All I was thinking about was the 5 days courtesy of Stampin’ Up! (Thanks – you guys are awesome!!!)
I had the most wonderful 7 days in Noosa. Jason and I arrived at the Sheraton on the Monday 18th August as I had to have an MRI done on my right ankle. Since coming out of a wheelchair then on crutches for 12 months walking unaided for a few months, then to find out I need an ankle reconstruction on my good leg was really disappointing, but all I was thinking about was the 5 days courtesy of Stampin’ Up! (Thanks – you guys are awesome!!!). I had been looking forward to this holiday for over 18 months. How’s that; I was on stage with Shelli in Brisbane May 2008 receiving an award for recruiting. I told Shelli “I will be with you next year on the holiday” and I was. I reached my goal and achieved more than I could have dreamed.
I thought I would start by showing you some photos and share a few special things from the Incentive Trip.
Here we go…
Monday - Jason and I spent at Sun Shine Plaza, Coffee Shops and Hastings St.

Tuesday – Noosa Junction, I found a bead shop and this is the latest mini hobby. We had dinner at Cato’s with Jason’s sister Aimee who lives at Tewantin just down the road. As we were walking to the restaurant I waved to the SU girls as they were sorting out some of the presents. They got such a shock Janiel jumped up and closed the curtain. They didn’t know we arrived on the Monday.

A welcome gift delivered to our room
Wednesday – Jason and I had a lovely breakfast on Hastings St. I went to the SU reception area to meet the event girls she asked me if I had seen anything I said no but I had seen the aprons hanging up but I thought they were for the make and take day. Janiel is the most awesome organiser you will ever meet she plans everything with such precision. What an amazing job those girls do! Jason and I then went out for coffee and when we came back we were handed our coconut wine glasses (you know the kind made from real coconuts) with a yummy tropical concoction inside. This was my first incentive trip but it appears the best part of these trips is catching up with the other girls and their partners. Although I did know some of the girls and it was great to relax and really get the chance to talk. The rest of the afternoon was at leisure – shopping, coffee, chatting etc – and then that evening we shared the most wonderful welcome dinner at the hotel. Before going into dinner we had cocktails and nibbles, chatted and I met lots of Demos I didn’t know. I spent a lot of time talking to the NZ Girls and their partners. SU know how to make you feel very special and again just fantastic presentation. Dessert was out of this world!

Look at the dessert table, yummy!! There were more deserts than I could manage but they all looked so inviting I wanted to try them all. Of course in true Stampin’ Up! Style there was a surprise apron and chef’s hat awaiting us on our bed – this was to be taken with us the following day. I was so excited to see a handmade card with the gift and you’ll never guess it was made by Shelli and she had personally written in it.

Thursday – Jason had been going for lots of walks along the beach and in the National Park, I could have been there to. I love Noosa - it brings back lots of wonderful memories for me. I have been going there since 1976 and oh boy it is different every time I visit. We all met in the Lobby at 10 am ready for the surprise. We caught a ferry up the river towards Noosaville.
We were taken to Ricky’s restaurant where we were formed into teams to take part in a wonderful cooking school – each team making a different course for our lunch. As we arrived we were all handed our knife and fork and as you can see they all had our name on a tag and ribbon around lots of different colours ours was Kiwi Kiss. All the same colours had to cook a specific meal. The food was unbelievably superb. There was a prize given to the Master Chef of each group. I was excited when they called out Kim/Kym. I stood up thinking it was me and then the other Kim was walk up to get the prize they had forgotten me at the back. I called out which one and the Chef said Smiley, that was me, I was really happy because I never win anything and guess what I’m not a very good cook actually really bad if you ask my family. Anyway I was happy with my new Pretties Kit. When we got back it was still early and everybody was talking about shopping. Some got a limo and others piled into our car, well we thought we were all going to the same Plaza but we thanks to me ended up at the biggest but not the nearest. It was a great time as I got to know Jacinta, Danilla and another but really sorry can’t remember your name. I felt like we had kidnapped them but they tell me they had a great time and lots of great cloths they came back with.

That night (Thursday) was Karaoke down at the Surf Club so a large group of went down there, and I think nearly everyone got up that night onto the stage. So much fun! Highlights of the night included Aaron and the boys doing an excellent rendition of Midnight Oil’s “Beds are Burning”, and all of the girls getting up to do ABBA’s Dancing queen (which is easily changed to “Stamping Queen”).

That night our room gift had been what we would be using for our Make and Take session – and it was beautiful new stuff out of our upcoming Summer Mini (to be released in December)

Friday – Jason went off for a walk and I headed down to meet the other Demonstrators for swapping and stamping. The swaps were, absolutely fantastic!

Shelli wanted a group photo as this was the only time we would be together as Demonstrators. Stirling took a photo of the group then Shelli calls out let me check it please, This was a bit funny as Stirling took lots more photos so Shelli would have lots to pick from Angie. Karen and Janiel had the huge task of making sure everyone had a shot taken on their camera.

At the end of the session “Morning Tea” was served – an Ice Cream/Gelato cart arrived with lots of different flavours of Ice Cream, as well as things to add to your bowl – smarties, freckles etc. A bit like the Cold Rock idea, but we just helped ourselves. That afternoon we just relaxed and did what we wanted.
I decided long before the holiday that I was going to ride a camel but I you have to be less than 90kg to do it so Jason was going to have to take the photos. I was sitting in the lobby with a few demos and Shelli came over and asked me what I was going to do in my free time. I told her my goal was to ride a camel but I was afraid of heights. Then Megan Finer from NZ said that would be cool and Helen her friend said ok. We booked, paid and no pulling out I thought to myself………….
I decided I wanted to go to the bead shop at Noosa Junction. Well I got there and told Jas he could leave me and pick me up in an hour; but he didn’t hear me say hour. I was happy in learning a new technique and we he was outside getting sunburnt and hostile to say the least. We went to our favourite Pizza Place Zackary’s he ordered dinner and we did not speak for several hours well at least three, then I said well I don’t care what you take but I want custody of Charli (our Chocolate Labrador). We both laughed, made upand had lots of Cocktails and listened to the band a Sheraton Hastings St bar.

Saturday – Well today was the dreaded Camel ride and silently I was really frightened. Getting on and off was really scary as you think you are going to fall off and you have to hold on so tight, but I think you are supposed to let go during the ride, but I never did. There were lots of funny moments my camel spent his time trying to get to Megan, Jason running up the beach with cold water for us and taking pictures all along the track. He even popped up in the middle of the bushland. I am glad I did it but I think it will be a onetime only.

The clue we had been given was “a journey back in time and we had to make sure we had something warm to wear for latter as part was outside and may get a bit cold as the night went on. We boarded a bus which took us to our first destination Cooroy – a row of vintage limo’s just awaiting our transfer to the next surprise. You can just image the squeals of delight (from both men and women) it was quite amazing!
They were for our trip back in time dinner destination which was this beautiful home called the Plantation.

Janiel had created an unforgettable night for us all; on arrival we drove up in a convoy along a tea light lit driveway we were greeted with drinks and take lots of photos.

We walk out the back I was amazed at the set up for our evening dinner. Where each demonstrator was sitting, was another gorgeous gift a cameo cream shawl so soft, for us to wear as the night got colder. All the flowers on the tables had apples in them everything was done so beautiful. This is what it’s all about just having fun and relaxing with friends and being spoilt by SU. After Dinner we meet up with an astronomer with his massive telescopes to show us the planets and the moon. Shelli made a farewell speech our lovely night was coming to an end. Before we left the Plantation I finally gave Shelli her Swap and a gift bag. In it was a cake of amazing soap that looked like piece of pie. I gave all the GM’s, their wives, Janiel and Angie a piece of different flavoured pies and a bracelet I had them. Before we knew it was time to get back on the coach the driver dimed the headlights as we headed down the amazingly tea light lit long driveway. it was wonderful and really beautiful to see in the dark (hundreds of tea lights with a white paper bag around each one I don’t think I would like to of been the one to light them all). It was a sad feeling leaving the Plantation and on the bus coming home it was a drone of soft voices.


Arriving back to the Sheraton Noosa Resort and saying our goodbye’s to all that had to get up early. I said to Jason going back to our room I am going to buy another bag to fit everything in and GUESS WHAT our last surprise was a gorgeous brown bag its even has the Stampin’ Up! Logo printed in it and on the bench was a mini red hat box with cookies and milk for our bedtime snack and a wonderful way to end our night.
It was just the best holiday and I hope to be lucky enough to win another one in the future. Even Jason said he enjoyed himself and would like to do it again.
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