Haven Conference

This is my third year of attending the annual Haven Conference.

Each year has always been so amazing.

I was having so much fun that it seems like I did not take many pictures!

Too busy enjoying visiting fellow friends/bloggers and attending the fabulous classes.

I’m off!!….However, my first stop will be at Kim’s, where I was a guest for the evening.

And a visit from the lovely Yvonne, from StoneGable.

The “Ballard Designs Living Room” . . .

The “Ballard Designs Bedroom” . . .

Rhoda (Southern Hospitality and the creator of Haven) and Susan (Between Naps on the Porch). . .

~ ~ at the “welcoming area”.

Chip Wade of HGTV Elbow Room was the Keynote Speaker.

Note to self: Even though your camera is so heavy to lug around . . .

~ ~ next time just bring it….the point and shoot just doesn’t get it !!

Nothing like getting a shower from the Waterpik people!

~ ~ and a free Shower Sprayer too!

And what could be better than to be able to seal a deck with the cute “seal” to be your assistant!!!

And the great Mike Holmes from the HGTV show, Holmes on Homes . . .

~ ~ couldn’t convince him to make a house call ! !

And what could be better than a spectacular candy station from Scout and Nimble!!

Some of the many vendors . . .

One of my favorite sessions was with Carmen of Southern Living/Southern Living Plant Collection.

After the session, we all got to take home a plant! 🙂

And Kim took a pic of Derrick of D. Lawless Hardware and I . .

~ ~ Derrick is one of my sponsors and was so happy to have gotten to meet him!!

Lacefield Fabrics was another new vendor this year…they had fabulous fabrics!

And then there was the Ballard Design Challenge . . .

The lobby was decorated with balloons and “bubbles” by the sponsor “Tide” . . .

And the best thing of all is to be able to meet people for the first time and see old friends too!!

Me, Amanda (Dixie Delights), and Kim (Savvy Southern Style)

~ ~ met Amanda for the first time and she is just what her blog name is, a true “Delight”

And seeing old friends . . .

Yvonne (StoneGable), Kim (Savvy Southern Style), Heather (At the Picket Fence), Kari (Thistlewood Farm) .

~ ~ and me.

Heather and her beautiful daughter.

Front Row: Kim (Savvy Southern), Julie (Lilacs and Longhorns), Laura (Top This Top That) . .

~ ~ and Rachel and her adorable daughter (Maison de Pax)

Top Row: Lauren (Endearing Home), Yvonne (StoneGable) and me!

Kelly (My Soulful Home) and Julie (Lilacs and Longhorns)

It was so great to have met them this year!

Julie (Lilacs and Longhorns) and Lauren (Endearing Home)

~ ~ under those gorgeous chandeliers!

And here I am . . . on my way home from Haven with my Southern Living Plant in the back seat!!

I am happy to be home and enjoying my wonderful goodies from the Haven SWAG Bag!

Until next year . . . I have lots of sweet memories to get me through!

Have a wonderful day!!

I attended the HAVEN CONFERENCE in Atlanta, Georgia this past week…It was HEAVEN….

When I say HEAVEN….I mean that I was up in the clouds….

On Cloud 9, and really more like Cloud 10….

…..Meeting all the wonderful bloggers.

I met the many bloggers I have come to know…

…..and met many new bloggers that I am excited to get to know!

This first Haven Conference was organized by this group of talented people: Bravo ladies!!

As you can see, I grabbed this pic from Rhoda: From left to right….

…Kate, that truly Centsational Girl, Sarah that incredible Thrifty Decor Chick…

…Beth from the great “Home Stories A to Z”, Rhoda from the fabulous “Southern Hospitality”

…Tracy from the wonderful “Beneath My Heart”, Chris from the terrific “Just a Girl”

…and last but certainly not least, Marian from the magnificent “Miss Mustard Seed”

And here is me, with the beautiful Rhoda…

My first “event” a gathering of blog friends at Cheesecake Factory..

Left to right, Kim from Savvy Southern Style, ME, Barb from The Everyday Home, Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict,

….Lisa from Budget Design Girl, Heather from At the Picket Fence,

….Perched above is KariAnne from Thistlewood Farm, then Vanessa from The Picket Fence,

….Gretchen from Bird’s Nest Cottage, and cute Kelly from The Essence of Home.

The “Cheesecake Group”…pardon the not so great quality photos…taken with my iPhone..

And then there is Kari (Thistlewood Farm)….I cannot tell you how emotional it was to finally meet this wonderful person of whom I have come to know…

Her Joy and enthusiasm is contagious!

I had such a wonderful time spending time with the beautiful ladies….

Lisa from Budget Design Girl has a beautiful story of how she overcame cancer and also the story of the adoption of her son.

Sitting next to Lisa is Barbara from The Treasured Home…(top picture and lower right)

And here are pics of the dinner at Pappasitos Friday evening…

Armed with only an iPhone that night..so the pics are not very good…

Oh lucky me, sandwiched between Susan from Between Naps on the Porch and Kim from Savvy Southern Style

…I was in Haven Heaven!

And look who is roaming the halls?….

The two Kim’s ..Kim from Savvy Southern Style and Kim from Kimberly Hites (La Belle Epoque Home)

They could be sisters!!

And these ladies with Flat Kelly of Eclectically Vintage

Lisa (Budget Design Girl, Heather (At the Picket Fence), Kari (Thistlewood Farm), Kim (Kimberlyhites.blogspot.com)

…another blurry iPhone pic!

Oh and front and center is the lovely, Karah from The Space Between…my DIY idol….

….she is the power tool Queen…!! Love her!

Leo (Cottage at the Crossroads), Laura from the fabulous Finding Home, ME,…

….and the better half of Cottage at the Crossroads, the lovely Jane.

….and Heidi from Decor and More and Kirby from Kirb Appeal having a great time!

Heidi again with the lovelies, Laura from Top This Top That, and Lisa from Budget Design Girl

OK…now there were the workshops!!!…

First up with the Opening of the Conference starring the beautiful couple from Young House Love…
They were wonderful speakers and truly genuinely down to earth…loved hearing their stories.

Oh, and then there was the fabulous Rashon, Mr. Goodwill Hunting….love his segments on the Nate Berkus show.
He truly had some great thrifting tips for us all.

Then there was the the dynamic duo of The Lettered Cottage…Layla and Kevin Palmer.

….Presenting a magnificent photography workshop with their friend and partner Josh.

After the session, I was convinced that I must order their on-line photography classes, Shoot Fly Shoot.

I had a picture taken with the beautiful Layla…and I was so blown away by her making sure that we had a good
picture…so Josh to the rescue to reset my camera to the correct ISO…I was so impressed by her patience and
kindness….