Good morning peeps!!
I had a fun weekend visiting some demo friends in Ohio this weekend!
It was supposed to include a couple more from my team, but they were sickies, and it ended up being Nadine and me.
This is also Wendy from Toledo, OH. We met her a few years ago in Orlando for Stampin' Up!'s 30th anniversary OnStage celebration!
The whole reason for the trip was to visit a demo friend who's been sick all summer and is finally having surgery TODAY on her sinuses. Please pray for Rachel! She's been dealing with so much pain and dizziness (and I don't even remember what else!)
She hasn't even felt well enough to stamp! But she's still smiling and able to send encouraging notes to others. So we brought her more cards to use (amongst other things.) We forgot to get a pic of the 3 of us! So sad. But at least we have her smiling face.
So here's more to our weekend:
First, we originally met Rachel at OnStage in Lansing!
(That's the last in person OnStage SU! had since covid.)
We had a big ol' Shoebox Swap the night before the seminar.
Rachel was at the hotel where we were having it and came in to chat with us, realizing we were there for the same reason as her. Then she sat with our group the next day.
When I started making plans to visit Rachel, I knew I didn't wanna drive all the way to (north of Columbus) AND back all in one day. So after checking if Nadine was interested and with Rachel and her hubby to make sure she was up to a visit, I asked Wendy if she'd be interested in meeting/stamping/hanging out with us if we stayed in Toledo.
While I was also checking with more of my team to see who was interested/available for a road trip, Wendy sent me a video of a good friend of hers who had just opened a candle shop–and had classes!
I decided to add another team building element to our trip–and surprised Nadine with the class as part of a rewards & recognition program I have. (It was the month for a celebration of her title level.)
So I booked the class–including making a candle to bring Rachel as well.
Because of one of the cancelations of my team, I asked Wendy if she wanted to invite a friend or daughter.
So her daughter and son-in-law joined us as well!
We got to choose our fragrance(s):
I chose pumpkin spice for Rachel and Peach Nectar for us [Todd 🙂 ]
The wax starts out too hot to add the fragrance right away. It has to cool down a bit; otherwise, the fragrance would just burn off!
This is how you get the wick to be/stay in the middle when you pour in the wax.
I kept saying, "I LOVE my pumpkin spice one!" Then Wendy would tell me, "Stop that. It's Rachel's!" 😉
It was a cute little shop in an Art warehouse(?) with several other "art" stores.
Here's the promo video Wendy originally sent me. (If you're gonna be in Toledo, I'd highly recommend a class! Taylor, owner, is wonderful.)
So after candle-making…pizza!
Nadine and I were starving cuz we hadn't had supper and got to the pizza shop around 9pm.
So fun! And so thankful for the time spent with Wendy and her family!
Wendy's daughter Jasmine wanted to show the "cheese pull", and Nadine played along well! 😉
We stuffed ourselves and had a great time!
Wendy didn't end up joining us back at the hotel, but Nadine and I went back and crafted.
(I was still working on something for Rachel, but the only pic I have of it is in the one of Rachel. It was a jar filled with "sprinkles of love" for her to pull out each day–notes or Bible verses. I used every current SU! color, plus Black Glitter paper and Shimmery Cardstock–and an extra purple or 2, cuz she's a purple girl like me. :D)
We had to go back and pick up our candles in the morning (and I chose a few more to bring home! Yes, pumpkin!) And then headed off to see Rachel.
We were able to spend a few hours with her! I totally wasn't expecting that!
I had told her if she was only up for a hug and we leave, I was good with that.
It was a wonderful weekend!
It rained pretty hard most of the way down to Toledo Friday.
But the rest of the time–including when we were walking in downtown Toledo–was perfect.
I'm thankful for safe travels and time spent with other demos/Christian women!
ps: wanna join my team? 😉
Click here: https://bit.ly/JOINwithSTEPH
Also, couple spots left at Retreat on Nov 6, but now it's $75. Contact me for availability!
Have an awesome day and week!!!
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