Getting Ready for Vacation

This week, next week is on my mind. Yep, that's what I said. A week from today, I leave for a vacation to Playa del Carmen in Mexico! The trip that I made to Tulsa over the 4th of July, was just a warm up for me. The group that I spent the 4th with, mostly makes up the group that I will be in Mexico with. I am so looking forward to seeing the "crew" again, as well as experiencing this side of Mexico.

I have been to Mexico once before, but that was back in the 70's, when I was in high school. I was a part of a church group going to Mexico to work with some missionaries there. That trip consisted of riding on a school bus (that ended up getting stolen during the trip), food poisoning for a great many in the group, being in a small village that only had water for 2 hours per day, and many other stories that bring back a lot of memories. However, for some reason, I do have to say that I'm expecting quite a bit of difference between that trip and the one I am going on this time.

This is the first time that I will be seeing this:



The ocean and a real beach!!! Now, even though I don't know how to swim, I can still look forward to a walk on the beach and getting a new profile picture for Facebook with my toes in the ocean/sand. :)

This picture is another part of Playa that I am looking forward to experiencing. It's called 5th Street, and it's where most of the tourists shop while in Playa del Carmen. I've been told that I will want to barter for what I want to buy. That's going to be a tough one for me. It took me quite a while to get into the habit of NOT bartering when it comes to my prices in the window treatment industry. Just goes to show that there are exceptions to every rule.

I'm certainly hoping for a lot of pictures that will be better than those posted here. Mostly because they will have been experience, and not just Googled.

Here's to a great week for all of you. I'll be back to my blog in 2 weeks.

Cheers!

Creative Camp

Have you ever looked at the side bar of someone's blog and wondered what some of those things mean? I was looking back at the first blogs I ever wrote and noticed that my second blog post was about attending Creative Camp in Houston, Texas. It just so happens, that the logo for that camp is one of the logos that I have on my side bar.



This is a workroom conference that I have attended for the past 3 years. It has been a wonderful experience to say the least! Just because it's called "camp" doesn't mean that we sat around the campfire and shared a can of beans. It's called "camp" because it's held at Camp Allen in Navasoto, Texas. That's where the similarity to camp ends. Well, unless you consider a bunch of women sitting up all hours of the night chatting and getting goofy, camp. :)



Creative Camp is a very intense weekend where we, as workrooms, are kept up to date on the latest styles, techniques, and products that we use on a day to day basis. The networking that we gain with other workrooms is amazing! We get to know each other on a professional as well as a personal basis and the friendships that we build are life-long relationships. It's so great to know someone across the country that you can stop and call at a moments notice with a question or comment, just because you met them at camp.



Our education in the workroom industry is extremely important. It wasn't too long ago, that there were no resources to speak of, for workrooms, and if you wanted to know something, you just had to figure it out on your own. That has truly changed, and this event is one of those places that you can learn until your head is ready to explode! And at this conference, you will not just sit behind a table and listen to the speaker. This conference is hands on. We learn so much better by doing, then just by listening. There are some lecture style classes, but the hands-on classes are the highlights, where you will actually make what you are being taught. Then those items go right home with you to be used as samples. I have made complete pelmet and cornice samples to come back and hang right in my workroom. Other samples could be used as pillow fronts, or valance overlays, only needing to be completed as the product you want to use them for. You definitely come home with more than a bag of business cards and goodies from vendors - although that is fun too! :)



In 2011, Creative Camp is having what I think of as a very special teacher, not that they all aren't. Rebecca Day, of Merrick and Day fame, is actually coming all the way from England just to teach at Creative Camp. That is really saying something, when someone of her caliber is willing to put a weekend in Texas on her schedule. I'm already drooling, thinking about what will be taught next year, not only from her, but from all of the teachers.



If you're interested in any information about the camp, you can click on this link:



http://www.csisews.com/



You can see more details about the event and sign up for their mailing list.

If you're a workroom, this is an event that you shouldn't miss!

4th of July Vacation

Well, I got back from my vacation to Oklahoma. It was the most relaxing, yet fun week I can remember! We spent a couple of days on Grand Lake and got to enjoy the fact that the holiday weekend crowd had not arrived yet. It was such a relaxing time, and not being a swimmer didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. :) This is a view from where I stayed and the boat that I got to cruise the lake on.





While out on the water, it was so nice to see the views and know that while I was there, I didn't have a care in the world!

We did a lot of shopping, eating, enjoying each other's company and did I mention shopping? We even had a ring side seat for a wonderful fireworks show on the 4th.

This is a group that had some friendships built that will last a lifetime! I so enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them! You guys are great!

In fact, I enjoyed my week so much, that I have to admit I became an Oklahoma fan. And when you live in Nebraska, you can only imagine what that means! :)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend too!