Hello!
I thought I'd take this "day off" to share some of my Stampin' Up! trip to New Orleans. This was "BackStage"–a training conference for leaders of a certain title and above. I've talked about OnStage many times–which any demonstrator can attend. But this is the first in-person BackStage we've had….Years ago it was called Leadership, and they had done away with it for many years.
NOTE: I'm hoping all my pics show up the way they're supposed to. I had a horrible time uploading, and it took me forever. If you see a spot that is supposed to have a pic but it's only a link that says Download [the numbered name of the pic], please let me know! Thanks!!
I had a fabulous time with 500+ demonstrators from around the world–specifically a few of my favorite friends!
I'll warn you right now…I'll be talking about FOOD a lot! 😉
Food, friends and training.
Great combo, amazing trip!!
Among many things, NOLA is known for beignets–a form of donut, typically smothered in powdered sugar.
Let me tell you, I'm a BIG fan of donuts, so I was pleased to find out (before I even left GR) that I didn't even have to leave the airport before enjoying my first! There was a Cafe du Monde at the end of my concourse as soon as I got off the plane!! Yay!!! AMAZING, but they kept getting better…I'll share one of my faves later.
Beyond Cafe du Monde, our next plans weren't until dinner reservations with friends.
This is my friend and roomie, Julia.
And it was an awesome first meal in NOLA–shared crab cake appetizer (no filler), surprisingly moist red fish and pecan pie!
The next morning we had scheduled a cooking class with these same friends. It was SO much fun!! And we learned a lot of NOLA history, too!
This is part of my "cruise family" Cheryl.
Cheryl's upline Sarah (a million dollar sales achiever) and friend Angela
Julia, Sarah and Chef David
We made shrimp & grits, praline bacon (pig candy) and eggs benedict over crab cake with never-ending mimosas. It was all FABULOUS!!
Angela, Sarah, Julia, Steph, Cheryl, Robyn
We did a little walking around Jackson Square.
Banana trees!
Julia was smart and suggested she needed a salad for dinner, after having a huge brunch in the morning/afternoon. We found a place we were interested in, but I have to say, it was my least favorite meal. Not JUST because it was soup and salad. My choices just weren't my fave. Julia tried turtle soup, though! I tried a little of the broth but wasn't impressed. We had a fun dinner with friends Christi and Inez that night, though.
Later Stampin' Up! had a welcome reception with lots of swapping, desserts (yes, beignets! cimmamon sugar) and entertainment. I forgot to take a pic of any of the entertainment. They were all sort of circus type acts–juggling, a metallic man, etc.
Our breakfasts were always wonderful! Julia had a platinum Marriott membership, so we got in the members only room all day and had free, fantastic breakfast, too.
How gorgeous are these??? The beignets at the hotel were pretty delicious!
They had a fairly large buffet and a made-to-order omelette station.
Friday we had a day full of training and more friends.
We took this pic Saturday, but this is Lisa Marie–my other "cruise family" member. 🙂
At the cooking class, we found out the school was participating in offering a 3-course dinner as a way many local restaurants were trying to get more business during their slow time. Julia and I wanted to come back for it, and I invited Lisa Marie and her hubby and daughter to join us. It was so great, because I chatted with Chef David to see if he could prepare it pork free (Julia's need) and gluten free (for Lisa Marie and her daughter.) He was very happy to oblige and went above and beyond and found an even better option of flour for the meal. (Lisa Marie said it was the best kind.) So he prepared for us chicken gumbo before we got there and NOLA style barbeque shrimp (no BBQ sauce is involved) and bananas foster for us tableside. This meal was EVEN BETTER than the cooking school one!!
We had such a fun experience at the school and got ALL the recipes that we made or that he made for us. And I've made several of the recipes this weekend! I learned how to poach eggs, too. So helpful. I thought I was doing it wrong.
Saturday was the last day. We had training all day and a farewell party at night.
This is Julia and I with Shannon, our Great Lakes area Demonstrator Development Manager. (ps: she's the one who first showed "how to mail a big thick card" like I showed at my Hostess Appreciation Party several years ago when you thought I was off my rocker! haha!)
We also had lunch with Sara Douglass (CEO of SU!) and her hubby, Sean! They just came up and asked if they could sit with us! Love them.
At the end of the day we had a party!!!
Part of the farewell celebration at BackStage 2022 in New Orleans….SURPRISE!! Stampin’ Up! paid for a permit for 500+ demonstrators to participate in a Second Line (parade at a time other than Mardi Gras) in the streets near our hotel. SU! gave us a parasol, sequined mask and feather boa when we arrived in the grand ballroom. They also provided pedi-cabs for those who couldn’t walk in the parade; you can see these fairly early in the video. This video segment is from the beginning outside; but they started us inside the grand ballroom with the band leading the way!
We were lead back to the hotel for appetizers and desserts. I didn't take pics of anything but a couple of the cute little desserts. A few of my friends said the shrimp & grits was really good there, but I looked it–and the small shrimp–and decided I wanted to remember it how I had it at the cooking class. 🙂
This was some sort of s'mores dessert. Delish.
And this may have been white chocolate bread pudding with a bourbon sauce. (But I may just be remembering that from a menu at a restaurant. Either way, it was scrumptious!)
I had one more day in NOLA, since my flight didn't leave til after 4pm. And it has goofy stories–that definitely sound like my speed. But I'm sleepy, and I'm just gonna drop a few more pics I took on Sunday. I spent the day with Christi and Inez again. Julia left in the morning right away. We went on a streetcar, a ferry (not the pictured Riverboat) for a view from the water, a pedi-cab, and ate more beignets–this time FILLED ones…crab, peanut butter & jelly and praline. All SO good!!
I took a pic for Todd, too, of the Superdome. 🙂 Some of the demos and corporate team went to a pre-season game on the night we had our tableside dinner.
One last pic for the day. This little guy was shaking but so adorable on my flight!
I had a great time and learned a lot to bring home to my team and my business!
I hope you enjoyed my trip, too! 😉
Enjoy the rest of your day!!!
Great pics Steph…thanks for sharing!! Sounds like it was a wonderful time!!