Lifestyle and fashion bloggers from Orange County and Los Angeles gathered together for a meet up at the swanky Mesa Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. It was a honor to plan and host this event for my Style Collective Sisters. The energy that night was out of this world! I invite you to read along to experience the spirit and beauty of boss babes in action at the chic Mesa lounge.
The first key to a successful event is the venue selection. Mesa is a hot spot in northern Orange County located in Costa Mesa, California. This amazing restaurant has an edgy vibe, diverse crowd, and very desirable food. The ambiance is eclectic, contemporary, and energetic due to a vibrant bar scene and a roof top that opens to the sky.
The ambiance of Mesa is both cool and swanky and perfect for parties, meetings, special occasions, and dates. Reservations are made easy though Open Table. For our meet up Mesa provided a complimentary cocktail, a small dessert and the following small plates:
Spring Pea Salad/Pea Tendrils, Pea Shoots, Compressed Watermelon, Kalamata Olives, and Red Wine Vinaigrette, our Sundried and Tomato Hummus and our Margherita Pizza/Tomato, Herb, Mozzarella, Basil, XXVO and Sweet Balsamic Glaze. Yum in the tum!
The lusty menu features delectable small plates from contemporary American cuisine. My favorite is their Grilled Marinated Shrimp that showcases sweet and spicy bilbao chorizo, corn, heirloom tomatoes, and chimmichurri sauce. Just talking about it now is making me crave this dish in a very bad way! It is a foodie dream come true to experience the creative, fresh, and pleasurable food from Mesa.
Along with their inspired cuisine and mouth-watering tapas, Happy Hour is an “experience” to experience! The lively bar has abundant seating perfect for people watching while enjoying a creative handcrafted cocktail.
Make this hot spot in Costa Mesa, CA a part of your restaurant bucket list for great food and ambiance. Mesa is an excellent venue choice to host your next dinner party, work party or business meet up. You will not be disappointed!
Another aspect in having a successful meet up (or any momentous event for that matter!) is professional photography. It is vital in my opinion to make the investment — memories may fade but photos last a lifetime! I am a complete believer of having professional photography to capture life’s dearest events.
As a fashion blogger — my photography quality is vital to the success of my brand! Think of pictures as your calling card and having the right photographer to capture who YOU ARE should not be left to experimentation.
As you all know you only get one chance to make a great first impression. Shawna Henrie of Bleudogfotography preserved every moment of the Style Collective Meet Up superbly.
Shawna was so gracious to donate her time and service to capture the evening’s event gratis. She is an expert at making photo shoots fun and a great experience for all of her clients. One of her many talents is having an eye for creative angles and passion for studying the human face.
It is easily evident that she pours her soul into her work and craft. Her clients become her friends and she made many that night. Another plus, is that she offered free head shots to the Style Collective members attending and the women were so excited for this gift!
Another talent that Shawna has is creating the most beautiful and awe-inspiring floral arrangements. Her business is cleverly called Bleudogfloral. Her herbaceous creations has graced the parties and special events of many families and businesses throughout Orange County, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.
Each dining table showcased Bleudogfloral botanical creations she specifically designed for the meet up. Beautiful blooms shining bright in round glass globes got the ohhs and ahhs of all the ladies! Shawna was gracious enough to donate her centerpieces to Mesa Lounge for a charity event to be held the next day and most ladies got to take one home to adore.
Another fantastic item that was displayed next to the beautiful floral centerpieces is wine from Middle Sister Wine. Each sister went home with their own bottle to enjoy.
Don’t forget the importance of a swag bag! Providing companies with an opportunity of marketing their goods at event full of social media gurus is HOT! Offering gift bags featuring the latest in greatest in beauty, food, fashion, and technology to media savvy women is a recipe for success for both the sponsor and recipient.
It is amazing what happens when you combine the efforts of ambitious and passionate women. When I asked my Style Collective Sisters if they would help to secure sponsors – boy, did they! We had over 25 sponsors who supported our event. Another company that has been a Style Collective favorite is Guilty Soles who donated two gorgeous pairs of shoes for a giveaway.
I would like to thank those special ladies (Kathleen Anderson, Alison Barker, Jessica Forest, Maria Guerrero, Nancy Lin LeGregori, Claudia Materdomini, Mindy Nguyen, and Shelby Soileau) that worked hard to find sponsors who supported our event.
It was completely humbling to have so many wonderful companies honor us! I would like to share with you the list of businesses who graciously recognized our efforts as social media influencers with their generous gifts. Please, take the time to visit their websites and consider their services or products for your own personal or gift giving needs! Thank you to ALL of the sponsors who donated to our Style Collective Spring Meet Up!
Our Style Collective Spring Meet Up Sponsors for OC + LA April 2017:
| Mesa | Restaurant | Tawny Aragundi | www.mesacostamesa.com |
| Bleudog Fotography | Photography | Shawna Henrie | www.bleudogfotography.com |
| Bleudog Floral | Floral | Shawna Henrie | www.bleudogfloral.com |
| Amazing Lash | Lash Studio | Elena Nguyen | www.amazinglashstudio.com |
| Jade J | Cell Phone Accessories | Jason Jen | www.jadej.com |
| The Songbird Collection | Jewelry | Mindy Nguyen | www.thesongbirdcollection.com |
| Middle Sister Wines | Wine | Susan Lombardi | www.middlesisterwines.com |
| Guilty Soles | Shoes | Chelsea Schaffer | www.guiltysoles.com |
| Spa Gregories | Spa | Spa Gregories | www.spagregories.com |
| S.S. Chokers | Jewelry | Shelby Soileau | www.sunshinedaydreamblog.net/sschokers |
| Rodan + Fields | Skin Care | Reah-Ann Nobleza | www.reahann.myrandf.biz |
| Alaska Bear | Beauty | Natural Silk Pillow Case | www.amazon.com |
| Arlina Jo | Jewelry | Frances Akbari | www.arlinajo.com |
| Benev | Skin Care | Benev | http://benev.com/ |
| Oh So Cali Clothing | Clothing | Annie Chang | www.ohsocaliclothing.storenvy.com |
| Shea Moisture | Hair Care | Shea Moisture | www.sheamoisture.com |
| Nubian Heritage | Body & Skin Care | Nubian Heritage | www.nubianheritage.com |
| Borika | Body & Skin Care | Borika | https://borikabody.com/ |
| Leven Rose | Body & Skin Care | Courtney Olson | www.levenrose.com |
| LavHa | Essential Oils Jewelry | Jessica Forest & Nancy Lin DeGregori | www.lavha.com |
| Travertine | Body & Skin Care | Terry Carter | www.travertinespa.com |
| Pure | Body & Bath | Kathleen Anderson | www.katanderson.net |
| Bella Sol Med Spa | Med Spa | Bella Sol | www.bellasolmedspaca.com |
| Fresh Brothers | Restaurant | Fresh Brothers | www.freshbrothers.com |
| Halo Top | Ice Cream | Halo Top | www.halotop.com |
Lastly, another aspect in having a successful event is having a tribe that supports you! When Annie Spano the founder of Style Collective selected me to spearhead this event I was flabbergasted. I was honored but also quite overwhelmed at the prospect of organizing such an experience. My life is already so full of responsibilities and commitments. To be quite honest, I operate from crisis to crisis!
However, I rose to the occasion because Annie has supported me from day one! This was my way of thanking her in believing in me. It was a goal of mine to create an evening that would be engaging, warm, and supportive for my Style Collective sisters! Plus, now I can say I am an event planner too!
Blogging can be a lonely business and this is why I felt driven to design an experience that would build friendships and a supportive network. I am so grateful to Mesa Restaurant and Bleudogfotography in joining me on this mission to create an event that would change lives of female entrepreneurs.
There are so many reasons why it is important to find your tribe. Being a part of a community that respects and understands your struggles and shares your accomplishments without envy is a vital step in doing what you love! There is an amazing power in female friendships! As a Style Collective Sister I am a part of a community that supports big ideas, dreaming big, and accomplished big goals!
If you are a new lifestyle and fashion blogger or a seasoned one I invite you to join the Style Collective Sisterhood. It has changed my life and I know it will do the same for you. Click here to learn more. For only $10 a month you will connect deeply with like-minded professionals and have access to tools, guides, and support to be a successful blogger.
I would like to introduce to you my friends who came out to support this event and me. These ladies amaze me with their creativity, passion, and heart. Make sure to check them out for style and lifestyle inspiration! If you are a business reading this these beauties are a perfect choice for your social media promotion projects. These gals are the real deal!
Style Collective Spring Meet Up Attendees List:
| To Thine Own Style Be True | Blogger | Debbie Savage | www.tothineownstylebetrue.com |
| Threads N Breads | Blogger | Mindy Nguyen | www.threadsnbreads.com |
| This Is How We Wear It | Blogger | Maria Guerrero | www.thisishowwewearit.com |
| Boy Cherie | Blogger | Caitlin Reyna | www.boycherie.com |
| Amber Nicole Fashion | Blogger | Amber Henahan | www.ambernicolefashion.com |
| Between You and Me Blog | Blogger | Marshel Ng | www.betweenunmeblog.com |
| Besos Alina | Blogger | Alina Orozco | www.besosalina.com |
| I Like To Talk A Lot Blog | Blogger | Claudia Materdomini | www.iliketotalkalot.com |
| Adrina Rose | Blogger | Adrina Rose | www.adrinarosemedia.com |
| Beauty and Colour | Blogger | Caitlin Rabyniuk | www.beautyandcolour.com |
| Fall Over Fashion | Blogger | Amira Omar | www.falloverfashion.com |
| Stylish Paradox | Blogger | Julie Harbour | www.stylishparadox.com |
| Simple Chic | Blogger | Armita Tabassi | Coming Soon |
| Marblelously Petite | Blogger | Abby Chhabra | www.marblelouslypetite.com |
| Moda Mob | Blogger | Nora Mansour | https://m.youtube.com/user/modamob |
| Moda Mob | Blogger | Ani Esmailian | https://m.youtube.com/user/modamob |
| Kathleen Anderson | Blogger | Kathleen Anderson | www.katanderson.net |
| Brocade Closet | Blogger | Melissa Mazariegos | www.brocadecloset.com |
| Aroma of Felicity | Blogger | Amaya Williams | www.aromaoffelicity.com |
| This Is Kris Joy | Blogger | Karissa Allen | www.thisiskrisjoy.com |
| Lauren Yes Lauren | Blogger | Lauren Mesquit | www.laurenyeslauren.com |
| Laugh Love and Hippie | Blogger | Kristina Coelho | www.laughloveandhippie.com |
| bo.do.ke | Blogger | Diana Menghini | www.lovebodoke.com |
| LavHa | Jewelry Designers | Jessica Forest + Nancy Lin DeGregori | www.lavha.com |
| Truth N Health | Blogger | Nancy Lin DeGregori | www.truthnhealth.com |
Shop This Look
Dress: c/o Shein
Bodysuit: Nordstrom Rack
Necklace: c/o The Songbird Collection
Purse: c/o Cocovann
Shoes: c/o Guilty Soles
Lipstick: Smashbox
In Partnership with Mesa Restaurant | Photography by Bleudogfotography
Amazing event and photography. Congrats to all.
Author
Hi Melissa! Thank you so much!!! xoxo
This event looks like it was so much FUN! I hope there’ll be east coast events like this, because I’d love love love to be a part of it.
x Kate
http://www.thegoldsister.com
Author
Hi Kate! Thank you so much!!! Let Annie know you would love to plan one and I know she would love!
this event looks so fun! I wish I could have gone!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Author
Hi Laura! I would of loved to have you there!!!
Aww! I love seeing so many Style Collective girls in one place!! You all look gorgeous 🙂 And congratulations for putting together such an amazing event!
Chanté | http://www.chante-louise.com
Author
Thank you so much Chante!!! This comment is so sweet!
Such a great event. I am so bummed that I missed it. Congratulations on the success of tjis event. Xoxo
Author
Thank you so much JJ!!! It means so much for you to say this!
It sounds like such and amazing event with so many details to appreciate! I am so proud of you for putting this together for your style collective sisters. That restaurant sounds amazing and the photos to capture the night are such a must and really share the energy of the event. I just wish I lived closer to have been able to experience the night as well. So proud of you babe! Great work!
Author
Thank you so much Jen! I would of loved you there!!! Love ya so much!
Debbie thank you for all your hard work. It was an amazing time. I was so grateful to be a part of this special sisterhood time. The venue was amazing, the gifts were out of this world, the excitement of meeting sisters, and the list goes on!! Everything was to perfection. This was a night to remember. Thank you for this memorable night!!
Author
Hi Maria! Thank you so much for your support! It was so wonderful to have you by my side. Meeting you was a dream come true!
What a fantastic evening!! You did a phenomenal job!! Wish I could’ve been there! How wonderful that women can support and teach each other in such elegance! Keep up the amazing work, I love reading your blog!
Author
Hi Amanda! Thank you so much! I wish you were there to party! I love and miss you!!! xo
Hi Debbie. I am really proud to call you SC sister. I recently join the group and i am so thrilled reading your post. It is so motivating to see empowered and passionate woman. Congratulations on the success of this event. I can only wish i was there. Look sooo fun!!!
So cool that you all met up! Looks like an awesome time. xx
anaprodanovich.com
Wow! I am so impressed with this Style Collective event you put together! You did a fantastic job girl and I wish I was closer to attend to this event! It looks like a wonderful time❤️
Such a fun event! I love the photos!
Emily
withstyleandgrace.net
Looks like a fun and fabulous event! Well done 😀
What a fun event! The photos turned out awesome. So amazing to get that many ladies together for a night out! 🙂
xox,
Kristin
http://www.amidwesternmix.com
It sounds like you had such a great event!
xo Jannine | http://www.happystylishfit.com
This looks so fun! What a great get together!
xoxo,
Amy
http://www.styleandsequins.com
looked so so so much F U N! such a great party! everyone just looks so happy!
♡Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com
Such an amazing event! Thank you so much for putting it together 🙂
Oh my gosh Debbie–It sounds like you did such an amazing job! The venue looked wonderful! I only wish I could have been there to be a part of this great experience!
Totally agree, choosing Mesa was the best idea Debbie! Thanks for being a wonderful host!
Debbie, you have completely outdone yourself! This event is absolutely beautiful and it looks like you all had to much fun. I wish I could have been there. I know how hard you worked on this and it shows. I also know how everyone appreciates the time you took to put this together. Gorgeous all around! Xo
Liz
http://Www.lizzieinlace.com
I had such a great time! Thank you for inviting me Debbie. It was so great to meet you. I can’t wait for the next meet up.
So sad I missed it, but life had other plans that day. You did an amazing job spearheading this event love! You should be proud. Everything and everyone looked lovely.
Xoxo
http://www.stylemefancy.com
Debbie, it looks like you had an amazing time! I love Style Collective 🙂 We are having our meeting here in DC next week and I am so exited!
Debbie, This is incredible. The amount of time and effort that went into this is so evident. I only wish I could’ve attended to support you!
Way to kill it!!
xo, Aubrey | thedandyliar.com
you did SUCH a great job planning! i had the best time with all my sisters
Debbie! So happy you shared your tips and your talents with us! You are like an event planner extrondonaire. The event was so flawless and perfectly planned, you made it look easy! Thank you thank you for all your hard work, the event was wonderful! You’re the best Debbie!
xxoo
i’m still on a high from this event! you did such an amazing job planning debbie, thanks for all your hard work!
Author
Thank you so much! I am so happy you were there to celebrate and support!
It was such a beautiful event! You did an amazing job!! xxo
Author
Thank you so much Armita! xo