Friday’s Five Random Things From Haven

I’m back from Haven (blog) Conference.  {It’s actually been a couple of weeks.}  It’s time to share my experience.

1. I love Atlanta!

Even though I’ve been blessed to travel around the world, this was my first time to Georgia.  Their peaches are the juiciest and sweetest!  The conference was held in what is called the Buckhead area.  I walked around this area and was pleased with the cleanliness and close proximity to many great shops and restaurants.  The people there exude southern hospitality with smiles on their faces.

2. Made some awesome friends.

Remember this photo I shared on my pre-Haven post?

Well, 2 of these girls became some of my best friends.  And yes, they are just as beautiful in person as they are in their photos.  What matters more is how beautiful they are on the inside.  Katie and Mimi are both from Washington.  It was so much fun to visit their sites after getting to know them in person.  It’s quite different meeting a blogger before seeing their site rather than meeting a blogger after you’ve been to their site.  It’s much more personal and I am very impressed with both of them and their expertise in the field of DIY and home decor.  I might have been a little intimidated if I had been to their site before hand.  They are super sweet and down to earth.  I plan on staying in touch with them and hope to learn from these blogging pros in the future.  Make sure you visit my new friends at their sites: Katie’s is Creatively Living and Mimi’s is Blue Roof Cabin.

Right away I met Candace and we hit it off!  We stuck together like glue and enjoyed meeting Katie and Mimi at the welcome reception on Thursday.  Even though Candace is a new blogger, she has a background in communications as a reporter.  This means she is a writing pro {she won an Emmy!} and she is quickly catching onto the blogging world.  Her blog is beautifully filled with many creative ideas.  See photos below of my new friends and I.  Visit Candace’s site at Vintage News Junkie

3. Love meeting bloggers in person.

I was able to meet some of my favorite bloggers!

Here I am below with first Carrie from Making Lemonade and Jen from I Heart Organizing

4. Learn from the best.

The workshops were filled with valuable information.

1. Jen (the one I’m pictured with above) did a wonderful workshop on organizing.
2. One of the painting experts from chalk paint company Annie Sloan let us do some hands on painting.  It was a blast!
3. Ana White , furniture DIY guru and blogger, was the opening speaker for the conference.  She’s pretty amazing.
4. Whitney and Ashley, sisters from Shanty 2 Chic, helped me feel at home being they’re from Texas.  They taught us how to build a spice rack with power tools.
5. Candace is using an air hammer (I think that’s what it’s called) for the first time at Shanty 2 Chic’s workshop.

Here I am being silly at the cocktail party.

5. Bloggers who Instagram are awesome!

The bloggers who came up to me and said, “I wanted to meet you.  I follow you on Instagram.”  Bless YOU.  That totally made my day!

This post needed a little bit of colored photos too! 😉

Time to catch up on laundry before taking my youngest to her dentist appointment.

Color your world today my friends.  Be creative and live life with Joy!

Conferences bring joy,