Sunday, July 13, 2014

What happens in Vegas will NOT stay in Vegas!

Oh my awesomeness!

I am back in Illinois after a
weekend in Vegas!
What?!

But I wasn't there for 
the slot machines.
I spent (lost.wasted.threw away)
around $3.00 on the slots,
and I met my quota.
My gambling days in Vegas are over.
In fact, 20 years ago 
(wowzers...I'm dating myself), 
the money used to come out of the slot machine...
but now, the machine prints out a piece of paper
for you to take to the cashier.
And...Yes.  I actually cashed in
my winnings totaling 5 cents.
I want my nickel!
I was there for the first ever
Teachers Pay Teachers conference.
WOOT WOOT!
That was so EXCITING to hear Amy announce that
it was the first Annual TPT Conference
at the beginning!  I felt like I was
witnessing a momentous event!
I have been fortunate enough
to go to several conferences over
the past 20 years.
Nothing, I mean, NOTHING
compares to this one.


I'm not gonna lie.
When the lady at the counter
handed me my bag of goodies and said, 
"Welcome to the first ever TPT conference."
I.almost.cried.
I couldn't believe that I was there.
So blessed!

Ater a year and a half
I FINALLY got to meet...


...that's right!
I got to meet my bloggin' buddy,
Regina, aka Queen Chaos.
Hi Angela!
And OMG!
People, Regina has some hair!
Yes. Angela wanted to pet me.
I could NOT stop saying, 
"Your hair!"
(Sorry Regina!)
My hair has always been a real divisive issue.
Either people absolutely love it,
or they hate it....no one is ever
a fence sitter when it comes to my hair.
I've learned to live with it
and accept that I am who I am!
But it is so big, beautiful,  
and naturally curly.

So after meeting a year and half ago on TPT,
bloggin' for over a year,
owning a new store together for a few months,
(Not to mention a joint bank account....
my husband thinks I'm a total nut!
Luckily, he supports me in all my nuttiness!)
we FINALLY met face to face.
(THANK YOU TPT!)
And we should both get SQUIRREL!
tattooed on our foreheads!
Our poor husbands!
Just saying...

I traveled to Vegas with 
I loved meeting Becky!
She is so nice and FUNNY!
OK....see Becky's hair?
That's the kind of hair I always wanted...
And Angela's hair....can you say Farrah Fawcett flips?
Jealous much?
Yes!


While we were there, we met and hung out with
ANOTHER mother of four!
I have four, Becky has four,
and Lauren has four children.
Do you see a running theme here?
I think having children really makes you
get out of your comfort zone
and  get busy figuring out different ways
to have enough to buy those 6 gallons of milk
my kids go through during a week!
  During Happy Hour we got TPT tattoos...
...chill out people.  They were removable!


YES, and I still was the stick in the mud
standing to the side, saying "No thank you".
I'm lame, I know, tattoos are just not my thing.
Funny side note:
While walking through the hotel casino....
(You can't get anywhere in the hotel without going
through the casino. Well played, Venetian, well played.)...
Angela and Becky were stopped by a husband & wife who
had a bet to see if these TPT tattoos were real or removable.
The man was convinced that they were the real deal,
while the woman (probably a mom) said, no way,
those are the fake wash on/wash off type.
Of course, a woman would know.

I was lucky that my good friend, Ma Chérie,
stayed a week with me in Vegas so that we could
go to the I Teach K SDE Conference,
and then I ended the week with the TPT Conference. 
Exhausting....but well worth every minute!

 

The conference itself was amazing!
The presenters were incredible.
I.was.blown.away.
Super smart and sincere people.
Wow.  That's all I've got.  Wow.
I have soooo much homework to do.
No kidding!
I did get the first thing on my list done.
I went to Rachel Lynette's seminar...
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rachel-Lynette

so Rachel....my store picture change is for you!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Regina-Davis
Do you like it?
You inspired me! 
Side Note: My finger is actually pointing
to a sign that says, "Wedding Chapel".
King Common Sense made Ma Chérie
promise to not let me get myself married
in Vegas, so I had to tease him! 
Crop, crop, crop, and voilà! New store pic!


Thank you TPT for doing such
an excellent job of choosing 
the presenters and the topics.
Thank you TPT!
Hmmmm.....
Tpt......
Tremendous Presenters Teaching
Terrific People Together
Totally Perfect Trip


Getting to see almost 800 TPT sellers
all in one room was absolutely cray-cray.
I was just one curly haired dot in a sea of sellers.
To see the faces behind
the TPT store fronts was a lot fun.
I actually sat next to a lady who looked
very familiar.  After speaking with her,
I realized that I had actually bought clip art
from her store....it was really cool to figure that out!
 Hi Rebekah!

I also got to meet the fabulous Cara Taylor!
I hunted her down in Nikki's clip art class...
I just knew that she'd be there!
(Hi there, my cyber friend!)
  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cara-Taylor-8656

http://carascreativeplayground.blogspot.com/2014/07/vegascara-style-tpts-1st-conference-was.html
She was sweet enough to send me these pics!
See why I just love her!
 
Then 2 Super Teachers found
me at the same class!
It was so fun running into people
that I've talked to on TPT!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/2-Super-Teachers

http://carascreativeplayground.blogspot.com/2014/07/vegascara-style-tpts-1st-conference-was.html
(Yes, Cara's in the background taking the picture!)

I buy clip art from all 3 sellers....Hi ladies!
In fact, Victoria and Tricia (the 2 Super Teachers)
had a hand drawn picture of Mel 
...another awesome clip art seller that I love)
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Graphics-From-The-Pond
and were going around having people sign it
for her since she couldn't make it from Australia.
Super cute idea!  Everyone just said, "Aw" when
they learned what these 2 fabulous teachers were doing.
Hi Mel! It's Regina. I signed your pic!
However, as awesome as all of that was, 
I can easily say that my favorite
part of the day was the keynote address.
It was given by the big guy himself, 
Mr. Paul Edelman, 
a.k.a. Everybody's hero.
Absolutely!


Being a sap, I sooo appreciated
that Paul's parents and his wife
were in the room to see the
heartfelt standing ovation
when he stood to speak.

Learning about the full history of TPT,
hearing about the current state of TPT,
meeting the staff members
and the board of directors was all so very cool.
So proud to be a part of such an awesome community!
Typically, it's just me and my computer
hanging out on my couch!
This gathering, was an eye opening experience!
I got to put faces and personalities with people...
I found out that Nikki Casassa,
the creator of Melonheadz,
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Melonheadz

is extremely humble and gracious....

http://carascreativeplayground.blogspot.com/2014/07/vegascara-style-tpts-1st-conference-was.html
Love.Love.Love her work!
Hi Nikki!  Has anyone told you
that you're fabulous today?
My turn....Nikki.You.Are.Fabulous! 

Paul was even gracious enough
to give selfies, 
over, and over, and over again
with each of us.

Yes. We were shameless.
EVERYONE wanted a picture with Paul.
Thank you Paul...you are our Number 1 Superhero!

I can only imagine how overwhelmed
Paul was as teacher after teacher
gave their sincere thanks to how
he has positively affected their lives.
I had to let him know how much I appreciated
TPT and how it pays for my kids'
6 gallons of milk every week as well as
putting braces on both my boys' teeth.
I actually missed Golden Boy's birthday
so that I could go to Vegas...
so my kids went to the beach without me.
 See 2 boys?  See 2 sets of braces?
Thank you, Paul!


He just chuckled,
and said that a smile is really important for kids.

Wow....that's all I've got.
I am exhausted but feeling oh so blessed.
Ditto.  Can't function.
But that's just fine by me.
I'm sitting in my post travel stupor
with a smile on my face.

Angela.....we actually
made it to Vegas
and back!
Who would have thought?!?
I know right?!
So blessed!














13 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Regina! It was so nice to meet you on Vegas and thanks for giving me your business card so I could look you up! I am your newest follower!!!! Good luck with your new school year!

Amanda Bryant
A Traveled Teacher

Regina Davis aka Queen Chaos said...

Hi Amanda!
I'm so glad that I got to meet you! It was so fun meeting people from all over! I am YOUR newest follower on both TPT and your blog!
Good luck with your school year, too!
Take Care!
:) Regina

Rachel said...

It looks like you had an awesome time in Vegas! Love your new logo!

Regina Davis aka Queen Chaos said...

Hi Rachel,
You made my day! My newest superhero approves of my logo...Woot Woot! We had a blast....but my favorite day was the TPT Conference! Hearing all of the great advice that you and others gave was priceless!
Thanks so much for being you!
:) Regina

a4kokanee said...

Hey Regina,
It was great to meet you in Vegas at the TpT conference!! I hope to stay connected via the blogging world and see you at the next years conference! :)
- Heather
Mrs. Renz' Class

Angela said...

Thanks for stopping by. Headed over to your page to follow! Have a great year and hope to meet you next year in Vegas. Woot woot!

Angela said...

OMG! Theeee Rachel Lynette stopped by our blog. Let me take a deep breath! Wow...thanks for taking the time to stop by. A bigger thank you for all you shared during your presentation. You have certainly paid it forward my friend. Thank you!!!

Angela said...

Hey Heather. I'm headed over to your blog to follow it! Thanks for stopping by. I hope to meet you in Vegas next year. Woot woot!

Regina Davis aka Queen Chaos said...

Hi Heather!
I'm so glad I got to meet you too! I'm following your blog and your store so that I can keep tabs on my new friend!
Keep in touch!
:) Regina

Unknown said...

Ladies...I'm SOOOO glad I got to meet both of you at the conference. I have the utmost love and support for your joint endeavor with your store and blog; I know both of you can pull it off! Regina, I love you, your hair, your smile, everything...I just know that if we taught in the same building, we'd have to be far apart, otherwise I'd be at your class 24/7 just laughing to make it through the day! And yes, I support your decision to leave the pic up on the blog. It has a very significant meaning and someone is watching over you every single day...
Love you both,
Cara Taylor
www.carascreativeplayground.blogspot.com

Angela said...

Cara, It was so good to meet you too! Regina told me about you awhile ago so I've been following your store for awhile now. :) Can't wait to see you again in Vegas! We'll have to plan a dinner date next time. Have a great year. Angela P.S. The Blue Man Group was awesome! I can't believe your son was picked from the audience. Now that's a memory!

Growing Smart Readers said...

I just loved loved loved reading your blog! Thanks for a great read this morning!

Regina Davis aka Queen Chaos said...

I'm so glad you took the time to leave us a note.....because your little note made me smile!
:) Regina

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