On TV Twice This Week

I don’t typically blog about my TV appearances, except it’s been quite awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to represent Stampin’ Up!, and to have that chance twice in one week is worth noting!

Stampin’ Up! participated in the second annual Pinners Conference this weekend. We were a sponsor, which gave us the opportunity to promote our classes and Make & Takes offered at the conference. The classes, featuring Paper Pumpkin, were the focus on KUTV’s Fresh Living on Wednesday at the studio.

Friday’s promotion of the event was filmed at the venue, and I made one of the Make & Takes (cute Christmas tags) at our booth. Again, it was a little nerve-wracking because I only planned on showing projects and not making them, but it was much less so than Wednesday’s appearance.

Several employees worked hard to get ready for and work the two-day event. When I arrived yesterday and saw all the cheerful employees and the fabulous booth, I couldn’t have been more proud! The booth was designed to look like a Christmas tree lot and was filled with product and inspiration for the holidays. 

While I’m always glad to promote Stampin’ Up!, next time we’re invited to appear on TV, it’s someone else’s turn! Oh, wait…that would be Sara! She’ll be on The Today Show in December. I’ll keep you posted.

Everything's Going To Be Okay

Life is all about change, isn’t it? Even when we don’t want it, we least expect it, or can’t appreciate it, we know change is and will always be a part of life.

And we all manage change in our lives—great or small, negative or positive—differently. Some of us thrive on change and find a way to adjust and move forward quickly. Others dread change and look for any possible way to postpone it. The rest of us fall somewhere in between the two extremes.

For the most part, I’ve always felt that change, generally speaking, is something I accept and even embrace. Looking back over my life, I’ve managed to maneuver through some pretty difficult changes quite well, at least in my opinion. Sterling would probably agree with me. In fact, he’s called me “the move on girl”. When there’s a change to be made, and I know it’s inevitable, I usually make up my mind and move on.

What I’m finding is that the older I get, the slower I am at accepting change gracefully, especially when it’s personal. Maybe it’s just me. Either way, I analyze over and over, hold on to things longer, and grieve more.

I’m beginning to think my attitude toward change needs to change! Until then, I’ll keep repeating my sweetheart’s familiar and comforting words, “Everything’s going to be okay.” They may not be the same, but they’ll be okay.

Congratulations, Dawn

Sterling and I, along with Sara and Sean, enjoyed dinner last night with Dawn Griffith, our million-dollar achiever, and her husband Richard. It was the last event of her home office visit, and a perfect way to end the two-day, whirlwind trip celebrating her significant achievement.

It really was a busy couple of days. We kicked things off on Wednesday with the traditional welcome at the home office, where employees greeted Dawn with a standing ovation and then a reception featuring a few of her favorite treats. She and Richard toured the home office, visited with employees, got to help design a stamp set, and hopefully just enjoyed their moment in the spotlight.

Our million-dollar achievers get to choose what they want to do during their home visit, and in the past, most of them have chosen to spend a day with me, which I have absolutely enjoyed! Dawn also wanted to spend some time with me, but her request was a little different—she wanted to film  videos that she could use in her business.

We were happy to oblige! We ended up filming two videos, which made for a busy day yesterday. . . but an enjoyable one! Several others were involved in filming one of the videos, and if it turns out the way it was planned, it will be a FUN video. Dawn will be releasing the videos, so I’m not sure when or where they’ll be available, but I can’t wait to see them!

Dawn and Richard were also here for our traditional home office Halloween celebration, which is always fun. Some of the employees dress up, some bring their children to do cubicle-to-cubicle trick and treating, and we all get together for lunch and other fun festivities. Dawn mentioned how much she enjoyed being part of our home office Halloween—and it was great to have her.

Fun Fall Weekend

We started Saturday off by attending Cooper’s last soccer game. . . so fun to watch him! It was a crisp morning, and we huddled together until the sun came up over the mountain and warmed us up!

Saturday afternoon we went to Seth’s last lacrosse game of the season—again, what a treat to be able to watch him play. We haven’t made it to any of his games, so it was fun to spend some time cheering him on.

Our girls didn’t participate in soccer games and lacrosse games, so while I’ve heard a lot about “soccer moms,” I don’t really know what it means. But when you’re not used to going to multiple games on one day, it was certainly a tiny taste of what so many mothers of kids this age must experience as they spend their Saturdays chauffeuring and cheerleading their children.  We loved being there for the boys—and spending time on the sidelines with other family members.

After the lacrosse game we headed to a dear friend’s house to pick up my traditional birthday cake. For as long as I can remember, Kathy Pitt (an illustrator at Stampin’ Up!) has made me a German chocolate cake for my birthday. Although I assured her I was simply thrilled for one (her cakes are beyond description—I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious they are!), she insisted on making two for our family dinner on Sunday.

We had a wonderful visit with Kathy and Greg (her husband, who also works at Stampin’ Up!), and then we loaded up the car with the cakes PLUS two dozen sugar cookies. There’s only one thing that Kathy makes that are more delicious than her German chocolate cakes and that is her sugar cookies. Ask anyone who works at the home office, and they’ll tell you—she has quite the reputation!

I thanked her profusely, and Sterling and I drove away. We didn’t even get one block before Sterling pulled over to get one of the cookies, and we had to resist the temptation to sneak another one all the way home! And when family arrived on Sunday, I have to admit that one of the cakes already had a missing piece. . .

I also spent some time this weekend reading through a pile of hand-stamped birthday cards that had arrived from Stampin’ Up! employees. Sara dropped them off at the house the night before we left for the European convention. I loved reading each of the sweet messages from dear members of our Stampin’ Up! family.

 I think the birthday celebrations are now officially over. . .it’s been a wonderful month. Thanks to everyone who made it so!

My November Snack, Chat, and Stamp with Shelli Event (Oh My Goodies Stamp Set)

At our European convention last week, I shared my November CASE event during my stamping presentation, which focused on stamps (one of my favorite subjects, of course!). 

This month, my guests will be making these tags at my events.

My invite information:

Stamp, Chat, and Snack (SCS) at Shelli’s
Tuesday, November 11, at 7 p.m.
We’re heading into the holidays and you know you’ll need tags for your goodie gifts for neighbors and friends! Kick start the holidays with an evening of fun, friends, food and stamping! 

And here’s the information so you know what you need to provide for your guests to make these cute and easy tags at your party:

Demonstrator provides:

• Oh My Goodies Stamp Set
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad 
• Old Olive Cardstock
• Very Vanilla Cardstock
• Linen Thread
• Deco Labels Framelits Die
• 1/16" Circle Punch
• Scallop Oval Punch
• Large Oval Punch
• Big Shot 
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Here are some other projects that you can share to show the set's versatility.

This little bag with the tags tucked inside is a variation of the Make & Take tags that my guests will be making and would make a great gift for neighbors, friends, or coworkers. If you want to read more about my CASE events, check out my August blog here.