In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

Last weekend, it was my pleasure to plan a Founders Day Luncheon for the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Every year, Founders Day is a chance for Thetas from across the region to re-connect and celebrate our rich sisterhood. For the past year, I've been working with a number of women to organize the 2012 luncheon, and I think it was a smashing success!

We started this year's program with a candle lighting ceremony to honor our Founders, the annual chapter roll call (always one of my favorite parts!) and recognition of our 50- and 75-year Thetas in attendance. It was so exciting to see how many collegiate chapters and how many decades were represented by the women in the room. (In a group of 100 women, we represented more than 50 different chapters - wow!)

We were also honored to have The Honorable Barbara Franklin in attendance as this year's guest speaker. A former Secretary of Commerce, Ms. Franklin spoke to us about her time in the Nixon White House where she worked on the President's initiative to increase the number of women in federal positions. Her trailblazing career, both in the White House and in the entrepreneurial arena, is the subject of her new book - A Matter of Simple Justice: The Untold Story of Barbara Hackman Franklin and a Few Good Women. Ms. Franklin was kind enough to sign copies through the luncheon, and one lucky Theta took home a free copy!

After our formal program came the delicious food. Hosted at Jaleo in Crystal City, our lunch was a series of tapas dishes served family-style. From the endive & goat cheese salad, to the very last bite of flan, each dish we tried was more fantastic than the last. In taking a peek at the post-event surveys that are coming my way, I can tell you - Jaleo's food did not disappoint!

In all, the lunch was a great success and a wonderful opportunity to give back to the fraternity that has given me so much. I'm already looking forward to next year's, though I certainly won't be planning it!

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

Last weekend, I excitedly opened my home to the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta for our annual holiday party. It was so much fun having Thetas from across the DC area over for an afternoon of hors d'oeuvres, holiday cocktails, and holiday sisterhood.

The highlight of the party was a fantastic hot chocolate bar that our Programming Chair organized. A simple crock pot of hot chocolate was fancied up with an array of toppings - marshmallows, caramel bits, crumbled Heath bars, cinnamon sticks, and candy cane stirrers, to name a few. Oh, and Bailey's!

I wish I'd snapped a picture or two. Guess we were all too busy having fun!

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

This weekend, Steven & I welcomed friends into our new home for a fun housewarming party. It was so wonderful to be able to fit so many people comfortably into our home - a big step up from entertaining in the basement apartment on the Hill!

I had almost as much fun putting together the details as I did seeing our friends Saturday night. I set up a spread of cheeses and wines, as well as yummy cheese pairings like crackers, grapes and salami. And my crowning achievement of the night? A tasty baked brie with apple slices.

I only snapped a few pictures before guests started arriving. Our first guests - Margarita & the Berglunds - were even sweet enough to bring a few pumpkins to fall-ify our front porch! Thanks to all of our friends who came and celebrated with us last weekend!

A Two-Fer!

Today I have two fabulous list updates that can both be shared via one set of photos!

On June 26, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a couples' wedding shower for Kaylan and Paul. She and I worked together at the White House when I first arrived in DC four years ago. (She managed www.whitehouse.gov; you may have heard of it.)

Barbara - another White House pal - and I hosted a "stock the bar" party for the pair, inviting all of their friends and family to join us on the rooftop of the Cairo near DuPont Circle. Let's take a moment just to soak in the Cairo's incredible view.

We all had such a lovely time sharing wine and delicious snacks, dancing in the open air and swapping stories about the lucky couple. This gorgeous party brought me one step closer to my goal of hosting 10 parties in one year.

As for the second update - did you see my lipstick in these pics? The perfect red.

All photos by Kaylan's lovely mom and sister.

#88: Sing Karaoke

While I was home in Dallas this month, I had the honor of planning my little sister's bachelorette party. The two of us, along with a gaggle of her sorority sisters/bridesmaids had a great night full of Tex-Mex, bachelorette dares and plenty of free drinks.

And at the end of the night, we crossed #88 off of my list. Luckily, there's no video footage available, so you can't hear us crooning BSB's "I Want it that Way." From what I understand, though, we were pretty amazing. Here's the only (blurry) evidence that remains: