Just as I share some of my personal thoughts and views, I invite you to share yours. All I ask is that you keep your comments appropriate. I won’t feel badly about removing comments that are offensive. That doesn’t mean you can’t be honest—I want honest feedback—but I like to fill my life with positive people and positive things. I guess that means that if you have to say something negative, say it nicely!
More than anything, I want you to leave here feeling inspired and valued—and like we've had a nice visit!
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 05:55PM I just wanted to quickly post--I'm having problems getting the post and visuals up for last night's Workshop of a Lifetime for Sharon Houlihan--but it was fabulous. If you're checking for it, I hope to have everything worked out tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. . .. Happy Easter, everyone!
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 01:38PM I might have left the Aloha Spirit behind me in Hawaii, but I flew right to the world of Southern Hospitality—which is alive and well in Georgia! What a great group of people I met at the workshop yesterday.
Of course, I have to start with the woman who won the Workshop of a Lifetime—LaMuir Baze, a delightful mother of four. . . and did I mention they were quadruplets?! LaMuir’s husband is in the military and has been deployed several times (he’s currently in Afghanistan, scheduled to return late this year or early next year), so LaMuir is organized and efficient PLUS warm and welcoming! A wonderful combination.
Her workshop was full of other mothers and military wives, several of whom were newbies. The projects were simple, but I really like them, especially our Happy Birthday Make & Take. And the guests seemed to be impressed as well. I heard a couple say that LaMuir had invited them to come to workshops before but they hadn’t been able to make it—and they had no idea what they were missing! (Love to hear stuff like that. . . ) LaMuir got four bookings (Woo hoo!), plus I saw her showing one guest a recruit kit, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
The workshop included a light lunch, and I so enjoyed the conversations—you never would have guessed we’d all met just a few minutes earlier. We talked mostly about mothering and children and all the wonderful joys and challenges that we all face. It really felt like we were just a group of good friends. . . exactly what I love most about a Stampin’ Up! workshop!
It’s spring break plus Easter weekend here in the South, so most of the women had children home from school. Kids were outside selling lemonade, and LaMuir’s quads and their friends wandered in and out a couple of times—it was a very delightful, cozy, spring-ish feeling!
LaMuir’s demonstrator event was equally warm and friendly, and a bit bigger. There were more than 80 guests, and she’d patterned the event after a regional. . . demonstrations and stamping and goodies and lots of sharing and friendship. I enjoyed taking photos with people (LaMuir and her friends had created a fabulous photo op corner!) and chatting and just being with people I love!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10:28PM All I can say is the Aloha Spirit is alive and well in Hawaii—especially in Cindy Baughman’s downline and at her Workshop of a Lifetime. Both Sterling and I got in the car after the workshop last night, looked at each other, and said, “That was FUN!”
Cindy has been a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up! for more than 10 years. She served on the Advisory Board, and I know her fairly well. I haven’t seen her for awhile—and I’ve never been to her house—but I felt like I was coming home last night as we hugged and connected again. She is one of the most gracious women I know; you can’t help but love her!
The workshop went well. There were several stamping newbies, as well as some experienced stampers. One of the Make & Takes featured the watercolor technique—I probably wouldn’t do that again for a Make & Take at an event with new stampers (one of those lessons you learn as a demonstrator). Everyone did a great job (and a few guests did order the AquaPainter), but I could tell it was harder to get the knack of watercoloring when you’re not familiar with stamping to begin with.
The other project went over well though, and the whole atmosphere was incredibly warm and friendly. I think Cindy got three bookings (I didn’t find out for sure, but there were three note cards gone from my bookings basket, so I’m hoping. . . ), and I’m not sure about sales.
And the food . . .holy cow! Because many of her guests had come straight from work, Cindy (and several of her customers) set out quite a feast. Sterling and I didn’t have time to eat during the workshop, but before we left to catch our flight (the red-eye back to California), we filled up a plate. We ate as Sterling drove to the airport, and we wished we’d taken more! There were several things I’d never tried before, and one thing in particular (a cranberry salsa) I’d love the recipe for (hint, hint, Cindy).
Cindy went all out for her demonstrator event, which included fabulous food, a program with island dances, and valuable time to get to know her downline. Cindy told her group that she had set a goal to earn a Workshop of a Lifetime because she wanted the demonstrators in her group to have the opportunity to meet me; because they live in Hawaii, many of them don’t make it to convention or leadership. I felt very special—and was thrilled with the opportunity to meet everyone!
Aloha to all of my Hawaiian friends—I will miss you!
Monday, March 29, 2010 at 03:30PM When we saw that one of the Workshops of a Lifetime was in Hawaii, Sterling spoke to be my assistant for that workshop—and he also insisted that we come a little early. I didn’t argue with him at all! So we’ve been here in Hawaii enjoying the gorgeous weather, the fabulous food, and the wonderful opportunity to work (I’ve slipped quite a bit of work in between eating and resting) with a view of the beach in the background. (Can that really count as work?)
We haven’t done much else. We have taken a quick trip to Matsumoto’s (the best shaved-ice place ever!) and Cholo’s (they make a cheese, spinach, and chicken enchilada to die for!), gone to church, and just rejuvenated. If you can be boring in Hawaii, we’ve been it!
I think I’m mentally preparing for this next stretch of workshops—it will be the longest yet without returning home. We do the workshop here, then I fly from Hawaii to Georgia in a day, meet up with Sara, and do two workshops on Thursday and Friday. I get to spend Easter weekend with the Browns, and then next week I do workshops in Michigan before arriving home two days before Shanna’s wedding. We planned the bridal shower on Friday so I could be there, and the wedding is on Saturday. And then I’m off again on the next Monday for more workshops!
So I’m doing all the resting and rejuvenating I can here, while I can. Aloha!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 09:21PM Our day spent with Carolyn was fabulous! From the light lunch with demonstrators (where I had the best flourless chocolate cake ever!) to the evening workshop, I enjoyed every minute! And I think Sterling enjoyed it too—he even got an ovation from the ladies for his Make & Take performance!
Carolyn has to be one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met! I had no idea, but she actually had a workshop scheduled in the morning before I even arrived, and then the day’s activities with me. . . And to top things off, her daughter (who visits her once a year for only a few days) was in town, and so I’d stolen precious daughter time as well. But you’d never know it; she was so gracious and kind. And it was fun to meet her three daughters (the other two live nearby), who are as kind as their mother!
The workshop was warm and cozy, and everyone seemed so happy to be there. We had at least three people who had never stamped before, and they LOVED discovering this new art! I enjoyed seeing the stamping bug bite. . .
They enjoyed the Make & Takes; in fact, several of the seasoned stampers let their creativity shine through, adapting an accent here and an image there; it’s always fun to see the variations people come up with.
I had fun sharing a different stamping kissing technique that several of the guests hadn’t seen before, plus when we were stamping I pointed out the wet/dry side of the Stampin’ Scrub, which several of the guests hadn’t known about either. It’s always nice when you feel like you’ve shared an “aha” moment with a fellow stamper.
Two of Carolyn’s guests discovered they’d known each other more than 20 years ago (a teenaged Madeline used to babysit Sharon’s children). And the same Sharon, who has been Carolyn’s friend for years, never attended a workshop until yesterday, but she was one of three guests who signed up as a hostess.
And during the day’s discussions with demonstrators, we shared inspiring conversations about workshops (two demonstrators mentioned how much they had enjoyed focusing on workshops in their personal businesses), products, and the many benefits of being a demonstrator. It was just a delightful day from beginning to end—once again, in large part because of the people we got to interact with throughout the day!