Recently, I had the opportunity to embark on an all expenses paid work trip to Utah, which turned out to be a blend of professional development, culinary epicness, and scenic adventures. Here’s a detailed account of my experiences and the incredible moments that made this trip unforgettable.
Arrival in Salt Lake City and the Journey to Provo
I started the journey by flying into Salt Lake City from Phoenix, where I got to visit my friend Lizzie for a night. Kate and I rented a car on Turo and drove to Provo, the location of our conference. On the way, we made a stop for lunch at the Redmond Heritage Farm Store in Salt Lake City. Here, we indulged in raw milk lattes and seed oil-free, grass-fed burgers topped with organic cheddar. The latte, served with purified pebble ice, was a refreshing treat, and everything was organic. The people at Redmond were incredibly friendly, and when I purchased raw milk, I had to sign a waiver at checkout. I appreciated this approach as it was both informative and legally protective, despite the milk being lab-tested and safe.
I also loved to see all of the amazing Redmond Real Salt products including their Real Salt, Re-Lyte, Clay Mask, in all shapes and sizes. You can shop with the link and discount code MEGMB to see and enjoy all of their offerings. One day I’d love to see their real salt mine. I was so impressed with them!
Stocking Up and Scenic Route to Provo
Our next stop was Whole Foods in Salt Lake City to stock up on snacks for the conference and retreat.
We also visited The Fox Market in Holladay, Utah, which was a whole aesthetic in and of itself. The market had the cutest items, including Ballerina Farm merchandise and a variety of frozen baked goods and meats.
We couldn’t resist buying frozen Ballerina Farm sourdough discard cookies and were determined to find a way to bake them in our hotel room. The women behind the counter were incredible and let us try many of their different ice creams such as goat cheese ice cream.
Taking the scenic route to Provo, we finally checked into our hotel and attended our first session: a training on social media marketing and branding. This session was extremely informative and set the tone for the rest of the conference.
Culinary Adventures and Challenging Hikes
Determined to bake the cookies, we requested a microwave from the hotel. The first night, we managed to make one giant cookie, but microwaving wasn’t ideal and it was still a fun experiment. The next day started with a challenging 5am hike up Y Mountain. The steep path with its 13 different turns was much more difficult than I had anticipated. Despite being tired and sore for days, the hike was incredibly rewarding and felt like a metaphor for life and work with its twists, turns, and obstacles.
After the hike, we enjoyed breakfast and coffee at a local coffee shop in Provo, which had a unique vibe.
Liquid Biocell Manufacturing & Fulfillment Facility
We then headed to the Modere manufacturing facility and warehouse, the mecca for my favorite: liquid biocell. I was thoroughly impressed by their system for liquid Biocell. Everything in the 240k+ square foot facility includes quality assurance, lab testing, bottling and fulfillment. Given that the product is in over 34 countries, they need to meet the standards of all of these countries, including the most stringent standards of Japan. This visit significantly boosted my confidence in their products, effectiveness and quality. We also had the ability to meet with R&D and talk about ideas for future products that include the patented formula. It was an incredible experience. You can click here for my corporate discount on liquid biocell.
A Surprise Encounter and More Culinary Adventures
During a lunch break, we stopped by the Wright Flower Co to buy a sweatshirt for me and hat for Kate. She also ended up finding the Ballerina Farm frozen sourdough cinnamon rolls. While perusing the shop, to our surprise, we ran into Ballerina Farm’s Hannah, which was a shock since it is an hour away from the farm. She is even more beautiful in person if that was even possible.
Back in our room, I realized I had mistakenly bought a children’s small sweatshirt, which led to a lot of laughter. You can see my honest reaction video here, where I laughed so hard that I cried.
We dove back into the conference for the remaining sessions of keynote speakers and hearing updates from the CEO of the company, feeling incredibly excited for the future.
Later that evening, exhausted from the hike, we ordered DoorDash from Redmond Heritage Farm Stores again. While eating, we discovered a nearby Target where we could get small Dash waffle irons for $9.99. This sparked the idea of baking our cookies using the waffle iron, which turned out to be a delicious improvisation!
Spiritual Fulfillment and Leadership Training
Sunday morning, we attended the only Catholic church in the Provo area. Despite its unimpressive interior, the presence of Jesus made the visit fulfilling. We then participated in a training exercise at a park, using white T-shirts and paint. This was followed by a trip to Bridal Veil Falls before heading to Midway for the retreat portion of our trip.
The Retreat Experience
The retreat began with sharing stories and deep conversations. The next day, we drove to Park City for a quick delicious breakfast and walked in the old town. We took the scenic way back to the resort and saw some of the most beautiful mountain views.
Later that morning, we engaged in activities designed to help us delve deeper into ourselves. One of the highlights was visiting the Homestead Crater, a geothermal spring hidden within a 55-foot tall, beehive-shaped limestone rock. Facing my fear of deep water in the extremely deep water was an incredible experience. I also benefited tremendously from the minerals in this spring that helped with the soreness from hiking the Y.
Wrapping Up the Trip
Our final morning was spent in downtown Salt Lake City, where we had a delicious and filling breakfast at The Rose Establishment. We drove to visit the Catholic cathedral in downtown SLC and it was truly remarkable. We said some prayers and toured the grounds, then headed to see the Mormon Tabernacle very briefly as tourists, as it is steps away from where we had parked. I then headed to the airport, marking the end of an unforgettable trip.
Reflections
This visit to Utah was more than just a professional development trip; it was a journey of personal growth, culinary exploration, and scenic beauty. From the challenging hike up Y Mountain to the informative sessions at the conference, every moment was enriching and memorable. I returned home with a wealth of knowledge, new experiences, and a heart full of gratitude for the people I met and the adventures I had.
Great job Meg!