Can you believe Valentine’s Day is next weekend?! I feel like this year is already moving at warp speed. To get you in the spirit, I’m sharing some fun links for the “holiday of love”. It gets a bad wrap, but despite the commercialism, it’s an opportunity to express love, and I’m sure we can all agree the world could use more of it. Of course, when you have kids, all of the holidays get more exciting + the crafting possibilities are endless! On that note – I’ll be sharing a fun craft I did with the kids next week (this photo is a hint)…so be sure to check back for all kinds of cuteness + confetti. We’re expecting more snow here in Pennsylvania…perfect snuggling weather, so I’m not complaining. I hope it’s cozy where you are!
BON WEEKEND!
alt summit recap – part deux
I’ve finally regained enough energy to get into the nitty gritty of Altitude Summit with you, and share some tips + tricks I learned. This was my very first ALT (after 5 years of blogging – what took me so long?!) and I can tell you it is worth every penny. I could go on and on about the value–from the friends I made (or met in person for the first time, like the fabulous Tiffany Han shown above), to the friendships I solidified (like my amazing friend/roomie Jahje Ives), to the face-to-face with sponsors, the inspiring speeches + presentations, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. With so much talent and information packed into one incredible conference, it can be a bit overwhelming. I’m no expert – like I said, this was my first time attending, and most of this has been said before, but here are my top tips. Oh – be sure to shop inside the Grand America…the toy shop JouJou is incredible if you have children + La Bonne Vie is a lovely little patisserie! And, no…this is not a sponsored post (I wish). Whatever you do, find a way to experience ALT…you won’t regret it.
tip #1 preparation is key. do your homework, know the sponsors, and reach out prior to the conference.
tip #2 plan your wardrobe with precision – know what you’re wearing + when. the fashion is no joke people.
tip #3 arrive early, if possible…having time to acclimate and get in the zone helped me a great deal.
tip #4 HYDRATE. seriously y’all…it’s the desert. drink tons of water + moisturize!
tip #5 focus and learn…feel like a student again, and enjoy it. revel in your fresh notebooks + new knowledge.
tip #6 be super social (and I don’t mean virtually). attend as many parties, mini-parties, and get togethers as you can.
tip #7 work the camera….know what is successful for you in a photo booth situation. they are everywhere you turn.
tip #8 save your instagrams + tweets for after the day is done, whenever possible. allow yourself to be present.
tip #9 seek out solace. if you’re like me and are very auditory, I need quiet to think + process.
tip #10 begin your follow-up before leaving! sort through cards + make to do lists. the early bird gets the worm!
alt summit recap – part un
These photos sum up my Alt Summit experience. You simply cannot put a price on meeting someone you’ve admired for years, looking into their eyes, and holding their hand. As bloggers, we find ourselves (mostly) behind screens for a living. Of course, the irony is that we are sharing our humanity, our stories, in the hopes of connecting with others and inspiring a conversation. Erin Loechner has inspired many conversations for me, along with so many others I had the chance to finally meet in person. At the end of each day, my excitement overcame my exhaustion, and the friendships I made and solidified are worth a thousand conferences. I feel invigorated and driven by the many exciting opportunities + projects on the horizon (and can’t wait to share). As a blogger, designer, mother, wife, and human…I feel whole.
images by Brooke Dennis for Alt Summit
alt summit!
Hello friends! I’m Alt Summit bound, and couldn’t be more excited about it! For those of you who are not part of the blogging community, Altitude Summit is the premier business conference for bloggers + creatives, held annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. I feel it’s quite fitting that I’m finally making it there with my 5 year blogging anniversary looming. This space began as a creative outlet, and like many others would attest, it has become something so much bigger. I have met the most amazing people (online and in person), many of whom have become close friends, and ALT is the perfect opportunity to meet those that inspire me face to face! I’m also looking forward to connecting with sponsors + brands that inspire me…I have a feeling some amazing collaborations are on the horizon. My suitcase is bursting with my beautiful new business cards – I’ll be sure to share more details on those soon. Until I return (next week), you can follow my adventures (as always) on Instagram…apologies in advance for the overgramming that is about to occur. Au revoir!
bon weekend
Hello 2015! It’s the first weekend of the new year, and I’ve got a big smile on my face (much like the one above). I’m bursting with excitement + ideas for the new year! I don’t write resolutions, but I certainly keep a list of goals. One that has remained at the top of that list for many years is to better my French, and eventually, achieve fluency (which I wrote about here). I’ve been struggling to find the time to further my language skills, but I’m not going to let life get in the way any longer. I recently discovered Carrie Anne James of French is Beautiful (aka @theparisdarling), and I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be under her tutelage beginning next week! We’ll be collaborating on a new series here on the blog, which I’ll be debuting soon! This photo, taken of me in Paris by the talented Ashley Ludaescher, is the best way to describe how I feel about this new venture–GIDDY. Hopefully you’re feeling as excited as I am about something you have planned for 2015. Just in case you need some inspiration, here are some links for your weekend reading…