Jump Back Ball: We Went Back to the Future

This past Saturday, Playhouse Square played host to the 24th annual Jump Back Ball. The theme this year was Back to the Future-- lots of Doc's and Marty's and even one DeLorean. I had a really fun time hanging out with friends and seeing people I don't get to see very often. In fact, I had a little TOO much fun- note to self: Gin + bubbles will result in no good.

This year, I wore a red Badgley Mischka from Rent the Runway, and of course, lots of sparkle. My bracelet is the Stella & Dot Petra and my ring and earrings are from H&M.

And now, some pictures from our evening!

Clockwise from top left: Nick, Dave and Rich; a mini Miami reunion, posing with Jessi and KK, lovely ladies Charity, Lisa and Kelly

Clockwise from top left: Allison, Christina and Charity, selflies with Jessi, Renee (who is one of my favorite instructors at Harness), the adorable Rebecca and Adam.

From left: with Clefashionista Rachel, Prom posing with Nick

Clockwise from top left: Another pic with Kelly and Lisa, the part of the night when things started to go very wrong :) (damn you champagne bar!!), Jessi and Liz, and yet another selfie to round out the night!

Overall, another fun Jump Back Ball! I know that the Playhouse Square Partners team will be thinking of themes for Jump Back Ball 25, and I would love to see a nautical theme (glamor like the Titanic, but without the sinking, or even pirates!!), or a Superheroes and Supervillians theme, or even old Hollywood glamor!

And while I recover from my hangover today, I'm already looking forward to next year!!

Disclosure: I was offered one ticket in exchange for helping spread word about the event. As always, all opinions are my own, and based on my own experience. Thank you for continuing to support posts like this one! 

Jump Back Ball 2014

This past Saturday, Nick and I joined our friends for our 4th Jump Back Ball in a row. If you recall, the tickets for this event sold out astonishingly fast-- in less than two weeks!!! I'm not sure, but if I were to guess, the appeal of the James Bond theme was just too much to resist.

As I've done with most special events lately, I started out my afternoon with an appointment with Carolina at Tease. Carolina totally gets me-- I take her a bunch of seemingly disparate pictures and she always turns them into a style I adore!! This time I gave her the extra challenge of saying I didn't want a whole lot of pins, and she LITERALLY SEWED MY HAIR INTO PLACE. It didn't' move all night, or even the next day (as you will see in the pictures that follow).

To start off the night, Nick and I took a cab (why don't we have uber?!) to Cowell and Hubbard to grab and early dinner.

My handsome date looking very bond-esque. 

The beginning of the end….

After dinner, we convened to Lisa and Kelly's room for some mingling and bubbs….

Sean and Matt looking dapper as always!

Our lovely hostesses both beautiful in gorgeous beaded dresses.

We headed over to Playhouse Square shortly after 8 pm to join in the festivities. I didn't really do a great job taking pictures (at this point I had consumed a martini, and a couple of glasses of bubbs) but my dress is a fuchsia chiffon J.Crew (other colors available on sale here), and I accessorized with earrings I wore on my wedding day, and this stunning Stella and Dot bracelet.

There was a lot of dancing, and drinking, and at some point I confiscated Donna's Pharrell hat cutout (I apologized on Sunday), but I was having a ridiculously fun time

Above: Allison and Kelly

Below: Allison mid-squeal

And then towards the end of the night, things started to get blurry and Nick and I (and my aching feet) cabbed it back home :)

I wish I could tell you about the bands or the food, but I was honestly having so much fun with friends, that I wasn't really paying attention to details. However, if you are interested in those details, you should read Kimberly's blog post. 

The next morning, I woke up none-too-worse for wear, and promptly headed to a Jump Back debrief brunch wearing my hair unaltered from the previous night. See, I told you it held up pretty well?!

Overall, another fun Jump Back Ball (possibly my most favorite one so far!) Sean has a fabulous idea for a theme next year, and I really really really hope the committee uses it!!

Disclosure: I was an official blogger for Jump Back Ball and received one free ticket to the event. As always, all opinions are 100% my own! 

We Jumped Back Two Spaces (The JBB 2013 recap)

This year was my third consecutive year in attendance of Jump Back Ball at PlayhouseSquare. Each year, Jump Back Ball teaches me important lessons.
In 2011 I learned: Don't drink gin all night. Nothing good will come of it.
In 2012 I learned: Don't wear heels higher than 3 inches. Platforms are great.
In 2013 I learned: NEVER wear a dress with a train.

With that, let's get to the bit that everyone is waiting for, the pictures....

This series was taken on stage, which was decorated in the theme of Candyland. I HATE using flash, so these pictures were taken in the natural light of the theatre...

The stage....

With Jessika, Michelle, and Allison

Sean and Matt (possibly the best dressed couple of the night), Jessika and Dave, your truly with N (I LOVE that he rocked a polka dot shirt)

Jen and Michelle 

L to R: (sorry, I don't know who this is!), Lisa, Tabitha, and Michelle

With Ginenne and Alexa 

Jessika, Lindsay, Joe G, Sean and Matt 

At some point N decided to try on Sean's glasses. I think he looks very dapper!!

For those who are curious, I wore an ABS dress, acquired on bluefly.com. My little clutch came  from India, and I'm wearing the earrings I wore when N and I got married. My bracelet is Prabal Gurung for Target, and even though you can barely see it, I'm wearing the Rebecca Minkoff pave ring that I first blogged about here.

Overall, it was yet another FABULOUS night at Playhouse Square. Major dress trends were sequins (LOTS AND LOTS OF SPARKLES!!), black and red. There were a few people in costume, but I would say that of the 3 years I've attended, this year probably had the fewest people who dressed the theme. Makeup wise, there were some great bold lips, and of course, no shortage of false eyelashes (myself included).



And at the end of the night, with a good buzz, and tired feet, N and I cabbed it home to this....

Can't wait to do this all over again next year!!!!!


Disclosure: As a blogger for Jump Back Ball I received one complimentary ticket to attend the event, and purchased a second one for N. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Another fabulous Playhouse Square Party

If you read my blog last week, then you know that I was SUPER excited to attend the Lexus Dark Ride Event at Playhouse Square this past Saturday. It was everything I expected and more!! Jessi, clefoodgoddess and I walked in and were immediately ushered onto a red carpet for pictures. That set the tone for the rest of the night, and keeping with that theme, I have to warn you that this is a picture-heavy post!

Above and below: The scene that greeted us as we walked in. There were two platforms with dancers performing interpretive dance while a DJ played in the background. 

Above: with contest winner Hungry in Cleveland 

Above: my fellow fabulous Cleveland bloggers that hosted giveaways on their blogs: Allison, Alexa, and Alana. I felt left out not having my name start with the letter "A". : )

Below: The Absolut Wild Tea Ice Sculpture. They had this peach cocktail that tasted exactly like peach iced tea!

Above: The whole reason we were there; the Lexus CT 200h. And Below, me in the car. It smelled like glorious "new car" and had a really comfortable drivers seat. That was pretty much the extent of my car-exploration; I was ready for some MUSIC!!

With the always fabulous JV

And, the Talent, Dev (who was so fun!!!). I will be downloading her music ....

 ...and Jay Sean 

Not to be outdone, Seanski decided to get in on the act...

And so the night ended with me hobbling on my excruciatingly painful feet, which I continue to nurse back to normalcy today. The night was SOOOOOO worth the pain. I CAN'T WAIT for next year's event!!