I’m heading to Miami today through Saturday as an accumulation to a two-month project I’ve been managing at work. I’m both very excited and a little nervous, one because I’ve never been to Miami, the weather is supposed to be a balmy 87-degrees, and I’m staying in a fancy schmancy hotel on Miami Beach. Two because Friday will be the event that I’ve spent countless hours planning for. Here’s hoping it all goes down without a hitch. *fingers crossed*

Each year, my work has a conference for all our branches, networks and affiliated businesses. My coworkers have described it as “an adult Halloween party” where every booth tries to make a better party than the next. Without any event-planning experience under my belt, my boss put me in charge of all the details–theme, decorations, food & drink, prizes, games, music, etc. But, that’s all the fun stuff. Then there’s all the crap–packing and shipping boxes, understanding drayage rates, handling and labor laws at tradeshows, the ins and outs of printing vinyl signs and assembling them, working with booth decorating companies, managing and staying within a budget, ordering drape, piping and electricity, etc. It’s been a learning process, to say the least. I’m nervous I’ve let something slip through the cracks. We shall see. At the very least, I know the definition of a good party. (Thank you college!)

That being said, our booth is Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. It will be decorated with island store fronts, parrots, real palm trees and tropical plants, sand, etc. We’re serving margaritas and mini sliders (in honor of Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise” song). Our booth will be on the only booth with music playing over loudspeakers (a special Buffett and Luau mix I made from an old Hawaiian party in college), and we’ll have a prize wheel with tequila shooters and Caribbean hermit crab races. (I’m very interested to see what the hec those are all about.)

It’s been a lot of work, but it should be fun. Wish me luck!

Currently Feeling: A little nervous energy. Could be the coffee.
Currently Anticipating: Pool time!
Currently Dreading: Riding an airplane. I hate them!