Amazing Haven Conference
Can I just say…
AMAZING!
I attended the DIY/Blogger Haven Conference this past weekend and,
again, was blown away.
It was jam packed with
USEFUL INFORMATION,
PARTIES,
SUPER AWESOME BRANDS,
INCREDIBLY TALENTED DIY BLOGGERS,
and NOT ONE STRANGER.
Where do I begin?
Be warned… I am on a Haven High, but consider that to be a great thing.
Let me share with you why I feel this way.
Thursday night started with a Warm Welcome Reception hosted by
Homes.com and ForRent.com.
The night couldn’t have been better. The party was on a Garden Terrace.
Imagine a group full of beautiful peeps – Bloggers/DIY’ers
beautiful weather on a rooftop garden terrace,
and a party with not one stranger.
(Christina, Betsy, and Sheila)
We all wanted to meet one another, learn about each others blogs,
and catch up with blogging friends.
Thanks to Erin, Erica, and Christina setting me up with a new addiction…
Instagram!
You can see the crazy Instagram pic’s I took here.
My roomies (Gina and Sharla) and I could not stop talking and laughing that night.
2:30 am we had to get some shut-eye before the next days events began.
Early Friday morning
we heard from the talented Ana White.
She is adorable with her little baby bump, isn’t she?
Then it was off to our classes.
If you are a blogger and didn’t attend… there is loads of great blogging information.
If you are not a blogger but a DIY’er… there is loads of great DIY classes
that will blow you away.
Like Perfectly Imperfect (Shaunna West), and Miss Mustard Seed’s (Marian Parsons)
Advanced Painting Class.
I painted these boards…
and turned them into this…
Cool, right?
My roommate, Sharla, won a prize too.
I was so excited for her!
Marian
and
Shaunna
were so much fun.
Later that evening was a
Cocktail Party
Hosted by
Rust-Oleum and Home Depot.
Rust-Oleum painted these beautiful vases…
Seriously gorgeous!
I can’t wait to try this paint.
The scoop is… it’s coming out in September. Eeek!
(I’m thinking Christmas Decor already!)
After the cocktail party, it was off to
A Night Out With Ryobi.
It was a beautiful night
in Atlanta.
Gina and I wanted to capture the night for you.
Ryobi really spoiled us with a wonderful party.
We danced and had fun
Rockin’ with Ryobi Power Tools.
What a day!
The last day was here and I was wishing it wasn’t.
I know…
all things must come to an end.
I wanted to make the best of the last day,
so I did!
We visited all of the amazing sponsors and vendors.
Porch had us cracking up in their photo booth.
Ryobi let us try their super light Nail Gun.
I am convinced I need this!
The Ryobi gang was a blast to talk shop with.
We had so much in common – talking tools and, of course, about how proud we are to be moms with kids that play the drums!
Ballard Designs was also a sponsor.
If you look around my house, you will see how much I love Ballard Designs.
I am one of those crazy girls that holds onto every Ballard Designs catalog.
A little obsessive? Yes! But, I love their stuff.
I was able to learn so much about them,
and was especially interested in their photo shoots and behind the scenes
of creating the catalogs.
Gina had the opportunity to take on the
Ballard Designs Bookcase Challenge.
They did a great job!
My true joy was when I finally got to give
KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms
a big hug!
There are some people in life that become instant friends.
She is the most generous, sweet, kind, full of energy little “gem” I have ever met.
If you haven’t read her blog yet,
grab your favorite beverage, sit down, and be prepared to be there for awhile.
We came from near and far to share our love for DIY and Blogging.
I am so glad we did.
It truly amazes me what the blogging community can accomplish.
The closing ceremony had me holding back tears.
I mean, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room.
GMC and Habitat for Humanity partnered with DIY Bloggers to
give back to a family in need.
It was very special.
The speaker from Habitat for Humanity spoke about this family
not having a kitchen table where they could eat a meal and how the children did not have beds, but slept with mattresses on the floor.
He also explained how GMC, Habitat for Humanity, and DIY Bloggers were making a home a reality for this family in need.
They will now be able to eat breakfast with their family at a table and sleep in a bed for the first time.
See how it came together and the reveal at #GMCHTA via social media.
It is a reminder…
when we all come together amazing things can happen.
******
I had a wonderful time meeting new friends and sharing time with those I have known for awhile in blogland.
It was also nice to get home and give my husband and kiddos a hug.
I am extremely blessed.
Thanks, Haven Team, for allowing us to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank YOU for continuing to join me on this journey!
Enjoy!
Angie
Love it Angie!! Missing you!! can’t wait to hang out again soon!! So excited for your year and hearing more about how homeschooling goes for you! In it with you!
Hey, Erica! I am missing you, girl! We had so much fun… I seriously wish I could have that much fun every weekend! Thanks for the homeschooling well wishes. I am glad to know I have you as a cheerleader to guide me through. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
What a wonderful recap of the weekend, Angie. I’m so brain dead from all the excitement, I don’t think my post even makes sense! 🙂
It was a LONG recap, but I was so jazzed to share it with everyone. I am so brain dead too. I was a serious zombie when I got home – glazed over eyes, short attention span, and staring into space. Ha! It was great to spend time with you, Sheila!
Great recap! It was so much fun hanging out with you! See you soon!
It was great hanging out with you too. Giggling and just having good old fun!
Your post was amazing! Great job!
Thanks, Kelley! It was so much fun hanging with you at Haven. I look forward to many more fun times together.
Angie, what a great recap! It was such a fun time! I wish we had more time together though! I need painting lessons; I missed that class for photography. Thanks for sharing your awesome photos!
Thanks, Betsy! I know, I wish I would have spent more time with you too. It was busy, busy running from session to session. There were so many awesome classes it was hard to pick which ones to take. We can take more next year… can’t wait for Haven 2014!
Hi Angie, So glad you had such a great time at Haven. I hope to be there next year! Thanks for sharing with us.
Anne… it would be great if you can come next year. It really is a blast of a time!
So great to meet you at Haven!! Love the recap – I’m already ready for Haven 2014 😉
I hear you, Elizabeth! I am ready for Haven 2014 already too! It was so great to meet you and your sister. I look forward to seeing you again soon. 🙂
Fantastic recap, it brings back all those great memories! I’m so happy that Karianne introduced us, your blog is indeed as beautiful as she raved about. 😉 Looking forward already to Haven 2014!
I am so happy she introduced us too! Haven 2014 can’t come soon enough… 🙂
Angie, I soooo enjoyed hanging out with you this year!! You and Sharla, and Gina, and Erica, and Erin! This year at Haven ROCKED!! I am so glad I stayed and went to dinner both nights too and I can’t wait to stay there at the hotel next year. So glad that you live close and I will see you soon! Hopefully we will have many things crossed off our Haven “to-do list” by then 🙂
Christina, It was so great hanging with you too! This year did ROCK and I am sooo looking forward to next year already. I look forward to seeing you again real soon. 😉
Fabulous recap! I’m still on a Haven high, but bemoaning the fact that I didn’t get to really spend any time with you. This may be my first visit to your blog but it won’t be the last… promise! 🙂
Dianne,
Thank you! Haven was amazing and I am already looking forward to next year. Next year let’s get together for sure! I am still going through all of the business cards and checking out all of the blogs (so much fun). I loved your post it note cards – very DIY clever! 🙂
Hi Angie – So happy to hear you had a great time at the Haven Conference! Homes.com & ForRent.com enjoyed sponsoring the event and loved connecting with attendees such as yourself. 🙂 Be sure to take a look at all the photos from the event on Facebook, tag yourself & share with family/friends! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151783562125943.1073741827.38844010942&type=3 Hope to chat with you soon!
Thank you so much for being a sponsor! You really made it fun! I will definitely take a look at the photos from the event and share them. Thanks, again, for a great time! I look forward to chatting again soon. 🙂