This might sound more crazy than a Kardashian but dude – I was asked to be a Maven Mentor at the Haven Conference this summer!
HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!
I mean – I feel so honored and so excited and so not-deserving-but-so-ready-to-encourage! Haven is a conference held for DIY-and-Home loving bloggers, brands and online influencers. If you have a heart for sharing your home with your online friends and haven’t attended Haven – you are missing something very special!
In fact, I have never missed a conference (even when I just crashed it with newborns in tow!) and met some of my favorite people in the world there! The chance to hug someone’s neck in real life after reading about their homes, their lives and their adventures is priceless….and this year new attendees get something that nobody has gotten before – their own friend! (that’s me btw I will be your friend.)
As part of being a Mentor, I will get a chance to give you a squeeze (watch out I am a hugger!) and have REAL time with you. I want to be as helpful to you as I can possibly be….whether that be answering questions about running your blog business, about the creative process, photography or WHATEVER. I am so passionate about new bloggers and we could be pals hanging out for a whole weekend! GO REGISTER HERE TODAY.
I also get the privilege of introducing you to all the other awesome ladies that will be Mentors this year…..
Gorgeous, right?! I mean….that’s a good looking bunch of gals (and Jeremy!)….that’s what blogging does to a face – it makes it ridiculously attractive 🙂 The screen time acts as a catalyst for good looks. It’s a fact.
So today’s post is a little step in a Mentor wide blog hop. We are bouncing around to each other’s blogs and introducing ourselves. If you are visiting from Just A Girl….welcome – I’m Katie…it’s nice to have you here today! Also you look lovely. This blog hop is just a simple way for you to see what we are all about….
I started Bower Power in June of 2008 so we are coming up on our EIGHT YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Wahoo!
My favorite DIY project ever was my kitchen makeover! Before it was dark and brown and generally felt like a greasy burnt french fry.
And after a whole bunch of DIY, your eyeballs feel like they are going to the spa. That’s right. Your eyeballs are getting a full body deep tissue massage by some strong hands right now….
We did the whole makeover on nights and weekends and I can’t tell you how it changed this house for me. It always felt like someone else’s house that I was just living in and then BOOM with the kitchen done….it was then MY home.
To see more of that space and a cost breakdown , CLICK HERE.
One – Bloggers have business cards.
Two – Ana White is even more gorgeous in real life.
Three – Mandi Gubler is eight feet tall.
Four – All building sessions are funnier if you say “that’s what she said” after each assembly step.
Five – THAT THESE ARE YOUR PEOPLE.
Just be you! I am seriously like a fan-girl of all the women that are Mentors and I totally act like it whenever I see them.
(me at Haven in 2012)
I get weird and silly and screamy and say the word ‘obsessed’ like a million times. And that is me. I embrace it. And I want you to embrace you. And I also want to embrace you. Because like I said….I’m a hugger 🙂 Also – know your blog needs and ask questions. Bloggers love sharing info and I believe that a rising tide lifts all ships….as in, if we all do well, I do well. What is good for other bloggers is good for me! So figure out your needs – maybe it is Pinterest traction….or maybe it is getting more email subscribers….or perhaps it is low CPM’s….whatever it is, figure out that need and come ready to take notes when you get advice! Last but not least -Atlanta humidity is REAL. Plan your hairstyle accordingly 🙂
Okay – now here comes the hopping time! You get to hop over to Sarah’s blog – you might know her as Thrifty Decor Chick – and read about her piece of advice….and see her AMAZING home. Tell her that I sent you and then give her a virtual hug. Just don’t break your computer when you do it 🙂
Day 1: Southern Hospitality | City Farmhouse | In My Own Style | Rooms for Rent
Day 2: All Things Thrifty | Perfectly Imperfect | Beneath My Heart | Sand & Sisal | French Country Cottage
Day 3: Liz Marie Blog | My Repurposed Life | Just a Girl | Bower Power | Thrifty Decor Chick
I can’t wait to hug your neck off!!!! So honored to have you and Jeremy as mentors!
Hi – I just dropped in from TDC and wanted to comment on your beautiful kitchen. Just love how you transformed it. I am not a blogger nor very creative and rarely pin anything but your kitchen is pin-worthy! Great job!
Ok– I’ve wanted to go to Haven for years, but between new babies and $ it hasn’t been possible. But more than that I’ve questioned if it’s “for me”. I’m a blogger on occasion…as in whenever I’m working on a project, and I’m using it to build a portfolio to hopefully start and renovation / interior design business in the next couple of years. So…is Haven something that would be beneficial for someone like me who isn’t full time blogging as of yet??? But I’m working towards it:)
Thanks Katie!
But what if I want Jeremy to be my mentor? Lol. If I were a blogger and I was coming to Haven, I would want you to be my mentor and would seek you out! I follow very few blogs these days, but I won’t give up my Bower Power!! I know all the girls that have you will be made to feel special. I’m a hugger also- so virtual hugs to you and enjoy the honor, because you deserve it!!
Congratulations!!!
Looking forward to hearing your reports of the event. 🙂
So excited to see you Traci! You better bring updated pictures of your boys!
xo – kb
Aww thank you Nancy! That is so sweet! And just so you know….my mom always used to say that we all have the same amount of creativity…it’s like a muscle- you just have to use it 🙂
xo – kb
I definitely think so. They have sessions about styling and interior photography and I know that there are many designers there that can help any questions about putting together a portfolio. It definitely is blogger-centric but honestly, home is the focus so you can just opt to attend the sessions that help you the most. Look at the session schedule to see if there is anything that can help you! And just remember that if it’s a business expense, then you can write it off for taxes!
xo – kb
Haha! Actually Jeremy is gonna do it with me since he manages the business side of things on Bower Power – so you can ask him all the business questions you want 🙂 it’s a two-fer 🙂 And Sherri – you are so sweet….I need your encouragement skills 🙂
xo – kb
hahaha. You are hysterical! And yup, that Atlanta Humidity is brutal. Hair up, ain’t no one got time to curl your hair only to have it fall 2 steps outside.
I’m not a blogger but so wanna come just to meet all the folks I’m a fan of!!!
There should be a conference for folks wanting to start a blog.
Maybe a week-ish conference Tories Blogging for Dubbies (or Smarties) or Blogging 101. Taught with a few of you.
Thank you , Katie! That was very helpful:)
Oh my goodness, there are no words for how badly I wish I could do this! I’m really working on building my blog as a business right now and I have DREAMED of going to Haven ever since the very first year! Sadly, between the ticket prices + hotel + airfare I just don’t think it’s possible. But going and getting to have you as a mentor would seriously be my DREAM! I’ll start saving my pennies now and see what I can come up with…
There have been people that attend that don’t actually have a blog yet!
xo – kb
Oh gracious I can already tell I will LOVE you! So excited and terrified and humbled to get to attend my first conference!!!
I just can’t! I followed the “blog hop” and circled back around… and I loved the opportunity to read some other wonderful blogs! BUT!!!! Not one single “I DIY’d and went to HAVEN” joke?! Really?! I am slightly disappointed… 🙂 Lol! So super exciting!!! And congrats!!!
Bahahahaha! You win!
xo – kb
So I’ve been struggling with this in my own house- what do you keep in the shelves on the side of the island? I have them on both sides of my huge island in my kitchen, but with 2 little kids running around I can’t figure out what to keep there! Yours are beautiful, but the stuff looks breakable, so what do you keep there day to day? Thanks! Love your blog and your beautiful family!
Right now nothing because my kiddos wanted to make it into a magnet area. But now that they have a new magnet board in the playroom – I think I might reclaim it 🙂
xo – kb