Ready for a post full of embarrassing photos (of me and Katie B) and adorable photos (of Clara and Will), with a few house-crashing and shopping-on-the-road sneak peeks mixed in? Let’s do this.
This recap of our four days in Atlanta includes more than 40 photos but it’s still just the tip of the road-trip iceberg. We’ll be back with several detailed house-crashing posts, a window-shopping roundup from the road, and a thrift-store video that Katie and I recorded in one take (yes, someone stopped to chat with us in the middle of it). We have more than a thousand photos to sort through, so expect more ATL adventures and project updates soon. For now, here’s a look at the delightful, embarrassing, inspiring, delicious, and nerve-wracking lovefest that was Haven Conference. We had a blast. To the people who organized it: thank you. It was a joy to arrive and wander among fellow DIYers and blog lovers.
Pic above from Rhoda.
About a year ago we were asked to be the keynote speakers and we said yes before nervousness could set in. We spent the following months trying not to make fools of ourselves. Did we succeed? Not entirely. Somehow the word “fart” ended up in at least five sentences. You had to be there — it’s one of those moments that defies text-based explanation. In spite of the silliness, we received so many kind words from organizers, sponsors, and attendees. I’m calling it a success. If you’re curious about how that word slipped in, there’s a detailed rundown of our keynote chat elsewhere.
We weren’t sure we’d be speaking to hundreds of people, but we tried not to think about it. We put together a slideshow about the key, sometimes subconscious, decisions that shaped our blog — everything from posting frequency to how we accidentally became a business. As we spoke, the crowd was friendly and engaged, which made us more relaxed (and more likely to make inappropriate jokes). The support in that room was incredible and helped us share our story honestly and humorously.
I could not have done it without John. Getting up there together made it fun and allowed us to be dorks in public while keeping each other steady. At several points I found myself locking eyes with friendly faces in the crowd and giving them sustained, goofy smiles — thanks to everyone who didn’t run for the exits.
Pic above from Debbie.
Katie hung out with our little one in the hotel room while we spoke — are they not the cutest babysitter duo? Afterwards we all came downstairs and mingled, and some truly ridiculous but joyful moments ensued. I met so many inspiring people and attended sessions that left me both motivated and giggly. One standout was Ana White’s workshop — she’s confident with a power drill and totally genuine in person. I also learned a ton from a photography and styling session led by Layla and Kevin.
Pic above from Katie.
We finally met faces we’d known online for years, like the lovely Kate from Centsational Girl. The guys — John and Katie’s husband Jeremy — took the kiddos and the chihuahua out so we could attend sessions without wrangling toddlers in the crowds. Once the families left, it felt like ladies’ night out, which explains a few of our sillier photos. There was a cocktail hour with shrimp, brie, and pastry bites, and that’s when I chatted and laughed so much my cheeks hurt.
Confession time: I worried the conference crowd would be haughty or cliquey. I was completely wrong — the vibe was warm, welcoming, and downright merry. By the end of the night we unintentionally shut down a restaurant with a group of new friends, laughing and dancing until closing. I don’t think I’ve ever closed a restaurant before; it felt gloriously teenager-esque.
After a day of sessions and socializing we spent family time at a nearby public pool with a lazy river and water slides. Katie had a waterproof case for her Flip camera and we recorded our slides — I went slowly because I wore jean shorts to avoid swimsuit wedgies, which made the ride laughably slow. The kids loved splashing and exploring, and it was so good to reunite with John after the keynote day. Being together on the road reminds you how much you miss your partner, even if it sounds cheesy.
We kept the adventure going with a visit to a creek behind the Bowers’ house where Beansie explored with Will, and a trip to Zoo Atlanta. The train was Clara’s favorite until the “scary tunnel,” which she braved with her little protector right behind her. The carousel made me unashamedly giddy — I was clearly Too Excited. We also visited the Georgia Aquarium, where the whale sharks and the enormous tanks left us all speechless. The interactive exhibits were perfect for Clara, who loved climbing into little nooks to peer at fish and penguins, and she especially enjoyed the underwater tunnel where creatures swam overhead.
Between aquarium awe and family goofiness we snuck in some house crashings, which is one of our favorite parts of visiting a new city. The variety of homes and styles always inspires new ideas. We also did some shopping stops along the way: a visit to the Pottery Barn Outlet in Gaffney, South Carolina, and Mary Jo’s Cloth Store outside Charlotte, where I picked up two yards of fabric I can’t wait to use. Of course we couldn’t resist a Goodwill stop to film another thrift-store video — that’s become an annual tradition.
So between ongoing DIY projects and regular updates, we’ll be sharing more ATL adventures and project photos over the next few weeks. Did you do anything fun recently? Any other Haven attendees with embarrassing or hilarious photos to swap? Any road trips on your calendar? We were prepared for 8.5 hours in the car each way with a toddler and a dog, and honestly it wasn’t as bad as we feared.