UncategorizedHaven Conference 2013, Brick by Brick August 6, 2013Haven Conference 2013…what can we say about you? Wow. Awesome. Revolutionary. Heavens to Betsy, Lord help us (please tell me y’all have heard that saying). Y’all seriously, Haven has changed everything about how I see blogs and this community I’ve been so blessed to be a part of. I could write y’all a ten page monologue of everything I learned, but I’m going to try to keep it simple and hit some highlights. First of all, I was so amazed, inspired, and encouraged by so many amazing women. I got to meet some bloggers that I’ve have read and loved for so long. Ana White from Knock off Wood was one of the first blogs that I found. My husband built our dining table using plans from her site and gave it to me for our first Christmas. That project is really what inspired Chris’ love for building furniture that has become such a passion of his. I so admire Emily A. Clark not only for her design style, but for how she stands up for what she believes on her blog. What an inspiration she’s been to me over these last few years. We had the most amazing conversation about blogging, faith, and what’s really important in life…intense stuff for a first meeting. I’ll never forget the first day that I found Mandi’s blog, Vintage Revivals. Her style is awesome, fearless, crazy in a good way, and mind blowing. To meet and chat with her in person was surreal. Not only is she talented, but she’s warm, hilarious, and crazy fun in person. Speaking of Mandi, I went to a session that she, Lindsay, and Ashley did called Designing out of the Box. All three of them have such amazing style that is so unique. Their session was about overcoming the fear that we all feel when decorating our homes and do something that scares us. Take risks….a.k.a designing outside our little box. I got to meet Angie from Angie’s Roost for the first time too. She and I have been blog buddies for a while now and it was so great to finally meet in person! I got to meet many, many new blogging friends too. I met and became blog besties with these three ladies: Anneke of This, That, & Life, Jessie of Scout & Nimble, and Kristin from Bliss at Home. Here we are at the Ryobi event with “Power Tool” Kelly. Y’all, that girl is hilarious and so much fun! And get this, she lives in Anderson, SC! That’s like in my backyard. I’m going to visit soon! I learned so much at this conference about blogging. I learned about SEO, social media promotion, working with brands, the list goes on and on. And all of that is really useful and I absolutely can’t wait to put it into practice. But most of all, I made some amazing friends and am so grateful. On the last night, I stayed up talking into the night with these two lovely ladies about our blogs, families, faith, and life stories. I was sitting there listening to them talk and it hit me that this is what blogging is about. I love the DIY projects and home renovations and I know y’all do too. But blogging, at its base level, is about connecting. Usually that’s through a screen and words written by virtual friends, but the conference gave me the opportunity to actually meet face-to-face and connect. The last thing I want to share is probably the simplest, but most profound blogging advice I received at the conference. Ana White started off the conference with an awesome key note speech. She told her blog story and it was so inspiring. For those of you who blog, you know how much work it is and that you can never do enough. You hear terms like SEO and worry about advertising, all of which could become a full-time job in itself. Ana White’s speech was so refreshing because she reminded us that it really is just about your content and putting out something that you love. She encouraged us to not get overwhelmed by all there is to do or by the desire for growth or advertising. Instead, she encouraged us to take it brick by brick. I made this little graphic and am printing it to hang over my desk because this simple advice was revolutionary to me. She said that we needed to lay one brick on our blog every day by putting out the best piece of content we could. Then the next day, lay another brick. Then another, and another, and before you knew it, a beautiful house would be built. I, like many other bloggers I think, get so overwhelmed with the big picture and all the extras I could be doing and I sometimes forget to do this. I forget to lay a brick each day and build over time. I’m so thankful and blessed to have been at Haven. And now that I’m home, I’m ready to hit the ground running and apply all of this knowledge toward making this little DIY corner of the blogosphere the best it can be! I did a lot of blog dreaming while I was there and have some big things and some changes in the works. I’m so grateful to all of you lovely readers who are following along on this DIY journey with me! I know it’ll be a wild, but exciting ride.
Jessica Gourley says August 6, 2013 at 6:40 pm Great post, Lindsay! So glad to have met you and looking forward to what is in store for you! Reply
Kayla says August 6, 2013 at 6:42 pm Wow, I am so inspired by all you ladies and the photos I saw from Haven! I would love to someday attend and meet with fellow bloggers! Thanks for sharing all your thoughts! I love the brick by brick metaphor because I get so overwhelmed with content, projects, and all the behind the scenes kinda stuff. It’s also hard with my little 21 month old daughter who keeps me busy every moment she is awake! I try to take each day at a time but sometimes it’s just so hard and overwhelming! Thanks so much for sharing! Blessings, Kayla K.R Dixon Designs http://adelightfulplacetodwell.com Reply
Lindsay says August 7, 2013 at 5:16 pm Thank you Kayla! You would love Haven and you really should go next year! It’s unbelievable who you meet and what you learn. I’m still blown away just trying to process it all. Reply
Kristin @ bliss-athome.com says August 6, 2013 at 7:03 pm Heavens to Betsy! Totally! My Grams says that all the time. I am so glad we met at Haven and not going to lie, a little jealous I had to jet that night and not stay and talk with my blog buddies! I’m excited to see where this journey takes each one of us and am blessed to have met you and call you my friend 🙂 Brick by brick, xo Kristin Reply
Lindsay says August 7, 2013 at 5:15 pm We missed you on Saturday, but totally understood you needed to be with your family! They come first 🙂 That’s right…brick by brick. Oh and so glad you’ve heard that phrase! My husband read the post last night and said, “What in the world does that mean?” I know he’s heard me say it, but he swears he hasn’t, haha! Reply
cassie says August 6, 2013 at 8:07 pm great advice from ana! and seriously you all are gorgeous! i didn’t go this year (i went last) because i did’t meet the quota for good looks. 😉 Reply
whitney @ thecurtiscasa says August 7, 2013 at 10:32 am Yay!!! I’m so so glad it was such a wonderful time! Of course it was. And you’re right, the community is what it’s all about. And I love the brick by brick analogy, when I get overwhelmed that will be an easy thought to come back to. Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to hear more! xo Reply
Lindsay says August 7, 2013 at 5:12 pm Thank you, Whitney! We’ll chat soon. I seriously thought about you and all of your advice throughout the conference! Reply
Sarah @ An Inviting Home says August 7, 2013 at 8:48 pm Lindsay, I am SO glad that you had such a fun, inspiring time at Haven! I actually came across your blog for the first time from all of the instagram photos going on last week from the conference. I can’t wait to follow along on your blog! 🙂 p.s. I would be doing the happy dance if I found a rug for $5 too! 🙂 ~Sarah Reply
Lindsay says August 7, 2013 at 9:54 pm Thank you, Sarah! So glad you found the blog and I’m clicking over to yours now 🙂 And yes, once the shock wore off, I did a happy dance and talked about my deal for like six hours. Reply
Jennifer says August 8, 2013 at 7:11 pm Glad you had a fun time. Loved seeing you with some of my favorite bloggers (like Emily–she really keeps it real!). Reply
Angie @ Angies Roost says August 9, 2013 at 10:29 pm LOVED that Ana White quote! It makes blogging and all the “to-dos” seem so manageable and not overwhelming. I had a fabulous time with you and all the girls at Haven. I’m not gonna lie, I was getting a little teary eyed on the way back to airport after saying goodbye! You have to be one of the sweetest people that I’ve met and I can’t WAIT to see what’s in store for you over the next few years! So exciting! Reply