The trip was great, overwhelming, surreal, weird, loving, emotional…just to name a few. A few expectations might not have been met, but that’s ok. I probably shouldn’t have had any expectations to begin with! Everything went so fast, even though it took 30 minutes to walk to your destination because the hotel is so massive! But enough about all of that…I have to say it was amazing to meet all of these lovely ladies and I am so grateful for the opportunity and the friendships that were made.
My friend Megan from Honey We’re Home was my travel buddy and roomie and it was perfect!
I couldn’t have asked for a better friend to travel and hang out with. Love that girl.
Here are just a few pics of the very few that I actually did take. I should have taken a million.
Honey We’re Home, Sand and Sisal, me.
Be Different Act Normal, House of Hepworths, This Blessed Nest, My Blessed Life.
Brooke (aspiring blogger), Life in Grace, These are the Days.
(Don’t remember name, help please!), High Heels and a Hammer, Lovefeast Table.
Giggles from Myra…
Melissa from The Inspired Room.
And The Nester. She even said her real name and I don’t even remember it anymore so it’s a good thing she will always be Nester.
Happy hugs from Pretty Handy Girl and My Cottage Love (starting her blog soon).
My Cottage Love, Pretty Handy Girl, and me.
A big group at the home blogger meet up.
Dr. BabyMamaDrama, House of Hepworths, Imparting Grace, Two Story Cottage, High Heels and a Hammer, Honey We’re Home, My Cottage Love, Frugal with a Flourish, Pretty Handy Girl, (ack, don’t remember her name!), Miss Mustard Seed,Decor Chick
Me and Jen from Tatertots and Jello.
Me, Infarrantly Creative, Tatertots and Jello, Pretty Handy Girl, and The Pennington Point.
Another group…
Decor Chick, Honey We’re Home, Sand and Sisal, Southern Hospitality, Centsational Girl, 320 Sycamore and her sister Kristin, Brooke (aspiring blogger), Earnest Parenting
And by far, my favorite part of Blissdom was Thursday night at the InCourage beach party. I can’t really describe what happened that night, but they were so welcoming and genuine. I really felt at home there and we shut the party down that night!
Me, Be Different Act Normal, Lisa Leonard, and Honey We’re Home. And again, I can’t describe what happened when I met Lisa, but it is something that I definitely won’t forget. And every time I think about it I start to tear up. She has the most beautiful heart and spirit and she totally blessed me that night. I would love to do more with the InCourage group and maybe even go to the Relevant conference…who knows what God has in store.
It was also a huge honor to meet Dee from Red Letter Words that night too. Another beautiful lady who is just as sweet as can be. But I didn’t get a picture with her!
We also ran into Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick and Beth from The Stories of A to Z that night, and it was so great to meet them as well–they both know how much I love them. It is all such a blur and again no pic!
I enjoyed chatting with everyone and met so many incredible ladies–Beneath My Heart, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Sawdust and Paperscraps, The Pleated Poppy, The Cottage Chick, Imparting Grace, Creative Kristi, Two Story Cottage, and many many others…I loved them all! There are so many other people I would have loved to meet and chat with, but it’s hard to squeeze that in 2 days.
And on a different note, I still can’t get over the mexican restaurant in the hotel and how you have to buy your chips and hot sauce! My heart goes out to all of you where that is the case where you live. Here in Texas, that just wouldn’t fly. :)
So all in all I did have the best time meeting everyone and I am so thankful for the opportunity. Everyone is just as sweet and funny as can be–just like they are on their blogs. Conferences can be scary and you really have to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. I feel a little bit more prepared when the next conference comes along. :)
xxoo,
Decorchick!
What a whirlwind indeed…looks like everyone had a great time. I hope i can make it next year!!
Wow, I just discovered your blog and now all these other fabulous bloggers.
Decor eye candy for sure!
It looks like a fabulous time, love all the photos! Maybe one day I’ll get there, too. I can’t get over that you had to buy your chips at a Mexican restaurant. That’s just not right!! Happy to live in my land of free chips. :)
Color me jealous!! Looks fab!!
SO FUN! I would love to go next year : )
I live in Nashville, but was unable to attend Blissdom this year. However, I will tell you that the chips and salsa deal at Opryland must have been some sort of hotel price gouging scheme. I’ve never been to a Mexican restaurant around here where the chips and salsa weren’t free! :)
Looks like such fun!
thank you so much for sharing about your trip and the conference. Looks and sounds like so much fun!
And…buying chips and salsa?? That wouldn’t fly here (in AL) either! Pure craziness!
Thanks so much for including me in your post! I loved meeting you and I can’t believe I didn’t have enough time to just hang out with all y’all a lot more! It went too fast! :)
Lovely to meet you & can’t wait for the next meet-up!
xoxo
It was nice to meet you! Believe it or not I am new to your blog – so glad I am following along on your journey now. In NC we do NOT have to pay for chips n’ salsa. That is a crazy rip-off. :)
So glad you and Megan had such a great time! Hoping to go next year.
Good for you for getting out there! I’m hoping to jump in next year. You’ve inspired me!
You look so pretty in all those pics Em, but you are just a real beauty anyways! I got to witness those sweet moments between you and Lisa Leonard and it really was a beautiful, tender thing! I could tell how deeply touched you were. Need to see you soon!
It looks like you all had SO much fun!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
Wow it looks like you had a fabulous time. I had never heard of Blissdom until recently and it definitely sounds like something that I’d love to participate in.
Thanks for posting about this.
Have a great day!
Emily!
It was such an honor to meet you! Did we not get our picture together?! Drats.
You are a beautiful girl and I look forward to many great blogging years together.
:)
xoxo
Traci
Oops. Didn’t mean to be “anonymous” up there! :)
I loved getting to meet you! It was so fun to see everyone isn’t it? I just can’t believe how sweet everyone is! And I am so glad that you got to have a “special moment” – I think that is what makes Blissdom so wonderful!!
Awe! Looks like you all had such a great time! You are sooo beautiful!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello there,
I’m a lurker (not by choice but by necessity. Too many blogs to comment). But today I felt compelled to comment.
Your trip sounds like a hoot! I would love to come to Blissdom one day. I must add to my calendar.
But what made me post today was your description of the Mexican restaurant in your hotel. That crap wouldn’t fly in Chicago either! I often travel to Texas and I do enjoy the food while I’m there (I’m in the Houston area a lot so I over indulge in Cajun food which isn’t so prevalent here). But to charge for chips and salsa. I guess they don’t plan on many returning customers. Indeed!
Glad to see you had a wonderful time!
Be Encouraged!
So glad we got to meet! AND Yeah! What’s up with the charging for chips and salsa!
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
What an awesome experience!! :) So glad that you had a great time. I can only imagine how it would be to meet all those beautiul and talented bloggers..you included! :)
How awesome to meet Lisa Leonard..
I’m so glad we finally got to meet. I wish we would have had more time to really visit. I guess we will just have to meet up at another conference soon! :)
I love how you referenced everyone by their blogs. Honestly, there are few bloggers that I can recognize by their picture and remember their name. Thanks for sharing your great trip.
Emily,
You have gotten me hooked on blogging . Love reading you everyday. I just started my own blog. Any good advise you can me on getting this going? Love any help you can give.
Love the new paint colors. I’m going tomorrow and check some new colors as well.
Thanks, Nancy