oh. my. word.
if i could wrap this past few days up into one single word it would have to be
totallyamazeballsawesomenessfantabulous.
clearly, one word does not cut it.
i have so much to process, take in, learn, analyze, and just simply enjoy that writing a recap post right now would never do it justice. so i’m just going to share with you the top five things that took residence in my brain this weekend.
1. people are people.
there is something so amazing about putting a person with a blog. i see floating heads on blogs all day long but attaching that head to a body and a body to that entire person puts it on a whole. notha. level.
i was very pleased with seeing that how people are on the blogs i love is how they are in real life. they are also just people, like you and me, who have real life stuff going on.
i totally expected john and sherry to have bodyguards and paparazzi. but seriously, clara was with them (and yes i got to scratch between burger’s ears – i die) and she was running all over, playing with water dispensers and being a two year old. how on earth they keep up with her and run that blog/house/business is beyond me.
but remember when you read a blog you are only getting half the story – they are real people with real life stuff who have to do things like sleep, shower, go to the bathroom, and eat. it was mind boggling.
2. your blog name matters
this is only a fraction of the people that were there – and i promise you i tried to meet every single one of them. here is an example:
me: hi! i’m skye from neathering our fest
sarah from thrify decor chick: hi skye – that name sounds familiar…
me: you probably know me as rindercella
sarah from TDC: oh! i’ve been to your blog!
let me say that again: not only has sarah BEEN to my blog (cue the eyes rolling in the back of my head and fainting) but she remembered it. because it has a memorable name. i truly believe that “neathering our fest” and “rindercella” were one of the better decisions i ever made.
3. business cards are important
thank you hubby for teaching me how to give out a business card and not feel like a smarmy car salesman. thank you haven conference for teaching me the importance of having a business card and having a top notch one at that.
put these on your to do list:
– get business cards
– make them fun, interesting, and able to stand out in a stack of them.
they are worth every single penny. #scoutshonor
4. layla and kevin are way more awesome in real life
so. this is my new girlfriend for life. be jealous. i’m kind of jealous of myself. i could seriously not have been more giddy (like a 13-year old meeting justin beiber i tell you) about meeting her and getting to learn from her.
she is just amazing – and honestly the nicest person ever. and kevin? no words. they were so generous with their knowledge and funny! the photography course was definitely my favorite session. oh – and josh too. like i want to be his BFF and have coffee with him and talk about life. he is hilarious!
ps: layla and kevin write the lettered cottage. kevin and josh run shoot fly shoot. go follow all of them.
5. hospitality rules.
so what to do do when someone you have never actually met invites you to stay in their home for two nights and carpool together for a blogging conference? you say yes. immediately.
kelly from view along the way was an amazing hostess and good heavens her house is way more beautiful in person than in her pictures. (not that your pictures aren’t amazing girl!) so a HUGE thanks to the VATW family for putting me up in a comfy bed with black out curtains to get what little sleep i got. ๐
PS – tell weston that pie sends a hug!!
i have SO much more to share about the conference but i want to let it all sink in first. were you there? did we meet? i’m really trying to remember everyone but it is almost impossible!! i have a huge stack of business cards to go through so i will hopefully be introducing you to some awesome new folks around here soon! ๐
so – if you were there, i’m going to ask a question that kelly and i asked each other – what was the highlight of the conference for you?
Looks like you had an amazing time. Think you'll go again next year?
Most definitely, without a single doubt! ๐
Perfect! I'm loving reading all these recap posts because everyone's is different and that's so cool. Oh and I really thought that I was going to have these business cards and not give out a single one. WRONG-O.
I was so proud of myself for handing out so many business cards! I love that everyone took something different away from Haven – that means it was so well planned and diverse enough to reach people on all different levels! ๐
i stayed with a blogger who i hadn't met in person yet either- it was the best decision ever! so fun!
it was so great to meet you!!!!! see…. i told you i would be commenting now. ๐
I'm so glad you are here!!! I hope we get to hang out again – you were cracking me up at dinner. SO much fun to meet you and spend some time with you!
You are too cute! I'm totally bummed I didn't get to meet you, but there's always next year!
-Jacque @theDIYvillage
I will definitely be going back next year!! I'm off to check out your blog ๐
I LOVED this recap post. I was having pangs of sadness all week because I couldn't go at the last minute (too much time off from work due to my wedding – there are worse problems to have!) but I know I would have loved meeting you! I can just tell from your tone! So glad I found your blog, off to check out more ๐
Did I already respond to this? I'm having problems remembering… anyways – thank you so much for stopping by and for your super sweet comment! It was so much fun and I HIGHLY recommend jumping on the bandwagon for Haven2013 early!! ๐
Looks like you had an awesome time!! I think I should add this one to my list for next year ๐
Definitely add this to the list. I need to open a separate bank account for all the blog conferences I want to attend next year!!
Aww thanks! From what I'm seeing on twitter, Layla's ready for you to move in down the street! (Seriously, I died of excitement on your behalf!) ๐
OMG I KNOW RIGHT. I'm trying to behave in a civilized manner when really I want to jump up and down and squeal like the head cheerleader just invited me over for a sleepover, complete with make up session, prank calling cute boys, and a social appearance at a really cool restaurant with a really cool person. Is that stalkerish or what?? ๐
I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality! I can't wait until next year to come visit again… How is this weekend for you?? ๐
Such a great little list!!! I agree on all points and seriously found Kevin and Layla to be so down to earth. So fun we're all BFFs now. I wonder if they've all now hired those bodyguards based on our recaps. hahaha
Okay – I stalked your blog the other day and I'd just like to go ahead and invite myself to come spend a week with you in Curacao and sleep on that amazing rooftop bed. Just let me know when a good time is for you. ๐
Thanks for swinging by and the sweet comment too!! ๐ xoxo
yes! we met! but i wish we had had more time to chat! i TOTALLY AGREE with all 5 of your points! gosh, i loved the realness of these people! cards? super important… i do believe i LOVED/LOVE your cards. my affinity for weathered wood has something to do with that! and my cards got me WAY further than i had every expected! i thought they'd be TOO WEIRD. turns out- weird is a good thing!
i love that you and i are the passionfruit junkies. i COULDN'T BELIEVE how few DIY bloggers are using passionfruit! let's bring 'em all along!
ok, you are on my radar, girl! let's be friends!!
angie
oh oh were you the one that piped up in the all about ads class? i was wondering who that was! jason asked me when i tweeted him about it who it was so he could give a shout out but i was sitting in the floor in the front and could see nothing except for the speakers' knees. ๐
i'd love to be friends! your blog totally cracks me up and smiling is also my favorite. i made a three tiered cake dedicated to ELF for a decorating contest once at hobby lobby. it was amazeballs but i was disqualified because i used glitter picks for the twirly swirly gumdrops. (not actual food). lame. ๐
I LOVE this and am totally jealous. Someday when we're debt free and I don't need to work and Wesley is eating real food I'm going to put more effort into twitter and growing my blog. So Haven 2015 better watch out! ๐ SO thrilled for you!!!
YAY!! I love your blog and I think it has GREAT potential! Maybe you need to put an ad on my blog and I will tell people about you. ๐ Haven 2015 better get ready for Skye & Leanne! YEOW!!
Fantastic idea! Next time you blog about ads, I'll pay attention and get on the ball!! ๐
It was great to meet you! I love how you said put the floating head with a body, lol! I was saying that too.. sort of. It's not putting a name to a face. Haven was putting a face to a body. ๐
Hey Renee!! I loved meeting you too! I still haven't even gone through all my business cards but I vividly remember yours because I recognized the font. ๐ I'm a total nerd like that!! Thanks for stopping by! Off to your blog now and read your recap! woot!
Skye-
It was so great to meet you, and talk with you a bit at dinner that first night! I so wish I would have had more time to chat and get to know you! I agree with Maury, I love reading everyone's recap posts! I can't remember who suggested it, but someone said in their recap, that it would be so fun to have a "pajama day" just to sit and talk over coffee with all of the wonderful bloggers at the conference!
Love your five things list, and I completely agree! The Palmers were AWESOME, weren't they? And John and Sherry were hilarious and endearing as the key note speakers!
Hope to see you at Haven again next year, but until then I will be following along on your blog!
xo-Lisa
YEEE!! It was awesome meeting you too!! I wish we had more time to spend with everyone and I have loved everyone's different perspectives on the conference!!
Haven2013 better watch out. ๐
You have to tell me all about the last panel, I had to go to the airport ๐
Awesome to meet you. You are an amazing writer, it cracks me up!
Haven was an awesome experience. So many lovely, creative women and I came home filled with inspiration! We did not get to meet at Haven this year but Haven 2013? For sure!