Getting New Stuff

 I like it.

Getting new stuff is always fun.

I don't host a party for anything very often.  I don't like asking people to buy things.  That seems odd, doesn't it?  Both of the girls were top sellers when they were sophomores during the magazine sales.  I was very encouraging and supportive and I must say "Proud" because they worked hard to accomplish that goal.

But something intrigued me about having a Pampered Chef party.  I had accepted the invitation from Deb Nedza to attend her online party and I purchased a few items from that.  Then Theresa Murphy asked me to attend her online party also, and I found more items that interested me.  That is what sparked my interest in hosting a party myself.

I was shocked.  Some of the people I invited didn't accept the invitation---and I thought they would.  Others that I thought would have no interest at all in the party---accepted the invitation.  Some of those people, especially those who participated in conversations about items in the catalog and the contests, didn't order anything but others who didn't participate at all placed larger orders.  There were even a couple of people who asked me to invite them because they were interested in ordering a few things.  Before the week was over the sales had reached over $1000 and I was shocked.

The rewards looked great---but were a little deceiving. As a host I earned 60% off one large item.  Good deal.  Then, according to my rewards tier, five items could be purchased for 50% off, plus I had over $400 to spend on products, and 30% off other items.

Sounds good, right?  But the catch was this.  I couldn't use the $400 to pay for the remaining 40% of the large item or the 50% that was left on those five items.  Also the 30% off didn't kick in until the rewards cash was spent on other things.  By the time I had placed items in my 'cart' and totaled it, the sum I still owed was too much for me to feel comfortable with....so I started to throw some items out, juggle the placement of the items, and finally came up with a total that I felt good about.

And this week the boxes arrived.

Tuesday - the griddle/grill which was my 60% off host gift.  I used it tonight for paninis and I loved it!

Wednesday - the cooking blender, really for Megan.  After the sale price and the 50% off, she got a bargain with this appliance.  She paid for the other 50%---still a bargain for her.

Thursday - two large boxes arrived and they were full of good things to try!  An electric wine bottle opener.  A pizza peel.  A new pizza stone with edges and handles.   A RockCroc grill platter.  Storage bowls in three sizes.  Measuring spoons.  A new loaf pan and a bar pan.  Two new cake pans (You're welcome, Landon!).  A batter dispenser and a pancake dispenser.  A new spatula and potato peeler.    

Some cleaning out of old things needs to happen in the next few days---especially since Hilary is having a yard sale this weekend.  

New stuff to use and try out is fun.  

Having the Pampered Chef party was easy and fun too.  Just not something I want to do too often, especially when I have to spend more money!