Monday, June 25, 2012

HAVEN 2012 CONFERENCE {My Leap of FAITH}



As some of you may (or may not) know, I made a commitment to myself that I will no longer allow my fear of ____(fill in the blank)____ stop me from LIFE!! 

 I am making an effort to truly LIVE!  You know... doing things that are so far outside of my comfort zone, that I shock even myself!

{you can read about that HERE}

Well, I went, I schmoozed, and I kicked some major butt!!
So much so, that I was dubbed a "social butterfly"! WHAAA?!

Kristy = 1
Fear= 0


Now...

It's time to talk HAVEN!

Can you say PAR-TAAYY!!

This conference was not only INCREDIBLY informative, but it was also SOOO MUCH FUN!

I was awe-struck by so many creative geniuses and I even got to know some on a personal level!! 

[and some, not so much... afterall, Rome wasn't built in a day people!! I mean, I can only be ON so much before I completely combust!]

   
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If you're thinking of attending a conference, here's some fun shots and what you can expect!!


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These are my sweet, sweet friends and suite mates!  (Susie was a neighbor... we didn't sleep 5 people to a room. Oh heavens no!)
 This picture totally sets the mood of the entire conference! :)

Y'all!  I met some of the sweetest, funnest, FUNNIEST women I've ever met! Unfortunately, I don't have photos of or with all of them... cuz THAT would've been skirting on the edge of creepy!
((I think one of the funniest couples of all times HAS to be John and Sherry from Young House Love!! I mean, I could totally see us being BFFs!!  *I got NO pict of course! Dang it!!  Cuz again.. the whole combustion/implosion thing!!)




 and this is the WONDERFULLY kind and lovely Terri Williams from Crafty Workin Mommy
*also my suite mate* and FRIEND :)





At a conference... expect SWAG!!!!!  and SWAG is GOOD!
  This is just some of what we got! 
OH MY, YES!!





Carole, Leslie ~ the OH SO FUNNY, IRIS from The Bearded Iris , and Aimee

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Expect to meet and MAKE friends!! 





My sweet, sweet dear friend Logan from Life for Dessert!
I truly love this woman!!




I think my face says it all~~  I am about to COMBUST... IMPLODE... what-have-you!

I am surrounded by HUMORISTIC GREATNESS!  gahh!!!!

Kerry from HouseStalkN, Leslie and lil' ol me!

I'm only a tiny bit excited! LOL




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OH. MY. GOSH!!!  Do you SEE who we MET?!?  As in REAL LIFE met??  As in schmoozed with, people!

THIS, my friend, is Rashon Carraway... MR GOODWILL HUNTING!

He is the most fashionable, kind, informative, FUN man!  And I met him!! :)

Carole, Rashon, Logan, ME, and Anne Marie from White House Black Shutters (who, btw, is SOOOOOO sweet and talented!!!!!)



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One of the sessions I attended was all about Decorating and Design.  I am KICKING myself for not taking pictures of all 3 speakers!!   They were all SUPER and I walked away with something I can successfully implement.  That's good speaking, y'all!



Learning about patterns, textures and layering! I was in heaven!



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OH YEAHH!!! You're seeing correctly!!

Here's an example of avoiding implosion!
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!  It is Kevin and Layla from The Lettered Cottage!!

and Kate from Centsational Girl  :)



Their Photography and Photo Staging session was AWESOME!!  I learned so much!

For instance, when taking that money shot, take a photo and LOOK at the composition. Is it balanced?

Sometimes, just moving (or skooching) the placement of one item can make an impact!
{can you find what was skooched??}



Kevin and Josh (which I could kick myself for not getting a picture of the two of them~  Do you see a pattern?? I'm kicking myself an aweful lot people!!) have an online training site for photography~  which I totally will be taking, called shoot Fly shoot.  How creative is THAT name?!  LOVE IT!!



Monica from East Coast Creative, yeah... let's just say I could not have learned ANYTHING in the photography class with out HER!! ;) 


 


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Our tablescapes were precious!! I especially loved the REPURPOSING of glass/ceramic ware and spray paint!! GENIUS!!!

HELLO Goodwill! I'll be seein ya soon!






~~see why it's important to take the time to NOTICE what's in your picture?!  DOH!!!!~~
*stupid cup and straw*









Dinner with friends!!
me, Darlene from Fieldstone Hill Design, and Logan




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Our sponsors were great!! I regret I didn't get photos of everyone!
{pahlease accept my apologies!}







Terri and I having some fun at the lunch table!  We're adults... It's allowed  ; )




I just couldn't get enough of my Leslie-Iris!! I just love her to pieces!!!



And YES, this is Anna White... and YES she is ROCKIN those purple pumps!!



Power Tools from Ryobi... UM, yes, please!!

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THIS fun little do-hickey was in our swag bag! Look what it does!



This, my friend, is gonna be FUN!



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Annie Sloan had a super fun booth!  Spin the wheel... win a prize!!
(well, if you're lucky... and I was!! woohoo!)

 










 







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As I close, I want to encourage you all to LIVE!  Truly LIVE!
Take a chance on life!
See what's around the next corner!


GET OUT OF THE BOAT SO YOU, TOO, CAN WALK ON WATER!

Because if you don't... you may be missing out on some of the greatest blessings God has in store for you!!



HUGS and L♥VE to you all!!

k.



22 comments:

  1. LOVE YOU!!! and I love how you encourage others in this post. KICK fear in the BUTT, girl!

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  2. Awww sweet friend... I love YOU!!! I am soo soo blessed to have had these wonderful days/evenings to get to know you! You are so amazingly kind and I look forward to building our friendship into something so wonderful!! xo

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  3. Love this my friend! What an awesome time we had! Seriously lookin forward to the next time we get to hang out! Til then...love on the www!

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  4. What a great post, totally captures the spirit of Haven! Sad we didn't meet, but there's always next year...

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    1. Thank you Carrie! and I know! NEXT YEAR is right!! :)

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  5. Well, God love it! I can feel your excitement through just reading this!

    I am SO glad you had such a great time. And yes, I am hating a little because you met Iris, but it's so hard to hate for long with you two!

    The pics are great...you're simply precious to me!

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    1. Carrie... girl... you would have a blast!

      and BACKATCHA friend! btw, when we gettin together again??

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  6. Kristy, Looks like SO MUCH FUN! I'm so proud of you for taking the "leap of faith" and kickin' FEAR in the bootie! I love the pics!

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    1. Thank ya honey! :) I really did have SO MUCH FUN!

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  7. Good to meet you!! This was a big thing for me to go too and I had a blast! Glad you did too!

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  8. Hi Renee!
    It was soo great meeting you too!! I wish there was more time to really sit and get to know people! It was a bit overwhelming at times not letting fear creep in, and paying attention, and meeting and greeting, and not letting fear creep in... haha.

    Thankful we have the world wide web :)

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  9. Oh Kristy, my love, what a wonderful recap. Your enthusiasm is contagious and it is no surprise to me that you are so popular! Meeting you and your fun roommates and friends was definitely one of my Haven Highlights...a comment can't even begin to capture my gratitude for your warmth and generosity, especially since I didn't know very many people there. And your quote at the end about getting out of the boat in order to walk on water has given me goosebumps. So true. I need to get out of that boat more often! Huge hugs and kisses to you! Cannot WAIT until our paths cross again.

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    1. Let's be intentional about making that happen, ok?! Because I cannot imagine going months upon months, even years, without seeing you irl!! Big love to you LI!! ;)

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  10. Cute picture of us (especially because it is fuzzy and hides the wrinkles!) It was so great meeting you and I love your recap!

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    1. Thanks Brittany!! Can't wait for Haven 2013!!

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  11. See, I really wanted to hang out with so many of you, I missed out on having so much fun, but I was playing hostess. Love your post, this is the spirit of Haven. We are so happy with it! Great to meet you if only briefly.

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    1. Oh Rhoda, I would have LOVED to have a little time hanging out with you! So if it's "the thought that counts", please know I THOUGHT! ;)
      You all did a phenomenal job with Haven! I sincerely cannot wait until Haven 2013 :) Promise to make my "thought" an action~
      Thank you for the ♥

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  12. Oh you are too cute! Just found your blog, through a link of a link. So glad I did! Loved your Haven pictures, I wasn't able to make it this year but I will be there next for sure!

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    1. And YOU are TOO SWEET!! :) Thank you for the ♥! And you totally have to go next year! It really was soo much fun!!!

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  13. What a great recap!! Makes me so sorry that I never got a chance to meet you at Haven! I just love your enthusiasm and we'll just have to make it a point to meet up at Haven2013!!

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    1. Thank you, Natalie!! And, that sounds like a plan to me!!! :) Cheers to Haven 2013!!

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