Stampin' Up! Convention

Ahh, Convention! I have sufficiently recovered to hit the highlights of the week. I love SU's annual convention. As a demonstrator, I always get tons of ideas and feel rejuvenated and revved up. As an employee, I get to reconnect with demo friends, make new demo and employee friends, and watch my team be simply amazing!

I was thrilled to have some time with Jacque Craig (my soul twin in Hawaii). I met her last year at Founder's Circle and we found out we have many things in common. While I don't get much face time with her, she's a familiar friend already. Know what I mean-someone you feel like you've known forever?

I can't even begin to mention names of other demonstrators-I know I would forget someone! When I close my eyes I see and feel a sea of smiles, hugs, quick visits and affirmations. I am amazed at how many of these wonderful women truly impact my life. They probably have no idea how much I look forward to even the briefest of moments with them. It might even be pathetic in a 'you don't have a life' sort of way-but I truly feel blessed to be around them.
I met some new demo friends and look forward to sharing gluten free recipes with them! Bring it on, ladies!

As for connecting with employees, I love to visit with Paula Hogan and Pam Harbin at our events. Seems I don't get enough time with them-so just eating a meal together reminds me of their great personalities and talents. I try to eat with people I don't normally work with just to give me a chance to get to know other people better.

My team (Amanda, Holly, Mark, Carrie, Shannon & Donna) was amazing! Amanda and Holly were mostly behind the scenes, but their support made the breakout classes go smoothly. Mark stepped in for Ben at the last minute and did a great job interviewing Lisa Fast. He's a terrific guy and I like seeing him get a chance to present. Donna's class with Missy Shipman was so polished! They worked together very well and Donna really helped Missy to shine. It was informative and motivating. Shannon had a big challenge to coordinate everything Ruth, Joan and Christina needed for demo theater-and she presented some fun ideas herself! The three demo presenters really benefited from Shannon's dedication. I was glad she also got some time to stamp on stage and have fun doing it. She's an amazingly dedicated gypsy! Sweet, talented Carrie was my convention lead-so she took care of sooooo many details in preparation for the event-then she researched and presented a great break out class and stamped on main stage! Wow-what a lot to juggle. She came through like the professional she is. Love her to death.

I also got to present at the last general session. My oldest sister Loene and my two darling friends Anita and Cathi came to watch. It was so much fun to stamp for the demonstrators. What a rush! I had a fun ending to the presentation-Jill Kocherhans and I sang a couple of years ago at an NBA ball game (such an amazing experience) and I tricked her into thinking Anita needed us to sing at a Ute event the week after convention. We rehearsed quite a bit the weeks prior, then on Friday right after Spencer finished singing, Jill said "You and I should sing sometime," and I said, "Oh, we will!" Then I explained that we were really singing together the next day and she cried because she was so touched and excited. I don't know why, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I hope our Canadian demos understood and didn't feel slighted. A demo posted the song on YouTube, so here it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URs0FADNd4o


All in all it was a great week. I wasn't feeling 100%, but I loved every minute of it.