Hi All!

This was definitely an experience to remember! It was a meeting of Professional minds in a great energizing setting. There was not one boring moment.

Scott Haken of Haken, Ted Tippman of Ted Tippman Lashes, Amy McClure & Laina of Young Nails, Melissa Pechey of Creative Nail Design, Laura Campos of Vicki Peters Signature, Amanda of Qtica, Marisa Crane of NSI, & Mare Horak of Nubar were there to support us in our educational ventures.

The day started off with meet & greets, drawings for the Professional prizes (we had 53 this year and 18 attendees. NO one went home empty handed) & Scott Haken speaking to us. Did I mention that he had samples?? That was his cute little joke. Thanks so much Scott!!!

Then we were off to lunch (which btw, Walt did great as usual). Devin, my 15 yr old daughter and future nail techie went around and made sure that everyone was comfortable and had plenty to eat & drink. She was so cute.

After lunch it was all hands on demos. Everyone was all over the place. Marisa Crane of NSI got her annual tourist nail repair. ( Marisa, you're the BEST) Last year & this year, after lunch I had a tourist come in and needed a repair and guess who did them? Marisa! Of course. She is always so easy going and accommodating.

We were all mesmerized by Ted Tippman and the eyelash extension demos that he was doing. He was very informative and so sweet & CUTE!!!! Laura Campos, Wendy Molitor, Kari Najar, Adrienne Schodtler, and Debbie Womack got the lashes. The changes were stunning. Wendy has lashes!! LOL Love ya girl! Can you see better now sweetie?

We weren't allowed to say the words "Nail Tech" within range of Melissa Pechey. We are Nail Professionals!! If we said Techs.. look out and run for your life.. LOL j/k She did make us realize that we are Professionals and take our careers seriously.

"Power is Knowledge" were the words of the day. I was so impressed with Melissa that I quoted her in front of 30 people and no one told me that I said this. It is "Knowledge is Power" not the other way around but I certainly hope that everyone knew the difference and what I was trying to say. I was just so excited about the day that my mouth ran faster than my brain.

Laura Campos did a KEFC class on Saturday before the Networking on Sunday and Melissa Pechey did her Custom Blend Artist Class on Monday. Thanks so much ladies.

The one person that impressed me the most was a man named Matthew. He drove down from Georgia for Laura's class and stayed for a little while on Sunday for the Networking. He is a salon owner and is trying to educate his staff. He was soaking up all of the power, I mean knowledge that he could.

I had the pleasure of having dinner with him, Debbie, Walt, Melissa and Laura on Saturday nite. We totally bombed him with information and I think that he was feeling a little light headed there for a while. He had a lot to think about on his 5 1/2 hour drive home on Sunday.

Then of course there was Walt, my supporter in life & my career. Carmen Grillo is blessed with a husband such as mine. His name is Steve and he is wonderfully supportive with Carmen. He was there for her all week-end. I met them both a couple of months ago and knew that she had someone special in her life.

Steve, it's husbands like you that make us progress farther in our careers. Everyone needs & deserves a support system and you are a wonderful, loving & supportive husband.

Ok I'm done. I could go on forever. It was such a great experience all weekend. Thank-you to the companies that so willingly support us in our careers and the educators that took the time out of their busy schedules to be there for us. The goody bags, drawing prizes & educators were what made this day available to us. You guys ROCK!

Ladies & gents, please don't forget to send out those thank-you's to the companies. Thanks to all of the attendees and I hope to see you all next year. You guys are the creme of the crop~~