About this time every month, I start running reports and looking at who the top sellers and recruiters on my team were for the previous month. My favorite way to provide recognition for them is by sending a little love mail. There is nothing like a real note in the mail that isn't a bill or an advertisement. Happy mail in a mailbox makes everyone's day feel a little brighter. 

Because I love all things love mail, I love looking for stationary and encouraging notes. I recently stumbled across Tiny Prints personalized stationary. I've ordered invitations from Tiny Prints many times, but I'm now also loving their colorful and high quality notes. 

Since I had 2 girls on my team qualify for a free trip to Cancun, I had to find a fun way to recognize them. These You=Amazing cards were perfect! They loved them so much that they posted their goodies on social media as soon as they received them. 

I also used the same cards to send out thank you notes for my customers too, so it has multi-use!

I love a good card and all that love mail. What's your go-to when it comes to sending cards and love mail? If you're looking for something new, check out tinyprints.com. Whatever you use, send some love mail this week, and make someone's week.

We're Headed to Pittsburgh and our Home Study Was Approved!

I am literally writing (and posting) from over 10,000 feet aboard a Southwest airplane headed from Boise, Idaho to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

It was been a very long and amazing week in Boise, and now we're making our way to Pittsburgh to do a business launch party for a few new girls joining our Scentsy family. We are so excited to have them, and we're really excited to be heading their way to help them get started. 

I told Brian that we should pretend this is a little weekend getaway, so we're sipping vodka tonics on the plane while I catch up on writing and he watches free TV on his phone. It's a happy place for both of us. 

Yesterday's post was so long that I didn't get to tell you about my favorite night of SuperStar Director Summit. Our free nights are always my favorite. We take over the hotel lobby and do nothing but catch-up, share, and laugh a lot. 

Last night was no different. We didn't have as many free nights this year, so we had to do our best to make up for that by making our last night together truly epic. 

If I had to narrow last night down to one emotion, it would be joy. We enjoy each other so very much. We come from all walks of life, numerous religions, and from all across the U.S. and Canada, and when we're together, we're simply family. 

I love these people so much! Have you gathered that yet? I think I've said it a million times over. 

On another note.....an exciting one.....our home study was approved today. Which means, we could get a foster baby any day now. 

For about two seconds, I was overwhelmed, but I'm not anymore. Traveling today has reminded me that this year was (and is) about trust and being brave. I trust the Lord's timing. I know He has a child picked out for us. And it has not escaped my mind that our foster care processes happened in the middle of our BRCA diagnosis. I don't know what that means, and I am not assuming at all. But I trust that the Lord has a baby that will fit into our lifestyle and mesh with who we are. We will work towards reunification as long as that is the goal, but we also won't be close minded about other possibilities. 

At this point, we're simply trusting. Trusting the Lord's timing and understanding. I can't wait to see where this adventure takes us. 

One adventure down. Another one to come. 

A Scentsy Superstar Director Summit Re-Cap

This week was both magical and exhausting. Childlike wonder surrounded us, and we were inspired and renewed.

If you haven't been following along, we've been in Boise, Idaho for a week now. We spent 2 days at Velata's 1st convention, a couple days hanging out with our friends in the camper, and 3 full days with Scentsy's top leaders at this year's SuperStar Director Summit.

You can read about our 1st day here. 

Wednesday (day 2) was a fun filled day that included traveling all over the Scentsy campus. We had the opportunity to pour our own bricks in the manufacturing building, make welcome calls at consultant support, pack and ship orders in shipping, shop in the Scentsy Success store, and have a field day competition with our peers. 

After lunch, we spent time roaming thru some creation stations where we were able to see the way other people made certain things for their business like samples and possibility packets and newsletters. 

After a full day of activities, we headed back to the hotel to rest and eat dinner before heading back to the Scentsy campus for Grace Adele shopping and a Movie night. We finished out day 2 with our annual Heart to Heart silent auction where we raised over $7,500 for 7 families in need. 

Thursday morning sure did come quickly! At this point, we had done very little sleeping, but lots and lots of networking and catching up. 

Thursday's activities consisted of a morning full of dreaming. We were honored to see a sneak peek into the future of Scentsy. All I can say is that it's bright and beautiful and exciting. We had a working closed-door lunch with Orville and Heidi (the owner's of Scentsy) where we were able to ask questions, discuss concerns, and offer suggestions for the future. 

By Thursday afternoon, we were all feeling the effects of 3 full days of meetings, but we were excited about our last evening out at the lake. 

When we arrived at the lake, we were greeted with a whimsical sight. A 4,000 square foot tent filled with lights and tables decorated to perfection. 

Rolled up blankets sat near the fire overlooking a crystal clear lake. It was truly magical. 

After a delicious dinner of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and salad, Orville and Heidi auctioned off one of the centerpieces from the tables. {It went for over $1,000!} 

We were each given a sweet reminder of our time together......a reminder to be a light to our teams and the world. 

And after an emotional round of fireside "Ah-Ha moments," there was one more surprise. 

We each took a paper lantern down to the beach, lit it, and watched it rise into the air. 

Watching those lights float up into the sky was a beautiful reminder of how we all need to be held up for a little while sometimes (we had to hold up the lanterns after they were lit until the inside filled with hot air). 

It was a beautiful reminder that not everyone flies. (Some of our lanterns caught on fire before they made it into the sky...oppps.) 

And while some people will choose to soar, others may simply float along, but it takes all types of lanterns to make a night sky look like this. 

Photo credit: Lyndsee Bates

Oh how I love these people and this place and this family. They truly are my family. 

Spoiled With Love by the Scentsy Family

To say we have been spoiled today is an understatement. From the moment we walked up to the campus today, to the minute we left the grounds tonight, every detail was thought out and executed with us in mind. 

 

We were lavishly welcomed with a tunnel of Scentsy employees lined up and cheering as we walked from one building to the other. We felt like rockstars. Even Stella (the unicorn) and Scout (the dragon) were there! 

They were holding signs with or names on them, blowing bubbles, clapping and cheering. It was a wonderful welcome. I feel like we should have lined up and cheered them on for all they do to make our businesses successful. 

We started with a group picture. This is not the group picture (this was just my view). 

We spent the day being fed (many many times) and learning and engaging with other SuperStar directors. Even baby Ruby took a few notes. That's a SuperStar Director in training if I've ever seen one. 

After a day of training (all focused on child-like wonder and optimism) we were spoiled with a carnival. There were games and contests and cotton candy and snow cones! Brian and I may have had several competitions attempting to beat each other up and down the inflatable slide and on some crazy bungee race (that caused some serious whiplash). There were a few battle wounds. 

After several basketball competitions and a go-cart race or two, we were treated to dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, roasted corn, salad, coke slaw and dessert. There wasn't a single detail left out. 

After a long day of learning and play, we headed to the hotel and were greeted with another treat- a ticket to movie night (the next night) with popcorn and candy. 

It was truly a fun day at SuperStar Director Summit. Oh how I love these people. 

The Stars are Shining Bright in Boise Tonight

We tackled the 1st Velata convention, our 1st camping trip, and a fun adventure in Boise with our sweet friends, and now we're gearing up for an amazing 4 days with Scentsy's top leaders.

Tonight we were thrilled to see a huge group of SuperStar directors at the Welcome Reception. 

We spent the night decorating our tees, hugging necks, and catching up with old friends. It was perfect. Even this introvert loved it because introverts love their family the most, and that is exactly who these people are....family. 

Thanks to Staci Pace and Ashely Knight, our shirts were appropriately iron with our names and blinged out. 

You can't exactly tell in this photo, but Brian has a lovely tramp stamp on the hiney of his shirt. (And he's being a good sport about it.) 

After decorating our shirts, we headed outside for Velata dippers and friends around the table. 

Of course, we ended up around the table with those closest to us. We can't help it. It feels natural. These are my people, and I love them so much. 

The stars are truly shining bright tonight in Boise. This group of people are a group of committed, passionate, and purposeful people who have a genuine love for each other and their teams, and I'm thrilled to spend the next 4 days learning from them. 

Shine bright stars. 

Playing Catch Up from a weekend in the camper

So it’s been 4 days since I’ve written. I know that I said I would write here everyday for a year, and I’m not going back on that. I’m just not being as strict on myself as I have been in the past.

Tonight is the 1^st time I’ve been alone in several days, and for this natural introvert, that can be a real challenge.

We left Thursday afternoon to head to Boise, Idaho for Velata’s very 1^st convention, and we have had a glorious time. We’re staying with our sweet friends, the Sprys in their camper on a camp ground.

Despite a few minor unpredictables with the camper, this trip has been a glorious breath of fresh air.

So tonight, while everyone else is napping, I’m sitting outside the camper catching up on all that we’ve been doing and thinking the past several days.

I thought I should probably start with today……

The boys woke up first thing this morning (as has been the trend the whole time we’ve been here). They made a delicious breakfast that consisted of fried white corn tortillas, refried beans, fried and scrambled eggs, sweet potato hash, and an avocado salsa. It was delicious and a perfect start to the day.

We were in no rush to get up and around since the past 2 days have been busy, busy. After breakfast, Jari and I cracked open our bible studies while Joel did the dishes and Brian went to check out the camp ground facilities.

I will say, I could get used to the camping life. Campers today have everything you could need to have an enjoyable experience while away from home.

We soon all dressed and packed our bags to head to a friend’s lake for a day of paddle boarding, canoeing and fishing.  We have the most generous friends who invited us to use their property for the day, and we were thrilled and honored to take them up on it.

We dove up to the most glorious lake. A beautiful property with paddle boards, canoes, fishing rods, lifejackets, and tubes ready to play with.

Jari and I immediately drug the paddle boards across the sandy beach to the water. We had no clue what we were doing, but hopped right on. The water was still and perfect, and we paddled across the entire lake.

The boys grabbed the fishing rods and started casting, but it wasn’t long until they were on their own paddle boards out in the crystal clear water with us.

Jari and Joel eneded up trading their paddle boards for a canoe. Brian and I went on a walk to explore the property.  We walked past babbling brooks and over little bridges. We even found a bee hive. It was the 1^st time I had ever seen one (besides in the movies), and I couldn’t help but think how beautiful it was.

We stayed and played in the sun for a few hours and the headed to grab some food.

We had a delicious early dinner and headed back to the camper. I took a shower, and while I was showering, the other 3 fell asleep. It really has been a long 3 days.

So here I find myself. Catching up. Reflecting. Getting it on all on paper. Stayed tuned for more.

Happy Sunday, Ya’ll.

Velata Vision 2014!

So I'm apologizing now for not posting about Velata convention earlier, but it was seriously exhausting in the most amazing way. 

I have to post now because I have absolutely no space on my phone, so the pictures need to be here, so I clear up some space for all the awesomeness that is about to happen this week at SuperStar Director Summit. 

Oh course we were greeted with a warm welcome to the Scentsy Commons with beautiful branding. Even the windows had balloons on them! 

There were beautiful Velata displays in the lobby. {This was only 1 of them.}

During the day, we found out about new seasonal meltables coming October 1st. The amazingly delicious flavors are Pumpkin Pie and Dark Chocolate Mint (think Andes mints meets Thin Mints). They are both delicious!

We had a lot of fun learning how to create all kinds of delicious and cute candies and treats with our Velata meltables.

We spent the afternoon painting bowls for an amazing organization called the Empty Bowl that has people paint bowls throughout the year, and then they sell them to raise money for hunger in the Boise area. We took our painting job pretty seriously.

Day 1 of Velata convention was a good day!