Disclosure:  I was financially compensated for this post.  The thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

On August 8th, I traveled down to the Minneapolis Convention Center for Tastefully Simple’s Amped Up! Party Palooza 2013.  Since I have pretty much always been a small town girl (aside from my college years), I ended up parking in a parking ramp three blocks away from the convention center and ran about 10 minutes late with the unexpected additional walk time.  Doh!

My knowledge of Tastefully Simple up to this point was that it is a Minnesota company, they provide an opportunity to be an independent consultant, and I have seen some great comments on Facebook periodically from those that were putting in party orders.

With learning more about the company, Tastefully Simple, Inc., was started in 1995.  It is a national home tasting party company that focuses on easy to prepare foods and is based in Alexandria, Minnesota.

Tastefully Simple was created by Jill Blashack Strahan.  It was amazing to hear of Jill’s determination to make something of herself while living in Villard, MN, even if it meant starting the company out of a shed and packaging products on the pool table.

At the conference, we were of the first to see the unveiling of the new brand and logo for Tastefully Simple – simple. delicious. fun. ™  Here are Jill Blashack Strahan and Travis from Tastefully Simple’s headquarters.

This is a small section of the consultants who attended.  The room was definitely “Amped Up”.  There was so much enthusiasm and positive energy radiating from the room.

 After the opening remarks, we were whisked away to the Product Premiere where we were allowed to taste the products from the new fall-winter product line.  Here is “Sweet Holly B” rapping about some of the new treats great for gift giving during the holidays.

These two ladies showed a bit of hospitality with some comforting dips.  My personal favorites for fall-winter 2013 are: Warm Pizza Dip Mix, Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée Mix, and the Multi-Grain Beer Bread Mix.

We were also allowed to taste products that would be voted on by the consultants attending the convention as potential new products for the upcoming year. Yum!

My Mug Cake™ (p. 30 fall-winter 2013)

We also got to try My Mug Cake™ and make one of our own while at the conference.  The My Mug Cake™ comes with a Raspberry Chocolate Streusel Cake Mix and Cinnamon Streusel Cake Mix.  

I tried the Raspberry Chocolate Streusel Cake Mix while at the conference and the Cinnamon Streusel Cake Mix later while at home.  There is a line in the mug showing you where to add the water up to, and then you stir in the mix, sprinkle on the crumb topping, and microwave for about a minute (may vary depending on the power of your microwave).

I was amazed at how moist the cake was after being microwaved and this mug has been designed with a big handle so you can eat your cake hot and not burn your fingers while holding the mug.  This product is $19.95 for the mug and two cake mixes.  

If you are interested in gluten-free products, Tastefully Simple has released four gluten-free mixes:  Gluten-Free Cinnamon Apple Cake Mix, Gluten-Free Beer Bread Mix, Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix, and Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix.  

Tastefully Simple also gives back with donating to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.  $1.00 per box will be donated with purchase of the Citrus Sugar Cookie Mix this fall-winter.  Tastefully Simple has donated over $1 million to this campaign since 2009.

This company has over 24,000 independent consultants nationwide and more than 300 employees at its Alexandria headquarters.  Tastefully Simple products may be purchased through consultants and are also available through the company’s website at tastefullysimple.com.  Consultants receive commissions from all sales, even from the online orders.

I was amazed by the overall feeling of excitement and motivation produced by this group of amazing individuals attending the conference.  Jill Blashack Strahan had shared some important points with all during the opening session – 

“Invest in ourselves and take action – take risks – build on our strengths.  Do not confuse small with insignificant.  Show how big your brave is and amplify who you are.”  Jill Blashack Strahan – Tastefully Simple Party Palooza 2013

I have had the chance to taste the many products available at the convention and The Essential 4 Collection by Tastefully Simple.  Wow!  They company’s commitment of simple. delicious. fun. ™ resonate in every bite.

To learn more about Tastefully Simple, please visit the following

Tastefully Simple Website

Tastefully Simple on Facebook

Tastefully Simple Blog and find some amazing recipes here with their products

Tastefully Simple on Pinterest

Tastefully Simple on Instagram @tastefullysimpl

Tastefully Simple on Twitter

Tastefully Simple on YouTube