First, let me start off by saying I was so grateful to experience Blissdom. To actually take part in classes, listen to the pros, gain knowledge from what they had to say & meet all the bloggers in real life was an incredible experience.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect or how to set my expectations. All I knew is that I was ready to hear & experience an awesome conference.
Listening to Brene Brown for the opening session was an incredible experience.
Hearing the story behind this quote below & applying it to my real personal core group of friends will forever be planted in my head.
photo from Heather ~ thanks again!
I had no idea I would hear so much about investing in real relationships & authenticity at Blissdom.
But you know what???
It makes perfect sense!
What started out as wishful thinking for the 3 of us to attend Blissdom together many months ago, became real last week. My roomies ~ Cha Cha, Lisa & of course me – in the leopard print sweater that honestly happen to really stink. It’s true, ask my roomies.
Lisa even made Cha Cha & I welcome presents. In true Lisa style.
Little treats = bliss.
Being able to talk to these pretty girls the very first night was just amazing!
L to R: Kami at No Biggie, Beckie at Infarrantly Creative, Lorie from Be Different Act Normal, Allison from House of Hepworths, Jen from Tatertots & Jello, Mique from 30 Handmade Days, April from Funky Vintage Kitchen.
photo from Angry Julie
Cha Cha, Cyndi from Walking in His Grace, me (look no leopard sweater) Amy from Positively Splendid, Jen from Tatertots & Jello, Beckie from Infranntly Creative, Jess from Frugal with a Flourish
I learned so much after talking to Cyndi just in the first minutes of meeting her. She is full of sass. Um, hello…Jess AND Amy both live just 2 hours away from me. Had no clue that they did, until later!
Let’s not forget to mention the swag.
Oh that fun swag…
here’s just a sample…
photo from Jessica from These Are the Days ~ I loved it because my lollipop is in there with the best of them.
Again may I say, little treats = bliss.
Meeting authentic Edie~a true example of Life in Grace was a real highlight for me. There are no words I can even say about her. All I know is throughout the past year, I have learned from her posts, laughed, cooked/baked, been inspired, cried, & tried my best to say the books of the Old Testament in 16 seconds, like she can. Lindsey from the Pleated Poppy, I adore her style & everything she makes. She is one busy mom.
Meeting Jen from Tatertots & Jello was another MAJOR highlight for me.
You all can see ~ people love her. She is real & extremely giving. People just want to be around her.
Including me & my leopard print sweater.
Let’s just say The Craft Tribe Table was the place to be for some snacks! 😉
Of course there was always ~
photo from According to Kelly
Mini ice cream cones in yummy Birthday Cake flavor provided by Blue Bunny. They never told me I could only have 1. Bless their souls.
My leopard print sweater & I were able to finally meet Beth ~ The Stories of A2Z. Have I ever mentioned that she was the first link party I ever linked up too? I truly wanted to see her in action, because her brain is as sharp as a tack, but time went by too quickly.
Cha Cha, the sweater & I were so excited to meet the anonymous blogger, Mrs. Q of Fed Up With Lunch. Her book is due out in July. I know her book will be a huge success & hopefully revolutionize the way the schools feed lunches. My mind couldn’t help but go full circle when she introduced herself to me, because she is one of the first people I started following on twitter exactly a year ago.
3 cheers for Mrs. Q!
p.s. she is as nice as can be!
Cha Cha & I also got to meet a Southern kindred spirit. She is as sweet as sweet tea! Kate from Southern Belle Simple. She’s just an hour & a half away from me! Loved her!
Being able to say hello to The Nester & Melissa was on my list as well. Little did I know that The Nester & I had the same thing on our “Bucket List” & we were able to scratch it off our list, while at Blissdom. (see bottom of this post.)
We had the pleasure at lunch to meet Christi & her daughter Caylie. Both bloggers. It was their first time to a blog conference, I thought it was just too cool that they both blog!
I loved this quote from the {In}courage Party.
Hanging out listening to Michelle Branch sing.
Let me stop right here & say that Gina is an incredible person. She was an open book when it came to etsy/her blog/recommendations – etc. She is all giving with her wise wisdom. Her etsy shop The Shabby Chic Cottage is one of the most successful shops on etsy today.
Gina loves Martha. Just like I do. But she challenge me to think in a different way, but still like Martha. When it comes to brand, marketing, labeling – no one can do it like Martha.
Gina said to always ask myself, “What would Martha do?”
It’s the most simple but best advice I’ve been given.
(I do realize Martha would never wear the same sweater for so many photographs, but they all took place on the same day. lol.)
And finally ~
I had the thrill of being involved in a secret Flash Mob Dance for Blissdom. (Yep, that *was* on my Bucket List) but not anymore.
This first video is not in sync with the music. But it shows the fun surprise at the beginning.
The big group shot afterwards.
photo from Bridget from Bake at 350.
Yep, that’s me & the stinky leopard print sweater again.
Little did I realize just how many people I would hug on this particular day. I’m assuming it was the dye in the fabric, that made it so stinky. Thank goodness Lisa had some Downy wrinkle spray. It’s the only thing that saved me.
Key take aways from Blissdom:
* I have about 3 maybe 4 friends that would help me move a body. The 4th one, I’m not so sure. She would probably complain the entire time.
* “People spread awesome.” Scott Stratton, ending key note.
* What would Martha do?
* I never want to take the fun out of blogging. Looking at a few people they seemed to have lost that focus.
* The Blissdom Flash Mob dance was an awesome experience for me to be a part of. Loved it.
Hello! I’m so glad you’re here & reading my posts! I’ve started truncating my posts, so please click over to read the rest of the story!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Meeting you was the highlight of Blissdom for me. I knew you would be sweet, but you are so much more amazing than I even imagined. You radiate goodness. I adore you.
Thank you for the beautiful bag. I carried it around everywhere I went in Nashville and LA and got so many compliments on it!!
I can’t wait til we can meet up again and spend more time talking.
Love ya Kellie!!!
xoxo
Jen
Okay first, thank you for being my roommate and helping to talk me into going. I love that your stinky sweater had such a story to tell, you made me laugh this morning. So glad got to do all of this with you.
P.S. send me photos,hehehe
Have a great day
Sounds like you guys had an incredible time while at blissdom! So wish I could have Been there!! Hope all is well friend! Going on day 17 withou internet and blogging on the phone just isn’t the same. Can’t wait to be back!! Fingers crossed the new modem comes today!
Kellie, I love you and your leopard sweater. It was fun to vet to meet you and hopefully we will get a chance to visit again soon!
Love, love, LOVED meeting you at Blissdom! Thank you for my bag! You are onto something girl, keep up the great work!
I miss you and look forward to chatting soon!
xo
Oh man! This looks like so much fun!!! Glad you had great experience!
That sweater was so cute with that pink blouse that it was worth the weird little dye smell. LOL! Honestly, I never smelled it once we left the room.
You and Cha Cha made Blissdom perfect for me. I am so glad we went and will never forget what amazing roommates you two were. Love you! Lisa~
Wow…I’ve never scrolled through a post and come across a picture of myself before…how funny! Thanks for the mention!
Loved meeting you…and by the way, I thought that your leopard sweater was super cute…and I never noticed it stinking!
The flash mob was one of the highlights of the conference…it put a big smile on my face! 🙂
christiswritingthewaves.blogspot.com
First of all…. I love the sweater…where is it from?? and it looks like you had a blast, stinky or not… I would crawl up in a corner if I had the stinky swater problem. looks like you pulled it off and made the best of a stinky situation! LOVE IT, made me laugh all day!
I loved ready your Blissdom post! I could just hear how much you enjoyed it! I hope to go next year! And maybe….just maybe….be there with a custom Bag full of Posies bag….and meet YOU!
Glad at least one of the photos from the Michelle branch show was usable 🙂 it was nice to meet you and Cha Cha! you both were so kinda and gracious 🙂
I loved experiencing Blissdom with you through your words! You all are so adorable…your sweater comments kept cracking me up!
It really is the icing on the cake…the friends you will have for life..that change the heart
I am so saving up for blissdom next year… and hope to meet you there… I loved your pictures, stories and cute leopard print sweater!!!
Who cares if you sweater was stinky….look how freaking cute you looked in it!!
LOVED meeting and chatting with you Kellie…..and my bag…..OMG I LOVE it and got SO many compliments on it!! so fun!!
Thanks for being a part of my first Blissdom and making it everything I ever imagined and MORE!
It was so, so nice to meet you, Kellie! Your blog is one of my happy places…and the girl behind my happy place is a doll!
You came away with so many great pictures! I think I had about 5!
Hope to see you again SOON!
hi kellie. looks like y’all had an awesome time at blissdom! very cool. wanted to let you know that i awarded you with this stylish blogger award! 🙂
http://himandherplusfour.blogspot.com/2011/02/stylish-blogger-award.html
Oh how I love you (and your sweater!)
It was such a pleasure to meet you, and I’m so glad that we got to talk so much, it was so much fun!
Hugs,
Gina
I loved reading your Blissdom re-cap! I have been putting mine off because it feels so overwhelming. But we did all have the chance to meet amazing bloggers and the conversations were enlightening and uplifting. Everyone was so giving and loving. Awww…makes me want to go write it right now. Thanks 🙂
It was so wonderful to get to meet you! I can’t believe you are so close too!!! Blogging is such a small world!! And I LOVE your amazing bags! I have to just narrow down the one I want!
Not sure if you are doing anything the first weekend of March but we are having a lil Thrifting Outing here in Nashville with some of the local chicks! Lemme know if you want in!