2010.mba.annual.convention.atlanta.georgia

Last weekend, Saturday to late Tuesday, I was in Atlanta for the Mortgage Bankers Associations Annual Convention. I was there with my company, IDS, all the sales team and the owner! I had a great time, but it was a lot of hard work and quite long days. By the end of it I was ready to be home and not talk for at least a day! I was very nervous about this show, not necessarily about going, but because for the past 2 months I have been planning a big event that IDS hosted at our booth throughout the convention and I had no idea how it would go. The event was a Cycling Challenge Benefiting Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. IDS and luckily other convention attendees and IDS clients biked 200 miles in 2 days on a stationary bike for Habitat for Humanity. We also got some donations from other companies for a good caused and raised a little over $6,000! The event went better than I expected and I am so glad! I am also glad that it is over! I had a great time and as usual I learned a ton! I also decided that I love what I do and I am really good at it. I love doing PR and talking to people and building those relationships with clients, partners and others. It makes such a difference to build the relationship in person over the course of a few days and that is exactly what I get to do at these conventions. Here are some pictures from the trip! On Sunday Kortney and I got to go to the Falcons game with one of our clients! We had club seats at the 50 yard line, it was the greatest thing ever! Being the sports fanatic that I am I could not have been more thrilled to attend my first NFL game, I could get use to that! It was a great trip, but I am still catching up on my exhaustion! Thanks IDS!

who.would.have.thought

On Thursday after work I joined my two best friends and reunited the trio, or the twins and their blonde side kick... Liz, Laur and Ali. The three of us have embarked on many adventures and some of those adventures include projects, making things, creating and putting each of our different talents to the test. We are yet to fail.... On that note a couple of months ago I received an email from Laur while I was at work asking if I would help her and Liz make a wedding cake for a friend of hers from work. They needed my artistic abilities for some etching of leaves on the side of the cake. I jumped at the opportunity and waited for the time when everything would come together. Thursday night was the night. We all gathered at Mitch and Colleens house (Liz and Laur's parents) just like the old days and got to work. This cake is three tiers, each layer a different flavor and all covered in white chocolate cream cheese frosting, it is a good thing Liz and Laur are the best bakers and cooks that I know. I will break it down for you. The bottom layer: Vanilla Blueberry Cake with Lemon Custard in between; the middle layer: Chocolate Pumpkin Cake with Cream cheese filling and the top layer: Chocolate, Chocolate Cake. Yes Liz and Laur had their work cut out for them, but they were well prepared and had all three cakes ready to go and be frosted when I got there. Laur frosted each layer and we let them harden in the fridge, well we went to eat at Davanzas.... When we got back I started doing the etching of the leaves. I was very nervous and being the perfectionist I am I looked at every little mistake, but I must say so myself they turned out amazing (I will post pictures below). After all our hard work we finally were able to watch a movie and relax, but we were all a little anxious to put the cake all together the next day for the actual reception. This was a great night, it was the first night the three of us had been together since Laur has been married and honestly nothing has changed. Even though the three of us are at very different stages in life, we will always be best friends, always rely on one another and love each other. Liz and Laur will always be there for me, challenging me, supporting me and loving me no matter what and I will do the same. I guess that's why they call it best friends and that's what we are. Overall it was a great night and I had a blast. Here are some pictures of the step by step process. I am sure Laur will have some better pictures here make sure to check it out and refer her to anyone you know! 

                                  

The etching of the leaves!!! 

Starting to put the cake together on Friday!

Next was the tricky part.... After we got all the pieces put together it was time to deliver and add the fondt colored leaves at the reception, in Salt Lake. The cake traveled on my lap to the Tracy Aviary and it did arrive safely. No horror stories here about dropping the cake out of the car or it tipping over on me (it literally weighed 70 pounds I am sure)! Once we got the reception Laur and I began to put the leaves on and add the finishing touches. Sadly Liz couldn't join us because she had to work. Once we got into the flow of everything we really started to see the cake come together it was really fun! We felt great and the cake looked amazing for the first one all three of us have ever done! We hope to continue working as a team, if I am still included even if no artistic skills are needed, and make more and more cakes! So let us know! Here are pictures of the finished product! 

Thanks Liz and Laur for letting me be apart of this project I loved it and I miss you both!

XOXO, A