First, I spent a day at the incredible Desert Botanical Garden. I brought my paintbrushes and some watercolor, because I thought a quiet day painting botanicals would be the perfect intro to three days of crazy.
But when I got there, it was so magically beautiful I could not stop walking around and taking photos of the plants and animals.
I decided to explore on my own instead of taking a tour, and almost immediately, I had a very close encounter with a roadrunner. In my area, they are much more skittish than this guy was, and it was very cool to get this close to him. I really love how he fluffs his little top knot up towards the end. These are beautiful creatures, and in our neighborhood, they run across our rooftops, and dart around in wilder areas making crazy sounds. And yes, of course I talked to him, as I do to all animals I encounter. Stop laughing.
I found a little hummingbird too - those buggers are hard to take pictures of!
The plants were equally spectacular.
They have a pink version of the prickly pears that we have here that were, frankly, ethereal.
And of course tons of crazy cacti.
I stopped by the nearby Hole in the Rock, where man and his best friend were frolicking in silhouette.
It was such a gorgeous day, and I love the desert and all its flora and fauna.
Then I headed back downtown for the CentreStage (formerly Leadership) dinner which was awesome. We got a beautiful bag, filled with goodies, including the Occasions Catalog AND the Sale-A-Bration catalog, which you will love.
Here's where the shock pants come in.
When I checked in, I got ribbons for the various awards I received for the year which ended September 30th, and these were known to me before the event. Sales, Leadership (my team is awesome, not gonna lie), recruiting, Flex Points (I earned the Thailand trip) and then my title ribbon.
But at the end of the day, they did a new recognition award - and that was the top 100 demonstrators globally. Prior to this, each market did their own top demonstrators, so in the US, we had a list of the top demonstrators here in our country. But with the new plan change, they went to a global list, of the top 100 demonstrators of the 50,000 demonstrators worldwide. We knew this would really be competitive, as the other markets are amazing and have some real superstars who we were not previously ranked against.
So when they started listing the names for the global top 100, imagine my surprise when this happened...
I am still pinching myself. I got to add another ribbon that just blows my mind.
The names on this list are friends AND people I respect immensely. I am super grateful to my AMAZING Understand Blue team - people all across the country who had an incredible year, and of course to all my followers and customers. You make my life fun! And I'm extremely grateful to Ronda Wade, Lisa Pretto, Janet Wakeland, Brian King, Mary Fish and a million other people who share their wisdom with me. Surrounding yourself with great humans pays off, I promise. I love that there are a million different ways to do things, and how unique each demonstrator on this list is in how they approach the fun and strategy of being a demonstrator.
Talking about things like this generally makes me uncomfortable, but this is a moment worth stopping for. So now I'm done. I wish you all could have been in Phoenix - we had a blast. I'm looking forward to the next one in April - you can come with me!
Anyway, the upcoming catalogs are incredible. I won't give too many peeks because it's the holiday season, and I'm trying to have fewer SQUIRREL moments, but one set really captured my heart, and I have to share. It's from a stamp set called Beautiful You - it was one of the Prize Patrol giveaways. I didn't win this set, but my sweet friend Lisa traded with me because I was pining for it. This will give you an idea of the style of the set. It has many, many inspiring sentiments.
My experiment is no line watercolor with-
wait for it-
The new Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils!! I know a lot of you have waited a long time for these. The set in the Occasions catalog has 13 pencils, and they are buttery soft and very blendable. I only had a few minutes to try them out yesterday and I loved them.
I've done a Facebook live walk through of the new products with my team and they agree - it's all incredible. If you want to join us and have fun in our group, you can do that here. It's a great bunch of people and we have fun together.
So that's enough excitement for one day - I'm glad to be back in my office with the kitties, catching up on work and hopefully doing some crafty stuff this week. I'll be posting a new online class towards the end of the week, so be watching for that - it will feature the Cookie Cutter Christmas bundle.
Loveyameanitthanksforbeingherebye.
OMG!!!! Congratulations! The scream was PRICELESS!!!! (Oh and I, ummmm, talk to all of the plants I take pictures of or walk by...so you're in good company!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats and so well deserved! Cheered very loudly at the Ottawa event when I saw your name on the screen :)
ReplyDeleteI love your squeeee! I would have thrown my phone. Congratulations! xoxox
ReplyDeleteCongrats again Lydia.....and Yep that set is my favortite in the new catalog! Linda Heller did a beautiful presentaion with it in Atlanta!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! And yet another stamp set I have to have because of your amazing art!
ReplyDeleteLOVE that new set!! Truly the ONE set I wanted most from the new catalog!! So glad that you got them! How'd ya get the pencils?? Congratulations on being #77 in the WORLD!!! Now I am really sad that I missed it! :( Hugs!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations Lydia!!! soo freaking cool!!!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome and exciting! You deserve all those awards! Congratulations! Can't wait to see what you have to show us!
ReplyDeletewell deserved honor for a very talented artist demonstrator leader!
ReplyDeleteBravo, Lydia! Can't wait to see what you do with those watercolor pencils . . . the stamp set shown is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled for you!!! Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! I LOVED your scream! Also the roadrunner was adorable!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I watched your video with the volume up all the way, and my husband heard the squeal and asked if I was ok. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell done...and I love that image! Your enabling skills clearly have payed off!
The Atlanta crowd was excited to hear your name as well. Congratulations, Lydia!
ReplyDeleteBig CONGRATULATIONS to you Lydia!! You are immensely adorable!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Lydia!! I'm so proud of you!! If I had been there with you, the scream would have been twice as loud. Way to go!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Well deserved.
ReplyDeleteSo immensely happy for you!! I think you're one very cool cat...and have so much in that brain and heart of yours!! I love getting to see pieces of it! I love calling you my friend!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a special person -- congratulations! Megumi
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I have been a demo for almost 19 years (have never come close to earning any of the incentives but my "Why" is the lifelong friends I have gained along the way). I love seeing the ones who give so freely of their talents and time the recognition they deserve. You are such an inspiration and that stamp set is also one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!! WAY TO GO!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Lydia! I especially loved your squeal of surprise! (And, your photos from the Desert Botanical Gardens are beautiful!)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! :) Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! And your shock/joy squeal actually brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being in the top 100! That is SO amazing!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all of your achievements, Lydia!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going to have to get to Phoenix, to that beautiful garden. I hope you create some paintings from your pictures, and share them with us :)
Awesome! A big CONGRATS, Lydia!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Lydia! Can't wait to see the new items.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You are amazing and deffantly desirve the Way to Go! I was yelling for you all the way over in Atlanta. I know you heard me :> Enjoy your moment!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh -- Congratulations on your achievements -- Thailand - how cool is that!! And a big shot globally. Well done you!
ReplyDeletecouldn't have happened to a better person!! so stoked for the success you're experiencing, just by being YOU. i'd like to see the tutorial about the watercolor pencils. how exciting!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo!!!!! So happy for you!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteYou are simply ahhhh maaaaa zing! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are simply aaaaaahhh maaaaaaaaa zing!
ReplyDeleteCan you do a tutorial with the watercolor and Beautiful you stamp as shown? Thanks
ReplyDeleteCan you do a tutorial for the watercolor card above? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Fred - if you look at today's blog post - 1/16/17 - I have a tutorial on no line watercolor like this image. I actually have many of them on my blog and on YouTube
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