Well it’s been a WHIRLWIND last week here for me! So I’m finally sitting down to my computer for more than just email checking and getting around to updates! This last weekend I got to attend the Casual Blogger Conference in Sandy. I’ve never been to a blogger conference before, but with one so close I just HAD to attend. I convinced my husband that it was a MUST that I attend. Not only because I was hoping to learn how to bring up my numbers and maybe bring business to my cakes and etsy store, but also to be a better photographer and writer as well as make a few friends! For those of you knkew (I’m assuming most of you are) we moved here just last summer and I’ve been busy getting my kids happy and settled and haven’t made any friends. Can I just say this weekend was EVERYTHING I’d hoped it would be as well as SO much more! I learned a ton, exactly what I’d hoped AND I made the most amazing friends!
It started with a Girls night out. Everyone was handing out business cards, brilliant! How else would we remember who we meet, and get to enjoy new blogs! I meet SO many amazing women, including quite a few of the teachers and speakers for the weekend without knowing it! While I didn’t “know” anyone I had previously met Michelle at Someday Crafts when I bought the antique window’s from her! Late in the evening I met up with her and she introduced me to a bunch of the other craft bloggers! Not only was it fun to meet other blogger like me, but they were ALL blogs that I have followed and loved for months! I felt like a teenager meeting rockstars!
The next day the real Conference started! A group of us craft bloggers slowly (okay we practically ran to each other) gravitated towards each other! To explain this pictures, these cute mustaches were actually business cards for the videographer that was filming the conference! Could they be any cuter, or could we for that matter? We enjoyed all the speakers, and also a late lunch and “dinner”. We went out for Ice Cream for dinner! Seriously my long lost best friends!
From left to right: Char at Crap I’ve made, Michelle at A Little Tipsy, Kara at Creations by Kara, ME!, Michelle at Someday Crafts
That night there was a concert and since none of wanted the fun to end we headed over to it. The music was good although we didn’t really listen (sorry singers!). We sat in the back (near the candy bar of course) and gabbed all night! These ladies are SO funny! The whole day was just amazing! I went home that night more excited and happy than I have felt in, well over a year at least (It was a year ago that day that my husband lost his job, which was the same week that our oldest three were diagnosed with aspergers). 
From left to right: Kari at UCreate, Becky at I Show Off, Char at Crap I’ve Made, ME, Michelle at A Little Tipsy, Michelle at Someday Crafts, and Kara at Creations by Kara.
The next day was just as amazing! I walked in a bit late and I had that panicky feeling when you walk into a room looking around wondering if you know anyone and if they have a seat for you? You remember that feeling? No? I do! And there near the front were my sweet new crafty blogging friends! Is it silly that I got so excited that there was a seat for me? I thought we got more confident as an adult, not less. But I’ve felt out of the game all year. Anyway the day started with the most hilarious speaker. I seriously laughed so hard I could not stop crying! and crying and crying! Then classes (I took a food photography class, so look for better food pictures!), they were all great. There were so many good classes I wished I could be in two places at once. I heard they were all amazing.
I went to lunch with the other cake bloggers I meet, but soon was back with my craft bloggers! We talked so long that we missed getting dinner, but the final speakers were just terrific. Cjane was so personal and open you just felt like you KNEW her! Hearing her blog journey as well as hearing her read some blog posts from each stage of her blogging was inspiring.
So I want to be more personable on this blog. I have a private Personal Family blog so it won’t be about my day to day with the kids. But my personal experiences and thoughts. Life with 8 Aspies (Aspergers or High Functioning Autism) My kids, B, J, P and S, as well as my husband, W, and the other three are my sister in law, mother in law and father in law. So I had a great weekend, and can’t wait to apply all that I learned!
