Haven Conference Recap 2014

Haven Conference Recap

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I made my way across the country to Atlanta for the annual Haven Conference. It’s for DIY bloggers and it’s fabulous!

You may want to catch up on last year’s posts:

Haven 2013 Recap Part I

Haven 2013 Recap Part II

Here’s my post on a few wonderful parts to the conference this year.

Haven conference recap 2014 via somuchbetterwithage.com

This year I flew down with my fellow Vancouver blogger friends, Tara from Suburble and Krista from The Happy Housie.

It was great to chat the flight away with my local blogging buddies. Last year I flew by myself (which I totally don’t mind sans kids) but it was a bit unnerving heading into a huge conference with hundreds of women on your own.

Three women posing for a photo.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel, Jenna was there to greet us and the screaming ensued!

Then gifts were exchanged. I got Jenna an assortment of Kate Spade office supplies.

Jenna opening her gift.

And she got me monogrammed linen coasters and some taffy for the kids although the kids will never see it 😉

A box of Tennessee Taffy and monogrammed coasters.

We arrived a day early so we could hang out and shop. First we went for lunch together and Jenna was surrounded by three Canucks.

The four friends out for dinner and posing for a picture.

Then we did some shopping. Tara tried to grab some of Urban Outfitters’ free wifi so she hung out there for awhile.

Standing outside the Urban Outfitters.

Once we registered, we got our swag bag.

The swag from Haven.

From all these sponsors!

A Haven Conference poster.

And exchanged business cards with everyone we ran into.

All of the business cards from Haven.

Friday’s first talk was with Chip Wade from HGTV. Now most people would be pretty excited about that but I stood in the back because I was stalking this guy….

Chip Wade giving a lecture at Haven.

Yep, Mike Holmes! Good thing I was stalking as I got a photo with him.

I nearly died and went to heaven.

Mike Holmes posing for a picture with Jamie.

There were some awesome sessions like this one…sshhhh, it’s a secret!

Blogging Trade Secrets talk.

And some amazing lunches.

A beautiful conference space.
Bubbles in the air at Haven.

I even took a woodworking class to make this coffee table.

Here’s Jaime from That’s My Letter.

A woodworking tutorial.

And here’s Jen from The House of Wood showing me what I need to drill.

Jamie with a power tool.

Must.have.this.Kreg.jig.now.

Jamie using the power tool and loving it.

Joe from Ryobi gave me the lowdown on how to use this bad boy and I’m in love!

(with the machine, not Joe. Okay, maybe a bit of both)

Jamie using a power saw.

Joe assures me he’s not cutting off his hand but it looks suspect.

The table saw.

Meeting all the bloggers you only know from blog land is a sight to behold.

The best.thing.ever!

Jamin & Ashley  from The Handmade Home, Jen Rizzo and Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage.

(did you know they all have books published or being published?)

Five friends posing at the conference.

Take a photo of you two? It would be our honor, Beth & Dusty!

Taking a picture with the camera phone.

Selfies galore.

Jenna, Beth from Unskinny Boppy, and Dusty from All things G&D.

(by the way, both girls gave amazing talks, learned so much, thanks ladies!)

Jamie taking a selfie with her friends.

I even got treated for dinner from my mentor, Jen Rizzo!

(In case you didn’t know, I’m a contributor to her blog so it was amazing to finally meet her. She has a Christmas decor book coming out this fall too!)

Jamie and her friend posing for a picture.

And these girls! Love them!

Shayna from Woodgrain CottageJenna, Sarah from Life on Virginia Street, Krista from The Happy Housie

 & April from House by Hoff.

Jamie posing with all her friends.

The same girls are in this photo as well as Chelsea from Making Home Base and Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog.

Love you too!

A beach themed posing shot.

And these girls I met last year and we chat nearly every day.

Lauren from The Thinking Closet, Laura from The Turquoise Home, Melissa from The Happier Homemaker, Candace from Vintage News Junkie/Rusted Roots, Emily from Two Purple Couches.

Love ya 😉

Getting reacdy to go for dinner.

Then there was the time that 19 of us fit in THIS ONE SHUTTLE…

(shhhh, don’t tell anyone because I can say with certainty there were NOT 19 seat belts)

Everyone in the shuttle.
Photo via www.thepiggytoes.com

… to cross the street for dinner together!!

A table filled with the bloggers for dinner.

Now it’s time for the Jamie & Jenna show!!

This girl.

People kept saying we looked like sisters and we just started saying yes, we are sisters!

Some became a bit confused when they found out I lived in Canada and she was an ex-Southern Belle.

Jamie and Jenna.

It’s so weird that we can have this amazing relationship when we only see each other once a year but we totally and completely get each other and we also have the same hobbies (we love home decor, DIY projects and blogging about 98.99% of the time).

Jamie and Jenna posing for a picture.

We also seem to be everyone’s entertainment and that’s fine by us.

Another selfie of Jamie and Jenna.

After I planted a wet one on her cheek, I fell over on her and she crashed into the wall.

Kissing Jenna.

And some skin scraped off and it might have bled. But she was fine, really.

The two girls laughing.
Fuzzy laughing shot of Jamie and Jenna.
The Haven Conference.

For more comic relief, I got a shot of Jenna “stealing” one of the conference’s beautiful banana leaf trees.

Okay, she didn’t actually steal it. At the end of the conference, we were allowed to take plants home but I wasn’t about to lug one on the plane. Luckily Jenna drove.

Jenna holding a plant.

I’m gonna miss you, girl! I can’t wait until next summer. We gotta make plans to see each before then. Mmmmkay?

Disclosure:  Please note all photos were taken with my phone which totally suck, I’m aware.

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23 Comments

  1. The Jenna & Jamie Show?! I LOVE IT! Oh my goodness, it was so much fun hanging with you. I hate that its only once a year. We definitely need to change that! Thank you for all my Kate goodies. I’m drinking my coffee from the cup as I type! Love you!

  2. What a fun recap! This is definitely inspiring me to write mine. You did such a great job capturing the conference highlights – – and your joyful spirit! Love that sisterhood we all share – – especially that fun photo sesh with you and Jenna. Adorbs! Love ya, lady. So glad we met at Haven 2013 and have continued to grow our friendship over the past year. Mwah!

    1. You’re the sweetest, Lauren! Can’t wait to see you again at Haven 2015 or hopefully sooner! (one can hope 😉
      Big hugs,
      Jamie

  3. Looks like you had such a great time! Definitely making plans to attend next year:) Are you sure you were stalking Mike Holmes? He looks mighty happy to have his pic taken with you!

    1. haha, that’s too funny, Adrienne! I was definitely stalking him, lol. Yes, come to Haven next year. Can’t wait to meet you!
      Hugs,
      Jamie

    1. Melissa, you totally should come next year! Tickets usually go on sale in the spring, just buy one and book a hotel room!
      Hugs,
      Jamie

  4. OGsh, I wonder if I was even there? Why? Because usually I al least recognize outfits. How shallow is that? It was a fun time with lots to absorb and learn. Plus all the fun women!

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