Haven Conference Part Doux

Hi friends!

Yesterday I was telling you all about the first half of my amazing trip to the Haven Bloggers Conference.  A trip that was pretty much, my birthday, Christmas, and the best day ever all rolled up into a three-day extravaganza.

Let’s catch up where we left off yesterday.

After the advanced painting class I took, we then moved on to lunch. After lunch I went into the ladies room (I know you’re thinking this is way too much information, Shanna — but this is the locale for something important). When I walked through the door, who was standing there but Sherry from Young House Love and Katie from Bower Power!!!!!

I nearly peed my pants! — literally cuz I really had to go anyway, and that this was the BEST THING EVER!!!!

Actually … it wasn’t … this was:  I apologized to them for stalking them in the bathroom, and introduced myself. SHERRY KNEW WHO I WAS!!!! HOLY CATS ON FIRE, SHERRY PETERSIK KNEW WHO I WAS!!!

I almost lost consciousness!

Stalker, Sherry, Katie

From then on, I have no idea what I said. I remember lots of laughing, talking about our kids, and stammering on about what a big fan I was.  I’m sure I was a complete idiot.  I’m sure they weren’t in the least creeped out that Jen and I had cornered them in the ladies room (sorry, Jen, if you wanted to keep that secret).

After that we were onto a great class about how to build your brand.

After the branding class, I attended a class from Sherry and Katie on how to find your blogging voice.  They didn’t even act afraid as I entered the room … after the whole bathroom incident.

Between classes I harassed the fantabulous Lindsey from Better After, and Kristen from Kristen Duke Photography, into taking a photo. Lindsey is another “Super Blogger” that has featured my before-and-after’s on her blog before, plus she shares my love of So You Think You Can Dance.

Got to love that girl.

Lindsey, Creeper, Kristen

After classes were over that day had a great dinner and then a fancy cocktail party hosted by Ryobi Tools.

#ryobirockshaven

Ryobi dude, me, Jen

Me, Jen,  Angie, Holly, Kathy, Mandi

At the cocktail party I locked eyes on Ana freaking White! Ana White is in a completely different realm then even the “Super Bloggers”. This woman gets 10 million hits a month on her blog. Yes, people, 10 million.

She was our keynote speaker and gave a truly inspiring speech. There she was sitting at the table, and I decided it was now or never, so Jen and I headed over and asked her to take a picture with us.

Here’s the problem. The music was deafening in that room. You couldn’t hear a thing, and everyone was screaming at each other to hear.

So I am getting my one shot at words of wisdom from this megablogger, and I can’t hear a word she is saying.

She said something profound to me, and I yelled “what?’

She looked me square in the eye and said it again, and I again yelled “what?”

And then she said it a third time, and I was not going to say what again, so I just nodded.

I have no idea if what she said required a yes or no response … so she probably thought I was a moron.

Oh there is also the fact that this woman who builds hand made furniture in the middle of the Alaskan Tundra is drop dead gorgeous. We are talking Miss Universe gorgeous, people. So the fact that I am even showing you a picture of me standing next to her shows you how much I love you all.

Please disregard that I am in the picture at all.

  Ana and Wish I was Ana

On Saturday I went to an SEO class (Search Engine Optimization), which was taught by Brooke from All Things Thrifty, and her super smart brother Court Tuttle.  It was the class I learned the most from, and I could have stayed in there another two hours at least.  Brooke kindly stayed after class and answered questions for me.

We then had lunch and chatted with our Sponsors: Frog Tape, 3M, Rustoleum, Ryobi tools, etc.Ashley,  Jen, Me and Elisha

Here we are in the Moen booth!

Look at me rockin some Ryobi Tools!

Me, Carrie, Jen

Rhoda and Awestruck

Next we went to a class that taught us how to start working with ad networks (another great class), and then on to one about getting your projects into magazines. Last we had our closing ceremonies with a speaker from Habitat For Humanity about sending us out into the world to “do good on a grand scale”.

A group of us then decided to have pizza and wine up in the room before we went to the last cocktail and dance party.

I think we had a total of 6 hours of sleep the 4 days we were there, so we were absolutely exhausted when it was time to pack up and leave the next day.

I also had no voice after two parties where I screamed non stop.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

I will tell you … I am so happy I went to Haven. I met some amazing, talented women. Some I’ve learned so much from, and some I now consider friends.

I came away from Haven inspired by things I learned and people I met.

All I know is that DIY bloggers are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. They are also the most supportive and encouraging group of women too.

Will I be going to Haven next year? You couldn’t keep me away.

Amy, Angie, Me, Jen, Holly