Wow wow, WOW!!!! Bash Conference 2015 ROCKED our socks off! Maureen and I had the most AMAZING opportunity to attend, speak and participate in this inaugural party conference in Phoenix, Arizona last weekend. We are sooooo excited to share this incredible and memorable experience with all of you today. We went to Phoenix for 5 days to prepare, set-up, teach and attend this extroidinary 3 day Party Conference. Michelle Burt, Founder/Director of Bash & Owner of Maddycakes Muse came up with an idea last year to create a conference just for the PARTY INDUSTRY, and let me tell you… she NAILED IT! First class all the way!!! She was able to bring together the best in the business to attend, teach, inspire and colloborate with all involved. Michelle – on behalf of everyone who attended… WE LOVE YOU! You and your sensational staff have given us a weekend we will never ever forget!
Check out our BASH Speaker bio here and see all the other party girls who spoke or attended such as: Jen Sbranti, Kim Byers, LoraLee Lewis, Jenny Keller, Kelly Lyden, Chris Nease, Kim Stoegbauer, Tori Tait.. just to name a few! And if those party girls weren’t enough, you better believe two of the BIGGEST Party Rock Stars in the industry were the Celebrity Keynote Speakers… are you ready for this??? AMY ATLAS and EDDIE ROSS!!!!!!!
Introducing Michelle Burt (the one and only)
The Sweetest of Sweets and most inspirational Party Dessert Stylist in the Biz… Amy Atlas!
Stylist Extraordinaire and Editorial Icon…. Eddie Ross!
Our largest sponsors, Nashville Wraps and PrintMy….. We couldn’t have done it without your amazing products! We heart you!
PrintMy on the left, and Nashville Wraps on the right
Now… onto our 5 day Bash Conference 2015 Extravaganza!
Arrival: our favorite Arizona TV host & Co-Founder of Mon Mell Designs, Stephanie Monge, picked us up at the airport and transported all 33 boxes of party supplies we had shipped to her! She took us on a tour around Phoenix that day along with our party supplies!
(Above) Enjoying the sites of Phoenix with Stephanie…. Maureen & I couldn’t get over how big the cactus plants were (and yes, we posed as such)
(Below) Transporting our party boxes all over the Wig Wam Resort was an ongoing process! The golf cart drivers knew us by name! lol
(Below) Behind the scenes with our favorite party girls! Rebecca from Petite Party Studio, Nancy from A to Zebra
(Above) Along with Krista from Hoopla Events, Jen from Banner Events and Shannon from Petite Party Studio
Welcome to Arizona Party: This was a fabulous meet & greet with party stations, casino, party games & more. Of course, Maureen and I participated in the Shake Your Booty game (a little minute to win it action) and guess who won – MAUREEN!!! Shake it girl, shake it!
(Below) – meeting for the first time a super sweet attendee, Carline Remy from San Manti (in HAITI) along with another favorite Party Girl of ours, Jen Sbranti from Hostess with the Mostess (We really had never officially met HWTM, and she was so so beautiful inside and out, along with a great sense of humor!!!)
Coffee Talk: Michelle Burt (who really needs to have her own TV talk show) started each morning by interviewing a few industry leaders, called the Party Rock Stars! It was like being at the Ophrah Winfrey Show with the humor of Ellen Degeneris!!!
More pics from Coffee Talk! Coffee Talk Rock Stars included: Jen Sbranti, Kim Byers, Chris Nease, Kelly Lyden, Kim Stoegbauer & Tori Tait. Everyone LOVED getting personal with them. (I spy Amy Belle Isle from Operation Shower, sneaking in with these party rock stars b/c guess what… she is a rock star too!)
Classes: Anders Ruff Design Co, Party & Food Styling – Maureen and I had the best time teaching our class and hopefully anyone who attended enjoyed it just as much!
(Below) – if this doesn’t tell you how much fun we had, then I don’t know what does! (Maureen & I hamming it up as usual)
Swag Bags – thank you sponsors for all your incredible support & products!
(More sponsors below – Printmy, Just Dance & Via Blossom
(Below, one of our Grand Prizes)!
Thank you Krista, Jen & Keisha (from Cupcake Wishes and Dreams) for all your support as well!
More fabulous classes including: Jenny Keller from Jenny Cookies (below) – Jenny is the custest thing ever!!! She taught us how to make her famous Jenny Cookie, along with interactive baking tips. Just breathe in this cuteness right now!
Loved Loved LOVED Miss Loralee Lewis’ class (below, on the left) from LoraLee Lewis Event Paper and Fine Stationery. Not only was she beautiful, charming and funny, she touched us in a way that we will never forget. (Why she’s not a motivational speaker, I cannot for the life of me figure out)
Rachel Hollis from The Chic Site also did an amazing job (so we heard – sorry Rachel that we missed your class… next time!!!)
There were seriously great classes both Friday and Saturday – I wish we had footage from them all, but unfortunately we do not. Anyway – A big round of applause to all the class speakers… Maureen and I know how nerve-wrecking and hard it is to be in front teaching, first hand!
Now onto the BEST PART of our first day…
Dinner with Celebrity Keynote Speaker AMY ATLAS!! (can I get a little woot woot!) No introductions are needed for this gorgeous party girl!!! Amy Atlas has always been our inspiration for parties (a.k.a. dessert tables) and Maureen and I have continued to strive to acheive work to her level of expertise. To say we love her is an understatement… but after meeting her (FINALLY), she was not only personal, kind, witty, beautiful, interested in getting to know all of us – she was a total BLAST!!! That’s my kind of party girl!!! Amy Atlas – as if we thought we couldn’t love you more… now we truly LOVE YOU MORE.
How stinkin’ cute is this woman??? (by the way… did anyone notice her HOT pink stilletos – so fab)!!
Doesn’t get any better than these two! HWTM, Jen Sbranti and Amy Atlas (below)
(Jen – are you still getting random text messages)??? ——————– (Selfies with Amy)
Red Carpet Party Event: You better believe Michelle had a “dress up as your favorite celebrity” party after we finished listening to Amy speak. And let me tell you… it was HYSTERICAL! The costumes… the glitter tattoo station… the cake… and of course my favorite part of the evening – KARAOKE! Maureen and I went as Audrey Hepburn and Martha Stewart (aka Martha Released from Prison). I didn’t really think anyone could top Martha….
but then this happened….
You better believe Shannon & Rebecca showed up as Lavern & Shirley, BIKE AND ALL!!!! Well played Laverne and Shirley, well played!
More fun pics from Celebrity night!
(Above) Having fun with Jenny Cookies (aka. Carrie Bradshaw)
(Below) The lovely, Lindi from Love the Day
(Above) This is a cake people!!! Michelle’s favorite baker, Lizzy’s Sweets and Treats made this amazing celebrity cake.
(Below) YES – Martha won the costume award for Best Overall!!! I guess Orange really is the new black!
Karaoke Time! (Whitney Houston, below, singing “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”)
Last but not least… (On Day 2)
Celebrity Keynote Speaker, Eddie Ross! I can’t begin to tell you how hysterical and TALANTED this man is. His presentation was so darn funny, inspirational and motivating – I’m on the hunt now to figure out how to display my Italian great-grandmother’s antique dishware in a totally modern & fresh way. He’s a man after my own heart! He was such a joy to be around with a contagious laugh and spirit. I can’t say enough good things, really!
(Above) Michelle Burt, Eddie Ross and Tonya Coleman from Soiree Event Design
After the ever-so-popular Eddie Ross spoke, there was a table top contest in honor of him.
Drumroll please… and the winner goes to: Montrilla Jones of Lavender Pudding – Way to go Matrilla
More fun pics from the weekend – enjoy!
(Above, Brenda from Great Stitch)
(Below, Jelly Belly Bash Sponsors)
(Above) Michelle and her fabulous neices!
(Below) Jesse Senese from Sweet Shop Lulu and Jessica Wilcox from Modern Moment Designs
(Below) Someone captured a pic from an Instagram post of Maureen and I shakin’ it during Minute to Win It Game!
Want to go to BASH next year? Click here for continued updates for next year’s event! You don’t want to miss it!
Another special thank you goes to Maria Healey Photography for passing along several of these photos to me! She is currently located in California – so check her out West Coast!
———————–
A BIG BIG THANKYOU to the Anders Ruff Sponsors:
Print My Picture Online – Anders Ruff designed notepad
Looks like you had a blast!!! Congratulations. The photos are fantastic. I have Amy Atlas’s book. She’s great.
Lovely post! It seems like you had a lot of fun! The photos are fab! Thanks for sharing! <3