A week ago I was packing my bags in preparation for my very first blogging conference, the Haven Conference. I was nervous, but super excited! Even if you don’t blog, I hope you enjoy this fun behind-the-scenes look at the world of DIY blogging.
As my roomie, Nancy from Artsy Chicks Rule, and I were heading up to our room in the elevator, a gentleman asked us what we were there for, referring to the tags around our necks. We told him we were there for a blogging conference. His response was this, “You mean you actually get together? I thought you just sat at home reading each other’s blogs.”
When I tell someone I’m a blogger, first they get this deer-in-the-headlights look and then their eyes start to glaze over. It makes it really difficult to try to explain this thing we do that we are so passionate about. People often have this preconceived notion that we sit in our jammies all day (not gonna lie, that does happen sometimes) in our basements (I’m at sea level so no basement here) writing about our kids and what we made for dinner last night. Going to this conference gave me validation. I am part of a community of strong, passionate and amazingly supportive women sharing what we love with the world, and it’s okay if my neighbor doesn’t get it. I LOVE to blog. I love to create and share it with YOU.
Here are some fun moments from the conference. You may even recognize some of your favorite bloggers!
My trip started out perfectly with flying out with these two lovelies:
Me, Kim from Sand and Sisal (her photo), and Nancy from Artsy Chicks Rule getting ready to board.
Nancy was the best roommate ever! Although we chat daily through our blogs, and we were able to meet in person back in May at a lunch I had at my house with a few local bloggers…
Shirley from Beachwood Place, Nancy, Stephanie from Simply Swider, yours truly
I’m so glad we had the chance to become real-life friends through this conference! There were tons of fun photo ops like this one…
and this one…
We shared these on Instagram. If you follow me, you’ve probably seen some of these already!
In one word, this is me…
We got to meet Chip Wade from HGTV. His new show is Elbow Room and he’s amazing!
I met so many amazing ladies…
All of our Get Your DIY On crew was in one place too! After collaborating on our themed link parties for almost a year now, meeting them for real was one of the highlights of my trip!
Mandy (The Hankful House), Abby (Just a Girl and her Blog), April (House by Hoff), me, Krista (The Happy Housie)
Okay so maybe not everyone made it…definitely next year, Mandy!!
Krista and I snapped this one in between classes. I’m pretty sure our minds were mush at this point! I really wish she lived a few thousand miles closer!!
Fellow bloggers make perfect dining companions! (Yikes terrible Instagram photo!)
Shanna (Restoration Redoux), Vidya (What’s Ur Home Story), Wendi (H2O Bungalow), Laura (Inspiration for Moms), Me!, Nancy (Artsy Chicks Rule)
My dinner was delish…mixed grill! My husband always says to order the special if they have one. Good call!!
There were fun challenges…this was a table styling challenge Nancy helped with:
We spent each day speaking to vendors like Home Depot, Frog Tape, Rustoleum, and Moen, just to name a few and sitting in on super informative sessions on everything from improving our photography skills to working with major brands and everything in between.
Dancing the night away was a fun way to end each Session-filled day!
The team of girls who put this whole shebang together did an amazing job. Here’s a fun video they put together…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwdTMNa1ZZg&feature=youtu.be
As well as a rap (yes, I said rap!) Traci from Beneath My Heart wrote and performed:
After all that fun, it was time to come home…exhausted and ready to see our babies!
One last shot at our airport. I shared this on Instagram too. The “V” says, “Virginia is for Lovers”. Home Sweet Home!
I stole this from Nancy’s Instagram
See? We don’t just sit in our basements blogging!
Hope you enjoyed this fun-filled Haven recap! If you don’t blog, it’s a peek behind the scenes, and if you do blog and didn’t make it to Haven this year, definitely plan on attending next year!
I’ll be back later this week with a fun furniture redo!
XO,
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Paula@SweetPea says
It was so great to hang out with you for a few days at Haven. I honestly wasn’t ready for it to end Saturday night! I hope we can see each other again in person before next July!
Christy K. James says
Yes! I really had fun hanging out and tearing up the dance floor with you! Haven was such a good time! Maybe we can do a meet-in-the-middle lunch some time! 🙂
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
OMG! Love the post title Christy. Glad we got a chance to meet and get to know each other. I think we should have our own VA blog con like the FL girls do. Loved this part all too much that I shared on FB, “Going to this conference gave me validation. I am part of a community of strong, passionate and amazingly supportive women sharing what we love with the world, and it’s okay if my neighbor doesn’t get it. I LOVE to blog. I love to create and share it with YOU.”
Christy K. James says
Isn’t it so true? It’s hard to talk about what we do to non-bloggers, but after this conference, I really do feel validated! SO glad I got to meet and hang out with you! 🙂
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
OH the shower photo!! I’m such a goof!! lol We had such a great time…it just goes by way too fast! So glad you were my roomie!!! 🙂
xoxo
Nancy
Christy K. James says
Me too!! I’m so glad you’re so close to me! We need to meet up and go “pickin'” at those antique stores I mentioned!
Katie @ Addicted 2 DIY says
I love your recap! It is so true that going to a blogging conference is unbelievably validating! So many people just don’t get what I do when I tell them I have a blog. Being around a huge group of women who “get” me was so amazing!
Christy K. James says
Yes!! I agree! Even at home since I’ve returned from the conference, I no longer feel bad when I’m on my computer taking care of bloggy business. I am creating my future with my blog and that’s important too. Can’t wait to do it all over again. 🙂
Andi says
I was just visiting at Nancy’s and saw a bunch of this pics…I love seeing 2 of my very favorite people together!!!
-andi
Christy K. James says
It was really fun to meet so many people we keep in touch with on a daily basis, in person! Plus they give away a ton of free stuff 🙂
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
Christy…It was such a treat getting to meet you and know you better! Especially after following your beautiful tutorials for so long. You and Nancy are such fun! I’m already pushing my husband to set work meetings up in VA so I can tag along and see you gals! Looking forward to a fun filled year of friendship and projects with all of you gals! Cheers & hugs! Wendi
Christy K. James says
Oh I loved getting to know you better too, Wendi! Now we can keep in touch through our FB group too! Yes, tell your hubby to head this way 🙂
DeDe@ Designed Decor says
Christy, I was so great to meet you! I cant wait to do it again next year! Here’s to blogging in our basements in our jammies! lol
Christy K. James says
Ha ha! Yes, cheers to that! So great to meet you too! 😉
Cindy@DIYbeautify says
Looks like SUCH a blast!! I dream of going one day 🙂
Christy K. James says
Plan on going next year! It’s the same week as this year. You will learn so much and meet so many amazing people 🙂
stephanie @ Simply Swider says
What a fun time! I hope to make it there one year! P.S. our group selfie came out super cute 🙂
Christy K. James says
It was a lot of fun. It’s the same week next year and you would really love it and learn a ton! We can all fly out together! That group selfie is pretty darn cute 🙂
Debbie says
I’m so glad I got to meet you! Great recap! See you next year 🙂
Debbie
Christy K. James says
I’m so glad I got to meet you too, Debbie!! Too bad we have to wait a whole year to do it all over again. 🙂
Krista @ the happy housie says
Bwahahahaha okay how funny is that comment? I will have in know that I normally sit in my living room. Never my basement. My wireless doesn’t even reach downstairs. Lol. I can’t even describe how awesome it was to meet you and hang out in real life- you are such an open, fun, amazing person and I wish we lived closer!!
Christy K. James says
Wasn’t that hilarious? It pretty much sums up what we think others are thinking when we talk about our blogs! I just read your recap and I forgot to mention how funny the pic of your hubby and boys was! You are every bit as fun as I thought you would be in person! At least we can still keep in touch often! Have a great week! XO