Neen James- It’s Australian for Fabulous, mate!

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 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.

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!

 

 

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10 Tips for Celebratory Success: Advice from The Grand Summit Hotel & Marcello for Your Wedding or Special Event

It was a pleasure meeting all of the beautiful and savvy brides, Bar Mitzvah moms and corporate meeting planners at the 2012 Grand Summit Gala Tasting.   The Grand Summit Hotel pulled out all the stops to show off their exceptional cuisine, service and hospitality.  The Grand Summit team, lead by Michael Marino, Jim Thornton and Teresa Garcia, along with the hotel’s discerning roster of preferred professionals, introduced the VIP guest list to exclusive event planning resources throughout the lavish brunch to ensure that they have the best special event possible.

After speaking with some of the Grand Summit Gala Pros earlier in the week, I compiled a top 10 list of planning tips that might come in handy for your upcoming wedding or special event...

1) All In One!  Consider a venue that offers your guests the convenience of attending your ceremony, reception, after party, over-nite accommodations and even the next-day brunch without having to worry about traffic, parking or being able to party like rock stars.   -Teresa @ The Grand Summit Hotel

2) Save It!  If you have any material left over from you wedding dress or bridesmaid’s alterations, don’t throw it out! The florist can use these swatches to wrap your bouquets.    -Matt @ Crest Florist

3) Think Big!  If your venue can accommodate larger tables, seat 12 guests together instead of ten and eliminate the expense of a few centerpieces.     -Matt @ Crest Florist 

4) Forever Young!  If you’d like to keep your bouquet for posterity, it’s recommended that you drop it off to your florist the day after the reception for ideal preservation conditions.   -Matt @ Crest Florist

5) Picture This!  You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when you walk into the bakery looking for your special cake.  Show the staff a photo of something you saw and liked to ensure that they can help you get exactly what you were looking for.  -Ralph @ Bovella’s Bakery

6) You’re Worth It!  Make sure that the make-up artist you choose only uses the highest quality make-up products on the market; there is a noticeable difference.  Your skin and photographer will thank you.   -Diane @ Bella Faccia

7) Don’t Worry, Be Happy!   Try not to micromanage your own wedding reception or special event.  Let the professionals you hired do what you paid them to do.   If you put the right team in place, you’ll be treated like a celebrity and be able to enjoy the celebration as much as your guests.   -Marianne @ Cupa Cabana

8 ) Money Talks!  If you are working with a planner, be candid and let them know your approximate budget right from the start so they can help you prioritize your investments and save you a lot of time throughout the planning process.   -Cindy @ Events To Perfection

9) Keep It Real!  Even though you and your fiancé think that Dub Step and 80’s New Wave music are totally rad, try to remember that your guests might also enjoy a great mix of some classic favorites and the current hits to dance to during the reception.  -Benny @ Karisma Music Productions

10) The Secret!   Regardless of your budget and your definition of the perfect day, the success of your wedding reception comes down to one thing- The Guest List.  If you invite the people you care about and the people that care about you, the rest will take care of itself.   -Michael @ Magical Nights

I’m proud to say that along with Benny and his fabulous band, Karisma, MMP is also considered a preferred source of entertainment at the Grand Summit.   We always make a great team when we have the opportunity to collaborate.   I had a great time serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Gala tasting and look forward to the next celebration!

 

P.s    For more event planning tips, advice and resources, check out our last article called “7 Ways to Bring the Wow and Have The Best Wedding Reception Ever!”

Empowered by Water: Marcello Teams Up With HyrdroWorx, Murphy Grant, Nick Berra & The Y in Randolph

A few months ago, HydroWorx installed some of their therapy pool technology at the Y in Randolph, NJ,  and began to change a lot of people’s lives.   Before the installation of three units,  most of us didn’t know that you could put a treadmill underwater without  ruining the machine or electrocuting anybody.  For some of my friends who have bad knees or sensitive joints, they didn’t know that they’d be able run again and recapture their youth.  And for a few of my fellow health and wellness enthusiasts, we didn’t know that a whole new world of high intensity low-impact workouts were about to be added to our fitness routine.

Yesterday, Team Hyrdroworx re-visited the Y to film a promo for their X80 underwater treadmill and underwater Boot Camp.  We were treated to the instruction and inspiration of the University of  Kansas  Head Football Athletic Trainer and Director of Sports Medicine, Murphy Grant.  Murphy has a self-admitted reserved way about him until it’s time to kick your butt.  When his workouts begin, he expects nothing less than total focus and effort.  I loved it.

Grant  directed a series of underwater stations that featured various plyometric challenges, agility routines and strength circuits  with equipment specifically designed to get wet and complement the hydro-static resistance.  Participants also rode underwater recumbent bikes and ran on the X80 treadmill.

Speaking of the X80, runner extraordinaire Nick Berra made a special guest cameo as well at the video shoot.  I found out that Nick recently ran a 4:24 mile.  For those of you that don’t know just how freekin fast and impressive that is… just trust me.  It’s freekin fast and impressive!   When he’s not inspiring other runners to train harder and making them laugh, he makes a living as a professional pilot. Berra’s got that typical pilot cool swagger to ‘em.   The kind that makes you feel comfortable.  I could picture him calling back to the passengers on the radio and saying, “Hi, this is your captain speaking… it’s just a little lightning, thunder and severe turbulence..  Don’t worry about a thing.  I got this… I’m gonna get us there safely- just sit back and relax.”

Nick gave me and Melissa Grosenstein, a competitive triathlete who works for the Y, a few new interval workouts to try on the treadmill.  One in particular that stood out was in the style of Tabata.  In case you’re unfamiliar, Tabata training is 4 minutes of the highest, high intensity interval training for humans who seek out such things.  For this Tabata, Nick cranked up the hydro-jet frontal resistance and  then cranked up the speed dial to 10 out of 10.  The interval went like this;

1) 10 seconds of leaps  on your right foot

2) 10 seconds of leaps on your left foot

3) 10 seconds of sprinting to rest

** yes, you read that correctly!  Your rest is running as fast as the machine goes.

4) Repeat 7 more times for a total of 4 of the toughest, most exhilarating and most rewarding minutes of your life.

Of course, Nick did this and barely broke a sweat.  He was still able to make commentary for the camera throughout the shoot.  We were definitely in awe, but also annoyed… sorta-like when you see the Kenyans at mile 23 of the New York City Marathon seemingly un-phased by their own ridiculous output of energy and athleticism.

When it was time for Melissa and I to give it try, we gave it everything that we had.  By round 3, I was as fatigued as I thought I’d be for impersonating a gazelle trotting on the African plains.  By round 5, I felt like Apollo Creed when he tried to fight Drago.  By round 6, I was praying that they would yell “cut” for any reason whatsoever.  By round 7, I noticed that Melissa was still kickin’ ass and I refused to be beat by a girl.. no matter how great of a person or athlete she is.   By round 8, I had a Forest Gump-like  epiphany when he ran across the country and said to myself… ” I made it this far, I made as well keep on going.”

We both did, we both finished.  It was awesome!

Our heart rates were maxed out somewhere near 190-something! Melissa and I had just enough energy left for some high fives and a cool-down massage.  I’ll post the video when it comes out.

Special thanks to Bill Lamia, The Y’s CEO,  Kathy Fisher, The Y’s Aquatic Director, and Team HydroWorx for inviting me to participate in the promotion.

Continued health, happiness & success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Grace Ormonde Brings Luxury, Beauty and Passion to New Jersey Wedding Professionals at The Crystal Plaza

Above and beyond the inspirational artistry displayed on the pages of her new book, Grace Ormonde Weddings- “being in love never goes out of style,” it’s easy to see why people were lining up to pay $125 for her gorgeous coffee table collection piece last night when it also contains personal quotes like this…

“Ultimately, our ability to dream is what motivates us, and our ability to love is what sustains us.” – Grace Ormonde

After 10 years of documenting extraordinary weddings, producing bridal expositions and being the Editor-in-Chief of Wedding Style, (a seasonal magazine that features the luxurious sources for fashion, jewelry, lifestyle etc.), Ormonde designed a comprehensive work of art that includes her greatest hits and personal favorites within its pages.

From our little chat, Grace struck me as a kind soul who truly appreciates limitless possibilities with regard to aesthetics and the entrepreneurial spirit.  It didn’t surprise me when I learned later on that Grace’s family grew up in a modest home on the island of Terceria where the nearby ocean view supplied her with a lifetime of inspiration to draw from.

People with a genuine love and appreciation for the positive energy and therapeutic qualities that the ocean offers seem to be kindred spirits.    Add a  little international, Latin or European flair to the mix and life is really good.  Order the book  .Follow Grace on Twitter

It was great to see some of New Jersey’s wedding and special event glitterati last night and  meet a few new rising stars who also came out for Grace’s signing;  Wedding Cinematographer Rob Adams,  Photographer Vanessa Joy, the owners of Bride Live- Jay Thomson & Mike Hernadez,  Photographer Ellen Marc, the design team for CW&I Andrea Daly & Kristin Badolato, Wedding Photo Journalist Jessica Lark, & Matthew & Kim Findlay from Crest Florist (the father and daughter team who had my favorite table design of the night.)

Special thanks to Allan Janoff, Nella, Jason & Marco from The Crystal Plaza for their continued support and gracious hospitality.  I’m delighted that MMP’s 2012  event calender has us returning for another exceptional collaboration.

 

 

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