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Be candid. Be courageous. Build community. Haven 2016.

I always feel like I’m the last one to write my conference wrap up post. Maybe I just take longer to process than everyone else. 🙂 But even though it takes me longer to recap, that doesn’t mean that the conference was any less meaningful. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Haven Blogging Conference 2016

A few weeks ago, I headed down south to the Haven blogging conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Haven is specifically for DIY/decor bloggers, and this was the third time I had the pleasure of attending. As I tried to decide how to sum up an incredible weekend in one short blog post, three phrases kept coming to mind: Be candid. Be courageous. Build community.

A recap of the Haven Conference for DIY and Home Decor Bloggers in Atlanta, Georgia | JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

April, House by Hoff | Sarah, Life on Virginia Street | Chelsea, Making Home Base | Me | Nina, Nina Hendrick | Natalie, At Home with Natalie | Jen, The House of Wood

(I apologize in advance for the serious lack of pictures. I was having so much fun I forgot to take them. Also the ones I do have are taken with my iPhone. In bad hotel lighting. So I apologize two times. 🙂 )

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Be candid.

Haven kicked off with two absolutely phenomenal bloggers delivering the opening keynote. Marian Parsons (aka Miss Mustard Seed) and Shauna West (of Perfectly Imperfect) talked about their own blogging journeys and the struggle to keep that candidness as part of their blogs as they grew. They encouraged us to be

Real. Open. Authentic. Sincere.

And it really made me think. When I started blogging, I didn’t know how to be anything but that. I just thought up a project or something I wanted to share about what I was learning at that moment in life, wrote it all out, and stuck it up there on my site.

But the longer I blogged, the more and more concerned I became about the “rules.” I learned what “good posts” are supposed to look like, how to format them so people will be interested and visit my site and pin them, what all to include to make sure the “Google gods” extend their favor and send people my way. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of that and forget the reason I started, which was to just be me and share my story and some fun things I’ve created along the way.

A recap of the Haven Conference for DIY and Home Decor Bloggers in Atlanta, Georgia | JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Shauna, Perfectly Imperfect | Marian, Miss Mustard Seed

As Marian and Shauna so eloquently reminded us, though, this whole blogging thing is truly about being open and connecting with our readers. And not so we can get more pageviews. But so we can genuinely meet them where they are, understand who it is that’s reading our words each day, and do the best we can to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives.

I came away from their talk with a renewed spirit and a resolve to try to bring back more of that openness and authenticity that I had when I first began blogging.

Be courageous.

Well if I wasn’t starstruck enough with Marian and Shauna as the opening speakers, the amazing Haven team booked none other than John and Sherry Petersik of Young House Love to deliver the closing keynote. I’m not going to lie. I may have had a fan-girl moment when I first saw them. 😉

And speaking of being candid, they were incredibly open and honest about walking away from blogging a few years ago and the journey they’ve been on ever since. They shared so much wisdom, but the biggest thing that really stuck with me was to be courageous, to take risks and try new things.

It is so easy to get caught in a rut with blogging and just keep doing the same types of projects and posts because that’s what we know and what we’ve always done. But that also tends to get stale after a while, and not even just for our readers, but for us as well.

They really emphasized the importance of being willing to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, even if they flop, because that is what will keep you excited about your blog and the community that you are building around it.

I felt so challenged by their words, and Donnie and I have already started throwing around ideas of new things we could try to think outside the box a little more. I’m excited to see where it takes us.

A recap of the Haven Conference for DIY and Home Decor Bloggers in Atlanta, Georgia | JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Cute little place setting from a dinner I attended with Moen and Home Depot. I may have forgotten to get a picture of John and Sherry, but I remembered to get one of a pretty flag with my name on it, so…  😉

Build community.

Finally, if you’ve ever read one of my blog conference recap posts before, I’m pretty sure that almost all of them have included the word “community.” I’ve been to four blogging conferences at this point, and each and every time I am blown away by the phenomenal community of people that are brought together by this mutual interest of ours.

All year I look forward to seeing my “tribe,” my girls who have been with me almost since the beginning of my blog, who have encouraged me and stretched me and taught me so much. I know I would not be where I am with my blog today without them.

A recap of the Haven Conference for DIY and Home Decor Bloggers in Atlanta, Georgia | JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Nina, Nina Hendrick | Jamie, So Much Better with Age | Rachel, Maison de Pax | April, House by Hoff | Lauren, Bless’er House | Sarah, Life on Virginia Street | Me | Chelsea, Making Home Base

I loved being able to meet and/or see again so many of the bloggers who are in my Building a Framework Facebook group. I feel like in a way we have all navigated through this blogging thing together and learned from each other as well, and it was delightful to get to connect face to face.

I always look forward to seeing new faces and expanding my blogging community at these conferences. There are always new people starting blogs and joining in the fun, and it is so cool to come across so many others who really “get” this whole blogging thing. There truly is no better community out there.

As usual, I’ve written more than I originally intended, and I don’t even feel like a few words in a blog post can do the whole experience justice. My point is, though, if you ever have the opportunity to attend a blogging conference– just GO! I promise that you will walk away encouraged and inspired and with a refreshed spirit for approaching your blog and even your life. I know I certainly was!

A recap of the Haven Conference for DIY and Home Decor Bloggers in Atlanta, Georgia | JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com

Chelsea’s cute daughter | Me | Nina, Nina Hendrick | Chelsea, Making Home Base

If you’d like to know more about blogging conferences, you can see my past recap posts here:

A Weekend of Awesomeness: Haven 2014

The Latest Haven Recaps in the History of Haven Recaps (until this year that is– oops!)- Haven 2015

It’s All about Community: SNAP 2016

Be candid. Be courageous. Build community. Haven 2016. (You’re here!)

Haven Blogging Conference 2017

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Happy blogging, friends!

Abby

21 Comments

  1. Suzi Whitford says:

    Abby, those were such sweet and encouraging words to read as I woke up sitting on the couch while my toddler watches Puffin Rock 😉

    I am going to my first blogging conference at the end of October and I’m a bit nervous! I’ve been to numerous conferences for work and school before, but never for the little business I’ve created while the babies sleep.

    Your post inspires me! Thank you! And the pictures are great, even if they are taken with your cell 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Have so much fun at your first conference, Suzi! I know you will love it! And thank you so much for your sweet words– you are always so encouraging and brighten my day! Have a great day!

      ~Abby =)

  2. Daria Harvey says:

    So your post is going to have me hitting the publish button soon. I have a draft of a post written that fell off my fingertips in a flurry. It’s about volunteering with intention. About the dangers of becoming a professional volunteer and what that can do to your family and your happiness. I should know. I was one. But I’ve been so scared to be candid. My husband told me not many people would read it. “I don’t think other women have this problem,” he said. I’m not so sure. You’ve given me courage to put myself out there. Thanks Abby.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      I think MANY women (and men) have that problem! It can be so hard to say no and SO easy to get pulled in a million different directions! Glad this helped give you courage, Daria! Have a great week!

  3. Abby! Just a little note to say thank you for being so gracious during my fan-girl moment! (I had bee lined for you right after the photography class) 🙂 I’m enjoying your book very much and it has helped me immensely in starting my blog! (I’m now a month old!) 🙂 Hope to see you there next year!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw you are so sweet, Lidia! It was so great to meet you! Congrats on your new blog– I’m so excited to see what you do with it! See you next year at Haven!

      ~Abby =)

  4. Gurki Bhamber says:

    Thanks for a sneak peak of Haven Conference 2016. I am headed to one this afternoon. My very first one. Looking forward to meet some like minded people there. Your post was as always so inspiring. 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, I hope you had a great time, Gurki!

      ~Abby =)

      1. That was SO me at the beginning! When you do, and keep posting consistently, I promise you will gain confidence and be so glad that you hit that publish button Thanks a lot for providing this informative stuff.

        1. justagirlabby says:

          So glad it was helpful, Anaya!

          ~Abby =)

  5. How cool! I’m still getting started, but I love the advice you got from this conference. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

  6. abby once again thnx dear.

  7. Thank you for sharing! I have never attended a bloggers conference before so it’s interesting to hear what it’s like. Hoping to go one day!

  8. Elizabeth Hanson says:

    This is so very encouraging and inspiring. I am a new blogger and I love to see what other people like you are doing to be successful!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful, Elizabeth! Have a great day!

      ~Abby =)

  9. Abby, God knew I needed to read this post today (He’s like that)! I’ve been working on my blog for over a year now….technical stuff, making it pretty stuff, learning stuff, more learning stuff, learning that I need to learn more stuff.. Everything except writing posts and….wait for it!…making my blog public!! I have been oh, so, careful NOT to let people know about it. It’s not ready, I say. There are not enough posts, I say. But, behind all those excuses I know that really, I’m just plain scared of failing. So, I’m actually going to fill in my website email and address below for the FIRST TIME EVER!! …….and, then I’m going to go delete all those silly posts that make no sense! That should leave maybe one post… You are my oldest and dearest blog friend that I quietly follow and admire. You feel like one of my brilliant, successful children – yes, I’m that old. Thanks, Abby!!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Meg! You are the sweetest and your words made my day! 🙂 Blogging is definitely hard work and I so relate to that feeling of not wanting to put yourself out there. That was SO me at the beginning! When you do, and keep posting consistently, I promise you will gain confidence and be so glad that you hit that publish button. Hugs to you, friend. You can do it! 🙂

      ~Abby =)

  10. That is very inspiring. Love this blog post. I love to read your blog post.
    Keep sharing.
    Regards
    Nandita

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, thank you! So glad it was helpful for you, Nandita! Have a great week!

      ~Abby =)

  11. Aw, thank you! So glad it was helpful for you

  12. Aw, thank you! So glad it was helpful for you

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