The first Haven DIY conference
August 05, 2013
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Wow, it’s been a total whirlwind of a week! I’m not sure I’ve ever packed more into seven days in my life.
Bear with me as I share a little bit of it with you today – it’s been an wonderful, overwhelming, lovely week and it really couldn’t have gone much better!
First up – Haven 2013! For those of you who don’t know, Haven is a conference dedicated to DIY and decor bloggers specifically. It’s the first of it’s kind because we (the team) knew there was a need for it – and a few years ago we decided it was time to make it happen!
This was our second year and it was even better than the first!:
This is about half the group – all together we had about 450 attendees (that includes sponsors) so it was much bigger than last year. I’m not sure we’ll go too much bigger because we love the feel of this size – we still want everyone to feel like they have a chance to meet most everyone.
It was just a great week, really. We were just so happy with how it all turned out and are all so thrilled and humbled by it all! There was a lot of learning – I have a HUGE to do list written down – but most of all it’s just so amazing to hang out with people who totally get what you do.
We goofed around plenty:
It’s hard not to with these ladies. I laughed, a LOT. ;)
But most of all, like always, I walked away having learned so much from just chatting with other bloggers throughout the week. I was so happy to see old friends:
And meet plenty of new ones, even though I’ve “known” them for years:
As always, I didn’t get nearly enough pictures. I know took one with many of you and I’d love a copy! (Or we have a 2013 Flickr account going, so you can load them there!)
It was an honor to have been a part of it again this year and to work with some amazing women:
Next year’s conference is already booked for July in Atlanta! We’ll share details soon. :)
So I got home from the conference, slept for a few hours and then moved on to the next adventure…the NKOTB concert:
I know I’m a little teensy bit biased, but DANG, they put on a great show! I was exhausted just from attending.
This time they were joined by Boys to Men (they were fantastic!) and 98 Degrees and the place was packed!:
It is absolutely electric. And LOUD. Grown women can SCREAM.
My hubby’s cousin hooked us up with some incredible seats – six rows off the floor:
We had one of the best views there! Excuse my Farah hair by the way. I’m bringing the 70’s back. Apparently.
Yet again, I came home, got a few hours of sleep and then this morning we were up bright and early for a very special appointment.
Today we learned we’ll soon have a grandson. :) Yes, I’m going to be a grandma – my stepdaughter is due in December and we found out this morning it’s a boy. It was very emotional and sweet and they had a room full of family and friends there to find out the big news. Our son is THRILLED. :)
We are just so happy she and the baby are healthy and doing well. I haven’t mentioned it yet just because I kind of feel like this is their story to tell, not mine. I will of course share more as we get closer to the due date and will most likely share a few pics over time, but I want to respect their privacy and desires too.
I can’t wait to meet this sweet boy!!
So, yes, I think I will set some kind of record as the youngest grandma ever. Especially being 27 and all. Or something.
Well…there’s my week in a nutshell. See, a little crazy huh? But every bit of it makes me so incredibly thankful – I am so grateful for this life I live. I am a lucky woman. A lucky woman who is off to take a nap for six hours or so. ;)
It was *so* nice meeting you this weekend. You, Beth and Myra were great in the advertising class. Also, you're so much taller than I thought! Haha.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteIt was great to see you this past weekend, I had an amazing time at Haven. Thanks to all you did to bring us bloggers together and make us feel so special. I'm still on a Haven high!
Congrats on your family news, but I'm still jealous of your NK seats :-)
You've had a great week that's for sure. Congratulations on your exciting news for your stepdaughter. We might be due around the same date...since she just shared her gender news. I'm due November 15th. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! How exciting! It was so nice to meet you at Haven. Thank you for all you do to make the event happen. Best, Sarah M.
ReplyDeleteMy, then 17 year old step-son, surprised us all by making us grandparents early. I turned 32 and the grand born 5 days later. So, I think I have you beat for youngest grandma ever! Even though he was unexpected and wouldn't have been our first choice for our son, we love the little Nugget more than anything and couldn't imagine life without him!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a fabulous time at Haven! Hoping I can make it next year. And congrats on getting to be a grandma :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That is exciting news! My step daughter made us grand parents two years ago and I can't get enough of my sweet little grandson. You were fabulous and sweet and beautiful this week at Haven! Best wishes to all.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the baby news! You'll get to have a little one to REALLY spoil now :)
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT WAIT until tickets go on sale for the next Haven! I missed it this year but look forward to joining the fun next year.
Congrats on the baby news! How exciting. Glad the conference went well. Was sorry to miss. Glad to hear it is in July next year...so no conflicts for me. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteHaven was amazing, Sarah -- so sad I didn't get the chance to visit with you! Hopefully next year!
ReplyDeletexo Heidi
PS -- I kinda dig the Farrah hair, btw... who better to rock the '70s than a young soon-to-be grandma!?
Sarah- Thank you so much for your role in making Haven AMAZING this year! Like Heidi said, I am sorry that we didn't get a chance to say Hi and visit, but I really enjoyed your class Saturday!
ReplyDeleteHow fun the concert looked. I love the hair! Bring it back, I say!!!
Congrats on your fabulous family news too. You are gonna be one hot, young grandma!!
Hope you recover soon from all of the craziness! Have a great week!
xo-Lisa
Holy Canoli what a week. How exciting about the baby!! I'm glad I had a chance to track you down to say Hi at Haven. What a great event again, it really seemed like the perfect size!!
ReplyDeleteI had a blast at Haven again this year! It was great chatting with you! A grandma at 27 :) At least you'll be young enough to keep up with the little man! I'm due Oct. 1st and I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up with a boy! They are FULL of energy!
ReplyDeleteIt was just wonderful to meet you and I had such a blast at Haven! Congrats on the upcoming new addition to your family. Now, get some rest, girl!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the grandson! I love your hair!
ReplyDeleteGreat Haven pics! I almost didn't recognize you 'cause your hair is sooo long! Hope I can attend next year. Maybe in 2015 ya'll can have it in TX - seems like that would be more centrally located than Atlanta (or maybe I'm just biased?) :).
ReplyDeleteSo fun Sarah! I saw so many of you gals - my fave bloggers on the pics. Congratulations on this huge success!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!! Congrats! Ahhh NKOTB. I'm so sad that I wasn't able to see this tour.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! How exciting.....everything!!! Love the hair!~~Angela
ReplyDeleteI kept seeing Haven hashtags all over my IG feed this weekend! Glad you had a great time- it looks like a blast! I'm considering a blogging conference in the future, if only just to meet other bloggers in person! :)
ReplyDeleteWhaaaat? A grandma?? Does this mean you have to stop going to NKOTB concerts?
ReplyDeleteSo funny reading this post at the end because here I am reading and looking at all the pictures and you guys are all so ahem YOUNG! I'm thinking I would LOVE to attend this but is anyone over the age of 45 that goes there??? It looks like you're all in your 20's and 30's, big sigh. Then I read the ending that you're going to be a grandmother. LOL I just about fell off the chair laughing because I went kinda kicking and screaming into this part of my life and thought when my daughter had her daughter 5 years ago that I was way too young to be a grandmother at age 47! hahahahahaha I know now you're all laughing at me and picking yourself up off the floor at the thought that I thought 47 was too young to be a "Nana"! LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a blast it looked like and I'm reading the posts from you and all the other gals that went there honestly does sound like it was "The best week EVER"!
Haven looks exciting! wish I could attend the next one.. or a similar conference close to San Fransisco Bay Area :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on soon to be a grandma :)
You will definitely be setting a record for the youngest grandma ever!! And it was wonderful to meet you this weekend and take your class. You, Beth and Myra were so very helpful!! Thanks for working so hard to put Haven on each year!!
ReplyDeleteLaura @ The Turquoise Home
Totally jealous you got to see New Kids!! They didn't come to Utah this year BOOOOO. But I was *this* close to driving to Vegas just for Donnie. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd since we're talking NKOTB, do tell which was your fave New Kid. Everyone had their fave growing up, right? ;)
How fabulous! It looks like the conference was a blast (I'm going to make a point of going next year. I'm so envious of all of the pictures), and the concert looks amazing! Bring on some o' that Jordan Knight! (I loved him back in the overall days)
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on your upcoming grandmother-hood! You'll have endless projects now - there's always something to make for the kidlets! :)
Pffft - I became a VERY young grandma when I took in and then adopted a 14 year old girl with a baby. I was 28 then and the baby has grown up and had babies of her own - I am 54 and have 5 children, 5 grand-children - AND .... wait for it, 4 GREAT-grand-children ...... I win!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It's going to be amazing doting on this little boy and then being able to give him back to his parents. ;) You've had such an exciting week!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for a wonderful time! It was great to see you again and I hope to be back next year! Wow you had a very exciting week! Congratulations on the grandson, I have 2 grandsons and they are so much fun! Get some rest :)
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I am patiently waiting for grandchildren. I have three children older than 23 and a 21 year old and we have a 17 year old. But none of them are married yet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if I caulk and paint the bookshelves it will happen?
I'm glad you had such a fabulous time at Haven and the concert.
first of all congrats! second of all in the pic right below this "And meet plenty of new ones, even though I’ve “known” them for years"... the girl next to you in the plum shirt with brown hair could totally be your sister! glad you had a great time. love your blog!
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun to get to say hi at Haven. Such a fun weekend :)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you guys about the grandbaby! Hooray for babies!
Congratulations on the grandbaby! I want to thank you for helping lead a great beginning advertising session (I attended on Day 2), and I must say, I thought you were looking especially pretty all weekend. Being exhausted apparently agrees with you. haha
ReplyDeletexo
That really is so exciting about your sweet little grandbaby! We just had our 8th about 3 months ago. We found some of the cutest little things for him at gordy's gifts. They have a lot of other things there too.
ReplyDeleteWhirlwind of activity, that's for sure! Glad you had a good time at Haven and the concert. Congrats on the grandbaby - though you look waaay too young to be a grandma!
ReplyDeleteSarah it was great to see you in person and say hello - the conference was out of this world awesome - I learned so much, but most of all just loved getting to see and talk to all the bloggers that I have been readying for the last few years - simply fantastic. The women who attended this conference are the best of the best - everyone was super friendly and fun. I so hope to get to attend next year! Congrats on the grandbaby! My daughter is expecting in December and just found out it's a boy - healthy baby boy - we are beyond thrilled - so looks like we'll become grammas together ;o)
ReplyDelete*reading
DeleteOh so sweet! Congrats Grammie ;) I was so bummed to miss out on the Haven fun...hope to be there next year!
ReplyDeletexo
Thanks so much for news about Haven. My blog is just a few weeks old, so there are tons of things that are completely new to me! Tons :) Really excited to hear about this event. Putting it on my calendar for next year.
ReplyDelete--Lisa
Great pics! You look pretty with your hair like that. Love it.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me I understand. I'm a very young Grandma of a 3 year old girl and 1 year old boy. They call me "Missy". It's wonderful and you will love it!
Sounds FABULOUS! I love the conference pictures! I know you were at SNAP this spring, and that's like 15 minutes from where I live - I wish I had known in time to see if you could fit me into your busy schedule! It would be so fun to meet in person!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am SICK with envy about NKOTB! They didn't come here. :( The closest show was Vegas, and with a new baby, I'm just not in a position for a road trip!
CONGRATULATIONS! That's so exciting. Ever since our little surprise caboose, I get sooo excited about all things baby. Can't wait to hear more!
Hope you've had a fabulous summer.