Playing Catch Up

So it's been a while since I've posted anything here...been a little busy starting our new company AKMG. Since finishing business school last year, I have helped the CKMG partners plus Kim White start AKMG which is a performance based ad network. It's taking up the majority of my time so most of my future blog posts will be on the AKMG corporate site. Be sure to check it out and stay up-to-date on the crazy world of online media.

Six weeks post graduation...life is good! Since my last post, I went to the Bahamas with Steve and Emma for a Casino conference. We were lucky enough to stay in the Cove tower of the Atlantis which is definitely the way to go if you're planning to spend time in Paradise Island. It is a beautiful, tropical oasis that is only a 40 minute flight from Miami. We spent time with clients & friends and had a lot of fun in the meantime. We got stuck in several tropical storms which meant an extra long excursion to the Cove pool bar...of course since we couldn't go anywhere in the middle of the storm. On Sunday Steve reserved Cabana 6 in order to show our clients a good time and talk business at the same time. We had a meeting in our robes after exiting the pool and with a Kalik light in hand. But it worked since we closed a lot of business and formed solid relationships with clients from all over the world.

Back to Miami...I am actually enjoying Miami so much more since I've been gone so much. This past week was Ad Tech Miami which meant another whirlwind week of clients, meetings and dinners. Michelle from our LA office is here and is staying in my massive apartment at the Mirador. We are having a good time and have had great access to everyone that we needed to meet at the show.

So the Zottola has been in full wedding planning mode for BOTH Shanna and Aimee! This weekend will be the excursion to Boca Raton to look at wedding dresses for Shanna. We already have some beautiful ones in mind so hopefully it won't take too long and we'll walk out with a fabulous dress perfect for their November Miami Beach wedding!

I'm so happy to be heading home next Wednesday to see everyone and finally all be together again...I haven't seen my Dad since January which is WAY too long and I haven't seen Aidan and Vivian since last November which is awful. More to come after the trip!

Ok so somehow another 5 months went by since I've posted anything...school kind of got in the way of everything. But I'm officially done with graduate school and my MBA...which means I'll never have to go back to school again. What a good feeling!! The whole graduation ceremony was amazing. My family came down to Miami to help me celebrate...well we had a lot to celebrate considering Shanna's recent move to Ft Lauderdale, my graduation, Aimee's engagement and my mom's pending retirement (um what!). We had the best time and took advantage of us all being together. Then it was off to Puerto Rico with Antonis and Emma (aka Barby and Kenny) where we went hiking in the rainforest, swimming in the water falls and snorkeling offshore in Fajardo. Back to Miami for a day and then to Santa Monica to work with the West Coast CKMG crew and eat all kinds of tacos, of course! Last stop will be New York City to visit Greg...it's been way too long since my last visit to NYC.

Now it's time to look forward with my MBA in hand...I feel lucky to have stumbled upon the kings of search engine marketing...the Captain & SGP. We're looking to make some big things happen which is exactly what I need after a tough 2 years in school, living off of student loans (unfortunately they're making me pay those things back!).

More to come soon on our progress at CKMG and life in general.

So it's a new year and wow did 2007 start off wild & crazy in good old South Beach! I innocently returned from a nice & relaxing trip from the 'burgh with my family and the bender weekend basically started right when I arrived. That could have been because Shanna, the wild child, arrived a few hours after me and we headed directly to Steve's catered birthday celebration at the Loft. The party was extremely entertaining and most of the characters were present..."Papi", "the chef", "the special one", "the intelligent contractor", etc. The whole group then went over to Mokai to continue the party with a huge bottle of Imperial vodka which lasted us until 5 am! There was plenty of dancing on the couches all in the name of helping Papi celebrate!

The bender continued on Friday as we started off with a dinner party at the Snow Queen Vodka corporate apt in Sobe and then went to Prive for Antonis' bday celebration (I promise to NEVER go there again!). That night wasn't too crazy but filled with lots of dancing in the hip hop room! I forgot to mention the best part of the weekend, I was dogsitting the 2 most adorable dogs ever - Lucia and Carmen - who were absolute angels and went everywhere with us! Anyway, Saturday started off very innocently with what was supposed to be a quick brunch with Steve & Shanna before heading to the Standard pool. Well that never happened and we stayed at La Piaggia for over 5 hours consuming 5 bottles of French Rose wine which was fantastic! Who would ever want to leave that place with the great food, entertaining freak show & sand in between your toes? Too bad Steve and I weren't able to break up that couple...next time! The brunch group returned to the Loft for margaritas and brownies at which point Shanna & I ran out of steam big time!!

Sunday morning was filled with getting ready for NYE. We started off at the Loft (again!) before heading over to the house party on the Venetian Causeway. This house was spectacular with its bayfront views, pool, hot tub, large BBQ and amazing decor. After the party, Papi decided that he's ready for the big time which of course means moving to the Venetian Causeway! Anyway, we decided (well maybe I decided!) that it was time for Mokai...the Italian guys waiting for us were way too tempting to stay at the party! We ended the night by drinking Rose champagne at the Flamingo until after 6 am...what a weekend!!

So my parents arrive this Sunday and will be here for 10 days...it’s just what I need - complete detox and relaxing days with my family! And who knows what the rest of 2007 will bring but I hope it’s filled with all things Rose!!

So today is my birthday...another year gone which is actually a good thing this year because that means that graduation is near. My birthday "week" has been lots of fun so far. It started off with an entertaining dinner with Papi Patton and Bibs, the "special" one. Then I had dinner at Bond St, the best sushi in South Beach! And tonight will include a surprise from Nicole and Emma followed by drinks at Novecento and then Glass at the Forge. Tomorrow's quiz at 10 am might be a rough one...I think this will be my "dropped" quiz!

I can't believe it's already time for the holidays! I'm going home to Pittsburgh in 10 days...can't wait for the snow and cold weather, yeah right!! But it will be great to see everyone especially little Aidan and Vivian. The next few weeks will fly by I'm sure and then I'll be on a much needed 5-week break from school!!! Can't wait.

Back to work...more about my birthday to come!

Who can believe that it's already Halloween? I really can't especially since it always feels like summer in Miami so the concept of Fall is very foreign. And it also means that another year has passed and it's my birthday (ugh!). My last year in my 20's. How the hell did that happen either?! At least I'll be finished with my MBA soon and can start to make money so that I can own a place and have a savings/investments like an adult. About time, huh?!

So, the "season" is about to start here in South Beach and everyone is revving up for it. There are non-stop party invitations and people from up north who are starting to plan their trips down here. A very exciting and busy time. It will be even better when we finish the semester in early December!! Then only 1 more semester until freedom!!! Other than that, life is moving along rapidly...group projects, exams, case studies, etc. What a joy!

Off for a Starbucks run...going to be a long night of reading for school!

Well, it looks like the hard work paid off...first term so far with all A's. Very excited about that. Now just 3 more terms and no more school, ever! This term seems like it will be interesting again: entrepreneurship, advertising communications and business law (international implications).

So, I was having a conversation with Lindsay today at lunch and she made a really good point. In order to succeed, you must seize an opportunity head on, risk everything and just go for it, if it's something you truly believe in. Look at what Tom and Steve did with CKMG. Tom had a great position, VP of Sales, at InfoSearch and just picked up and left on the spot, with no guarantee that the company would take off. Steve lended Tom his expertise, kept his other company for awhile and eventually got rid of that too. I find that very inspiring and hope to achieve something similar one day. I guess going back for my MBA was a step in the right direction. Soon I'll have it and no one can take it away from me! Thank God, especially after all of the hard work, long nights and damn group projects!

Anyway, time is flying by and it's almost the holidays already. I booked my ticket home yesterday for Thanksgiving and I can't wait because I get to see my babies - Vivian and Aidan. I'm dying to see them. Now have to get back to work and researching search engine optimization.