As you know Sunday is usually dedicated to my 'Sunday Moment of Gratitude' post, but trust me this ties in! My birthday is April 4th, and this weekend has been very much all about me, in the best way possible.
I've been trying despite all the stresses lately to devote a little more time to myself and my own needs. And this weekend I attended an event that dove tailed perfectly with my current theme of taking more time for myself, and discovering who I am under the layers of 'title', 'roles' and 'responsibilities'.
I greatly remember 'younger' me, she was a lot more fun. She spent more time on her face and hair, she had a thing for great shoes and handbags. Well this birthday I decided to 're-discover young me' again. And cast aside the thoughts of guilt that come when you take time away from one area to give it to another. This weekend I took some much needed me time, and met some great brands in the process.
This is my second Getting Gorgeous Event. The first, was last year at BlogHer 2010 in New York City. This year's event started with me checking in my coat, getting a special wristband (for my goodie bag on the way out) and being handed a Mimosa! Simply Orange Juice provided attendees with a fantastic afternoon Mimosa! I couldn't actually remember the last time I had one. (Check number one for rediscovering fun Tracy).
I had a chance to circulate in the place that is somehow slowly but surely becoming my home away from home, The Metropolitan Pavilion! (Many of my Fashion Week Photos were taken here!) I had the chance to meet some great brands and do tons of things I normally don't do like eat Hummus (my family is going to gasp here, I'm not the biggest garbonzo bean lover and usually shy away from anything which contains it), somehow BJ's got me to try a Guacamole and Hummus Hybrid Dip, and I discovered it's delicious! (Being Adventurous, Check number 2 for rediscovering fun Tracy).
Midway in, I passed a tempting tower of cupcakes provided by Georgetown Cupcakes and decided to sit a spell and try one out. (Cupcakes before dinner, I'm smelling a check 3 here!)
Another highlight was meeting the Tide reps who handed me a Tide 2 Go mini sample and me breaking out laughing, I reached into my handbag and pulled out my full size Tide 2 Go which I never leave home without. I compared it to an American Express, which made them laugh so hard I couldn't help but laugh too! It's like they had me in mind when they invented it. Even when I change handbags, my Tide 2 Go always come with me. I can't tell you how many outfits that thing has saved. How many times have you gone out and had someone spill a drink on you, or a waiter/waitress accidentally put the plate too close to you and get food on your shirt. (and why is it usually your favorite white shirt?) (I’d say a check 4 here for laughter!)
Another table that was memorable for me was Sarah Potempa because she actually made us work for our goodie bag! She did a celeb hair trivia game that was super fun! When I light the candle I won I am sure I am going to remember her!
As you can see from the photo above, I also had the chance to get my picture taken with a life size standee of Brooke Elliott who plays lead character Jane Bingum on the Lifetime TV Series Drop Dead Diva! I love that show! I wish they would have also had a Standee of Margaret Cho who portrays Jane’s fiery Assistant, Teri Lee, I would have definitely posed for that picture as well! I have this thing for taking photos with mascots or standees! (Drop Dead Diva Moment, definitely a check Five!)
Another fun time was had meeting the reps from Sandals! ‘Fun Tracy’ (the one I’m trying to reconnect with!) usually visits a warm, sunny beach vacation each winter. Responsible Tracy has not had her annual beach vacation in 2 years so speaking with the Sandals Reps was a bit bittersweet, as now I’m having visions of sun, sand and fun floating in my head! I’ll be dreaming of Turks and Caicos this birthday weekend!
There were tons of fabulous brands in attendance including: Tide, Hanes, Simply Orange Juice, Dream Water, Goody Hair, Miraclebody, Shopafrolic, BJs Wholesale, Lifetime Moms, Weight Watchers, Hair Room Service, Amy Tara Koch, Sandals Resorts, Georgetown Cupcakes, Belli and great brands in the gift bags including: Affresh, Nyx Cosmetics, Smashbox (great friends of Ascending Butterfly, we love all things Smashbox), Sue Devitt, Restaurant.com, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Studio Jewel (Lisa Lehmann Designs included a pair of totally fab earrings), Lichi Supplements, Soft Lips, Secret Sleeves, Nick Chavez (his fantastic wet/dry conditioning spray was included in the gift bags), and while I was not able to get my hair done by Hair Room Service (which I would have loved since my big day is coming up!), they did provide great hair samples as well!).
The title sponsor of the event was Degree Women, and I’d like to thank them in addition to the other sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the efforts of Getting Gorgeous, a woman owned events business that does fantastic work connecting bloggers and brands! Degree provided samples of the NEW Degree Women Deodorant with motionSENSE, which I am looking forward to trying out!
I had a fantastic time, and it was a great way to spend my pre-birthday! I like to do goal setting on my birthday instead of New Year’s Eve, and the time I spent at Getting Gorgeous, is a perfect reminder that this year one the biggest goals I plan to set for myself is better work/life balance and increasing the time I spend on myself.
As for me, this ‘drop dead diva’ plans to make everday a perfect excuse for ‘getting gorgeous’, care to Join me?
˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙
FTC Disclosure Info: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the products and the brands listed are expressly my own experiences. Getting Gorgeous organizers are hosting a giveaway for attendees who post a recap of the event to have a chance to win $500, this post is my entry for that giveaway, however all experiences cited are my own with each brand. I did receive a gift bag for attending.
