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Alt SF was an intense, busy, whirlwind two days filled with fun, learning, amazing food and drinks, great conversations and many many taxi rides.
My mind is still racing. I am so inspired and want to make some changes in the way I work, but I’m also a bit overwhelmed with all of the love, ideas, inspiration and people so still need some time to process everything. All photos were sponsored by Atly and belong to Alt Summit. They are used with permission.
The thing that surprised me most about Alt SF was that I actually didn’t meet that many people. I ended up naturally spending most of my time with five or six people, most who attended the Acura dinner, and had some great conversations with another 10 or so. Given that, I’m excited to introduce you to a few really lovely blogs by people I actually got to chat with beyond “Here’s my business card.”
Amber and Nick of Wills Casa were two of my favorite people at Alt. Read Nick’s take on Alt here.
I also loved all of my time with Courtenay from Love Court xoxo, Christine (who wrote a really fun Alt recap post) from Life in a Dress, Timmi from Pink Mom Blue Mom, Laurel from A Bubbly Life and Jacqueline from bonjour jacquline.
I sat next to Leah from Freutcake during the conference. I look a little intense, but someone fabulous was probably teaching me a major life lesson at that moment. We also shared a taxi back to our hotels before the Alice in Pinterland party. She’s super sweet and definitely one of the most adorable bloggers I’ve met.
I also got to meet and chat with Caryl of Roar Events, Pam from Project Nursery, Melissa of Savvy in SF, Reichel from Copy Cat Chic (she’s a vegetarian too and had some great restaurant recommendations), Anne from The City Sage, Lani from Elle Dee Designs, Kasey from Turntable Kitchen and more, but these were a few who I spent more than two seconds with. I also realized that I don’t know many bloggers and definitely don’t know what they look like. There were several who I read, but until they told me who they were, I had no idea.
The keynote speakers at Alt were very inspiring and the panels were amazing. I want to share a few of my favorite quotes from the panelists and speakers.
When creating content, nothing is original. Accept it, get over it. See your own strengths & make it your own –Rena Tom
Courage. An idea rarely works on its first try. –Mariam Naficy, Founder and CEO of Minted
Not talking numbers with people in your industry only benefits those outside your industry. –Lane Becker
These people were very inspiring and very practical at the same time. More to come on the conference and learnings.
The Alice in Pinterland party was a lot of fun. I’ll be sharing a few details later this week! In the meantime, if you have any questions about my Alt experience or about blogging, feel free to email me. I’m an open book.
If you follow me on Instagram, you were inundated with updates including a fun little encounter with Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann while waiting for a taxi outside of Pinterest headquarters. Hope you enjoyed. Cheers!
I love these tidbits! Thanks so much for sharing and I’m glad you found it worthwhile! I love stuff like this (conferences and continued learning) and hope to attend one day!
You should definitely attend sometime. Or better yet, let’s go together. I would feel so much less awkward if I went with a friend!
YES!
Aw you were our favorite too! Great recap. Hope we will get to go to another conference together soon! Maybe next time we will bring our kids and let them hang out!
Yes, with or without the kids! I would LOVE to actually have a cocktail with you. Soon enough…
I made the cut! It was wonderful meeting you and spending time together. Keep in touch, and know that I am trying to live more Fancy.
So awesome to hang out last week. Is it too soon to say that we’re blog besties? I guess I just did. It felt right.
I don’t think we realized what a blog celebrity you are when we started chatting you up at the Acura dinner. We may have been star struck.
Also, there’s no apostrophe in Wills Casa …. only Victoria Smith gets to think my first name is Will ;)
Totally blog besties! And I fixed it! Haha! I kept thinking “Will” but saying “Nick” at Alt, thank goodness.
The photos on Instagram looked awesome. I always get major social anxiety when attending blogger events. I usually get over in after the first half hour but it’s nerve wracking going to an event when you don’t know anyone. Alt sounded awesome. Great recap and I’m looking forward to hearing more. I wonder about the value of attending those types of conferences for someone, like me, who is really only blogging for a hobby and doesn’t have intentions of it ever becoming something much bigger. The fun factor is tempting!
Let’s go together! A little Minnesota crew!
Sounds amazing, can’t wait to hear more.
Gosh, reading all these Alt recaps sure is making me miss being in SF like crazy! It was so nice meeting you last week. I can’t wait to continue connecting with you more through reading your blog :)
It was so great meeting you at Alt too. I wish we all lived nearer to each other so we could have blogger meet-ups. Can’t wait until the next Alt so we can all hang again!
So great to meet you and hear all about life with Shutterfly! Can’t wait to watch your blog grow. Cheers!
Wow!! Thanks for sharing…at times I felt like I was there with you! I love the pics! xoxo
It was so lovely to meet you Jessica!. What a great recap! And might I add that I loved the feature on SMP of little B’s birthday!
Aw, thank you for the sweet compliment! I look super serious taking notes there too. It was great meeting you and I’m glad we were seated next to each other in “class”. ;)
Thanks for the mention! I am bummed we met on the last day! So great to meet you!!
I am so glad you went! I feel a little bit the same way about meeting people at an Alt but I love that the group you do get to spend time with becomes part of your community of people you can really trust and ask advice from. I can’t wait to check out your new friend’s blogs! Now start saving up for SLC ok?! :)