By JODI RALL
In the Bubble columnist 
Being the giving person I am -- work with me here -- when asked to attend a tasting to choose the menu for the Belk Friends and Fashion Show at Embassy Suites this past week, of course I flexed my “heck yes” muscle. I have often joked when asked if being married to a runner if I run with him? My answer back is always a quick, “No.” The only thing I run to is the refrigerator. Now you have a clearer picture why the YMCA is my second home.

All joking aside, it is an honor to be a part of this amazing event raising money and awareness for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. It's a long-standing tradition for many Brentwood women to dress to the nines on a Monday in April to see a top-notch fashion show right off the runways of New York.

Behind the scenes, what many guests don’t realize is that it takes months and months of precise preparation and planning. Choosing the menu to please 500 women is an important decision.

Embassy Suites catering manager Debbie Whiten met me in the lobby of the hotel where she explained how the tasting would work. Joining in my afternoon was none other than Design Her Living columnist Amy Freese who is stepping up to the plate this year as the Table Host Chair. Who better than a designer to help choose a menu, right?

As we entered the Athletic Club Restaurant at Embassy Suites, restaurant manager Allen Lehman  greeted us and said he hoped we liked what the chef had chosen.

I put on my best Barbie manners and trying to seem polished and refined -- as I sat in my yoga pants, having just come from a workout. The dishes chosen were placed on our table.

Sampled first was the Greek salad with grilled chicken, fresh spinach and romaine with feta cheese, garbanzo beans, pita chips, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, then drizzled with lemon-oregano vinaigrette.

Next up was the pistachio chicken salad with dried apricots and winter vegetables on a bed of field greens.

If this is making you hungry, you should be as the food was fabulous. Here is the thing, though, about making a choice for a large group, you have to take into consideration what the majority of guests are going to like. To that point executive chef Wade Combs joked with me “If you choose something the women don’t like, you are putting this on me aren’t you?” Why "fiddly-dee” chef, you don’t know me well at all now do you? Ladies, if you volunteer in any way. please memorize the advice I am offering to you today. When someone complains about your ‘volunteer’ work, here is the answer you give back: “Why thank you for letting me know of your dissatisfaction. I’m going to put your name down to be in charge next year so we can implement your wonderful ideas.”

Stops mean Barbie in her tracks every time. Put the claws away baby, a "true" Southern women rules with an iron fist, beautifully fitted with a velvet glove. Learned this rule back in Tallahassee, Fla., during my early Junior League days and it has served me ever since.

Are you wondering what we chose? Neither. "Allen, we hate to bother you but could you get the chef? We would like to design our own salad if possible." Instead of saying what he was probably thinking, Chef Combs graciously went back into the kitchen to assemble a new salad for us to taste.

While I will not give away our final decision, let me just say Amy and I think the guests will be pleased with our decision. And if not, you know the rule now.

Did I mention yet we got to sample deserts? Carrot cake and Chocolate Confusion Cake with raspberry sauce were our choices. A little birdie told me Sharon Ramsey, who along with Jane Alger are heading up sponsorships this year for the show, loves red velvet cake. Sharon, you come through with sponsorships and I will have any cake you want at your seat on April 16.

How long did we take to make our decisions? Almost three hours from start to finish. We women have to get our words in for the day. What can I say, first we had to get to know Debbie and her story, finding out she is from East Tennessee; we discussed Amy’s background and how she came to Middle Tennessee. And, of course, your very own Jodi in the Bubble who "never" has much to say (Ken doll would say to this “Yea, right!”) We had so much fun at one point I laughed till my eyes watered and realized this was not probably very Barbie-like of me. Looking over, the men at another table were all staring, like a Harry Met Sall” kind of moment, “What is SHE having?” No, we were not drinking.

Thank you to the staff at Embassy Suites and Amy for joining in a fun afternoon.

Lastly, I want to share something about volunteering. First, my friend Carla Arnette shares advice her mama gave her, “Charity begins at home.” Keep things in balance. Find a place you can make a difference, and it has nothing to do with money. Tithing with time can be as valuable as the person who has the good fortune to write the check. We are not "rich" in the financial sense of the word; our riches come from faith and family.

Don’t be intimidated to get involved, as people are people. I say this because as women sometimes we hold back as “I don’t fit in with those ladies.” Sadly in Brentwood many times assumptions are made about the size of houses lived in, etc. None of it matters my friends. Sorry to say when we leave this earth you can’t take it with you. Giving back matters and teaching our children to give back early in life, will be one of the greatest parenting gifts you can give.

Until next week my friends.

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com. Follow her "Jodi in the Bubble" blog by Clicking here.