Hey friends!
I wanted to share with you a few quick things about my trip to Blissdom.
My sister and I traveled down to the Opryland Hotel in Nashville on Thursday, February 23rd.
This was my third time at Blissdom! Isn’t that crazy?!
This year, I wasn’t sure what to expect because I knew a lot of my “home girls” were not going to be there.
Last year, I had the opportunity to hang out with some of my favorite girls in the world!
Me, Marian, Melissa, Richella, Kate
To be honest, I spent more time outside of the sessions than in the sessions at Blissdom last year. I couldn’t help it. I was just so distracted by all the fabulous ladies there!
Back row: Rhoda, Beth, Sarah, Chris, Shauna, Ashley
Front row: Myra, Me, Layla, Kate
When you only get to see each other about once a year, you just want to soak each other up!
So this year, I knew I was going to get the opportunity to get to know NEW bloggers and connect with some that I maybe didn’t get to talk to much last year.
That excited me.
This year, my attitude was different. I didn’t stress about what to wear or what to do. After going three years in a row, I have learned that it is not worth all the stress.
It’s just about growing and making connections. That was my focus.
I was blessed to have amazing roommates.
I think I told you about Tonya, from Love of Family and Home, in another post. I discovered her blog about a year ago when she had just started. I instantly feel in love with her. She had written about her mom, and to be honest, it made me ache for mine. But I loved seeing her love for her mom and for her family. Plus, she’s crazy talented.
We’ve been online friends for a year now, and I was thrilled that we were able to be roommates. She is precious with a capital “P!”
Cyndi, Tonya, Me
I’ve known Myra for several years, and I love her more everyday. She is 100% genuine goodness. She has one of the most beautiful hearts I know! And she is a blogging genius, so I loved picking her brain for several days. 
I made a new friend too, Susan from Living Rich on Less. Susan is a relatively new blogger, and I was so glad I got to connect with her. She is amazingly talented and unbelievably sweet. I could talk to her for hours! If you haven’t been to her blog, you need to jump over there and check it out. I know you will love her and her blog.
I also got to spend time with some “old” friends (in “blog years”). Kristi, from Creative Kristi, is on the Haven
planning team with me. It was so good to see her. She is such a cutie!
We had fun doing some silly poses at the “Girls Night In” party at Blissdom.
I had just finished breaking a sweat doing the “electric slide”, which explains why I am “glistening.”
It was so fun to see Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps. That girl is a hoot!
Sandra and me
She and Brittany, from Pretty Handy Girl, showed up with their pajamas on for the party.
Not sure what Brittany and I were doing in this photo. But the paparazzi lights were flashing and I began posing.
Here is a group shot of the “home girls.” I am so grateful to call them my friends.
Erin, Sandra, Brittany, Diane, Me, Kristi, Cindy
And here we are being crazy!
Erin, Sandra, Brittany, Diane, Kristi, Cindy, (and Me acting like a nut in the middle.)
(Thanks to Brittany for these crazy pictures!)
So….
Here is what I learned at Blissdom in a nutshell:
The best part of blogging is meeting the amazing people behind the blogs!
Yes, I did learn some things in the sessions at Blissdom, but they cannot compare with the friendships I have made through blogging.
That is the main reason I attend blog conferences.
I know that I say that other bloggers are “precious”, and “wonderful”, and “amazing”, and “so sweet.”
And I’m not lying. It’s the truth.
I truly do feel blessed to have so many wonderful friends all around the world.
I wish I could meet all of YOU in real life too! It would be a huge Hug Fest!
Maybe someday, right?
Now I am looking forward to my next two conferences, SNAP and HAVEN.
I hope I get to meet some of you there!
What is your favorite part of blog conferences?
If you have never been to one, what is the main reason you haven’t? Money? Time? Fears?
Now for the giveaway winner of the
$50 Gift Certificate to ART & Elements!
Andi, from Irwin Informer
Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon about your prize!
