Review by The Little Scrapbox Team
 
To All My Fellow Scrapbookers:
 
How many times have you wished you had an entire weekend to scrapbook uninterrupted?  Maybe, you've had the pleasure already of going away to a scrapbook retreat.  Either way, I must tell you about Crème of the Crop retreat in Fenton, Michigan.  My two girlfriends, Deb and Bonnie, and I had the absolute pleasure of spending time there this past weekend.  What we expected of this sort of weekend was one thing, what we actually experienced was an entirely different thing.
 
After only an hour drive, we arrived Friday afternoon and Connie and Jack (the owners) were waiting to help us unload the mini store we brought along between the three of us.  After they settled us into our own cropping room (we chose the first floor), Connie served us her signature cheese ball and crackers, and offered us some homemade strawberry lemonade.  At first bite, we were delighted.  As we happily munched away, Connie filled us in on all the details of the house, and where we would sleep etc.  At this time, we were seated next to a fireplace right along side her kitchen and looking around, I could tell that this is someone who takes such pride in her home.  Every corner of her house  of every room was decorated in such beautiful Victorian detail.  And clean, oh my gosh, CLEAN.  Even the brass on her light fixtures shined.  When we had polished off the cheese ball and crackers, Connie showed us to our room.  We chose the attic room 3 floors up.  Climbing the stairs, you can't help but take in the beauty of her home.  It had old Victorian appeal much like that of Grandma's house, but with the modern newness of those giant houses you love to gawk at in other neighborhoods.  Her house is only 9 years old and is a whopping 4,000 square feet of pure goodness.  When we reached our room at the top of the stairs, we all let out our oohs and aahs.  It was breathtaking.  How in the world did this ever get titled "the attic"??  The natural light in her house is unbelievable.  As a matter of fact, Deb had the pleasure of cropping surrounded by windows where the early morning sun would just stream in on her pages.  Gorgeous.
 
After getting everything settled, we went back down to our crop room and organized everything and then sat down to start Scrap Mania.  We had sooooo much room and the chairs were unbelievably comfy.  A couple hours later, something delicious was filling the air and taunting our senses.  By the time dinner was served, we were starving, just from the anticipation of the smells!  We were seated at a large dining room table lit by candlelight, draped in fine linens and beautiful glass dishware.  Even our drinks were served in glass goblets.  Connie had prepared a gourmet salad that was her own recipe and muffins hot from the oven with an orange glaze.  The main course was herb roasted tenderloin, a wild rice and vegetable medley, corn soufflé, and the most delicious gravy I had ever tasted.  We ate in silence (except for the beautiful dinner music playing in the background) shaking our heads in disbelief with each bite.  When we ate all we could manage, we were each presented with a slice of homemade lemon cheesecake topped with fresh blueberries.  Did I mention the REAL graham cracker crust??  No store bought pie crusts here!  Deb and I were so full from dinner that we passed on the cheesecake, and sweet Connie covered ours and put them in our little personal refrigerator (that was fully stocked with unlimited drinks) so we could eat it when we were ready. 
 
Back to work!  More crazy cropping with great conversation amongst friends.  Around 10:00, Connie popped in with an individual plate of cookies and cold milk for each of us.  The cookies were still steaming from the oven, the milk, ice cold.  Mmmmmm.  A perfect treat.  After our cookies were gone, Connie invited us to a 15 minute relaxation session that she instructs.  Sounds hokey, I thought, but maybe it would be fun.  I'm always up for something new.  Bonnie and I participated and all I can say is WOW.  15 minutes well spent.  I was relaxed and calm.  Not too calm though, I've got pages to complete!  Connie encouraged us to crop as late as we wanted and made sure we had everything we needed at all times.
 
The next morning we were up early and ready to go.  We were getting some serious pages done.  There was a fresh pot of coffee ready and the smells of breakfast were starting to fill the air.  After coffee, we were called to eat.  Pancakes with fresh fruit topping, eggs filled with fresh vegetables, homemade blueberry muffins (still hot of course) and juice.  Here's the bonus, Connie believes in healthy living whether it be stress reduction (her relaxation sessions) or eating healthy, so everything she cooks is made with fresh ingredients and things that are good for you.  Her pancakes were protein pancakes filled with things like cottage cheese and rolled oats, at first I thought eeeew, in my pancakes???!!!  Oh my gosh.  I can't even describe how melt in my mouth delicious they were.  Who knew that healthy could taste so good?
 
All of that was just in my first 12 hours there.  I could go on and on about how wonderful the rest was the hot mulled cider with homemade whip cream, the chocolate bread pudding, the homemade hot chocolate, the Chicken Marsala, the massages, the kindness of our hostess, but there has to be some surprises left for when YOU actually stay there.  Seriously friends, I've done weekend getaways before, but nothing compares to this.  I highly recommend it for any scrapbooker looking to be pampered.  Even for those of you who are on wait lists for other retreats claiming to be the best.  Stay at Crème of the Crop, you will not be disappointed.  I give this retreat 5 out of 5 stars!
 
www.cremeofthecropretreat.com
 
Thank you
The Little Scrapbox Team
1-586-416-0632