Leaving LA after 5 days of working out of a windowless room for a 500 person conference. Fun times. Sooooo ready to see my kids!!!!!!! And hubby!

To all my meeting planner and hotel/DMC partner friends.

I'm baaacckkkkk!!!!!!!!

So I am back from maternity leave! Actually back 1 week early because our largest incentive conference of the year in Maui was this week and I was NOT missing that! And of course.....if you actually thought I turned off my blackberry and lived in a world of new baby bliss these past 11 weeks you are wrong. I am a meeting planner.....you never turn off. It is impossible!! That or I am a control freak! I didn't want to abandon my team 100% with so much they had going on so I secretly "kept in touch". Shhhh...dont tell Human Resources..... Soo.....a little recap. Had my baby girl Taylor Elizabeth Putman. March 7. 6 lbs 13 oz. 19.5 inches. She is a beautiful baby and such an easy baby as well!! We are blessed.

First week back to work I am on a plane to Maui for our largest incentive of the year. 400 of my closest and dearest friends. Check out this view. Not a bad first week back to work eh????  There is me and my team after a fabulous successful Conference!!  They did such a great job and I am so lucky to have them! 

Amazing right? Well I packed a bathing suit and never got to even put it on. Life of a meeting planner. Typical story of my life as a meeting planner so if you guys actually think I go on these trips and get to enjoy the pool and beach you are wrong!  Spent most time in a windowless office working the behind the scenes magic! With 2 kids now I also have to be in and out as quick as possible. So no pre or post extensions for me in the near future as we used to enjoy with no kids. Sacrifices but you do anything for your kids!!  And I am enjoying every minute of it with them. I also celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary while in Maui. Bittersweet since he could not be there with me and we honeymooned in Maui!!  I mean really?? What are the odds?? But he had to stay home and be Mr. Mom. But he did send me a giant cheese wine and fruit basket followed by an amazing chocolate covered strawberry tray surrounded by petals in a heart. Awww. So sweet. I am a lucky gal!

So as I depart this amazing destination back to my family, my meeting team proceeds to extend their stays at other islands in Hawaii. I wish I could join them but know any beach can't beat returning home to this...........my loves.  

When they are older we are going to really enjoy taking a vacation after Conference and they can really enjoy the beach and fun!!!  Now I have 1 more week of maternity and then back full time next week!  I am looking forward to diving back into it all!   Aloha everyone!  

Meeting Planner on Maternity

Well I am officially on maternity leave as of Monday. Scheduled to go to the hospital tuesday to start induction. Yes folks. I gave myself a whole day off work to relax before life takes a big fat reality check dump on me. 2 kids under the age of 2. This will be fun! I scheduled a relaxing pre-natal massage and mani pedi at my favorite spa in Houston, Trellis at the Houstonian Hotel and Spa! Seriously the best in town!!! However the morning pretty much kept me on my blackberry answering the 100 emails I had received. We just launched our biggest program registration of the year last week to Maui, I had tried to get it launched earlier so I had time NOT on maternity to get it half way wrapped up but "upper management" took forever to approve the communication. Now my team is covering the biggest registration of the year and I am out. Fun. The overall fact that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to let go put the blackberry down and just relax I believe is some sort of addiction. Yes, I am addicted to the crackberry and even pushing a baby out is not going to stop me from asking my husband in the hospital after birth to please hand me my blackberry so I can check messages. Yes, its true. It happened with my first kid and it will happen with my second. One of my planners says she cant believe an hour after I had Brady I was emailing. But I guess as a meeting planner, the constant rush of multi-tasking multiple projects at once you are always "ON" and being off is just not in the job description. Well, we will see how this maternity leave goes and if I can try to turn it "OFF" at least a little.....next post I will be Meeting Planner mother of 2. Wish me luck!

Best quote this week

"I dont know how to use a mouse!!! I am in sales, I am not an administrative assistant!!!"

ok, then ma'am.....let me just walk you how to register for your meeting. click on the mouse on the right to open the link.....

days this job really sucks.......

Moving and Meeting Planning dont mix

So, moving sounded like a great idea. New baby on the way, bigger house, more room space place for little Brady to play!!! Well, not when you have my job. Moving day comes a week before a large CEO Meeting which today, YES DURING MY MOVE, they decided to completely change the agenda on me. Ok so now I am anticipating about 20 room reservation changes and attendance changes and updates that I am going to need to make to ALL OF MY VENDORS for a meeting that is in 5 days. Great. This in addition to a 250 person conference in San Diego I need to finalize pack up for that I fly to next week. And I can basically sit here as people pack boxes around me and type away at emails to make all these changes occur. This all in addition to my mother getting sick today who was going to watch our 18 month old son so we could tend to the move which stressed the day more since as I type and make calls, and run after a toddler, all amongst the packing of boxes and furniture delivery appointments.....I may die!!!!!

To top it off... Audit for the company regarding all meetings and events NOW is calling me because they need to review all of the documentation they just spent collecting from me over the past 2 months. Today???? Really??????????? I think the end of the world may be here.

Happy Holidays for the Meeting Planner!!!

MEETING PLANNER 2011 HOLIDAY POEM

Wow, 2011 was an absolute blur
Added responsibilities, doing more with less
But I continue to "raise the bar"
And in the process, elevate my stress

It's not easy to think about next year

I am on overload with business solutions
Which gives me the perfect excuse
To ignore those unrealistic New Year resolutions

I am planning my 2012 meeting agenda

Achieving team goals and objectives a must
Collaborating with all meeting stakeholders
Growing partnerships, building confidence and trust

Evaluating and selecting the perfect hotel is critical
The key to success, as everyone knows
And the best solution is to get on the phone
And call the Incentives & Promotions Department pros

There must be good weather
And lots of fun, you know
And if there's not championship golf
Our chairman won't show

I love managing a meeting with big ROI
It is fulfilling and really gives me a thrill
But I always get a big time headache
Thinking about reconciling the hotel's massive bill

I am consumed with hotel contract negotiation details
Reducing my company's risk is what will appeal
Always hammering out fair & balanced performance clauses
Let's just call it "The Art of the Deal"

My managers expect more meeting value and ROI
I guess post-recession, this is the trend
So I'm implementing my SMM action plan
Which will drive meeting consolidation & leverage spend

I must rework my meeting budgets
And find innovative ways to save
And my big picture goal
Is to make our company CEO rave

I can't succeed without my wonderful industry partners
A team oriented focus is where we all stand
Our collaboration delivers high impact outcomes
And I continue to grow my own personal "Brand"

Senior management's expectations are off the chart
And being a "Super Star" planner takes a lot of work
So, a few extra days off during the holidays
Is a well-deserved perk

Oh, my gosh, it's time to go shopping
Yes, gotta get ready for Christmas Day
So, need to catch-up on all my meeting projects
And start putting all my meeting planning notes away

It's time to focus on family & friends
And enjoy holiday cheer
And I will defer my thoughts of meetings
Until early next year

It's time to enjoy the gift of life and count our blessings
Let's give thanks, reflect and have a grateful point of view
And on behalf of our entire Incentives & Promotions Team
"Good Health, Happiness and Merry Christmas" to you!