OPTAVIA Convention 2023 - August

In August, I was able to go to Atlanta for the OPTAVIA convention. I didn't go last year because it's the same weekend as the family reunion so I was excited to be able to go this year. It's convenient for me because it's driving distance from home. 

I drove from Columbia to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Holly Hiller. She is such a hoot. She is the mother-in-law of one of Tiffani's best friends, Maile Uluave. We were surprised to discover that last year in Dallas.

We went to check in at the hotel (which Holly got with her Hilton points - so nice!) and then we walked around a bit. We were excited to run into some of our team members and favorite people - Gregg and Maria Yost.

Gregg, Maria, Holly, Me

After getting a bite to eat, we met up with another roomie (and my coach) Heidi Wideman who had flown in from San Antonio the day before. Heidi is one of the kindest people I know. We headed over to the State Farm Arena. The convention is so big now that it's the only place large enough to fit everyone.

We didn't take the marta, but I thought it was cool that it has a stop right at the arena. 

Once inside, we met up with several members of our team. I love spending time with these people. They are so kind, positive, and motivational. It's a fun group to hang out with.

Heidi, Me, Martha Rice (our other roomie), Heidi, and Tianna Johnson

Kevin and Kelly Rogerson, Janet Benson, Maria, and Gregg

I knew Holly and Heidi before sharing a room with them, but I didn't know Martha. She was great! I was grateful that all four of us got along so well and were so comfortable together. 
They are some crazy ladies!

Every morning I jump on a quick conference call with members from my team and another team. It's fun to get to see our "Optavia Cousins" at events like this.

Back: Tianna, Dara, Kevin
Front: Brooke, Holly, Heidi, Michelle, Martha, Me

I feel like Michelle is a dear friend even though we mostly know each other from Zoom.

There are good places to eat in Atlanta. We ate at Hudson Grille for lunch the first full day. It has a great reputation. The food was good, but the service was awful. They forgot to turn in half of our orders so we ended up being there an hour before half our group got served. The manager did not handle the situation well at all. At least my hummus and veggies were delicious.

Heidi, me, Holly, Tianna, Monique Bennett & husband, Kevin, Kelly, Jennifer, Martha, Maria and Gregg

The next day, some of us decided to try a traditionally southern place called Mary Mac's Tea Room. It has quite a history. Opened in 1945, it is the only original tea room left. I was so excited to see they had "pot likkers" on the menu. My dad has always used this phrase, but I didn't know it was actually a thing! My food was great, but again the service was pretty slow.

Friday night, there was a gala event so we got all dressed up. We then realized it was going to be mostly a presentation of names and we decided we'd rather just hang out as a team, so we went to dinner with our team and then back to the hotel.

me and Martha

We ate at the Hudson Grille at the Omni. The food and service were excellent. I had sweet potatoes to die for. It started pouring while we were there, which is another reason we skipped out on the main event.

Gregg, Maria, Kelly, Janet, Martha, Heidi, Holly, Gayle Snyder, Tianna, Kevin, Me

Check out Gregg's steak and lobster!

When we went back to the hotel, we decided to get some nice team pictures. 

The Whole Team

Just the ladies

Goofy ladies

Tiana is the head of our team. She has been a great support for me.

Holly is a riot. One night she decided to give all of us mud masks. She just walked up and started putting it on us!
Such a fun group! I'm so glad I got to share a room with them.

Our final night we went as a team to the Braves game. My roomies and I had made a Walmart run (another reason I love having a car available) and bought t-shirts. Holly also bought us each a hat. I love baseball and the Braves put on a good show.

With the replica championship ring.

There's a very cool area outside the stadium with shops and restaurants. It's a great place to meet before and after the game. It was sooo hot!

View from our seats. We didn't realize they were general admission so we weren't able to all sit together. That was kind of a bummer, but I still had a great time. It was my kind of social activity.

Heidi and I had shirts with Austin Riley's name on it. I don't even know who he is, but he had a good game! (ha, ha)

The Braves have a cool Hall of Fame area in the stadium. It was a fun night.

Atlanta is not my favorite city, but our convention will be there for at least two more years. I wish we'd travel around more.

Atlanta does have really cool street art. I took a couple of pictures while driving, but I'd like to go back some time and take better ones.

(I didn't take this one)

I got up early Sunday morning and headed home. It was a great convention and very motivational for me and my business. I've done a lot to get myself and my business back on track since then. I love being a health coach and I love the people I get to work with. I love being a stay at home mom and OPTAVIA makes that possible.

Westward Ho! - Pioneer Trek

The reason we went to Utah earlier than usual was so Baylie could be back in time for Pioneer Trek. She was super nervous, but excited. Some people debate the importance of trek, but I'm a believer. I think it's something that teaches lessons that are best learned through personal experience. I had the opportunity to attend as a youth and later work as a trek ma through BYU one summer. I've been on trek 14 times.

Baylie was an adorable pioneer.

She took the world's smallest harmonica.

We had a good group of kids from our ward.

Saying goodbye!

With the bishop part way through the week.

They had a professional photographer who did a great job of getting pictures of the kids.

After five days, we returned to pick up a very dirty, very tired, very happy Baylie.

With her "ma and pa" the Outzs.

With Olivia and Rachel Chorey.

With the girls from the ward: Allie and Natalie Bailey, Baylie, Rachel Chorey, Talia Stroud, and Kaitlyn Bailey.

We were so happy to get her back and hear of all her experiences. She had a wonderful time.

While she was gone, we took the Brusins to Saluda Shoals Park to play a little since their parents were on Trek. It's an amazing park that is designed to be accessible for children with disabilities.

Calee was a hoot.

The zipline is awesome.

We also went to see the Mario Bros movie. I had a great nap.

me, Calee, Jay, Jalen, Gabe 

It was a great week for everyone. I look forward to Jalen being able to go on trek.