Don't Mess with Me!

Today I went to the grocery store right after working out at the gym. I was in the checkout line and the clerk scanned my rewards card on my key ring. She saw my pepper spray and asked me where she could get some. I suggested a couple of places and told her that I like having it as a precaution because self defense should never be overlooked, whether you live in a big city or not. When I reached into my gym bag to get my wallet the man in line behind me said "I'm not messing with her she's got boxing gloves in her bag!"
Yes.

Forgive the typos...

...I'm typing with a cut finger! Thats what I get for trying to cook dinner with dull knives. So I apologize in advance if my typing is off.

Today reminded me of how much I've changed over the past 4 years. Let me begin by saying that today has not been the most stellar day I've ever had in my life. Not that it was absolutely terrible, but a few things have just not gone right. (Slicing my finger is just one example of such things.) But I am reminded of how I probably would have handled today four years ago.

Four years ago I moved halfway across the country to go to college in a new state where I knew absolutely no one. [Sounds kind of familiar to my move last May to a new city where I know no one...] I remember getting to my dorm and feeling like I was at summer camp for at least the first few months of college. For the first couple of years, I did have difficulties adjusting to my new life and making new friends; I also had a very hard time dealing with stress. A day like today would have immobilized me four years ago. Over the years, I learned how to handle my stress on my own as well as with the help of my friends, my amazing boyfriend, my loving parents and sister, and many other great mentors along the way. The growth that I experienced made me able to recover from the bad things in life and move along to the next good thing.

Days like today I wish I still had a roommate. I've had some great roommates in the past, and it's always nice to at least see a friendly face coming home from a bad day. Shoutouts to all of my wonderful roomies in the past!

Cheers to a better day tomorrow!

An Oceanfront Wedding

So, I successfully coordinated my first wedding yesterday!! Things could not have gone better. After staying up practically all night going through the plans in my head, it went off without a hitch. The mother of the bride did a fantastic job in planning the decorations, and the whole place looked beautiful! They were also able to decorate on a budget, which I really respect. They purchased a plain white 3-tiered cake, and added the hand-placed flowers and monogram on their own. It looked great! (And smelled even better!)

Their centerpieces included these water crystals that expand in distilled water. We then put water-safe lights in the goblets with the crystals to make them light up. I don't think the pictures taken on my cell phone really do them justice.

Her ceremony was on our front lawn overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful view and they had PERFECT weather. About an hour before the ceremony someone was standing out on the beach directly in front of the ceremony site playing the bagpipes - loudly. Although he was pretty good, the sound was not going to mesh so well with Cannon in D. Just a couple of minutes before I was going to nicely confront him to please move his performance elsewhere on the beach, he packed up and left. Thank goodness!

As I said earlier, my first wedding could not have gone any better. Before I left for the night, both the bride and the groom had asked me to come see them, which I did. I could tell they were genuinely happy, and they thanked me for everything and each gave me a big hug. That is what makes this job all worth it.

After yesterday and last night, I am ready to relax today!

Life on the Beach

Okay, so I know I don't live ON the beach, but I'm pretty close! I realized today how lucky I am that I get to see the ocean every day. After work I helped organize the rehearsal for the wedding I'll be coordinating tomorrow, which will be on our front lawn overlooking the beach and the ocean. I was pleasantly reminded of the beautiful place in which I live. It is so easy to forget that I live by the beach, and I think I sometimes take it for granted. Watching the waves is one of the most relaxing experiences, and I plan to try to take more time to enjoy the beach in the next few weeks. The fall air is so crisp, and the beaches are much less crowded with tourist season dying down. It's the perfect time to enjoy one of the many reasons why I choose to live here.

Cheers!

Box It Out

Here's a suggestion for anyone that has a stressful job: take up boxing! Even though I'm far from an expert, it is the best workout, and the best stress reliever. The satisfaction one gets from physically punching something can make even the worst day not feel that bad. I've been boxing for probably about two months and it is one of the best parts of my week. I don't even mind that I'm sure half the gym is laughing at my pink wraps and pink boxing gloves. I wouldn't have it any other way! My pink "gear" gives me a little femeninity for something that is very rugged. My trainer started teaching me how to dodge and take punches today. I don't know that I could necessarily hold my own in a fight right now, but maybe one day! It's good self defense.

The stress that I was combating today is from the upcoming wedding I'm coordinating. It's good stress, because I think it will be fun and rewarding, but it's stress nonetheless. Managing a wedding is slightly different from any other group that I manage. If something goes wrong with someone's vacation or business meeting, they'll probably forget about it. If something goes wrong with their wedding, they will remember it forever. That means twice [or three times] the prep work, and twice the stress.

Meeting with the couple today went very well. I can tell they have confidence in me, which helps my own self confidence. The best part about the meeting was at the very end. When I went in for a handshake with the bride, she extended her arms for a hug. That's why I'm in this business. It was a perfect example of how personal hospitality has to be. Especially when handling someone's wedding, this is an event in their life that they will never forget, and I will be proud to have been a part of it.

Off to enjoy the rest of my evening!

Oh How I Love Hospitality

Having recently moved to a new city where I know essentially no one, I decided it would be a perfect time to start blogging! This way I can share my thoughts, even if I don't have someone to actually talk to every day. Who knows if anyone will actually read this, but that's the joy of the internet, right? You can talk and talk and talk, and imagine people are listening, even if they aren't!

Working in the hospitality industry has always been a dream of mine. From the moment I realized that I could actually work in a hotel and get paid for it, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. In college, everyone always says "You'll definitely change your major at least 4 or 5 times." That was not the case for me, and I knew it wouldn't be. I know a lot of people come to college not quite knowing what they want to do, which I completely respect, but those comments always made me feel like I was strange or I was doing something wrong for not wanting to change my mind. Now, having worked in hospitality to some degree for over 5 years, I know that I was not wrong (even if I am a little strange). I go to work [almost] every day, loving my job, and I get great satisfaction out of the business of hospitality. People that aren't in the industry don't always understand that hospitality truly is a different animal. I read a quote once that said "In hospitality, all business is personal." That is the best way I can think of to describe it. Not only must you be business minded in this industry, but you must also be people minded.

People who know me recognize that I am somewhat of a hospitality management nerd. I read management and hotel books for fun, and I could talk about work for days. That's what happens when you're in this industry. It becomes your life. I'm okay with that, but some people that I've worked with or worked for have also reminded me that it is ultimately most important to sustain life outside of work. Although it's going to take time for me to do this in a new city, I am slowly but surely working at developing "a life".

Even though some days I wish I was back in my college town with my friends or in my hometown with my family, I am still glad that I took the leap to move two days after graduation to a new place where I know no one. Not everyone can say that, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of making it work!

Until tomorrow, when I will inevitably be bored at home again!