Leadership Conference, etc.

These are the goodies I received at the Leadership Conference, a stamp set that will be available in the Summer Occasions Mini Catalog, With All My Heart Stamp Set (from the current Occasions Mini Catalog), Conference Agenda with notes, Downline Handbook Template, a gorgeous tote bag in black, white and pink, a quilt square made by the Stampin' Up! warehouse personnel, plus a Stampin' Up! badgeholder bag and a special pen. And, as a member of the randomly chosen 'Green Waves' group, I also won a prize packet that included the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper, Real Red Corduroy Buttons and the On Board Heart Shaped Book! We were treated with yummy lunches everyday, a variety of inspiring classes, make and takes, and lots of demonstrations, too!

At the Manager's Reception we were greeted at the bus with a Rebozo (A long rectangular shawl of hand-woven fabric with fringed ends worn over the head and shoulders chiefly by mexican women. Mine was Brilliant Blue!) Then we were transported (by bus) back in time to Old Mexico where we were greeted by a Mariachi Band and then treated to home-made salsa, tortillas, churros, and other mexican goodness! Then we went into the arena to see a Mexican-American Rodeo. They passed out maracas and bottles of rootbeer and we cheered on the rodeo riders and rope twirlers. Everything was wonderful until one of the riders broke his leg, right in front of us. Poor guy! (We got an update later that said that he had broken through both of the bones on the bottom of his leg, but that he would be back in the saddle in THREE MONTHS! Wow!). After that, we were treated to dancing demonstrations from one of the local high schools and dinner that included Grilled Tenderloin of Beef with Pearl Onions and Mushroom Ragout paired with Ancho Honey Glazed Shrimp and a Sonoran Braised Chicken Enchilada! Dessert was a variery of fruit filled Empanadas. Yummy! We also received a beautifully wrapped Love Bandit Stamp Set. I wish I had a picture but my camera was acting up so I didn't get one before it was opened! :(



A Stampin' Up! Regional was planned for the day after leadership ended so Mindy and I decided to stay (along with a large group of the most wonderful women!). We were given the Vintage Vogue Stamp Set and were able to do a variety of make and takes with it. Lunch was boxed (which made Mindy very happy, she just wasn't into the southwestern types of food we had up to that point :). There were business tips and demonstrations, and I got to talk to Shelli Gardner for a few minutes. She was so gracious! At one point her husband, Sterling, came around and took a picture of the girls at our table and, would you believe it showed up on Shelli's blog the next day?! Wow! We're superstars... or is that STAMPstars? LOL! Anyway, it was a great day and if you ever get the chance to go to one of Stampin' Up!'s Regional Seminars, I highly, highly recommend it.


So, these are just some of the things that I brought back with me from the Leadership Conference in Phoenix (you'll have to come see me if you want to see all of the swap cards I received!!!). I wanted to wait until my downline had the chance to see it all. So many fun things, you can imagine how much trouble I had fitting everything into my bag to come home! Next year I'm going to take an extra bag just for my giveaways and swaps! And, you can bet that I'll carry it on with me. Clothes can be replaced, but this stuff can't :)