Mom: "So did you get to go to a lot of seminars?"
Liana: "Not really"
Mom: "Well then, what did you do the whole time you were in Vegas?"
Liana: "Ate"
Mom: "And then what?"
Liana: "Ate some more."
Mom: "What else did you do besides that?"
Liana: "Talked, went to parties, helped out, had meetings."
Mom: "I'm glad it was productive."
Liana: "Yeah, I don't think I need to eat for weeks."



Phewww... I am still... almost a week later, mentally and physically exhausted from all the chaos that is called WPPI and DWF in Las Vegas. I'm afraid I'd have to write a book to cover everything that happened, so here's a quick view...

(and thanks Shy and Tobi for all the pics!!)

The trip started with a VERY long and bumpy flight two Fridays ago but I opened the Paris hotel room door to be greeted by three gorgeous friendly faces - Jasmine, Shyla, and Kristen - so it was a great start after all.

Me and my Vegas roomies with Mike


Me and Jazzy in the elevator


Seriously, this trip wouldn't have been half as fun without this crew!
Mike and Julie were CONSTANTLY cracking us up


Sunday was AWESOME. Jazzy and I had a laid-back yummy dinner with Regis and Fletcher which was a nice change of pace...


Then we rushed over to the "Champaign Shootout" to help Mike battle the ugly pea-green projector, studio-lights, and the craziest rainbow background you'd ever seen (sooooooo not Mike).


We ended up taking the models down off the stage and used the audience to simulate a "first dance" look.


Mike ended up with killer shots (here's the one they printed and displayed the next day):


As soon as we were done with the shoot-out, we rushed back to Paris where the OSP-party was well under way. The group from OSPMC had decided about a month ago to surprise DJ with custom-made "It's an Addiction" OSP t-shirts so when he showed up we were already wearing them!



DJ, Jessica, and I got up bright and early on Monday to join Jeff Kent for breakfast. It was great to finally put a face with the name - in person :)


Monday started the non-stop-eating trend. After breakfast, we hit the tradeshow floor for a few minutes before heading over to the Fabulous Female Photographer's French Luncheon. (sorry, no pics of this... top secret! j/k...I'll have to get some pics here eventually...)

After a long lunch, headed over to the Pictage Partner Party, then straight to dinner with the fabulous Leather Craftsmen Crew, Andy and Brian Marcus, John Solano, Jay Goldman, DJ, and Jess.

Andy, Liana, and Brian


Self-portrait with John


Monday night was the only night I made it out dancing... check out the view from the Foundation Room.


Tuesday was rough having to be up bright and early for mentoring sessions that Davina put together last minute with the help of OSPers and Jeff Jochum to benefit Thirst Relief International but it was such an awesome time.

Immediatly following, I rushed over to the tradeshow to do a quick 1-hour stint for Pictage.





When that all wrapped, I realized I haden't eaten yet that day so I joined the gals and Mike for a very late lunch with Gary and Melissa. That was 3pm.

At 4pm, I met up with fellow WeddingELITE friends, Kevin Kramer and David Beckstead for dinner #1.


The Becksteads and Kramers


At 6pm, I met up with Mike and the gang to head BACK over to Nine (where we'd eaten the night before...yummy!) for dinner #2 with the Pictage clan. By then, my stomache was fuller than full but I'm like a fish and don't know when to stop

.... so I kinda sat there with my eyes glossed over feeling full while Mike entertained us with his creative photo-taking.


Trip to the Forums and FAO Schwarz later that night


And to join up with the Regis-birthday crowd (isn't Rege a stud?? you can't even see him in all us girls!)


Ice cream was involved later but I was too full to partake or even take pictures to document.

Wednesday, we headed over to DWF to cheer on Jess and Susan during their seminar, then Jess and I had a lovely afternoon of errand-running and french-dinning for xtreme!


Finally, we headed to Beckers for the big finale Wednesday PM - the 6th Annual [b] Party in Vegas.

(This is actually from Sat PM but [b] has tons on his blog)


Okay, so that was anything but short... and I'm not sure what the moral of the story is except thank you everyone for such an amazing experience and I can't wait to fast for two weeks ahead of time so I can do it all again next year!!! ;)