Neen James- It’s Australian for Fabulous, mate!
The Aussie Hostess with The Mostess: Neen James with Rachel Gordon and friends.
You know it’s going to be a great party when the hostess greets you at the door and offers you a beverage and a tattoo.
Super-Productivity expert and social media darling, Neen James, along with her Master of the Barbie and technology aficionado husband, Andy, held their annual Celebrate Australia soiree at their lovely home in Bucks County, Pa.
What makes a party fabulous? First and foremost, it’s your guest list. As I mentioned in the last post, 10 Tips for Celebratory Success, when you invite the people you care about and the people who care about you, the rest will fall into place.
Neen & Andy (with a slice of homemade Pavlova Cake) Fresh fruit, meringue, cream and a crispy crust.. Bonzer!
Neen and Andy are connected to an eclectic group of cool people and thought leaders from all over the world. The house was buzzing with teachers, lawyers, publicists, professional speakers, realtors, media specialists, marketing managers, designers, make-up artists, yoga studio owners, tech experts, and even one special event entrepreneur who got a golden e-ticket this year.
The vibe was ultra-friendly and positive. Laughter was a constant- as was a nice mix of aspirational conversation, trips down memory lane and a sprinkle of networking for potential collaborations… Just right for a festively-chic night out.
Neen tweeted her guests earlier in the week reminding them to “bring your appetite.” I’m glad I took her advice and also ran an extra 3 miles in the morning. The constant service of delectable Aussie-inspired appetizers featured; prawns on the barbie, meat pies, sausage rolls, lamb chops and specialty quiches. The aromas were as delightful as the flavors.
Beké Beau showing her love for Neen and the Pavlova
Neen Knows: If you’re planning a party and want to create an intimate affair but don’t want the potential stuffiness and conversational limitations that can result from a sit-down dinner, opt for a heavy menu of passed hors d’oeuvres instead. When paired up with the right mixology offerings, this ‘freedom to mingle alternative’ to being a seating chart slave can really enhance your guest’s experience.
Neen and Andy also came through in what I call the “little things” department. They decorated the house with Aussie flags, played some cool Aussie beats in the pool room, offered everyone temporary Aussie tattoos, and had an awesome ‘Best of Australia’ photo montage playing on their huge living room plasma screen. The images were stunning! All of these elements combine to spark fun and interactive exchanges among your newly-introduced friends.
It was a pleasure meeting everyone in the fabulous network of Neen. No matter who I encountered, everyone agreed that her ability to ignite people’s productivity on both a personal and professional level is uber-impressive. If you think you can keep up, fasten your seat belt and follow her on twitter. @NeenJames
Special thanks to Neen and Andy for their generous hospitality and friendship.
Continued health, happiness and success!
Encore Gallery:
Thumbs Up for Rock and Roll!
This is the kinda stuff that makes you wanna be a kid again.
This is the kinda stuff that makes you wanna inspire and be inspired.
This is the kinda stuff that makes me wanna be an awesome dad.
(Click the link to right to play the video) Thumbs Up for Rock and Roll!
Another Sunshine Club nugget from Mike Walter.
Kudos to Michael Bublé, to Sam and Pushy Mothers
Michael Bublé is a ridiculously-talented and successful entertainer. He’s been mentioned and written about here on the MMP blog numerous times. He’s also brilliant when it comes to improv.
If you’ve ever gone to one of Michael’s concerts, you know that you’re gonna sing along, dance and have a lot of laughs before the night is over. Sometimes, you might even get invited up on stage for a duet…
Another gem sent in from Mike Walter.
p.s Mr. Bublé is the real deal on stage and off so be prepared for a few harmless expletives. 
Courage, Love and a Reality Check
At the end of the clip, one of the judges says, “It just makes everything you worry about…just.. so pathetic.”
Yep.
Another gem sent to the Sunshine Club from my mom…
The world needs more mothers like her and Emanuel’s mum.
‘Those Who Choose To Make A Difference’- The Sunshine Club Salutes Randy Bartlett and The ADJA
Earlier this year, I featured my good friend, Randy Bartlett, here on the MMP Blog to promote his latest DVD release, “Behind The Scenes.”
He is already well-known by the mobile entertainment industry and his clients as an extremely talented Master of Ceremonies, Wedding Entertainment Director and Keynote Speaker; but the fact that he has a serious philanthropic side to complement the wit and wisdom he shares with the world might be news to many.
Last month, Bartlett, who serves as the President of the Sacramento Chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association, raised over $20,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children in a collaborative effort with his team and the Granite Bay Golf Club. Shriners provides world class medical care for children, at no charge. Many of these children are burn victims, have orthopedic & spinal cord injuries or cleft lip and palate.
Randy shared a few of his thoughts…
J.D Firestone- ADJA chapter Secretary, Brad Cady- Golf Pro at Granite Bay Golf Club, Dr. Lerman, & Randy Bartlett
“We are all lucky to work in a profession that we love so much, where we earn a living celebrating with people on some of the greatest days of their lives. From simple birthday parties, to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, school dances and holiday parties, we provide the entertainment that allows us to help others forget their worries and just enjoy life.
While we’re doing this, life goes on for others and unfortunately, it isn’t always happiness and joy. There are countless organizations out there whose sole purpose is to raise much needed funds to deal with everything from stray cats to cancer, all worthy causes that touch each of us in different ways.
It’s said that “with great fortune comes great responsibility” and I feel very fortunate to have a profession that allows me to experience such joy with my clients. With some other great like-minded people in the Sacramento Chapter of the ADJA, we’ve produced fund raising events in four out the last five years that have allowed us to give back some of our great fortune.
From our first effort in 2007, when we raised $2,600 for a local animal rescue facility called Happy Tails, to our latest effort, just completed on October 23-24, 2011, for Shriners Hospitals for Children, we have doubled our funds raised each year, this year reaching the $20,000 mark!”
Bartlett hopes the actions of the Sacramento Chapter will inspire other ADJA chapters and like-minded individuals to pay it forward.
If you’d like to find out more information or inquire about making a donation, please visit www.golf4shriners.com.
Kudos for choosing to make a difference Randy. Good on you my friend.
