Teaching at SENZ 2011 NZ Scrapbooking Cardmaking and Craft Expo

Let me start off my scrapbooking adventures in New Zealand with this funny picture (below). After the Senz event was over, Jodi, owner of Scrapaholics hosted a special VIP evening of cocktails and yummy food. But the part that made me giggle the most were the plates and napkins. Jodi purchased them from a specialty store called Martha's Backyard for my visit. I thought it was a fitting tribute to my trip and this Independence Day holiday today! 

Senz 2011 is a yearly consumer event focusing on scrapbooking and paper crafts and features many stores and some New Zealand and Australian manufacturers' booths. It's a great place to be inspired because they have so many great classes, especially when they invite a manufacturer representative (me) from the US to come teach!! 

Me in the Scrapaholics Booth (day before event)

The event was first class and the Scrapaholics team were among some of the hardest working and pleasant people I've ever worked with at a consumer event. This is Jodi, owner of Scrapaholics and my best friend because she brought me my first Dr. Pepper after 5 days there. She found out it is my favorite, but you can't buy it in New Zealand unless you go to a specialty US store OR Jodi's shop. So she showed up with a cooler full of DP just for me. I was so excited I had to capture this moment on my camera!!

Jodi, me and my first Dr Pepper in NZ

Did I mention how NICE everyone I met was in New Zealand? Seriously, they're patient and sweet. I especially liked Hebie and Helen. Helen was so sweet and brought us food to eat for lunch. Because like ALL convention centers the food is never really worth it, especially for the money it cost too!

Hebie and Helen, Teachers at Scrapaholics

Here are the great customers and staff of Scrapaholics at our Cocktail night. I showed them how to put together party corsages to wear for the evening using the i-bond glue gun, roly rosies & petal roller and silk flowers all from Imaginisce.

Isn't the name of Jodi's shop PERFECT in every country...Scrapaholics. I think we all consider ourselves one! And after my first purchase there they were nice enough to send me on my way with a loyalty punch card...with a reminder that I have to redeem it within a year (I hope).

Front of the Scrapaholics Store (love her logo)

I was honored to be among some of my favorite scrapbook personalities as teachers at this event. The very talented and bubbly, Trina McClune and the ever popular (and shorter then me) Nic Howard were there too! I wished I had time to take their classes too!!

Trina, me and Nic

I can never express my gratitude and appreciation to Jodi of Scrapaholics, KK and Suping Lee of Kays Company (distributor) for bringing me out to New Zealand. And thanks to Imaginisce for sponsoring the classes with so many great products...the Kiwis loved it all!! It was a trip of a lifetime and so wonderful to connect with so many people that have the same passion for paper and this industry that I do. They were lovely hosts and I hope they come to Utah one day so I can repay their kindness. Thank you!!

More details about Senz and Imaginisce (and GIVEAWAY) can be found over on my post on the Imaginisce blog. Previous posts about my travels to New Zealand include "Lost in Translation," "Hanging with my Kiwi Friends" and "Making my Way to New Zealand."

Lost in Translation..my Naive Travels through New Zealand

Okay I know the speak english in New Zealand, but I wasn't prepared for the "accent". But I love listening to the wonderful Kiwis of New Zealand speak. I forgot I had an accent to them until a waitress practically pulled up a chair one day to ask us where we were from and tell us how much she liked our accent. However, combine that bit of an accent with talking a little fast sometimes and then calling things by different names then I was use to made from some funny situations. 

Don't worry, I have many more things to share about my travels, but I started this list with my mom while we were in the airport and thought it would be fun to share should you find yourself in New Zealand anytime soon. Oh and I'm not going to even start on the Maori words. 

1. Rubbish - this was my all time favorite one to day...I love calling "trash" or "garbage"...rubbish...doesn't it sound better?? 
2. Scones - loved the cheese ones but they were very much like what we call "biscuits"
3. Biscuits - that's what they call "cookies"
4. Motorways - we call them freeways or highways
5. Take Away - in place of "to go"...this one I had a hard time with since I am so use to hearing the question, "stay or to go" and when asked "for here or take away" in that cute, fast kiwi accent I always had to ask them to repeat the question...up to the day I left 
6. Heaps - a lot, I suppose no different then "loads"
7. Trading Hours - what is posted on businesses in place of "Store Hours"
8. Give Way - a common street sign, we find "yield" works for us
9. Mind Your Step - signs I saw getting on and off the train and other applicable spots reminding us to "watch our step"
10. The Boot - trunk of a car
11. Queue - Line, as in "make a line" or "standing in line"
12. Petrol - gas or gasoline
13. Fizzy Drinks - just like it sounds it's soda pop
14. Toilets - in place of restroom
15. Trolley - carts or suitcases
16. Lifts - obviously they lift you up just like an elevator

Yes, I miss being there and the very kind people I met and enjoyed being around while I was down there. What a wonderful experience and I'm so grateful for everything!! 

Hanging with My Kiwi Friends

Did you know Dr. Pepper is harder to find half way around the world....in fact most places in New Zealand don't offer fountain soda at all. Then there is the issue of ice...apparently not a big thing down here. Water is typically served out of the tap in a glass.

Not that I am complaining, but who would have thought ice and fountain drinks would be what I miss the most...aside from my family and a good Internet connection.

Here is a couple of quick observations about new Zealand...

1. The people (aka Kiwis) are so nice...polite, patient and kind!
2. Driving on the left looks hard....even the escalators are opposite of ours in the US and even had a hard time navigating those too.
3. Barefoot is OK. It is very common here for the Maori people here to walk around in public without shoes. Oh and flip flops are called "jandles".
4. Many things here are priced very high...especially scrapbook supplies, shoes and food...all the things I love. I am sure its the price the kiwis pay for living on a beautiful island half way around the world. But here are a few comparisons to the US:
-Cricut Expression is $800....in US you can find a deal on this for under $200
-Imaginisce I-rock is $34.50...in US it's only $12.99
-Glass of Coke for dinner is $5.00 (no refills or ice)....and in US we are talking $1.10 for a big gulp or $2.50/3.00 for unlimited refills
5. Such a diversity here that I absolutely love! Especially since I love to watch people. People of every shape and size and color! it is amazing to me and I love that I feel like I fit in....where I am not completely sure...but I am accepted. Oh and apparently I have a cool accent too!

Airplanes....making my way to New Zealand

I have never been a big fan of airplanes...but flying half way around the world is a new experience all of it's own. I think I slept for about 7 hours but I feel like I barely closed my eyes and then woke up to the lady in front of my laughing loudly as she watched her tv or was it the baby crying...oh wait it was the bathroom door opening and shutting for the fiftieth time (did I mention that we are sitting right by the bathroom?)

Time stands still on the ride that should take us about 13 hours....that doesn't count the seven hours our first leg of the trip took. Right now my iPad says it's 11:20am....but 11:20 where? The little tv monitor says we have less then 3 hours before we arrive. I think I am hungry but my internal clock is so whacked out considering e border this flight in LA at about midnight and they fed us dinner about 2am...why did we eat that late? I think my mom and I were worried they wouldn't feed us again. Which they will but it won't be for almost 9-10 hours later.

I know they do feed you a meal on a flight this long, something I thought the airlines had long abandoned. However for those of you that were wondering...the food isn't that great. I did love the key lime pie in a cup though.

As for Qantas...aside from this being the biggest plane I have ever been on....it is by far the nicest! I thought we would have to rely on my iPad for entertainment...but not so. The have individual tv sets and you can pick from movie, games, tv hows and music. I just finished watching The Adjustment bueura and now I am listening to Adele's cd.

Well...I will try to update you all soon. Can't wait to share pictures of New Zealand!