Harris Corporation, as well as the Royal Palms. We planned the entire decor of the 3 nights for the employees attending. I was responsible for ordering linens, flowers, props, candles and more. I did have my managers watching and helping, but I was the one that attended all meetings and made all the plans. I was also there to set up for every night, making sure everything listed was there and used properly. Luckily, it was a huge success and I got such positive feedback from the Event Coordinator, the Royal Palms, and most of all my managers. There were only 4 tables for the entire event everyday, but I did manage to get all the correct products and add my input for the designs was recognized and used. My first real event I did by myself!!!! Hopefully I will be able to do the same for a group of 100, or even 500! Only time and practice will tell! Have a great Spring Break and be safe! I love the fact that for my major I want to plan parties which is perfect for me since I love to go to them! Chow!!

The first day of March, I cannot believe how fast this semester is going! At the halfway point I could not be happier with my internship and everything I have learned and done so far. Because the month of March and April are completely booked with 2 or 3 weddings a day on the weekends I will be busy busy busy! One of the best parts of my job is that I get to travel to all different locations. I got to see and set up an event at the Montelucia which is a beautiful property, and I got to see Kelly who is interning there as well. This weekend we have smaller sized wedding at the Valley Ho, along with a few other locations. It has been a long few weeks and luckily I am going to be able to get away for a few days in Florida for Spring Break, a trip that is much needed for me right now. I hope everyone is doing well at their internships and also get a few days of complete relaxation. Almost done everyone!! Chow

I forgot to add that I work the NASH BASH this last weekend at the Mondrian. It was a huge party for the Steve Nash foundation, and I was a PA for an event production company from New York. I had the best time, even though I work from 8:30 A.M. Friday until 1:30 A.M. Saturday. I got to set up the entire V.I.P areas and all the decor around the pool for the event. During the event I was checking in some of the guests and then got to walk around making sure every guest was happy and having a great time. I saw Eva Longoria, Tony Parker, obviously Steve Nash, Yao Ming (who makes all the basketball players look tiny), Fitzgerald, and many more. It was an amazing experience and I am now trying to possibly get a job with the event company since I enjoyed working with them so much and they also expressed how much they appreciated my hard work and personality. New York...here I come!

Wedding season is right around the corner! This weekend we have a huge and fabulous wedding that we are doing the decor for. We are getting the chair covers and linens, and all of the floral arrangements. The wedding is going to be held in North Scottsdale at a private estate, and the centerpieces are above and beyond. This entire week we have been receiving and checking in all of the linens, starting to arrange all of the larger floral arrangements, and preparing for a very busy day on Saturday. The next few weeks we do not have any large events, but starting in March my social life may be non existant since we have about 3 weddings a day on the weekends until June. Looking forward to this weekend, I will try and post some pictures from the wedding! Chow!

Where to start....this week was very much of an early Spring cleaning. We went through the entire shop from top to bottom and reorganized every vase, props, tools, ribbons, and everything you could think of. Since we did not have any events this week/weekend we cleaned the entire store to help us as well as make our products that we can provide for events for visually appealing for our clients. Let me tell you, three full days of that will make you never want to clean again, or will never make you want to touch anything because it looks so nice when it is done. I am also working on the visual aspects for Table Tops. I have been going through tons of albums and printing out pictures to fill our albums that we show our clients. Seperating those from bouquets, ceremony, chair covers, centerpieces, etc. This part is not so glamous but needed. Hopefully next week and I can more of the creating instead of the cleaning. Chow.

Love is in the air!!  This week we have been meeting with and make many sales and contracts with numerous people for Valentine's Day!  We will be designing many centerpieces and arrangements for romantic surprises and dinners, etc.  I think this is the most interesting meetings and phone calls I have had, mainly because we are working majority with men for this.  They want "red and pink I think?", "I love you type design."  They really have no idea, which is going to be fun because they told me I can basically do whatever I think will really make their lady happy.  This will allow me to get creative and work hands on with different arrangements.  Feel free to send any flowers or chocolate my way! ;)

Yesterday (01/28) I got to sit in on a consoltation!! We met with our new clients and discussed different centerpieces, color schemes, and themes/ideas for their wedding in May. I was so fun to start from nothing and come up with what their wedding is going to look like! I love doing the whole event planning, and to be able to work with the decor for such a large and important event like this really gets me excited. I am also very excited for a wedding we will be setting up in February...coming up! The only problem with this job and working with alot of weddings is that I now want to get married and go through all this fun planning. The only thing I need now is a boyfriend! ;) Keep checking up on my exciting journey!!

I am working with Table Tops Etc. in Old Town and have already started working with them since November. I absolutely love it there, and have been able to see a lot of the beautiful resorts in the Scottsdale area. This last Sunday (01/18) I worked a wedding at the Four Seasons in Troon for a baseball player from Baltimore, and to my suprise the guy from Desperate Housewives (Mike the plumber) was there!! It is really interesting to see all the different style of weddings that Table Tops creates to match what our clients want, and to meet some interesting people in the process is not that bad either!! Happy Wednesday!