Haven Conference 2018

Hey friends!  I’m back from a very busy week at Haven and a little mini-vacation to Charleston. It was nice to unwind with Mark after Haven was over and get a little down time after the hustle of Haven.

On another note, I’ll go ahead and let you all know the big news.  There are 3 of us bloggers on the team, me, Traci and Chris.  The 3 of us have left the Haven team and won’t be back next year.  It was a big step, but one I was prepared for.  Haven has been one of the biggest blessings I’ve been a part of for 7 years and we all knew that it wouldn’t last forever.  I have been thinking of backing away the last year or so and this year was the year to step away.  Our events planner, Kristin, is taking over Haven as the new owner so I’m not sure the direction it will take.  It’s been a wonderful run and I’m so happy to have been a part of putting this event together and having it be so successful for so many years, but this is a business decision that was made with a lot of thought and prayer. Sometimes relationships change and evolve in a business endeavor, necessitating a directional shift for all involved.

All of us who were part of creating Haven feel like we birthed something really, really special.  We got up at Haven closing to say our goodbyes and the tears came for all of us.  It was bittersweet and hard to say goodbye, but Haven has evolved and changed over the last 7 years, just as everything else has.  Haven has launched so many bloggers into doing some wonderful things with their blogs and social media and it’s a personal feeling of accomplishment to have been a part of something so special in the home/DIY blogging community.  So now we say goodbye and on to whatever God has next for us!

We went to Charleston, SC this year and it was fun to be in a new city with a different atmosphere.  I so enjoyed staying a couple days after with Mark.

As always, the brands were in attendance and they have been a special part of Haven over the years too.  I’ve made some wonderful connections myself and look forward to working with some of these brands in the future.

Ryobi has been so supportive of Haven and I’m happy that I’ll be working with them as well on my blog.

I’ve also had a relationship with Rustoleum over the years and they have been a huge Haven supporter.

Jeffrey Court tile is another one I’m connecting with and hope to do a few projects with their tile.

We have had some amazing sponsors and they are all a huge part of the Haven experience.

Ryobi outdoor products

Elkay sinks were there as well.

Haven represents some wonderful brands.

The Behr booth had a giant paintable bear that everyone painted on all weekend.

And this is what it looked like by the end of Saturday.  So pretty and colorful!

Home Depot has been a wonderful  Haven partner for all 7 years.

Blanco sinks were there and I’m hoping to work with them on a kitchen refresh at our house this year. I’ve installed 2 of their sinks in my previous homes and love them, the Silgranit composite granite sinks are great.

Our opening speakers were Chris and Peyton Lambton, from several HGTV shows. They were so entertaining and fun to listen to.

Haven is always a fun time to connect with blog friends who I’ve known for many years, like Katie Bower and Cassidy, from Remodelaholic.  Chatting and catching up on blogging with friends is a highlight of these weekends.  Blogging has changed all of our lives and it’s nice to be able to talk about it with friends who get it and are living it too.

Katie had her sweet baby girl, Ella, with them and she is such a doll.

There are always hands on classes and this year the Shanty 2 Chic sisters, Ashley and Whitney, were there to do a competition.  They had a group who brainstormed on making something out of wood in one hour and competed against 2 other building teams. It was fun to watch them in action.

Here’s what their team produced in one hour, which I thought was pretty darn cute!  A pineapple in honor of southern hospitality in Charleston.

Dremel had some fun make and take sessions.

We had a Friday night party in with several activities going on that night.

Ashley and Whitney closed out Haven with a closing talk and it was so good. They got their start early on and Haven was part of their journey as well. They came to Haven and partnered with several brands including Ryobi and have gone on to have very successful blogging careers.

The Home Depot has been the Haven Platinum sponsor for 7 years now and they were there to choose 3 winners for their Orange Tank contest. It’s where they choose 3 people in 3 catagories of dollar amounts and the participants pitch the Home Depot at Haven their remodeling ideas and what they want to accomplish.  Home Depot picks 3 winners for each category of $500, $2500 and $5000 prizes.  It’s so exciting to see the winners and what they pitch!  Can’t wait to see these ladies do some great things.

{Chris, Sarah, Katie, me, Beth}

Haven has meant so much to me personally and I’ll forever be grateful that I had a part in making it happen.  God has certainly used Haven to give to me personally and for all of us who were on the team along the way, to give back to the home decor/DIY community that blogging has grown.  It’s amazing to  look back and see how far and wide this niche has grown and I’m so happy to still be a part of it.

It’s been a fun ride and now I’m ready for what’s next!  I’m looking forward to slowing down a bit and enjoying my family and my husband and his family.  I won’t miss the planning sessions and the stress that went with it at times, but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Haven!

- Rhoda