Chicago!

Every July marks the pilgrimage of Pampered Chef Consultants to Chicago.

And this summer was no different for me.  But we had a few new twists to this trip that made it one of the funnest trips I've had to Chicago.

On Sunday I started the trip with Carol, Amberlee and Summer.

We were greeted with a nice surprise at the airport.

As we got ready to purchase our "L" tickets to head into the city some nice strangers offered us their tickets that had one day left on them.  Thank you random tourists!

So after stopping at the hotel we jumped on the "L" again and headed to

Gino's East!

You have to have good deep dish pizza while in Chicago 

And Gino's delivered!  Just look at all that gooeyness!

We didn't even mind the extra walking (helped with all those calories) or the rain storm we got caught in on our way back to the "L".

Our Conference started on Monday morning. They brought the "Career Wall" to us so we could see our names up close. My name was added to the $300,000 in Career Sales this year.

Pretty amazing for someone who just wanted to replace about $200 in income each month.

Monday evening we hit the streets of Chicago. Everyone always needs a little window shopping on the Magnificent Mile.

And definitely needs a stop at Garrett's Popcorn. 

(Me, Carol, Tina, Summer and Amberlee)

Seriously the BEST popcorn I've ever had.

And the best compliment to popcorn would have to be some . . . 

Chocolate!  Rows and rows of chocolate!!

So the popcorn and chocolate were our appetizers to hold us off until

The Grand Lux Cafe!

How many consultants can fit in one booth??

Not enough, we had another table with just as many of us.

At our table were

Summer, Christine, Carol, Amberlee, Tina, Lee Ann, and Cindy

Summer, Amberlee and I celebrated our birthdays with their edible birthday card.

Here are a few more of us who enjoyed the Magnificent Mile!

Stella, Carol, Sharon, Cindy, Summer, Lee Ann, Tina and Amberlee

And the evening ended with ALL of us squished into ONE taxi to get back to the hotel!

Tuesday we had more workshops and General Sessions.

PC knows how to keep us entertained.

Yes, that is a pink balloon elephant!

Loved seeing all the logos over the years

Me, Christy and Sharon

And Tuesday was my birthday. My cute family surprised me with these in my hotel room!

Tuesday night found us in China Town!

Lee Ann, Carol, Summer, Heather, Amberlee, Shelly, Cynthia (looking off in the distance), Cindy, Sharon, Stella and Tina

And after an incredible Chinese dinner they surprised me with another birthday celebration!

Wednesday was more training and classes. This is almost our whole group from Utah/Atlanta

Amberlee, Christi, Tina, Summer, Tonya, Cynthia, Stella, Shelly, Me, Christy, Cindy, Carol, Sharon and Heather!

Wednesday night we got to see the city in style!

A Sunset Cruise on Lake Michigan!

We had some fun!

Summer, Shelly, Stella, Tina, Christy, and Heather

And finished the evening with Fireworks from Navy Pier!

But when we got to the Pier we were a little hungry.

So another long walk to find a Chicago Dog.

After having a Chicago Dog you wonder how you will ever eat just a hot dog again.

Thursday morning wrapped up our training

The best gals around! You are all Amazing!

And after a fun time we headed back home to our families Thursday night.

Another trip to remember. Thanks gals!

Weekend in Phoenix

This year instead of having one big Pampered Chef Conference in January they did small ones all over the US in February. Unfortunately none of them were very close to us in Utah. We could choose to go to any of them. The closest ones were Denver, Phoenix or LA. I voted to go somewhere warm, so a bunch of us headed to Phoenix. Most everyone drove, but Carol and I choose to fly down. It was storming a little when we took off. Once we got above the clouds it looked amazing.

The clouds were just a sea of white.

Normally for these conferences we try to squeeze as many in a hotel room as we can.  But Carol has a niece that has a second home in the Phoenix area.  She was kind enough to let us stay there.  So instead of 4 to 5 of us in one hotel room we each had our own bedroom and bathroom.  And this home was beautiful. Marble floors throughout the house.

We went in the backyard every morning and picked oranges and grapefruit for breakfast.  You don't get that in a hotel.

My bed was so comfy!  And this was the view out the window!

It was still a little too cold to swim, but it sure looked beautiful.  And there was a tennis court and putting green in the backyard too.

We sure had fun hanging out in this house.  And because of staying in a house we only ended up eating out once while we were there.  Usually our conferences involve lots of restaurants.  What a nice change.

The first night we had done some research and found an event to attend.  Who can turn down . . .

The Chocolate Affaire!  It was sponsored by a local Chocolate Maker.

Imagine what a child would think if they received this Santa for Christmas!

But the event included so much more.

The whole park was lined with vendors selling crafts, food and of course Chocolate!  We connected up with all the consultants that had driven down from Utah.

And Summer was there with her kids, her Mom and Dad and her sister, Autumn.

Then Saturday morning our meeting began first thing.

Summer was really excited to be at her first big meeting.  We got some awesome training and found out all about the new Pampered Chef Products that will be released in March.

After our meeting, the four of us that were staying in the house all went and saw "When in Rome"  A really cute movie!  And got a little shopping in while we waited for the movie to start.

Sunday morning we all headed back to Utah.  But because Carol and I were flying we had time to stop by the Mesa Temple on the way to the airport.

Note it is in the morning and there was no need for a jacket.  Such a nice change from a Utah Winter!  It was a quick trip and we all wished we could have basked in the Sun a little longer.  But it is always great to return to our families.

Chicago, Chicago

Every July Pampered Chef has their National Conference for their Consultants in downtown Chicago.  This year marks the 7th time I've attended.  They amaze me every time.  We've stayed at the Sheraton, Hotel 71, Palmer House and the Hilton during different years.  This year was our first and I think our only time staying at the Hilton.  Too far away from shopping and fun.  Palmer House is our favorite, but they didn't offer it as a Conference Hotel.  So we will probably head back to the Sheraton next year.  This is the view some of the Consultants had from their hotel rooms

 Down on the 7th floor all we saw was a brick wall.  Not even worth taking a picture of it.

Wednesday we all flew in and had a little free time.  By the time we gathered 20 of us at the Grand Lux Cafe for dinner we didn't even sit down until 8 pm.  Grand Lux Cafe is a sister restaurant to Cheesecake Factory.  How can you go wrong?  The portions were huge and the food delicious.

But some of these nice ladies (Heather & Lee Ann) mentioned to our waitress that it was Lisa & I's birthdays.  We do share a birthday, but not for another 6 days after that.  They bring you a card and a candle.

But it was the best tasting birthday card I have ever received.

Thursday morning started way too early.  Cynthia and I took our little group of newbies over to the Conference Center to get them going on their Home Office Tour

The cute excited gal in the yellow shirt is Lisa.  She was the newbie from my downline.  She was really excited to be there even though it was early in the morning.  Her excitement made it more exciting for me to be able to show her around.  After we sent them off on their Home Office Tour, the Directors and above got to attend the Directors Only Event.  This year they had Jack Canfield come and speak.  It was fascinating and entertaining.  The best part is I learned how to tell when my kids are lying to me, watch out!

They then treated us to a wonderful Director Only Lunch!

Back row: me (Christine), Christy, Tonya, Cheryl
Front row: Shelly, Tina, Carol, Rachel

Then the conference officially began with our first class.  I would share what I learned with you, but then I would have to kill you, so I'd better not.  But they have some of the top consultants of the company teach classes and I always learn something from them.  We then have General Sessions and the first one they share with us the new product line that starts in September.  It is great, but once again, I can't share, sorry! You'll just have to come to one of my shows in September.  But everything they do is top notch.  They even entertain us with these

Crazy dancers that sing songs that stick in your head and won't go away for days.  Songs like "Take Charge, Take Action Now, we can show you how . . . "

Thanks to Lisa getting us close seats we got to be right up front to hear

Doris Christopher, the Queen and founder of The Pampered Chef.  She is very inspiring and an amazing woman.  I've had dinner with her before and she has wonderful values and really cares about all of us Consultants.

That night we were on our own for dinner.  Lisa and I broke away from the pack of women and went in search of Chicago Dogs.  But there were no dogs within walking distance of our hotel.  So we settled on Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.

All I can say is YUMMMMM!!!  If you have never had it, you have to try it.  There is nothing like it.

Thursday morning again began way too early.  And the day was filled with classes and General Sessions.

Here is part of our group waiting to get into the Career Club Lunch.  We are all sporting our very own Wahoo Women rings!

Hopefully this is the last year I sit at this table

with Tonya, Tina & Carol because I'm really close to hitting $300,000 in my Career Sales.  That is a heck of a lot of Food Choppers!  When I signed up 11 years ago I would have never guessed it would become long term for me.

Friday night was our Executive Dinner and each table had to pick a Disney Movie for the theme and dress up.  Our table was Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs.

Jessica and Ashley ended up sewing all the Dwarf hats for us.  They did a great job!

Another table from our group was Nemo

I think we were cuter then them.  But we still love them all!

I managed to get 1 picture of the 3 of us from my downline that attended

Thanks Christy & Lisa for coming.  You guys made it a lot of fun!

Saturday the Conference ended by 1pm so then we went in search of these

And found them at a Hole in the Wall place by the Palmer House Hotel where we ate them last year.  Once again, Chicago Dogs are an experience.  You can barely get your mouth around them they are loaded with so much stuff.

And what every you do, DO NOT ask for ketchup.  It is the equivalent to swearing.  I even ate mine with the pickle so I could have the whole experience.  Cheapest meal we had the entire trip!

After lunch we squeezed in some shopping.  Picked up some Garrett's Popcorn and even had time to crash in our Hotel.  But we were a little concerned when we returned to find these outside the hotel room.

Supposedly the Firemen went in the Hotel in full uniform with axes in their hands.  But we never smelled smoke and never saw anything and they were gone by the time we came back out.

We then headed to Navy Pier for the night.  Navy Pier is the total tourist attraction.  In my 7 trips I think I'd only gone twice before.  We hitched a Taxi with my upline Director, Shauna  so we had to get a photo of the three of us.

We got some great pictures of the Chicago Skyline as the Sun was setting.

After picking up some dinner we boarded this baby.

For an evening cruise on Lake Michigan.

 Shauna and Holly thought it was such a fun idea they tagged along with us.

We had beautiful views and the weather was perfect.  And we had the most comfortable view for the fireworks show they do every Wed and Saturday nights.

And after the Fireworks show we discovered the moon rising over the lake.  It was like no other moon I've ever seen.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

Sunday morning we finally got to sleep in a little, yea!  Pick up breakfast at the Corner Bakery and then made our way to the airport to return to our regular, very boring lives.

Did I mention I did all of this while Benny the Boot was still on.  One of the days at Conference I splurged and rented a scooter.  It was zippy and got me around really fast.  My foot did okay until the last day when we walked so much around town.  By the time we hit the airplane I was beat.  But it was worth it.  Here's to next year!