While I go there to learn and grow my blog, my favorite part is seeing my amazing friends from all over the United States and Canada.  Such crazy talented, funny, smart women that I never get to chat with face to face except for this one weekend a year!

There are so many to mention- but I will start with these three… Jess, Charlotte, and Dena.

We are all so different and so much alike too and they make me laugh and laugh at me in the best way!

It is rare to find women that you really don’t feel judged by- sad but true.  They have amazing blogs with different strengths that I admire in each one so go check them out!

In as brief a summary as possible, here are the sessions I took-
Working With Brands
Tiling Workshop
Book Writing
Cocktail Reception (I learned a ton in this one)
The Business of Blogging (I got a hang-over from this one and also need a lawyer)
High End DIY with Courtney from A Thoughtful Place (one of my fave reads)

So now I have to just apply what I learned… someday… maybe one thing… next week! I kid, I kid! I learned a ton and am so grateful for the opportunity.

Here are some of my other favorite gals and their lovely voiced blogs:

Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chic (one of my first fave blogs- she never disappoints!)
Melody at My Passion for Decor
Amy at Always Never Done
Leslie at Puddy’s House
Anne at Anne Thompson Designs
Shanna at Restoration Redoux

This former Texan is just about the best thing next to sweet tea and red lipstick! She will make you smile on the stormiest of days- go visit KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms!

One of the organizers is dear to my heart- Traci from Beneath My Heart is a sweet soul and so is her sister, Cyndi Spivey at Walking in Grace and Beauty.  Sorry for the fuzzy pic but it was a mad house all weekend;)

These two fellow Texas bloggers were just as sweet as can be to me! Not to mention gorgeous! Their homes are eye candy for sure.
Cassie at Hi Sugarplum
Megan at Honey We’re Home

Have y’all visited Michelle at Ten June? I love how down to earth she is and now how she is working with 2 littles under 2! Girl was up and ready to chat when I would have been crashed in bed;)

It’s always a bit intimidating to walk up to strangers and just put yourself out there- but not with this group- everyone is ready to chat, eat, and make new friends! Such a great community!

Thanks for letting me go on and on about the conference- I can’t wait to put what I learned into action and give y’all some awesome ideas-
xoxo
B

The post Haven Blogging Conference 2014 appeared first on Windgate Lane.

It feels rare to find a situation that is all about the positive anymore, but this was one! It was also like my Hollywood- I got to meet bloggers that I have admired and maybe communicated with through email and also ones that I felt like I should get their autograph!
Just to name a few…
My first two blog loves and just the most genuine people!
Traci from Beneath My Heart:

and Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick:

and just loved Beth, from Home Stories A to Z, even got to share a lunch with her one day and was thrilled to finally be able to thank someone in person for featuring my blog:)

The conference started out with Ana White doing the key note speech.  For those of you unfamiliar with her amazingness, she has created a blog that provides blue prints/ instructions for building amazing furniture.  She has been so successful that her blog is their sole provider now! Now some people are great at doing, but not so great at teaching- she is not one of them.  Her speech was inspiring and very educational- not to mention that the poor thing flew in from Alaska and is pregnant:)

One of the best things she said was…
“If you’re not doing anything, no one is gonna hate you!” I loved that because it’s so true- when you put something out there into the blogging universe, there will always be those that will point out the negatives and the positives- but if you don’t put anything out there- then you get nothing back.

I attended multiple classes and learned so much- and all of the sponsors were amazing! Ballard Designs, Ryobi tools, 3M, Annie Sloan, and Home Depot just to name a few.  All of them had such neat things for us to look at and take home even.  And this lady was lucky enough to win a Ryobi 4pc Lithium- Ion Combo Kit! So amazing… I am ready to cut a bunch of stuff with my new saws!

And how cute are these bags that Ballard Designs gave us all!? adorbs.

I loved attending the Annie Sloan workshop where the reps showed us some new techniques and also the beauty of mixing their colors to form new ones- so fun and we got new tester pots to take home- yay!

and did I mention the new color they unveiled… and I might just have bought a pot of it today! squeal! anyone needing anything painted a gorgeous shade of yellow?

Some great speakers and tutorials and food and I was smitten with Atlanta and wanting it to last a whole week!:)
I came home thoughtful and thankful.  The biggest thing I learned? That not one of the bloggers I heard speak agreed 100% on how to manage and run a blog:) and I found a lot of comfort in that! It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle- the perfect posts- the perfect pictures- the back to back posts.  I’m not interested in that… so just a heads up if you are looking for perfection in your blog reading… look elsewhere!:)
I love projects, I love messy, and I love trying things I’ve never done before and reveling in my victories and laughing at my defeats (after I’ve said some profanities).  And if along the way I can help others and maybe help my family a bit… I’m thrilled!

Thanks to all that helped make my weekend so special…
Traci and Cyndi- you are bright souls who lifted me up and inspired- thank you for your kindness.
Sarah- Thanks for knowing my little Windgate Lane blog- and thanks for your candid take on blogging!
Melody- Thanks for hanging with me and making me laugh! you are headed for big things! check out her blog- My Passion for Decor!
Lindsay- from Life of Splendor– fell in love with your blog right away and your kind words were so appreciated!
Richella- what a kind heart- thank you for your encouragement! Imparting Grace
Sonya- I have loved your blog for awhile and loved getting to meet you and appreciated the smile you brought to my face the first night! At Home With the Barkers
And I’m sure I will think of more later!

And last but certainly not least… My husband (aka The Hubs, my CFO) thank you for supporting me and pushing me to attend this and loving our crazy boys while I work on crazy project after project- you are my love.

I’m done. mushy stuff is over. Prepare for sawing and painting and craziness to come!
xoxo
Bee

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