Well it was hard to believe but it was the last full day at Founder's Circle. It just seemed like we got there. We all were able to sleep in because we did not have to be anywhere until getting on the bus at noon to go to our Fabulous Final Event.
I got up and dressed in my new clothes and headed down for breakfast. I ate biscuits and gravy, oh that is my favorite thing to order when we go out for breakfast, and if I can I always order a plate of fries, there is nothing like fries and gravy…it's better with brown gravy, but beggars can't be choosers.
So we all headed up to our rooms to don our new pink bowling shirts, we were chatting it up in the elevators. Trying to decide "are we really bowling?" "can they make us bowl?" "what about those Demonstrators with long fingernails, how are they going to hold the ball?" So we headed over to the gathering place to see who all was ready. Speaking of elevators I just heard on the news that elevator buttons are dirtier then the toilet…OMG! how many times did I touch the elevator button at Founder's? Quite a few, looks like I'll be using my sleeve from now on, I usually flush the toilet with my foot cause that handle is all germy, but I don't think I am talented enough to push an elevator button with my toe…can you imagine someone catching you with your foot up there doing that? What would you say? "Ummm, I was born in the jungle and raised by apes…nice to meet you my name is George-ette."
Here's Mandy we were taking pictures of each other..ha!
Here's Tiffany, Dawn Griffith and I. It was nice getting to know Dawn better.
This sweet lady Missy Shipman is such a peach. She came up to me at convention and was probably the first person that I did not actually know to congratulate me on earning Founder's Circle, she kissed my cheek and gave me a big hug. She is such a doll, and I am proud to call her my friend.
Look at that sea of pink. We were all waiting to get on the buses, and trying to figure out if we needed to be with our team mates already.
So while we were driving on the bus, we were all trying to figure out where we were going and then we pulled into the convention center that we had the regionals at. On the building was a big sign and it said Gun Show. I was like are we gonna be the targets? I mean how hard would we be to miss eh? I think it was Pam that said in the mic of the bus. "We are not going to the Gun Show". So we all just followed each other in, and the room we entered had big black curtains on the glass walls so we could not even see what we were going into.
Then we walked in and we all just laughed.
Wii were going to bowl after all. There was about 15 huge screens and they were all set up to play Wii bowling. Now I have played a time or two with Eric, and I wish he had taught me his tricks on getting strikes each time.
We ate our meal first, and I couldn't believe what we were eating. You had your choice of brats, or…a hamburger…ha! My last meal that SU! gave us and it was a hamburger…remember I told you the two meals I ate that SU! did not provide I ate a hamburger and fries each time. Too funny.
The room was decorated all retro style with records and fun flower arrangements to look like ice cream sundaes.
Our table was all set, and we even had our names on our placemats. So this would be from that master list they warned us about, if we swapped scarves with anyone. Ha! Looking back now I am so glad that SU! made us do this, cause I only knew one girl at my table before, and that was Caroline LeBel, the rest were all new people to me, and I am so glad that we were on the same team, even though we did not win any prizes, we had the best team ever!
Look how cute the centerpiece was, and the little coke bottles were so cute. I actually drank mine and brought home the empty bottle. Heck I even took my coaster!
Here's Meg and I. Look how cute she is with her little foot cocked out crooked. We were in teams of 4 to play the game and Meg and her team went first.
Here's our full team before we started to play. We were called the Bitty Buttons. The pink is almost blinding in this picture eh? Looks more like Pepto Bismol Buttons.
Here's Kim Peck ready to throw the first strike. Cindy Baughman and Tamie Ackerson looked on.
Then it was our turn to play. After we finished, I actually got the highest score from our foursome, I didn't realize I was competitive till I started to play then I was really focused. We stood with our score and did the hand signals for our number. There is me, Fanny Trepanier, Caroline LeBel, and what is Patty Chenail doing? She is doing the loser sign, she was so funny! I can hardly wait to get to know her better.
So we were told that we would have to do a cheer, and then we would be voted on by judges. So we had all gone out in the hallway, kinda like American Idol does, and we practiced and came up with a cheer. What is funny is Fanny is french, so Caroline had to translate stuff to her, BUT she does know some songs, like Grease, and some Elvis in english (even if she does not know what she is saying) so we picked a song that would work and we figured she would be our secret weapon, no one would expect her to sing so beautiful and in ENGLISH!!!
Don't you think we should have won?
So on the bus ride back Dawn and I got our picture taken together, I did not even remember us holding hands for it, until I uploaded it, how fun. She is so dang cute.
I also had to definitely get my picture taken with my bud Lynsay Mahon, I didn't get to see her much cause she was always hiking, or running, or rock repelling. No wonder she is in such great shape.
So before I had left for my trip Tiffany had asked if I would show her how to watercolor, and I said sure, then Ann Clemmer asked if I would show her and her downline Karen too. So I said that they should bring some things stamped and I could show them. Well the word got out and next thing you know a few more people wanted me to show them, and that was fine by me but I only had stamped so many things to show. In my room I showed Karen Duke and Julie Salva. So down in the gathering place the last night I showed a few people. (well the group got to be more then a few but it was fun). Here I am with Selma, she is the sweetie that made the cute paper cupcake that our Simply Adorned necklace was in. She was asking me a few questions. If I earn the trip next year I will try to maybe (if I am allowed – not sure if there are rules, cause everyone needs to be able to partake in stuff ya know) but anyway a few asked if I would do it next year, and if I can I will try to do it different so that everyone has a stamped thing and we can do it together.
Oh and stay tuned I have a video to show you soon, so you too can learn to watercolor. If you can not wait till then, you can always check this tutorial out I did a couple years ago, this was before I did videos so it is pictures. Just click on this link.
After all the fun times down in the gathering place, it was time to head up to our room and pack. But what would we get for the last night? Oh it looks like a cake.
OMG! It's an amazing sweater and look at the details…
The Stampin' Up! logo…in rubber even!
Our striped ribbon and our vintage ribbon too. How sweet. What a one of kind…I mean a one of 135 kind of sweater. I love it, and it is Early Espresso color. I'll need it when I go visit my BFF Tracy as the weather will be cooler there.
I was so glad that I had packed a smaller suitcase inside my bigger suitcase cause I totally needed it to bring all my loot home. Bonnie calls it SWAG, but I need to look that up. I had said night to everyone, Shelli even gave us a hug goodnight down in the gathering place cause they were gonna head out early in the morning.
So after I packed and I was in my jammies, I actually turned on the tv, I was gonna enjoy my last night, I had brought some pizza pringles from home, and I thought gee I'd lay in bed and watch Two and a Half Men and munch…like I needed it right? So I popped open the can and ate one, yum. I set the can on the night stand, and I got into bed. I reached for the remote that was sitting behind the pringles can and I by accident hit the can, and all over the floor went my pringles, not a one stayed in the can. OMG! I was so mad, I guess someone was telling me I really didn't need those pringles, so I scooped them up, and tossed them in the garbage, cursing and grumbling the whole time. Plus now I was like gee the maids are gonna think I'm a pig, I almost called room service to bring me a vaccuum, but can you imagine, midnight and someone is vaccuming next door…so I cleaned it up as best as I could. I ate some trail mix instead…ha!
The next morning I got up a bit early so I could say bye to my new friends. I didn't have to get on the shuttle till 1:15, where Tiffany I think she had to be up at 6am (I said bye to her that night), and Meg was on the 10am shuttle, so I could eat breakfast with her.
Our flight out of St. George was delayed cause they had overbooked it, and had to get people to opt to take a different way home, so I just barely made it to my connection, but then once I was on the plane they were waiting on other people so they did a lot of seat shuffling. I slept most of the way home, I was a tired traveler.
It was nice to get home, and Jeff and Eric picked me up at the airport and we stopped off and ate supper on the way home, and guess what I had? You guessed it…hamburger and fries! Ha!
Here's all my loot spread out at home. I should have did it in St. George on my big bed.
Well this ends my first Founder's Circle trip story, I hope you have enjoyed it and I did not bore you. I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and it has brought much joy to my life and friends that I will have for a lifetime. It also has brought me YOU. My faithful Blog readers that make me feel good each day when you come by to say hi!
Well it's almost midnight and I got lots of paper to cut tomorrow for my Stamp a Stack of Christmas cards this weekend. So I better say night night.
Have an awesome Friday and thanks for stopping in!
Wow what a great trip and my goodness they sure to spoil you with all those gifts. Diana I actually felt like I was there. Thanks for sharing!!! Pictures were great so your camera is perfect…
Diana, loved hearing about Fouders Circle, so glad you got to go, SU really treats you guys well. I am sure you will have another great year as a demonstrator!
I sure enjoyed living thru you for a few days, what a great time…..you must tell me how many workshops etc you do a month so that you earn all these fab trips…..I dream of it…I work third shift so it's a little harder to get the workshops, but heck, if people would want to have one, I'd do it! Thanks again for sharing your trip!
Fun, fun, fun, but you still didn't tell us what you got at that store.
Luv ya
Jax
Hi Diana,
Wow! What a comprehensive account of Founder's Circle. You had me in fits of laughter trying to imagine you flushing the toilet with your foot, and then saying that you couldn't possibly press an elevator button with your foot. I've never been to the USA so I can't imagine what your toilets must be like, but in New Zealand our toilet at home for example has a button not a handle to flush it, and the button is on top of the cistern at about chest height – much higher than elevator buttons that's for sure. I think that in order to achieve this 'feat' (sorry for the pun) you must be extremely agile.
I'm glad you had such a fantastic trip.
Hugs, Anne.
Your never borning. I love reading about how you observe everything and share with those of us that are not there, it allows us to feel the experience also. Congrat's on making Founders Circle and forge on so you can always be part of this wonderful group.
I love chips and gravy.. they sell chips and gravy at Costco back in Edmonton.. it's on there big ole' menu!!!! I was so surprised when we were in there a couple of years ago.. so my sister and i had to share an order because i cannot remember the last time I had had them.. something you dont' find on menus here..
see you tomorrow!!!!
I was not bored for one minute with your Founders stories. Thanks for letting us peek into your fun trip. So glad you got to go. You deserve it! Can't wait to see the watercolor video…
I enjoyed every minute of Founder's Circle through your eyes! So much fun! Thanks for sharing all of your pictures and your delightful stories!
I loved experiencing Founders Circle through your eyes. Your travelogue has been wonderfully entertaining.
Thanks for sharing.I was not bored one minute..I really like your cheering and Elvis song very cute.Waiting to see your next video..
No boredom here. I thoroughly enjoyed your documentary about Founders Circle. There are always a few chuckles. Thanks for sharing it.
I enjoyed reading your adventure. What a generous company! Sounds like you had a really great time.
You did such a wonderful job with your camera. You should be the official reporter for Founder's Circle. Thank you so much for the fun. You are a germaphobe (like me). Did you know you should put the lid down on the toilet when you flush it? There was a study done a while back that I read about. They flushed the toilet a few times with poo poo in it. Then they checked such places as the toothbrush and water glass. Guess what they found? Now that I have thoroughly gagged everyone my work here is done. Have an absolutely fantastic weekend.
Carey Rogers
aka Roscoe's mommy
That was sure a Beautiful trip and FUN time…. and alllll the goodies tooo!! Wow!
Thanks for sharing it all with us!
This was the best – thank you for sharing all the details. I hope you go every year and share you trip – I will probably never get there but your journel makes me feel like I was there. SU! is the best !
I totally do the foot-flushing thing but use my knuckle to push elevator buttons (or the ATM).
Great posts on the FC goodies. I feel like I was there. Hope you earn it next year, too. Your blog is the best source for how it went. On the germ front, in public loos I always flush with my foot, turn off faucet with paper towel and open door with that same towel. Elevator buttons I do with my key fob! And at home, I've trained my other half to lower seat before flushing. One word – areosol! Germaphobes, unite.