Lessons Learned: My Haven 2013 Experience

Amazing.Ā 

This is how I’ve been describing my Haven experience to anyone who asks (and anyone who doesn’t).

And it truly was. Michele describes it as like being the new kid on the first day of school. Lauren describes it as a secret club meeting.

I would describe it like this: Even if you have never met a soul there, attending Haven feels like a class reunion with 350+ BFFs.

No joke. I knew no one, and within minutes of stepping my fashionably-late foot onto the terrace for the Welcome Reception cocktail party, I felt like I was surrounded by old friends.

There will be more posts to come on the bloggy things I learned, the designy things I learned, the biz-nass cards, and the swag. But I want to kick things off with some of The Most Valuable Lessons I Learned at Haven:

You never know who you can team up with.

Your voice will come over time.

Group collections together.

Be picky about who you work with.

A rug is not a coffee table holder!

Do one thing at a time.

Open your front door.

Embrace the idea of “what if…”

And lastly, this bit of wisdom from the incredible Ana White:

Ana White Haven 2013 Keynote Speech

19 thoughts on “Lessons Learned: My Haven 2013 Experience”

    1. twopurplecouches

      Thank you! I’m sad we didn’t get to meet in person, too! Definitely next year šŸ˜‰ I’ve already got the entire month of July blocked so nothing can interfere with Haven 2014!!

  2. jessicawgourley

    I know we barely met in person, but I love your recap. I also LOVED your nightstand in the Hands-On Design Challenge. So, maybe I kinda love you a little? Hope that’s not creepy. I just attach quickly. šŸ˜‰

  3. Lauren @ The Thinking Closet

    Loved this recap, Emily! Especially the lessons learned…several of them were familiar to me and some were new! šŸ˜‰ And thanks for including my metaphor; the class reunion one is apt, too. So glad that we got to become BBFFs at Haven! (That’s bloggy best friends forever.) Looking forward to reading more from you…and maybe even see a little video of your awesome night-stand styling…if you care to share it! (Nudge, nudge.) Or if your camera-woman actually captured it right.

    1. twopurplecouches

      There will totally be video footage in a post in the near future!
      I am so glad that we got to be BBFFs, too. I was so excited to come home and be able to say that I made real life, actual friends! I wish FL and OH were closer! And the Thalita was closer, too! I think we’d make a pretty terrific trio!

  4. Cindy

    Hey Purple Couches! It was so fun to meet and hang out with you at the big RYOBI party. I love your recap — perfectly captured in short snippets. I didn’t go to whatever class where they said, “A rug is not a coffee table holder,” but amen to that, and I’m going to use it! šŸ™‚

    xo

  5. Jordan@the2seasons

    I am still smiling when I think about Haven. I was telling my mom I loved the lunches and breakfast time because I really felt I got to meet and learn more about blogging with the ones who do it because it is their passion.

    1. twopurplecouches

      I agree! I really enjoyed the moments when I could chat with bloggers who were in or around the same stage I’m in, and ask them how they’re tackling some of the choices and challenges I’m dealing with.

  6. OurRoseyLife

    Sweet – your Haven recap, especially the quotes from each class. Each one resonated with me too! I’m glad I got to see you rock the nightstand challenge! Thanks for the bloggie love!

    1. twopurplecouches

      Thank you so much for sponsoring such an AMAZING event!! And thanks for stopping by to read my recap šŸ™‚ I’ve enjoyed going through everyone’s photo albums and reliving each moment šŸ™‚

  10. Pingback: Back from Haven Conference | two purple couches

Comments are closed.