Founder's Circle Trip!

Well I am finally writing about the AWESOME time I had on the Founder's Circle trip!!

The Founder's Circle consists of the demonstrators who are the top achievers for the past Stampin' Up! year. This was my 3rd year to make the Founder's Circle, out of 6 years as a demo. Among other things, all the Founder's Circle Achievers get invited to an all-expense-paid, pampering, relaxing trip. It is SWEE--EET!

This year there were about 130 demonstrators there. Pretty elite, considering there are about 50,000 demonstrators in the U.S!

Our destination was St. George, UT. (Not too far from home for me, but with the pampering, no kids, me-time...I might as well be in Timbuktu-it's definitely a "getaway"!) St. George was great because we were so close to shopping, the Theatre, and good Restaurants. We stayed at a brand-new Marriott and we took up the whole hotel! It was great because they could just cater to us specifically, as if we aren't spoiled enough on this trip... Here is what greeted me on my room door!

All this to myself!?

Stampin' Up! staff working hard to make sure all is fab for us.

Seriously they do an unbelievable job. This year they even made little Founder's Circle yearbooks for us, with picures and e-mail addresses of everyone there. We signed them and stuff too. I felt like I got to know even more people than usual.

The first night we had an elegant sit-down dinner and it was great! All the food was wonderful the whole time. After dinner I went to Mamma Mia! with some friends. One of the other nights we went to "Big River" at the Tuacahn.

I had a ton of great friends there-which is part of the fun of trips like this. You get to know a lot of amazing people. This is me with my UT buddies: Wendy Knowles and my own downline Ashley VanCamp. Ashley and I hung out a lot and had such a great time. It was one of the things that made this trip so special. I love these girls!

The Gathering Place-designed for us to gather in...it was all lovely and comfy. Plus they gave us a little tin bucket to fill with candy as desired...

...and refill as desired!

One night everyone met in the gathering place in Pajamas,

and we shared all our best business tips with each other. Shelli had her mom with her this year, it it always great to visit with her and hang out. Shelli actually got a cute pic of the entire group on PJ night and posted it on her blog here.Another important part of PJ night: the big SWAP! Here are just a few of my faves.

One SU thing I will never tire of: pillow gifts! And this trip had some of the best gifts ever! Pink leather purse and wallet, fuzzy pink blanket, travel bag, charm necklace, stamps & accessories, and more!

Make and takes, of course!!

We barely squeezed in time for them among all our SHOPPING!!Just a few of my purchases--oh and my cute new wallet from SU!

One day we took a trip to Kanab, to the stamp manufacturing facility there.

Indeed!

The Maine Blueberry bus was my ride the whole time.

It's pretty fun with games and fun stuff. I even won at Bingo!

We checked out Shelli's apartment over the facility. She stays there whenever she is working in Kanab. Of course it was fabulous!

After the Kanab plant, we visited the park that SU built, with the rubber ground cover. it's bouncy. One of my good SU pals, Dawn Rapsas.

The park was even more fun that usual with crazy Ashley to spice things up. The entire ground is covered in Shredded Stampin' Up! rubber. It is a sight to behold.

On the last night we went to a schmancy golf course/resort for an outdoor dinner and movie. It was gorgeous, yummy, and so fun! It was set up with a huge outdoor screen and director chairs for us to sit in and watch. We saw "No Reservations." It was kind of fun that the resort is where they filmed High School Musical 2. It was a great finale to a really nice trip. I hope I will have this opportunity again!

There was a full snack bar with fresh popcorn and everything.

It just does not get cuter than Wendy and Wendy showing off designer series paper popcorn holders, handmade by Shelli! :)

After our movie night, we didn't want to go to bed 'cause then the trip would be over! So we stayed up playing Phase 10-and met a new friend, Barb Mullikin. As we discussed, this was a good way to end the trip.

Hope to see all of you next time!

Thank you Stampin' Up! for making us feel so valued!

I had a wonderful welcoming-home too. Thank you John and my fam for taking care of everything so I could be gone for 5 days!