The single photo I took.

I just didn’t take any pics during the party this year!

Oops! And forgot a took a selfie with my frozen margarita!

But that’s it!

As it turned out, it was our least-attended party ever. Disappointing to say the least after all the work and money we put into it.

Everyone was cleared out by 8 and we had soooo much food and drink left over it was exhausting putting it all away at the end of the night.

We’re definitely rethinking the idea of the whole party—but we know for sure if we continue, the waterslide isn’t coming back since barely anyone used it and that’s a huge chunk of money.

Holy crap I’m 49!

Yes you bet your ass I’m wearing my crown!!

No fun errands or escapades… We were on our way to Michigan for my cousin’s wedding (technically like second cousins – whatever my cousin’s kids would be to me!).

Birthday dinner at a super yummy Chinese restaurant in Saginaw.

And a birthday margarita, because of course. The waitress guessed it was my birthday – telling me her mom wears a crown, too. Hey, it got me $1 off. LOL

And then we realized we wanted water for the hotel room so stopped here.

And we’re off to the UP!

It’s time to pick up the kids from grandparent camp!

First, my traveling face. LOL

We had to drop Olive off at the sitter’s (we’ll take her next year once she’s more potty trained). She loves car rides!

Stopping for lunch at a gas station! They opened the side of the RV and we had a quick non-fast-food lunch!

The last 15 miles looks like this.

We’ve arrived!

And Lin had bought Thimbleberry margaritas so that happened first thing!

Fab Squad Retreat – Day 2

Today’s schedule was pretty open all day with a short training around lunch. So we started by taking lots of lifestyle photos of and with each other.

AND THEN OMG! I met Katie Enos and Summer Alvarez!! They are some of the top dogs in SeneGence and we got two hours of one-on-one training by them today! They are soooo super nice and down to earth!

Of course I think I look totally ridic in this pic but that’s because someone else took it—I would have done a closeup selfie!!

Katie’s Instagram & Summer’s Instagram

Then it was off to sit by the pool at the swim up bar.

I might have been a bad influence. (Or, really, they just wanted to taste it and didn’t have glasses!)

And then I just got toooo hot so had to go in the pool. With a margarita of course. But because it’s so extremely hot, the pool water isn’t really even refreshing. It’s definitely not cool. But it is better than the air so…

After dinner it was time for more lifestyle photos. I took a bunch but wasn’t feeling cute at all. (UGHHHHH. I’ve gained so much weight. I know no one there cares but the pics make me sick so A) I’m not posting them and B) it’s time to get back on Naturally Slim.) So this is my best photo—nothing different than I take at home:

But this is the kind of pics most were taking (I just felt super self-conscious so didn’t join in):

Fab Squad Retreat – Day 1

TODAY IS THE DAY! Today I get to leave for the Fab Squad Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, that I qualified for at 100%!

It was soooo hard getting up at 5 this morning but I made it to the airport easy peasy. Seeing the security line worried me a little bit because I no longer have TSA pre-check but it went very quickly and I had no problems…except I forgot my Apple watch in the basket. I did realize it before I got too far away and the agent was holding it when I got back so I’m gonna count that as a win.

And then… at the gate…they announced that the Phoenix airport had lost power so we couldn’t leave until their power was restored. Thankfully we only left a few minutes late—and then made up enough time in the air to arrive about 30 minutes early!

Welcome to Arizona.
Mountains!

Friends picked me up and then it was off to Costco to get margaritas and snacks for the house!

And then they wanted to go to In & Out and I won’t turn down a burger and fries! It wasn’t very thrilling though. We did get hats though.

And then the thing I was most looking forward to… seeing my Jenna and giving her a huge hug! She’s the leader that’s adopted me and supports me even though she doesn’t earn any money from me! She’s literally one of the nicest people on the planet and I’m lucky to know her.

The house was huge—and this was our first view of the backyard and pool.

And my first margarita on the patio trying not to sweat in the heat.

We hung out around the pool until it was time for the PJ party (Jenna bought everyone matching pajamas!)—pizza dinner and ice breakers.

First Jenna wanted to know if we considered ourselves introverts or extroverts. I’d say more than half of our 20 said they were introverts! Then she asked what challenges you’ve faced in the last year and something you’re proud of—business or personal. I knew what I was proud of (my consistent and increasing sales, earning SeneSales every quarter) but had no idea about challenges. I was thinking I can’t seem to host parties, I have no willpower to lose weight… And then people were talking about all these SERIOUS THINGS (deaths, major illnesses, relationship issues, etc) and everyone was getting teary and I’m a total emotional sap so I was teary. And it was getting closer to me—I was like #17/20 and I still didn’t really even know what I was going to say. And then the girl before me said her mom died unexpectedly (which I knew) so I was like Oh okay I’ll tell them my dad died unexpectedly (because I’ve mostly been able to talk about it without getting super emotional) and then as the words were coming out of my mouth it was like it all hit me RIGHT THEN and I could barely even make it through. I know no one cared how I sounded because seriously half the women broke down while talking but I still felt ridiculous. So that was interesting. But we were also all laughing and crying and it was good overall.

I’m not gonna lie—I did feel lots of awkwardness and anxiety all day about hanging out with all these ladies I don’t know. I mean, I know who they are (and they know who I am) but we have never really hung out before and I’m a total introvert in those situations. And also because a lot of them do have real friends within the group so they REALLY know each other.

But I survived!

Dave and Buster’s!

We finally took the kids to Dave and Buster’s for the first time today! They had gotten a gift certificate from Anna for their birthdays last year that we’d forgotten about. I honestly wasn’t looking forward to it because I knew from other people’s stories that it’s usually crazy busy and loud and I assumed the food would be blah. Thankfully I was wrong!

I’m sure it’s due to the state of the world, but it was practically empty! And the menu looked pretty good (especially the drink menu)! My margarita was yummy!

Anna did warn us that we’d spend more money than we’d want to and we just needed to let it go and let the kids have fun (LOL). We didn’t go crazy with the games—and we did make them pay for a tiny part of it—but yeah, that was an expensive lunch. Hopefully they have lasting memories of it!

And also, now Dave and Buster’s gift cards are a great gift to give!!

P.S. This drink was DELICIOUS and we need to try and recreate it at home:

CARIBBEAN LUXE LONG ISLAND TEA
Don Julio Reposado Tequila, Grey Goose Vodka, Bacardi Superior Rum, Grand Marnier, mango puree, scratch sour mix and cranberry juice.

The evolution of Living Lippy!

Y’all have seen my avatar by now, I assume, since she’s been around since 2018.

Well, I figured four years was long enough to use the el cheapo Fiverr look (which I did love)…so when my friend Joyanne offered to design something new for me as practice for her new business, I jumped at the chance!

And I’m in love! I mean, who doesn’t want to look like a Disney princess?! And of course I still have my trademark margarita…but my hair is shorter and I’ve got a cardigan now (and I’m not quite as slim as I was back then). And yes, the margarita is a more realistic appropriate size!

That said, part of me is sad to give up the old me because it has memories…but we all need to grow and evolve…so in with the new!