Vienna update

Yes I'm still here. Just been very busy over the last few months and unfortunately blog life has taken a bit of a back seat.

Anyway, I've loads of things to share and whilst the Vienna Trip was almost 2 months ago (where has the time gone?!?!) I'll be continuing the trip with lots of photos here. As I add a new post on the Vienna Page I'll let you know that I've done it so if you wish to follow the adventure you can do. That way I can start posting a few more cards etc. I've been making over the past few months without interupting the flow.

Now September is going to be a very busy month for me. It's jam packed with my fortnightly classes restarting on the 3rd & 4th, 17th & 18th a new monthly Technique Class on the 13th & 14th, my Christmas is Coming All Day Event on the 12th plus workshops and a few days away. Will I have time for anything else?? I'm sure I will - I love a challenge. PLUS there's a very exciting new Autumn/Winter Catalogue you'll be able to purchase from as of 1st September amongst other things. I wrote my own wishlist from it the other day and found it came to £430...gulp! Thank goodness I get a discount! Anyway, more details of that to follow but if you find your wishlist to be a on the LARGE size, it might be a good idea to consider getting the Starter Kit for £99 (£130 worth of product plus you get the business pack worth £45) and start receiving a discount on all your future purchases. It is so worth it! If you want to have an informal chat about how you can benefit from your Stampin' Up! purchases please give me a call on 01202 880929 or email jodumbleton@aol.co.uk.

So, for now here's a bit more on the Vienna Trip with Day #2 Part 2.

See ya soon!

Vienna Day #2 part 1

Friday in Vienna was a bit of a busy one so I'm going to split it into 3 instalments. It was our free day, to do as we wanted with the afternoon booked to do a Segway Tour. More to come on that in the next post.

I'm not exactly an early bird but Julie is, however we didn't wake until 9.20am! Our room was so dark and so quiet, dispite being on a busy ring road around Vienna, we were knocked out. We must of needed it and when we went down to breakfast we weren't the only ones who'd had a lie in.

Our hotel was minutes from the shops and not the tacky souvenir shops either but beautiful jewellery, clothes and shoe shops. A womans paradise.

This shoe shop was amazing, we all had to go in and browse. So many beautiful shoes.

We didn't have a lot of time to actually shop, but we did a fair bit of window shopping and grab a bite to eat.

Here's Monica helping herself to the contents of Pete's wallet. Such a lovely bloke.

We then found a quiet area by a fountain to sit in the sun and have our lunch.

Natalie & I.

An action shot of Nat helping me up without us both falling in the fountain.

Spot the tourists

We were taking photos of the Opera House. They were showing Tosca  that week which we did try to get tickets for the previous night but sadly weren't able to. They have a huge screen outside though, so whilst the opera is on people can stand on the street to watch and hear it. It would of been amazing to see an Opera - something I've never done.

Loved the trams running round Vienna.

A really beautiful City.

And then we we were back to the hotel to get ready for our Segway Tour. A treat I was determined to experience and boy was it fun.

Back soon with the full adventure...

Vienna - Day #1

For our first full day in Vienna we were taken to Schonbrunn Palace. It was absolutely breath taking - so perfect it looked almost unreal.

We had a guided tour round part of the palace but unfortunately we weren't able to take any photographs. Something I didn't realise, camera flash destroys the paintings so you'll have to trust me when I say it was stunning and very interesting.

We then walked to our next activity which was Apple Strudel making!

Whilst we waited for everyone to join us were served with a delicious light lunch buffet and refreshments. Then we donned our aprons and hats ready for action.
Here's Julie and I...

....Shelli & Sterling...

...Jules & Robin...

....even Frank took part!

This was my finished Apple Strudel before it was baked - not looking too healthy is it.

We then had to carry our Strudels to be packed for baking and presented with our diploma's in Apple Strudel making.

Julie looking very demure.

then me..what on earth was I doing??

And my baked Strudel which we collected later on, still not looking very healthy but it tasted ok.

I loved the group activity,  everyone laughed and enjoyed the experience to the full.

We then headed back to the palace for a wonder round the gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace. It was a very hot day so we all took it rather slowly heading toward the fountains for a cool breeze.

Gorgeous photo of Michelle.

And then it was back on the coach to the hotel for a free afternoon.

After spinning the wheel for prizes in the hospitality Suite I went out for a run. I'm training for a 5k run at the moment for the Race for Life this coming weekend and I didn't want to stop the training so off I went, headphones in on the streets of Vienna heading to the Stadpark which was about a 5 minute walk away. Stadtpark was beautiful too, very busy with people enjoying the sunshine sunbathing, swinging in hammocks and kids enjoying playing in the water. I ran 3 times round the park and who should I find on my travels?? Johann Strauss!

Then it was back to the hotel for a shower and get ready for an evening meal with the rest of the UK achievers and their partners for a traditional Austrian meal of Shnitzel.

And our 2nd night pillow gift was a something very different

An oven glove and tea towel made with the Twitterpated Fabric. Just for show though.

More adventures to come....

Vienna Incentive Trip 2012

I've just returned from the European Incentive Trip to Vienna and oh my word, what an amazing time I've had! The trip last year to Prague was fantastic but this year, well, lets just say Stampin' Up! certainly do know how to treat everyone like royalty. I took hundreds of photos of the trip, some I'll show you over the next few days so just to warn you, these posts could be a bit photo heavy.

This year were we able to take a partner with us to share the experience and as my husband doesn't fly, I took my very good friend and team member Julie. Our journey started early last Wednesday morning at Heathrow Airport to Vienna. We were on the same flight as Michelle Last and her husband Simon and from the airport we were transported to the Grand Hotel Wein.

We checked in...

and wheeled our heavy suitcases off to our room which was absolutely beautiful..

There was a tiny balcony with a view onto the main Kartnerring at the front of the hotel.

We then headed off to the Hospitality Suite to find everyone. Love this place. We get to spin the wheel for prizes, have a drink and chat as well as munch on an abundance of sweets.

It was pretty packed and very noisy with approx 60 people in there so not many photos but here's a lovely photo of our Jules and KelleeSue who organises these trips with the other Kelly.

Then it was back to our rooms to get ready for our Welcome Dinner at the Ciel Restaurant on the 7th floor of the hotel.

We were greeted with Strawberry Cocktails and Canopes and we were able to stand out on the open terrace for some fresh air in the warm evening sun.

From left to right there's Natalie, Jules and Me.

Posh as you like with flowers on the canopes.

Then inside to the restaurant for our 6 course meal.

This is such a natural photo of Paula our country Business Development Manager.

And of course there was Shelli

Michelle & Simon with our own Mini Mouse, Vic.

And here she is with Natalie.

And if that was enough excitement for one day, back to our rooms to find a fabulous pillow gift!

Love this beautiful bag which matched the purse we'd received with all our Vienna Trip information back in May.

I've so many photos that Julie and I took (1228) it's been really hard to choose which ones to show, but I'll be back in the next few days with the next batch and what we got up to our first full day of the trip.

See ya soon!