So last week, I bid farewell to my family, and embarked on a journey and an experience where I was surrounded by hundreds of creative entrepreneurs and bloggers who I got to mingle with. My experience is called Alt Summit.
If you don't know what Alt Summit is, it was created by the Gabrielle Blair from Design Mom as a way for bloggers and creators to gather together in a live event where they could discuss what is new, what is working, what is not and what is next in the blogging world.
I remember six years ago I had a handful of bloggers I loved visiting their site everyday. I kept on seeing this yellow Alt icon on all of their websites and grew curious as to what it meant. Year after year I would see all of these beautiful pictures of them on their blog attending this beautiful looking affair called Alt Summit. I remember telling myself, "One day, I'll be there at Alt!" I felt like I was Cinderella wishing and wanting to go to the ball, haha.
I've been to a handful of blogging conference since I started blogging and I loved each of them for their unique way. It's kind of like feeling different types of love for your children, pets, or friends
I made it a goal to attend Alt in 2014. There was one tiny problem about attending. It's really expensive and I knew convincing my husband I needed to go to a $700 blogging conference wasn't going to happen.
But I was determined, and when I'm determined, I don't stop until I get what I want. Without being able to secure any sponsors I knew the chances of me going was not good.
About two months ago I got an email from Alt saying that they were going to hold their first Summer Alt and they were doing a giveaway for a ticket. To win a ticket you had to tweet why you wanted to go and they would randomly pick the winner. I knew I had to give it my all to try to win this ticket. So I came up with a strategy. I wrote down all of the reasons why I would want to go, which was like 350 reasons, and tweeted them over the course of a week. I felt so bad for my small amount of followers because I was the most annoying person on Twitter that week in April.
I remember I was driving in the car with my sister Melanie, when she was in Utah for a month for Caitlin's wedding and I got the tweet that I was one of the winners for the Twitter contest!!
No joke, I screamed! My sister got so mad at me because I scared the crap out of her because she thought someone was going to run into her and I woke up Scarlett. This sounds so dumb but I got teary eyed because I wanted to go for so long and thought that it was totally out of the cards for me. I was so excited, I couldn't sleep that night.
I was so excited but at the same time really scared. I've heard lots of good and bad things about Alt like how it was a high fashion affair (my Forever 21 and handy down clothing probably wouldn't be up to par), women make three wardrobe changes in a day, that it was super clicky and felt a lot like high school (girls can be so mean), it's super intense, and there's a lot of people there like around 700.
I felt all of those insecurities I had in Jr. High surfacing. Will I make any friends? Will people like me and my blog? Will I fit in?
I didn't really know what to expect because this was the first time they've had it in the summer. I'm really surprised by how I feel about it.
I absolutely loved it, had a blast, met some of the most beautiful (inside and outside) people, left inspired, more determined, and focused.
A lot of times I feel overwhelmed after blogging conferences because during and after I think of all the things I'm doing wrong, what I need to change so I get sad, feel discouraged, and then take a two month break from blogging. I didn't feel that way with Alt, which is a good sign.
I left feeling like I met people who got me and I could relate with. Majority of the people attending we're creative and lifestyle bloggers and entrepreneurs and I really felt at home. I never met so many people I wanted to collaborate with, be friends with, and made some really close relationships.
I talked to many people who have been to the winter conference and asked them if there was a big difference between winter and summer. Majority of the people felt that the summer conference was a lot more laid back, chill, smaller, and felt more intimate compared to the winter conference.
So if you're debating about going, I highly recommend you going. Do whatever you can to go. Get a company to sponsor you, enter into their ticket giveaways, and save your money because it is worth every penny. I'm glad I was able to go to the summer conference first to get my feet wet and I would like to go to the winter conference to experience it for myself.
I feel very grateful I had this opportunity to go. I got lucky or maybe I was meant to go. I think it's a little of both.
Joy Cho from Oh Joy! was one of our keynote speakers and she talked about creating something out of nothing and how as bloggers we can do this with our passions. If you don't know who she is, have you been to Target lately? She talked about how every job she's had, she's had to go and seek for it.
Who is that? I wore my tape measure around my neck proudly, and yes I measured a lot of bosoms and it was so much fun! This was me at the sponsored dinner by Mail Chimp.
They had Swig cookies at the Food Truck party. I ate two of them and I don't care who knows.
This party was super chill and fun. A bunch of food trucks lined up, people break dancing, music, and good times.
Look at this chicks dancing. There's Gabrielle from Design Mom, the creator of Alt Summit. You go girl!
Getting boogy on the dance floor.
The next day everyone at the conference were freaking out because the second keynote speaker was the infamous Martha Stewart. I was on the fence about it. I mean I love her stuff, but the comment she made about how she thinks bloggers are ding bats was kind of snobbish if you ask me. I wasn't personally hurt by her comment, I just thought it was interesting especially when she owns a blogging network and collaborates with thousands of bloggers on a daily basis in her company.
Gabrielle interviewed Martha and I was really surprised (there goes that word again) by some of her responses. After the interview my view of Martha really changed.
First, she genuinely felt sincere and down to earth. I remember her saying that she grew up in a middle class home and to this day considers herself to be middle class. At first I was like, huh? A woman who owns a billion dollar industry feels she is middle class, oh, ok.
Second, there was a cute mom in the front row holding her baby and Martha saw the baby, stopped the interview and told the audience how much she loves babies and holding them.
Third, I really liked how she defined her mission for her company was to create quality and beautiful products for an affordable price because everyone should be able to live surrounded by beauty.
Fourth, an audience member asked her what advice she would give to entrepreneurs and business owners. She said to do everything you can to stay out of debt. She did this by starting her catering business in her home, saving money, being frugal, and using what she had.
Fifth, a blogger asked her what her advice is when it comes to motherhood and balancing work. She said that having a perfect and neat home isn't as important. To let the kids make messes. If you're in the kitchen, let them get into the pots and pans, let them touch stuff. Plop your child(ren) on the counter and let them help you. This is the perfect environment for them to learn and for you to teach.
After the interview, I loved Martha. I was obsessed with her, and she made me a believer.
I really like this picture of her before she walked out for the interview. I get the impression that she is a lot like you and me. She's a very successful business woman but the only thing that's different between Martha and I is she just has a different job than me.
The next night we had a garden soiree party to say farewell to Alt Summit in the courtyard of the Grand America. It was beautiful. Here's some pictures of the party.
Thank you Justin Hackworth and Brooke for taking all of these wonderful photos. Photos provided by Alt Summit.
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