Brace Yourselves – lots of photo’s from Monaco Incentive Trip 2010

Well ladies, I'm back!  I have had the experience of a lifetime and wish it had not had to come to an end so quickly.  It was amazing, we were treated like royalty and I got to spend the days with the most amazing, funny and talented ladies.  I really had a blast and you may need to get comfortable as this might take some time……

When I arrived at Nice airport I was met at the arrival lounge by a driver and a Stampi n Up representative.  The driver of a very glam mercedes whisked me from the airport to the hotel Metropole as I soaked in the sights and smells.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and my flight was slightly delayed so I did not arrive at the hotel till approx 6.30pm.  I was met by the lovely Paula, UK Manager of Stampin Up and also Dave Baugh the Vice President of International Markets (or something like that!).  What a welcome they all cheered as I got out of the car as I was the last to arrive – Last by name Last by nature!!  I heard that a few times I can tell you 🙂

I then saw Shelli and Sterling on the way to reception and came over all emotional as everyone was so friendly and I would have been happy to fly back that second as I felt it could not get better than this – boy was I wrong!

I arrived in my room, we all had our own rooms and they were so luxurious.  We were also given some beautiful handmade macaroons bought locally.

It was the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in and they had really thought of everything, this is the view from my balcony

here is a little tour of my room, my posh voice again (I was in Monaco!) but you can't help but hear the excitement in my voice.

I had a quick 1 hour turnaround before I headed down the the welcome dinner with Amanda and Jenny.  I was so lucky to spend sometime with these gorgeous girls, Jenny's room was opposite mine which came in handy when I could not get my hairdryer to work and making sure we did not miss any get togethers.  Amanda's bedroom was on the floor above and the largest of all the rooms I saw, her bathroom was cavernous with a double shower and a balcony in the bathroom too.

We met for a wonderful dinner prepared by the Joel Robuchon two Michelin Star restaurant.  This the really lovely and very funny Silvia, her English is perfect.

 

You probably already know this lovely lady, Jenny, so sweet and always giggling.

 

This is Moira from France but she is actually Scottish, I got to know her alot better and she is great fun, here she is answering the little random cards we all had to pick and answer in a effort to get to know one another better.  Sitting next to her is Kellee from Stampin Up US office whose job it is to organise the trip and all the activities.  She did such a fantastic job and we loved being able to share it with her.

 

This is all the delicious food we were served

 

This is Axel the German Country Manager and Julie and also Jeanette.

 

We also received some wonderful swaps from the other demo's and here are just two that we receive the first night – Beautiful!!  The rest of the photo's of the swaps will be posted in another post –

A window display with NO prices – does that mean its FREE I wonder??

This was the Cafe de Paris – our local

 

OOhh what cocktail shall I choose??  Monica and Natalie looking very glam whilst we sat and people watched and drank cocktails.

 

The casino.  I have never seen so many expensive cards in one place!!

 

Our little group on the first evening, from left to right Monica, Natalie, Jenny, Paula (UK Manager) and Amanda – such great company…

 

Breakfast by the pool at 8am on Thursday morning

 

Our first trip of the day was to a local Perfume Factory in the village of Eze, we were led into a classroom where a really lovely lady taught us how to create our own Eau de Cologne.  We had fun mixing lots of different smells and mixed them to create our own individual creation.

 

This is Paula, Jenny and Dawn waiting excitedly to get started.

 

Jerome (France Country Manager) smelling the top notes of the fragrances.

 

Moira decided which fragrances to add to her Eau de cologne.

 

And my creating with its own hand stamped label provided by Kellie, we also got to keep the Choc Chip Marker that we used, we were delighted who does not love a freebie…..

 

All the UK demo's and Paula the UK Country Manager all together – such beautiful weather

 

The guide of the perfume factory and Shelli and Stirling listening intently. Tres chic!!

We then made our purchases and began the walk higher up the mountain through the village of Eze, its was a steep walk through cobbled streets past little shops and boutiques.  As stopped to admire the views and we finally arrived at our destination for lunch.

Chateau Eze – * Michelin Star Restaurant with the most spectacular views I have ever seen…..

 

And the food, like nothing I have had before – delicious!!

The view from our terrace

The menu

 

The main course

 

and desert

 

and the petit fours – yum yum!!

 

And the cutest sugar I have ever seen.  We all took so many photo's of the food which cracked me up.  We must have looked so funny all snapping away before every course…..

 

Love most lovely Amanda and Paula, I adore these girls.

 

Dawn wore the most beautiful clothes with matching bags and put me completely to shame.  I am considering asked her to be my personal stylist for convention….

 

Back on the hotel driveway, just some of the guests cars….

 

This is not the last you have seen of this little fella – this is Frank manu the new Stampin Up Incentive trip mascot he is lucky enough to attend all the future incentive trips.  He accompanied me to my room for a short while before being passed to Jenny.
 

More shots of the Casino

 

Once we returned from the lovely lunch and shopping we popped over to our local again for a light dinner (Onion Soup) before a quick change in to our pj's.  We really did have to get in the lift and walk through the hotel in our pyjama's armed with our swaps!  This is Shelli in her pyjama's…

 

And this is what was waiting for us on our tables, a beautiful bag with lots of Stampin Up goodies inside ready to create our three projects for make and takes.

 

The UK contingent in their pj's

 

And the delicious deserts for us to feast on….

 

Once the make and take session finished we arranged to meet up in Amanda's room for a night cap. Just as Jenny and I were arriving there was lots of yelling and excitement and we were told to go to our rooms as they may be something for us on our pillows, how exciting!!  We walked/ran back to our rooms and shrieked with delight when we saw these bags.  We grabbed them and ran to open them together in Amanda's room with the rest of the girls.

Could I be more delighted??  We got a beach towel and some Stampin Up flip flops made using the Pink Flamingo DSP Pattern and the flip flops have Stampin Up etched into the bottom so that you leave a Stampin Up footprint behind you.  There was also a lovely cardigan inside that we can wear to workshops with the rosettes made from black striped grosgrain.  What a wonderful surprise.

 

We all ventured into Amanda's bathroom as it was huge and these crazy girls did an impromptu sketch for us in the bathroom – needless to say we were in stitches and we wont be forgetting Consquela for sometime…..

 

Paula and Monica looking so serious but not for long,

 

And this was meant to be blowing a kiss to Chris at demo support, and the last photo of the Thursday evening.  Come back tomorrow for more of our wonderful trip from Friday onwards.

 

I wish I was still there…..