Latest Update - Attendees, Prizes, The Menu and More!

Phew!  This has been a busy week!  Mainly working on retreat stuff!  And that means an update for you!!!  There's a lot of info here and ONE EXTRA TICKET opportunity, so read closely!

PRIZES 

Last night, Kim came over and we dug out ALL the prizes.  Well, let me just say... I've done WAY more shopping than I thought I had and I think you are going to be thrilled with what I have so far!  Almost $1,500 in prizes with more to come!!!

THE MENU 

BREAKFAST - served at 9am (if you need something earlier, the hotel's continental breakfast is ready by 6:30)
Friday and Saturday - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits and Gravy and Fruit
Sunday - Bagels and Cream Cheese and Fruit
LUNCH - served at 12:30 
Friday - Ham and Cheese and Roast Beef and Cheese Sandwiches
Saturday - Chicken Salad on Croissants (yes, the same ones we had last year!  yummo!)
DINNER - served at 6
Thursday - Fried Chicken, salad, mashed potatoes and corn
Friday - trying to decide between Italian, BBQ or Mexican (any input will be appreciated!)
Saturday - Christmas Dinner... Turkey and all the trimmings!

CHRISTMAS CARD SWAPS

As of today, here are the numbers in each category
Traditional Christmas - 9
Non-Traditional Christmas - 9
Religious - 6

FINAL PAYMENT DUE SEPTEMBER 1

Be sure and get your final retreat payment to me by September 1st.  If you are mailing it and it may be a day or two late, please email me and let me know that.  I do have a waiting list and if you have changed your mind or you can't make it, please let me know so I can fill your spot.

ATTENDEES

 Here's the full and final list... we ARE 50 now and we are FULL!!!

1. Alisa Stanton
2. Amy Roller
3. Barbara Francis
4. Becky Pearce
5. Beth Bruner
6. Bettyann Shuert
7. Brenda Boyd
8. Brenda Stewart
9. Carol Adkins
10. Cathey Hicks
11. Chastity Bradford
12. Christine Dix
13. Christine Rantz
14. Debbie Goosey
15. Debbie Harris
16. Debbie Hill
17. Dorinda Arney
18. Gaylynn Crosby
19. Gwenda Warner
20. Janis Purves
21. Jessie Kelb
22. Judi Hough
23. Julie Windle
24. Kathy White
25. Kim Beasley
26. Kim Kelley
27. Kippen Richards
28. Laura Huffman
29. Lavon McGinnis
30. Lenette Davis
31. Lori Ball
32. Lyla Crawford
33. Michelle Johnson
34. Michelle Leigh
35. Miranda Paladino
36. Missy Kaiser
37. Myriam Boter
38. Pam McEntire
39. Pam Thiesen
40. Pat Reitmeyer
41. Pat Richards
42. Patricia Ervin
43. Rebecca Clark
44. Rita May
45. Samantha Green
46. Suzy Bruner
47. Tammie Patton
48. Toni Huffman
49. Tysha Shay
50. Vickie Alcorn

UPCOMING THINGS TO BE WATCHING FOR!

TOMBOWS - I will be ordering Tombows again this year.  I plan to turn an order in on September 20.  I will be sending a reminder along with details to everyone earlier in September.

CLOSE TO MY HEART - Some of you know that I am a Close to My Heart Rep.  I will be having my Open House on Saturday, Sept 11th from 1 - 4 at my house.  This one will be a little different that my normal ones, but we will still have fun!  Be watching for an email with details!  More important to you than my Open House is my SPECIAL I offer to all retreat attendees.  If you are officially registered, (at least a deposit paid), you will be entitled to a 10% discount off your entire order placed by September 20th.  (An order will get you an EXTRA DRAWING TICKET!)  New Fall/Winter Idea Books will be available on September 1st and you can get your very own copy... FREE... by attending my Open House OR by stopping by my house and picking one up.  As you know, I'm not mobile yet, so you are going to HAVE to come to me!  (pretty lame way to get attention, huh!)  Call first, so I can leave the front door unlocked!

I hope you are getting as excited as I am!  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

One of our own.. Barb Francis

Click on the page "Cheering for Barb" on the left to see what's going on with one of our fellow retreaters!  Leave any messages you like here for her to read.  There is power in numbers!!!!

Christmas Card Swap

What a great response to the Card Swap!  I am thrilled and I think this will be SO much fun. 

If you haven't signed up, you still have time... September 1st is the deadline.  That will give everyone plenty of time to get their cards planned and made.

Update on me... I am feeling great!  I am just bored out of my mind!  I'm still having to stay down (in my recliner with my toes up level with my nose!) for 50 minutes out of every hour.  Some days, those 50 minutes sure go slow!  BUT, I am playing lots of games on Facebook!  I start my water physical therapy a week from Tuesday.  That will sure get me out of the house! 
And, I've had tons of time to work on Retreat Stuff!  It's amazing what all you can BUY when you are flat on  your back with only access to the internet... this downtime could definitely be your GAIN!!!

Christmas Card Swap

As I've been sitting here... doing NOTHING... I've been thinking... and I think it's time to announce our

 CHRISTMAS CARD CARD SWAP

for the retreat!

We are going to have 3 categories.... 

1. Traditional Cards - made with traditional colors (like red and greens or golds or silvers) and traditional items (like ribbons, santa, reindeer, poinsettias, snow, etc)
2. Non-Traditional Cards - made with non-traditional colors (like pinks or blues or purples) and non-traditional items (like palm trees or swimming or dogs or cats)
3. Religious Cards - made with any colors and with a religious theme or words

If you have something in mind and want a clarification,

let me know and I can help you place it in the right category.

You can join any or all of the categories!

If you've never done a card swap, you really should try this one.  There's no pressure... lots of time... and well, it's just fun!  You can start planning your cards and get your first one done in the next few weeks.  And then, sign-up closes, I'll let you know how many there are in each category, so you will know how many to make.  Here are a few simple rules... just to keep everyone on the same track.  Don't hesitate to email me or leave comments here if you have any questions.

General Rules

1. Sign up by Sept 1 by emailing me and telling me which category you'd like to join
2. I will get you those final number by Sept 4th
3. Materials from any or any combination of manufacturers
4. Any number of embellishments you wish
5. Any size of card you'd like to make
6. Do you very best work... something you'd be proud to send your mom!
7. No prizes, you'll just be able to take home a bunch of cool cards!

So... as soon as you decide, let me know.  I will need to have at least 5 in each category.  If we have a huge response, like I'm hoping for, I will break up the categories into groups no bigger than 9.  So, if we have 10 sign up, we will have 2 groups of 5, etc.  And if you'd like to be in two groups of the same category, that is fine with me!

Hey There! Wanna Earn Another Ticket?

I think it's time to earn another ticket in the drawings!

I've had my surgery... I'm finally lucid... I conquered the steps today... and I'm feeling like giving away a ticket to everyone who leaves a comment!  You don't have to keep track, as we are doing that for you, so let's go!

Earning an extra ticket simply gives you more of a chance to win prizes!  You want as many as you can earn!  Here's how to do it now.

Leave a comment here and give me an idea of what you'd like to see on the prize list.  You know I gotta get my "special shopper" busy.  WOOHOO!  Let's make a big ole' list to work from!