I like to party. Everybody does. Let me tell you about one fabulous party.

First, I love a good list, so here’s my top six things that come together to make a great party:

1. Great friends with everyone out to have fun!

2. Bit of dress-up time to feel special

3. Banging tunes and time to dance, dance, dance!

4. Some really tasty nibbles

5. Some nice cold bubbles to put a spring in your step

6. Super party venue just waiting to kick off!

Friends

Thanks to the smashing crowd who came out in force to our Exeter fitness studio grand opening party. Such a fun crowd! You know who you are!

The most rewarding thing for me as a Jazzercise business owner is seeing you guys having fun, making new friends, smiling and throwing yourselves into a pumping dance routine. That’s what I saw big time on Friday night. You rock!

We know it doesn’t matter if you’re not the world’s best and most coordinated mover. All that matters really, is that you are out there giving it everything and getting a big buzz doing it.

How special it was to have the Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter attend our event and give such a great speech.

Thank you Deputy Lord Mayor! Everyone enjoyed chatting with you. You even took time to give my 14-year-old boy some advice on his rugby! He was raving about it on the way home! You are a wonderful lady and it was so nice for all of us to have had the opportunity to meet you.

Hair!

Tara from Head, Hair and Beauty did my hair and it just made me feel great. Tara and crew, I love you guys! You always take such good care of me. I felt like a million dollars on Friday night – even if I did kinda immediately throw myself into a pounding hour’s Dance Mixx!

Tunes

Our team of lovely instructors had so much fun putting together the one hour dance routine for the party. Some top tunes that really got everyone going like Clean Bandit, Sigala, Maroon 5, Billie Eilish and Little Mix. We soon had everyone whooping with delight!

What a crew of instructors we have now! Helen just brings the crowd with her, Sarah M drives hard to get heart rates racing and Janie giving such clear instruction so everyone is moving beautifully together.

Congratulations to our newest instructor. Carly, you really did a fabulous job. Who knew it was only the second class you have taught. Girl, you have skills!

By the way, I would just like to say thanks to my husband for installing the Yamaha sound system in the studio. I know he had a lot of fun working with Mark from Styles Audio in Exeter selecting it and putting it in - credit where its due, it is awesome!

Nibbles

The canapes from Exe Catering in Exeter were delicious and so beautifully presented. At my daughter, Hannah’s request, we went for the all-pescatarian option. What an inspired choice. I’d recommend Exe Catering to anyone. This little company is going places!

Bubbles

The Prosecco (and fizzy Elderflower) ran freely thanks to my little team of helpers, all dressed so smartly in their matching shirts. Thank you, my darlings! You did a great job.

It’s bit of a secret but I would to thank Helen’s employers who leant us some really important kit – tables, cool bags, and the brilliant champagne serving trays. Those things are a piece of engineering excellence! Thank you that very big institution in Exeter - we appreciate it!

Party Place

I love my studio. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of for my Jazzercise classes for 20 years. We garnished our Jazzercise mission statement with flowers and it just set it off so well.

If you haven’t seen the studio, please, please pop in. It’s kind of an antidote to a sweaty gym.

Time for a selfie! Jazzercise Exeter Girls.

We are still making improvements and adding to it, but it’s so light, spacious, clean and welcoming. Someone said on the night “those bathrooms are a heck of a lot nicer than I have at home!” Same for me, actually…

We put quite a bit of thought into who we wanted to share the party with, and kept coming back to Molton Brown. That Molton Brown brand, so respected globally and rightfully regarded for the highest levels of quality, is everything we would want to be associated with our studio. A perfect partnership! The ladies from Molton Brown Exeter put on a lovely display.

There was no way I was coming away from the party without something gorgeous from their range. Lucky me to have a daughter who knows me so well and bought me a little early Christmas present and launch celebration present. Vintage Elderflower bath and shower gel for me tonight!

Thank you all for such a great night. It’s one I’ll never forget. Great friends, dress-ups, dancing, tasty treats and bubbles, brilliant party venue – that’s the winning mix for a perfect party. Let’s have another one soon!

Oh, what a night!