Being a part of the very first, inaugural, crowning, initial, premier Haven Conference {ta da!} was so. much. fun. I am SO impressed with the fun, professional conference that the Haven team threw.
If you are a big fan of Home bloggers, you may have seen your share of Haven posts already, but I had such a great time and wanted to share my thoughts on the whole fantastic thing. Especially if I can introduce you to some of the amazing bloggers with which I got to spend my time.
What I learned at Haven 2012:
1. My hair and Atlanta are not BFF’s.
Here is a pic, taken by Sew Woodsy during my speaker session. Oh my, look at that poofy hair. My mom would call it the “Jersey Poof Monster.” Folks. I spent 35 minutes straightening my hair that morning. Here you see spiral curls. Now, I love my spiral curls, BUT…. but seriously, who has 35 minutes to throw down the toilet? You will see up-do’s during the rest of my Atlanta stay!
2. Meeting new bloggers is still just as amazing as it has always been:
One thing that surprised me about this conference was that, at this conference, I spent most of my time with newer friends instead of older bloggy friends. And I just adored everyone that I met! Check out the darlin’s below, and I hope you will check their blogs out! Because these ladies know how to laugh and they are genuine and wonderful, I tell ya.
A fun dinner with friends!! top to bottom, left to right: Kristy of Living Life {un}Simply, Moi, Amanda of Amanda Carol At Home, Lori of Lori May Interiors, Jen of At Home in the Northwest, Angela of The Painted House {I have shared the VERY talented Angela with you before, remember our play date?}, Logan of Life for Dessert, and Carole of Blue Chateau Interiors.
In the pic above: Despite the look on my face that says: “Yes, I was recently tazed with a taser,” I am actually quite giddy. Meet my sweet, precious, darling new friend: Ashley of The Handmade Home. Do you know this sweet girl already??? Seriously, you need to know her. HEART. OF. GOLD. And a sense of humor – a total necessity in a friend, don’t you think?!
Above: These girls and I are part of a very encouraging bloggy support network. We call ourselves the Lemonade Girls, and five out of nine of us were there at Haven 2012. How awesome is that? From left to right: Moi, Carrie of Making Lemonade, Kelly of View Along the Way, Cassie of Primitive and Proper, and Natalie of A Turtles Life for Me. You should go and “like” them, because, my word – they are likable!
I did not take nearly enough pics, and I never got one of me and my roomies together: Jessica of Four Generations One Roof {who is also my client. Check out her beautiful dining room before and after!!}, who has a heart of gold and had us laughing with her wicked killa Boston accent, and Logan of Life for Dessert, who I just need to keep in my pocket – this girl is SUCH an encouraging and funny friend. LOVE YOU ROOMIES!!!!! You girls know how to stay up ’til 2 am laughing, which qualifies as AWESOME in my book.
I met TONS of other amazing bloggers, with the cutest dern business cards you ever did see. Really, {darlene}, why did you not take more pics??
3. Don’t be shocked by this…. I was reminded that blogging is a business. An amazing business that benefits me and my readers!
At Haven, I was reminded again and again that Blogs are VALUABLE to advertisers. We are affordable AND we offer honest, authentic word of mouth. No wonder advertisers are finally catching on!! That is like advertising GOLD!
I like to think of FHD like a magazine. This “magazine” {also known as a blog} is a great place where I write lots of free tips, you read it for free, and somehow, I get paid! But, goody goody, it is free for you!! Advertisers, who know how cool YOU the reader are, will pay me for my ad space, etc. And you get to decipher if you are interested…. but all the while, you still get tips and love from FHD for free. That is how it works. How cool is that? And. The perk for me? I don’t have to work my tail off and not get paid. That is also how it works! sweet.
4. Y’all. I have much to learn about this here blogging business.
I learned SOOOO much at Haven. Wow. This blogging business is filled with smart, savvy women who have so much to offer as far as talent and giftedness. And these women are professionals who I highly value. I loved being surrounded by so many women with, as I like to put it, “something to say.” Haven’s sessions were fantastic, and I was taking notes like nobody’s biz. My to-do list curves around the block.
No doubt. I will be a better blogger as a result of the Haven Conference.
5. As a speaker: I learned that I LOVE to speak about decorating.
I guess I can go on and on about it. I truly have a deep passion for getting my friends and clients to stop settling for what they “like,” and seek out {plus trust!} what they LOVE!! And guess what? Despite my nerves, my glistening face, and my Southern Hair explosion… I LOVED every minute of teaching my Design Studio session!!
image via super-sweet-supportive Lori of Lori May Interiors. There I am with the talented Erika of BluLabelBungalow, who co-taught the session with me and the amazing Sherry of Design Indulgence {great interior design blogs. Check them out!!}.
6. I was reminded that I am human. With fears. And gifts.
Finally, I was surprised by myself at this conference. I realized I would rather be speaking or singing in front of a room of 10,000 people than milling around a group of women, trying to find a friend to sit with at breakfast. I was reminded that I can be so sensitive about the responses of others toward me. In general, I am outgoing, and pretty grounded… but I tend to turn inward when in situations like this. There really can be something intimidating about the power of groups-of-women. Despite the kindest crowd, I had fears. And, like all of us who are growing and learning, sometimes I have to pep-talk myself out of my insecurities. And I just wanted to be honest and share that with you.
I did think, “Do they like me?” and I did think, “I wonder what they think of me?” Trying to keep it real here, friends. And, I am guessing, I was not the only blogger wondering this. But after 3 or 4 days to digest all that I saw, I have come back to the reality of my life, and I am again reminded that I am NOT defined by what I do. Oh, no. I have already learned that lesson BIG TIME {Please don’t let me forget to tell you about that story!}. No. I am NOT defined by what I do, but by WHOSE I am. I am a child of God. Yep. He made me this way. On purpose.
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I am SOOOOO proud of the girls, many of whom I love, who pulled this amazing Haven Conference together. Rhoda, how did we NOT get a pic together?? You too, Beth!!? And Traci?
I can honestly say that Haven has given me tools to be a MUCH better and efficient blogger. It was an amazing two days. Thank you for all of those who made the Haven Conference possible!
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p.s. stay tuned for a post about Atlanta thrifting and my one-night-roomie-stand, with my girl, Angela. FHD + TPH = PYT BFF’s. oh yes.
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For more details on all the fun that was had at Haven, check out the linkup posts at Southern Hospitality.
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