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!)

Fairy Tales and Fiction by 2,

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 

Becky Castle, aka The Barefoot Teacher.

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

Lauren Thompson from Mrs. Thompson's Treasures.

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...

so Rachel....my store picture change is for you!

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!)

  

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!

(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 

(Graphics From The Pond 

...another awesome clip art seller that I love)

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,

is extremely humble and gracious....

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!