Hanging out at Haven {2013}: Part 1

All I keep thinking is Mind. Blown. Seriously, what a pleasure and honor and wonderful opportunity it was to be in a room with {almost} all of my blogging heroes and hundreds of my blogging peers that is Haven. Soooo fun!

Since there is so much to talk about, I’m dividing my Haven 2013 recap into two posts.

So without any further ado, here’s four reasons why Haven was awesome!!

#1 I’ll never hear Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke without thinking about the DIY Shuffle. {I keep trying to upload my video to You Tube, but it keeps failing. I’ll add it if I can ever get it uploaded. In the meantime, here’s Kim’s from Sand and Sisal.}

Basically Traci from Beneath my Heart, plus the Haven Team, which included Beth, Chris, Rhoda, Sarah and Traci, and a few more of their friends put together a DIY Shuffle. Let’s just say it was awesome. After being nervous ALL day long, at the end of day #1 a smile was on my face and I was enjoying myself in a room with complete strangers {and yet my bloggy sisters}. Good job ladies at easing my newbie Maven fears.

#2 I had never met another blogger {well, except my sister-in-law} before Haven.

And now I know 300 plus! Well, not really, too little time … but I know way more than I did before!

I arrived at the hotel around 3 on Thursday after registering tried to wander around and meet people. And to be honest, it was awkward. I didn’t feel comfortable going up to complete strangers. The first event, a cocktail party, didn’t start until 6. So I went to  my hotel room and debated whether or not I should leave or throw up or just hide out. Not really, but it was hard to overcome the feelings of self-doubt and almost first-day of school nervousness.

I headed to the party and almost immediately met Ashley from Simply Designing. And then I met Jenna from SAS Interiors. Both very sweet and friendly ladies. After a few minutes, I finally met my e-mail friends Jenna from Rain on a Tin Room, Jamie from So Much Better With Age and Heather from Southern State of Mind – and I don’t think I was alone the rest of the conference! We were insta-friends, because we got each other. I can’t describe the feeling of knowing someone who completely understand what you’re passionate about.

Here I am with Lauren from The Thinking Closet {I borrowed this pic from her blog – thanks Lauren!}, Jamie and Jenna. It was so fun to chat with other women who truly GET what I do. And I will say, my favorite quote from that the whole weekend was made that night by Jenna: “She over-picmonkeyed it.” Yes, there is such a term: over-picmonkey. Not good. {And if you’re not familiar with PicMonkey, then you should be. It’s awesome!}

# 3 My Blogging Idols. I loved meeting the bloggers that I admired from afar until now. Many of the women in this picture are the first DIY bloggers I ever started reading. They inspired me to start a DIY blog. I was honored just to be in the same room with them! And they were so nice and down to earth.

Can you believe I met Emily from Emily A. Clark? I’ve followed her blog for at least two years and love her! I talked to her several times and she was so sweet and down to earth. Thanks Emily for being so kind and genuine!

#4 Oh the information. I learned about Google SEO, Advertising, Working with Brands, tons of other random tidbits and big blogging secrets. 🙂 This conference was jam-packed full of insights that will help me to be a better blogger. Thanks so much Haven team!

I walked away truly inspired, motivated and filled up with blogging love.

Check out my Recap, part 2!

Oh, and just a quick note: all of these pictures were taken with phones, so don’t judge. OK? 🙂

 

Click HERE to see where I party every week.