Haven Conference 2012

 

K, so OH.MY.GOSH have I had a great week!!

 

Guys, I am thrilled to say that I was able to go to Haven Conference in Atlanta.

 

This was my first blogging conference, and it was the perfect one for me. DIY and home decor bloggers all in one spot? Sign.me.up.

 

There were really only two main things I wanted to do at Haven: meet Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick, and learn to be a better blogger. It’s so exciting to report that not only was I able to achieve both goals, I got to meet so many ROCK STAR women, make some wonderful new friends, and learn a boatload of information that is making my head swim with excitement.

 

I have been reading Sarah’s blog, Thrifty Decor Chick, since the beginning of time it seems. Sarah has amazing ideas, writes like she’s talking to YOU, her best friend, and is the first blog I ever read. She continues to inspire me with her thrifty DIY projects and creative and funny writing. Plus she loves Sarah McLachlan, NKOTB, and is 5’9″ like me. We were destined to be friends.

 

Meeting Sarah was #1 on my priority list, and I was nervous and excited that I met her within the first hour or two of landing in Atlanta. And can I tell y’all that I embarrassed myself? For reals. Ever have a picture in your head of how something’s gonna go, and then BAM! You’re a moron? Yeah. That’s me a little bit.

 

I walked into the room, saw Sarah, and literally cried out, “It’s you!!” Then I asked her for a hug and started crying. I am such a moron. Ms. Blubbery McBlubberson was too busy hugging and crying to even tell Sarah who the freak was hanging onto her. She was so sweet to me, though. She just smiled and hugged me until I could pull it together enough to tell her who the heck I was. Sarah was even kind enough to take a few pictures before calling security.

 

Check out my big fat cheeser smile. I am such a moron. But a happy one.

 Sarah, Me the Stalker Face

 

I could have gone home right then and there and die happy, but there was still an awesome conference to attend. My roommates were my friends Jamie from C.R.A.F.T. and Allison from House of Hepworths. (We Austin girls gotta stick together!)

 

(K, here’s the warning. PICTURE OVERLOAD begins now…)

 

Gillian from Homes.com is AWESOME!! Jamie and I met her on the shuttle to the hotel and chatted it up! It was fun to run into her and the other “Homes Girls” everyday. They were so friendly and made us feel like rock stars!

 Jamie, Gillian, Me

 

I adore The Nester. A fellow renter, she is amazing and inspires me to TRY without fear. It was so cool to get the chance to tell her in person that her encouraging words were in my head while I made my 42 Cent Abstract Art.

The Nester, Me

We’ll just call that fuzz “bokeh” and say it was planned, k?

 

The East Coast Creative girls are just as fun and friendly as they are on their blog (and Nate Berkus!) Jess and Monica have such seriously great ideas…it was so cool to finally meet them.

 Me, Jess, Monica, and Jamie

 

I got to hang out with Angie of Angie in the Thick of It and Breida from Breida With a B. It’s amazing how you feel like you’ve known people for so long when you’ve only just met.

 Angie, Me, Breida

 

Meeting Julia from Hooked on Houses was a dream!! She’s on my blogroll, and my sisters and I LOVE her blog. We share posts back and forth on Facebook and sometimes sit next to each other at one computer scouring her awesome blog. Julia is so kind and friendly, too. It was fun to get to know her throughout the week.

 Me, Julia

 

Out to dinner with my friends!

Me, Angie, Jamie, and Allison

 

Sherry and John from Young House Love were the Keynote Speakers. It was so interesting to listen to them talk about the evolution of their blog. I could have sat there all day…they are such great speakers and very entertaining!! They stayed on our floor at the hotel (no, I didn’t go searching for their room!!). It was fun riding on the elevator with John and their cute dog Burger.

Sherry and John

 

The glamorous, beautiful, and talented “carpentress,” Ana White, was at Haven teaching us how to use power tools like a pro while still looking hot. She can make just about anyone (including me!) feel like they can build anything.

Ana White. I am LOVING the purple heels!

 

I have been reading Darlene Weir’s site, Fieldstone Hill, for sometime now. I absolutely love her “Ditto” posts. I was fortunate to attend a class she taught, and Darlene is just as kind and smart and full of great ideas and tips as she is online. She even helped give me some ideas to try out in my brown on tan on beige on boring kitchen.

 Darlene and Me (in the worst lighting in the history of the world)

 

One day I found myself lucky enough to eat lunch with Beckie from Infarrantly Creative and the Shanty 2 Chic girls! I kept pinching myself…I have been reading both Infarrantly Creative and Shanty 2 Chic for years. Meeting these inspiring women was such a blessing!

 Ashley, Beckie, Jamie, Me, and Whitney

 

After telling Beckie that my older sister also loved her blog, she made a video message for my sis on my phone!! Of course my sister loved it. And I took a class Beckie taught with Julia (Hooked on Houses) and Sarah (Thrifty Decor Chick) that was a wealth of knowledge.

 

One afternoon I found myself sitting next to a beautiful and sweet girl named “Melissa.” What’s your blog? “320 Sycamore.” Yeah, I’m a complete moron! I’ve read 320 Sycamore about a billion times because she continues to have such cool ideas. Once I recovered from my brain lapse, it was fun to hang out with Melissa and her cute sister, Kristin!

Melissa, Allison, and Me 

 

Last year I met Gina (Miss Charming), from Charming Zebra, at Austin’s I Love Thrifting Day. It was fun to catch up with her, chat about anything and everything, and travel home together. Love ya girl!

 Gina and Me

 

Traci, from Beneath My Heart, and I met last year at GE’s Momsperience. She is seriously a doll…it was so wonderful see her again. She is so beautiful, inside and out. Traci inspires me to be a better mom (and DIYer! Have you seen her kitchen?!). I was able to attend a session she taught about blogging and learned so much.

Traci and Me

 

Jamie and I happened to be sitting in the lobby when Layla and Kevin Palmer from The Lettered Cottage walked by. We were able to have a really great conversation with them which was AWESOME. I took their photography class the next day and took so many notes!

 Me (with a scary face…what the?!), Layla, and Kevin

 

Kristi (Creative Kristi) is another friend from Momsperience and one of the Haven team members. It was so fun to reconnect with her! She is seriously a blogging genius!!

 Jamie, Kristi, Me, My BFF Sarah

 

Some of the Haven Team Members: Beth (Home Stories A to Z), Chris (Just a Girl), and Kate (Centsational Girl). These ladies worked SO hard for us, and the conference was a success!!

 Beth, Chris, Me, Kate

 

I am beyond grateful that I was able to attend Haven. Meeting people I have looked up to and admired for years was absolutely awesome. Learning tips and tricks to help me be a better blogger was invaluable. Making lasting friendships was the icing on the cake.

 

Haven 2013? I’m so there.

 

If you could meet a favorite blogger, who would it be? (I promise it’s okay to cry when you meet them.)

 

I’m linking up to Rhoda’s Haven Party!