Rising Star - Day 1

Stampin' Up! always goes out of their way to plan things down to the tiniest detail and Day 1 of the Rising Star Retreat was no exception.  The 9 of us (a tenth recipient was unable to make it for the Retreat) met in the hotel lobby at 6:30 tp.m. last night to be taken as a group to the restaurant for our first dinner together.

Tuscany Restaurant entrance

Well, a short drive brought us from the Hilton to the Tuscany restaurant in Salt Lake City and let me tell you, the drive was worth it.  The restaurant is quaint and elegant all rolled into one.  And the snow gave it an aura of what my kids would refer to as a Narnia-feel.

Inside the restaurant is elegant and intimate, and we were lead upstairs to a private room where a table was laid out that made us feel like princesses.  I would have said "Rock Stars".  Except that it was way too elegant for Rock Stars.  Princesses it is!

Table at the Tuscany Restaurant

We were able to find our seat at the table since each place setting had a paper corsage with our name on it.  And beside these - a cardstock box that was so gorgeous most of us didn't even think to look inside it.  But when we did, the box contained 100 of the most professional and refined personal business cards that I have ever seen!   As silly as it is, something as "minor" as a personal business card brought tears to my eyes!  No seriously my friends.  I mean it.  I cried.  Stampin' Up! always thinks about our needs and blesses us in even the tiniest details.  These business cards are a testament to that!

Corsage

Surprise Box

Business Cards!

Moving on to dinner, we each had a hand-made menu that was a work of art in and of itself.  Our choices for our meal had us all wishing we could clone ourselves and have one of everything.  I chose the meatloaf and trust me when I say that this meatloaf, made with pulled pork and beef and topped with blackberries, is unlike anything I have ever had the pleasure to indulge in before!

Menu Cover

Dinner Menu

Best "Meatloaf".  Ever!

There is so much more to tell you.  Not the least of which is the exciting news about who from the company we shared our meal with.  Our table companions rank among a who's who of design and business at the Stampin' Up! home office and we got to share stories and laugh and delight in their company.  But I will have to get to that in a short bit.  More excitement is in store for me today and I have to get ready for it.

Hope you are all feeling as blessed as I am!
Take care and God Bless you all my friends.          ~Cynthia       <><