SNAP! 2014 Recap

Oh SNAP!...SNAP! has quickly become one of my most favorite things I look forward to every year. I know it's a blog conference, but to me it's also a retreat. At time to go and be with like minded women (though there were some men there) who totally just get me. I don't have to cook and I get to meet lots of new people. 

I seriously love it. 

The Venue was spectacular this year. They had my favorite flowers all over the place. The food was pretty good but more important than that was the experience I had.

I loved that I got to go and stay at the conference venue this year with one of my blog bff's Lindsay from Artsy Fartsy Mama. The girls just gets me.

Also not to be missed is one of my favorite girls from Charmed Collections: Leisha

This was my second year at SNAP! Last year the ladies from Charmed Collections gave us beautiful necklaces, this year I heard they would be sponsors and was so excited. These are the necklaces that we received this year, with the conference theme: "Forward."

The theme was so appropriate since that is exactly what I wanted to do this year. The question Tauni from SNAP! (she's the brains behind the conference) asked at the beginning was: "What is your one thing I want to do to move your blog forward?"

It took me a few minutes to really narrow it down and then I realized,

I want to grow my blog to reach more people in order to inspire others to be the best they can be. That is my one thing. 

By the next morning, I realized rather quickly that Diet Coke helps make me a nice person. There were a couple times I realized that I needed one and thank goodness one of our Sponsors-Lollipics had them on hand for us. They totally get bloggers!

Speaking of Sponsors, there were some pretty awesome sponsors there! We got to play with this awesome toy by play doh called DohVinci, it was legit! We received one in our swag bag and I got to be honest, I don't think I'm gonna let my kiddos play with it. It was almost therapeutic! AND it dries overnight so you can keep your masterpiece forever!

 Ryobi...I can't say enough about how much I LOVE playing with RYOBI tools. For those of you who follow me on instagram and stayed with me after I tried to win a set. Thank you. I actually did win, and it sparked a NEED for more tools. Needless to say, I not only have the set, but their miter saw and nail gun as well...look forward to many DIY posts in the future! I already have plans for a centerpiece, baby swing, pergola and large outdoor table! Most of those are inspired by the darling girls from Shanty 2 Chic. They taught our class and I seriously adore them!

 Baby Lock sewing machines sponsored our sewing room for the conference. Once I went in there for the shorts sewing class. The ladies from Simple Simon and Co. helped me out so much in there. I was HOOKED. Every chance I got to sew, I was there. In fact, one of those lovely sewing machines came home with me! Be ready to see more sewing posts as well!

 I loved playing with all of the different tapes from 3M and the classes. I can't say enough about the classes. I did a lot of hands on classes. Next year I'm going to have to get a balance of the two. I loved the jewelry making class by Bev from Flamingo Toes and Sarah from Bombshell Bling. I still need to finish my bracelet though...

What even stands out more to me though was the speakers. They were phenomenal. Alex Boye' was a spectacular entertainer, and Noelle Pikus-Pace, the Silver Medalist from the Skeleton had me feeling so inspired.

She shared so many amazing lessons.
The two that stood out most to me were:

 She shared that lesson she had learned after her life changing accident where she was hit by a bobsled and her Olympic dreams could have been over.
And my favorite:

She shared this one that she learned during a tough run she had done at the beginning of her journey with the skeleton. If you don't know her story you need to see it. I cried when I first saw her winning run and I cried watching it again.

Some other quotes that really stuck out with me were:

I learned so much from SNAP and I can't wait until next year. I left feeling inspired and ready to take on the world. It truly was such a blessing to attend. I'm pretty sure I'm having withdrawals.