I feel legit

My profile is on the website for the kimono fashion show!!

Yes. I feel legit. With my picture and everything. Yay!!

New Project!

One of the incredible ladies I met at the networking event I went to the other day, was Ms. Rinko Kimino.
She is a kimono stylist and authoer, and she told me about this fashion show she's doing in December.

Of course I wanted to be part of it, so I asked her if I can help in any way.
And she introduced me to the project manager of the event.

I just had the first meeting with her last night, and it looks like a SUPER exciting gig! There are so much to do and so little time, but I think this will be a great event. Everyone working for this event is a volunteer, but they all are professional. I think it's fantastic that people are coming together to accomplish something new. I'm glad that I can be part of it.

Like Steve Jobs said, life is about connecting dots. It feels like, once I opened the door to the direction I want to go, these dots keep appearing.

And it's up to me to connect them.

Saddlerock Ranch Wedding

You can see the beautiful pics of the wedding I worked for Gianna in Saddlerock Ranch back in May at Gianna's blog.

And I JUST saw this couple on KTLA this morning talking about a honeymoon site they used!

JCWN event

The other night, I went to an open house event for JCWN (Japanese Career Women's Network). I got to meet and talk to many women who work in different fields.

It was the first time I introduced myself as an (still aspiring but nonetheless) event planner.
It felt really good!!

When I told my story, everybody was very encouraging. Some people even said that I inspired them to do better at their job too. I'm flattered beyond words.

First business card!

I got my first business cards made!! Since I can't make my own company yet, the designer, Oksana came up with the cutest title for me.

"passionate event planner/assistant"

 

LOVE!!

The business card is so simple yet edgy. I love it!!

I'm going to a networking event for Japanese career women tonight. This will be the first time I mingle as an event planner. Cant' wait! And coincidentally... I'm done with the internship with Gianna, and now an independent contractor for her!! Woo hoo!

GAP event @ House of Blues

About a month ago, I helped Gianna run a charity show in House of Blues.

It was an fundraising event for an organization called, Grandparents As Parents (GAP).
We had the celebrity MC by McKenzie Wesmore and performance by Deena Martin (daughter of Dean Martin), who was really a good entertainer.

I went up and down the stairs (mostly running) about million times that day.
Tiring, but definitely fun times.

It was my first time helping out Gianna with the event other than weddings.
The principle is the same: To make the client happy.
But there are so many different elements from weddings and I really enjoy it.
It was a good change of scene.

The most cool part was that after the event, Gianna told me, that Deena Martin thought Gianna and her PARTNER (yours truly!!!) totally ran the show and we work for House of Blues.
The fact she thought I was Gianna's "partner" was cool enough
and she thought we work for HOB? That was pretty awesome.

More details on the event, see Gianna's blog here.

Don't Settle

I'm a little late to blog about this, but after seeing so many posts on Facebook about Steve Job's fantastic Commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, I finally saw the speech on YouTube.

I was deeply touched. Brought me tears, actually.
No wonder so many people said "thank you" to Mr. Jobs after he passed rather than "good bye." I want to thank him too.

The part that hit my core the most was the part about lost and love.

"You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

I feel very fortunate that I did find what I really love to do.
Sure, it took me about 10 years after college to realize it, but I did find it.
And I'm doing it.
It gets discouraging and scary at times when I think about uncertain future and the pay cuts I'll most likely have to take when I start my own business as an event planner.
But like Mr. Jobs said, I should never settle.
And I hereby promise, that I will NOT give up.

Wedding @ Cicada

Last Sat, I worked for a wedding at the Cicada restaurant in downtown LA.
This was a last wedding for the season.
And boy, what a perfect venue to complete the season!

It's in a historical art deco building, and it's just soooo darn sexy.
I might have to name this place as one of my favorite.
A lot of movies and TV shows are filmed here, including my fav, Mad Men!

The ceremony area looked like this.
The pictures don't do justice. It was beyond gorgeous.

                                                                                                                     (wedding design by Gianna and Company)

And then, during cocktail hour, we flipped the area to a reception area.
The elegant flower design was done by Lisa at Ixora Floral Studio and
overall design was by of course, my wonderful teacher, Gianna.

                                                                                                                     (wedding design by Gianna and Company)

This day, Gianna was sick and she had to leave to Japan the next day for business.  
So she left ME in charge for the last couple of hours!!!!
Word it upper...Don't worry Gianna, I got this!!

I was flattered that she asked me and everything went without a hitch.
High five to myself!


Overall, I think I learned and grew a lot this season.
And at every single wedding, I had a blast working.
I really REALLY enjoy working at events and weddings.

I can't wait to come back to another season next year!!