I LOVE Tuesdays ~ A Little Mid Afternoon Humor!

Posted: June 29th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Any office fan’s out there? If so. . . you know why I love Tuesday’s. On Tuesday’s TBS has The Office on for three hours, and I believe another channel has it on for an hour earlier in the evening as well. I have learned that The Office is one of those shows that people either love or hate. I personally can’t understand how you can watch the show and not laugh. In the spirit of it being Tuesday, here is a short clip to get you through the afternoon. . . and for those of you who think it’s not funny, humor me. There’s no way you can watch this without at least cracking a smile :)

Happy Tuesday!

www.eventsbymonroe.com


Welcome To My World!

Posted: June 28th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Photo Credit : Deviant Art

I have been feeling for some time now that there has been a bit of a disconnect in regards to my blog which really bothered me because I LOVE to write.  Growing up I thought it would be my career.  Who knows . . . maybe some day it will.  I have finally found the problem.  I have been living a double life. Yes, there is a whole other side of my life, that until this point I have chosen not to share, and it has been very difficult as I thrive off of having my blogs exude my own personality.  I wasn’t being myself, or fully genuine . . . until now.

In addition to being a passionate entrepreneur and event planner, I am also a bartender.  I was extremely hesitant, even after being encouraged by a few colleagues, to disclose this information in fear that potential clients might second guess my professionalism, or that fellow professionals in the industry would look down on it.  However in many ways it makes me even more qualified.  Although I am only 27, which to some in my industry seems very young, I am educated, talented, and have a great deal of experience.  In my debate over whether or not to share this information I frequently heard the phrase “Everybody starts somewhere”, but even that did not convince me, because I am not “starting” I have been working towards this for thirteen years.  So. . . you may be wondering how I wound up bartending ??  Here’s my story.

I began working in the hospitality industry at a restaurant at the age of 14.  When I was 16 I started working at  Jillian’s in Franklin Mills where I discovered my true love for event planning.  I worked every position in that huge facility (hostess, server, bartender, manager, and my favorite event manager).   We did some really fun promotions ie. Eagles Pep Rally’s with several of the Eagles present for autograph signing, signings with Steve Carlton, appearances with Shaq, sports promotions, magazine promotions, etc.  I got to meet countless celebrities and worked hands on with something different each day.

In college I majored in Temple’s Tourism and Hospitality program.  What an amazing experience.  Their program was so intense I had more hands on experience and knowledge coming out of college then others may have had after five years of working in the industry.  I assisted with various projects for some of the major hotels and businesses in the, volunteered for the planning and execution of many industry events, and got to intern at The Independence Park Hotel in Center City and Roberts Event Group.

After graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree I accepted a position as the Event Planner/Banquet Manager at Llanerch Country Club where I got to experience yet another fascinating aspect of this ever changing industry.  Although it was great experience, after a few years the country club scene was not where I wanted to be.  I couldn’t fit my innovative ideas into their cookie cutter shape, and I got bored.

I decided that I needed to take my passion for events full throttle and start my own company, the only problem was, we were coming into the beginning of a recession which meant no loan from the bank.  I could have said “Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to go back to working for someone else’s company”, but I didn’t.  This was my dream and I was sticking to it.  I decided to go back to the bar business.  It was fast money and it was flexible.  I knew that it would be a longer road then getting a loan from the bank, and could take several years, but I didn’t care.

This is where I am at now.  I don’t know why I was so unsure about sharing this sooner.  If anything it attests to my strong character, dedication, and skills.  I plan the events for the bar, and get a lot of business out of my contacts there,  Not to mention the great friendships I have developed.  So much of my personality and fun spirit comes from being a bartender, and the hilarious stories and tales that I experience on a daily basis.  Now that you know about this secret part of my life, I can share these stories with you, and you are in for a treat :)   So now you know where you can find me, at Big Heads Bensalem, Thursday night through Saturday night, and Sunday mornings.  Come in and chat about life, weddings, events, your cousin that’s driving you crazy, or just to be entertained (trust me, we’re pretty entertaining).

Here’s a picture from a recent promotion we did with 3olives for their Rangtang Vodka

(Sorry it’s only cell phone quality).

Me and Mo

www.eventsbymonroe.com


Beer and Wings Again?? ~ Some New Ideas for Father’s Day

Posted: June 16th, 2010 | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland

It’s time for Father’s Day again!  Some may find Mother’s Day to be more challenging to find a great gift and create the perfect day, knowing that Dad would be content with a few beers, pizza, and watching the game. . . so I am challenging you!  Just because Dad would be content with that, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t appreciate something more!  This year do something creative and special he will really enjoy, he deserves it :)   Don’t worry, if you are sitting there stumped, here are some ideas we have put together for great gifts that he hasn’t seen a thousand times, and some things going on in the Philadelphia area this weekend.

First we’d like to share some gifts we have researched that we think Dad will love.

  • Get him something personalized from Shutterfly.com.  Turn your photos into anything you can think of.  Of course they have the basic cards and stationary, but there is so much more.  Does your Dad love to play poker. . . get your pictures printed on a deck of cards, computer genius. . .get it on a mouse pad, or you can even get a decal of yourself or his grand kids to put on the wall of his man cave :)

  • Has your Dad always longed for fame?  If so, he will love our next gift idea.  WeMakeTheNews.com will create a custom framed personalized newspaper article.  All you have to do is give them a few pictures and some information, and they will handle all the writing and design.  It is sure to be a gift that will be a great conversational piece over the years, and each time it comes up Dad will think of you.
  • If your father is a little more low key, maybe he would just enjoy some personalized wall art from www.photowow.com featuring himself, his kids, or his grand kids.  “Turn your cherished memories into marvelous masterpieces”.  These works of art are sure to get some attention.  The pictures are created on canvas.  There are many different options and styles to choose from, below is just one example of the neat products they can produce.

  • And now for the busy career dad who is always rushing out the door, but has a hard time getting it all together in the morning.  Get him the Smart Finder 4 – in 1.  You can use this gadget to find your keys, glasses, wallet, remote control, etc.  You can find this time saving gadget on www.cgets.com.

  • A gift certificate for a day out on the golf course with some buddies.  If you would like to make it a gift from the family, add in some new golf clubs or some items from www.pebblebeach.com . . . OR if you are really looking to hit a home run send him to play at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the world’s great golf venue’s that was recently voted #1 on the list of “Tour Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek.  They are running a special for every 2 night stay that is booked and completed by August 31st they will give Dad a free room upgrade.  Very cool!

So now you have given Dad his amazingly cool gift, which took all of five minutes, what should you do for the rest of day??  Here are a few things going on in the Philadelphia area this Father’s Day Weekend.

If there is nothing more your Dad enjoys then a relaxing night at home, why not find some ways to make it special.  Get some of your favorite pictures throughout the years blown up at your local staples or kinkos and place them around the yard with some other nice touches, then serve his favorite meal with the family outside.  For bonus points have a cold case of his favorite beer on hand.

If your Dad prefers being out and about there are several things to do this weekend.  Take him for a dinner cruise on The Spirit of Philadelphia, the cruise will include a delicious all you can eat buffet, professional DJ’s to keep the ambiance and the party going all night, and some of the most breathtaking views of the city.  Be sure to call in advance for reservations.

For the historic Dad, you can attend the Father’s Day Celebration at The National Constitution Center.  This weekend in addition to honoring our Founding Father’s, the NCC will also be celebrating and explaining the lives of several of Rome’s emperors.

If your Father is an adventurer take him on a kayaking adventure being presented by the Hidden River Outfitters and the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant who have teamed up to provide kayaking tours of the Schuylkill River.  Each river adventure includes instructions, equipment, and a guided tour and meal at the Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started on making this weekend a Father’s Day to remember.  There are tons of options in the Philadelphia area.  “What did I get my Dad for Father’s Day?” you might be wondering, well you’ll just have to wait to find out because of course he is my number one reader.  Happy Father’s Day Dad!