What It's Really Like to Attend a Blogger Conference

Dress / Earrings / Similar Sandals

As you might have seen on Instagram (ahem, sorry for the photo/video/boomerang overload), I went to The Blog Societies annual conference last week! I've been to lots of blog events, but this was my first full-blown conference and I wasn't really sure what to expect. The itinerary told me there would be a cocktail party, a couple of sponsored meals, some workshops, networking, and keynote sessions. But what does that really mean? Would it be worth my time? (Hint: it's a yes ;) Here's the scoop on what it's really like to go to a conference for bloggers:

You get crazy inspired

Between speakers who were incredibly successful bloggers, to the attendees who ranged from smaller hobby bloggers like myself to full-time bloggers, I left the weekend feeling so inspired to go out there and shower girl power all over the place. And, you know, treat my blog like the business it really is and work hard to produce great content. It was a little intimidating meeting some of the really successful bloggers as well as some women I've followed for years (had to hold myself back from sharing all of the intimate knowledge I know about their lives #creepster #fangirl) but really so cool!!

Everyone shares everything

I mean, I know I share a good deal of my life on the internet, but it was so funny seeing people pull out their phones and cameras to capture every single thing. We walked into lunch and everyone started taking photo after photo before they ever sat down, and moving around centerpieces and menus and drinks to make sure they got the perfect shot. I was so amused, you may have seen I kept sharing videos of everyone else taking photos haha ;) Of course, now I look back at the pictures I did take and wish I had gotten a few more! 

Dupe Tee / Jeans / Mules / Earrings / Similar Bag

There are photo ops everywhere

And a bunch of girls who are happy to take your photo in front of one! Above was actually something the hotel had set up for Lollapalooza, but really, photos galore. And then, once you take a photo for someone else, you have to politely ask if they'd like a boomerang too. Hint: they would. 

On a sidebar, while some girls were dressed to the nines, a lot of people went a little more casual like me, and some were beauty or travel bloggers who dressed like, you know, normal people. So don't get freaked out if you go to a conference about what you're going to wear! This casual outfit above is actually what got me the most compliments - everyone wanted my mules! 

The swag is unreal

I had heard whisperings that the "networking" involved a lot of sponsor gifts, but I had no idea. I mean, I heard several people call the networking room, "the gifting suite." The stuff we got was well worth the price of admission - a lot of makeup and beauty products, clothes and accessories (including the cutest scarf and slides they had a calligrapher monogram for us), a couple of planners that are so cute I maybe want to start using a paper planner, and this giant duffel that I assume a lot of people used as an extra bag to bring everything home in - mine was full to the brim and took a trip home on the train with me! 

You get to meet with a lot of brands

Really, the point of the networking/swag is to meet with brands, and now I have a bunch of business cards and got a chance to talk with a bunch of new brands about partnerships! Plus, thanks to the swag, I'll know ahead of time for some of the new-to-me brands whether I love them or not before sharing the products with you, like Lauren James, who had the cutest southern girly dresses and this amazing donut wall. 

You get to see what's coming next

Thanks to fall previews for a couple of brands (like the shoes from Marc Fisher above - how cute are those mules?!), I got to see what's coming down the line. And let me tell you, we are going to be looking good this fall ;) 

You're going to do a lot of champagne toasts

I mean, I'm definitely not complaining. If I had to sing about my favorite things a la Julie Andrews, champagne would definitely be one of them. We had passed champagne, we had a champagne/mimosa bar, and we did a champagne toast one morning. And then the girl next to me didn't want her glass so I maybe had hers too ;) 

You walk away with a giant to-do list

I now have a huge list of things to get my blog up to speed as far as taxes and SEO go, as well as a giant list of ideas for how I can improve - stay tuned!! 

Oh, and you have an amazing time!!
Anything else you want to know? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. This post isn't sponsored, but all of the brands mentioned did gift us some pretty sweet swag!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

How to Pull Together a Casual Outfit

Tee - Lush / Jeans - J. Crew / Sandals - c/o Marc Fisher / Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Scarf - c/o Vera Bradley / Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters / Necklace - Stella & Dot

I changed at my sister's house the other day. She was wearing a black v-neck and jean shorts, I had brought a black v-neck and jeans, so I said we would be twins. When I came out, she complained because I somehow looked more pulled together in my casual outfit, so it got me thinking. What was the difference? Well it's all in the details! 

First, when you're looking for a tee, go for something that's slightly oversized, but still has a nice drape. I like for my tees to flow, as opposed to when I was in high school and wanted them suction-cupped to my body. I'm pretty sure I used to buy my tees two sizes too small - insert an embarrassed face emoji whenever I see pictures of myself from back in the day. Slightly oversized is so much more flattering, and still looks put together when it fits close to your body. 

Second, go for pretty accessories! When I'm not feeling trendy, my go-to jewelry pieces are always pearl earrings and this pretty initial necklace I bought for all of my bridesmaids for our wedding. They provide detail but still look polished. Add some pretty sunglasses (that only look expensive), a classic handbag, and a pretty silk scarf, and you're good to go! Optional: fun monogrammed slides! The slides and the scarf were gifted to us at The Blog Societies conference I went to over the weekend. They're both things I would never think to buy myself, but now that I have them I'm totally obsessed - watch out for me growing my scarf and monogrammed collections!! 

Tee - Lush / Jeans - J. Crew / Sandals - c/o Marc Fisher / Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Scarf - c/o Vera Bradley / Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters / Necklace - Stella & Dot

Linking up with Style Sessions.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

This Weekend...

This weekend I...

...spent a good chunk of my time at The Blog Society's annual conference, as you may have seen, well, alllll over my Instagram ;) I'll post a full recap of what it's like to attend a blog conference later this week, but for now let's just say it was fun to meet all of these girls I know from Instagram in real life and now I have a to-do list a mile long for this little blog.
...took the train out to the suburbs for a big family dinner at my grandma's house, where we made a big heaping bowl of pasta and consumed many bottles of sparkling wine ;) The train schedules were crazy because of Lollapalooza, so we ended up spending the night up in the burbs, allowing us to go out to breakfast with my sister's family in the morning. My two year old niece got strapped into her high chair, turned around to the waitress, and said, "Hi! Pancakes!" So now we know she likes to get straight down to business. After breakfast we got to ride back into Chicago with all of the Lollapaloozaers, allowing me to marvel at how many girls decided to go for bralettes as tops despite the fact that it was about 70 degrees and sprinkling. That's really how you know when you're getting old, when you're concerned about whether other people are warm enough haha.
...Ordered this dress in white in the final hours of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale after deciding it's absolutely perfect and I need it. Of course, if it comes back in stock in red you'd better believe I'm exchanging it, because that would be perfect for the casual wedding we're heading to in Colorado in September!
...Did a little grilling and wine drinking with the husband on Sunday night, and then a lot of hiding in my room during Game of Thrones. I don't know about you, but I just could never get into it. Probably a few too many people dying gristly deaths for me.

I hope you had a good one!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Friday Finds

Happy Friday... again! Does anyone else feel like this week flew by? Well, it probably helps that I had a short work week - today I'm off so I could go to The Blog Societys Conference! I actually have never been to a blog conference before, and probably wouldn't have gone to this one if I hadn't heard it would be in Chicago (or if I hadn't met Jessica & Cathy last fall!), but I'm super excited. Well, excited and nervous - it's kind of like the first day of school, hoping you'll find people who are nice! If you're going to be there, be sure to say hello!!

Well anyway, here are my finds for the week! Last week I was all about fall clothing, but it looks like I'm back on summer! The warm weather is going to stick around for another month or two, right?!

one / two / three / four / five

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

The Five Shoes You Need for Fall

Ugh, I know, I know, it's only August. I don't really want to be thinking about fall either. BUT, if you wait for the weather to change (as I have in years past) you're going to have some very unhappy feet when the rain and cool weather roll in. Today I'm sharing 5 pairs of shoes you need to get you through fall.

While I have many, many pairs of shoes in my closet, I tend to rely on a few basics to get me through the cooler months. Here are some of my favorites:

Everyday Booties

These booties are currently my holy grail shoe. They are so comfortable, can easily be dressed up or down, and basically go with everything. They've made it through two years in my closet now, and I don't anticipate them going anywhere soon! When you're looking for a pair of booties to wear everyday, make sure you get a pair with a comfortable heel height for you. The heel on this pair is just low enough that they're comfortable for everyday wear, but I usually go for an even lower heel. I also look for regular leather as opposed to suede, which will work better for all weather conditions. This pair also comes in a pretty medium brown.

Riding Boots

As much as I love a good pair of booties, sometimes it's just too cold for those exposed ankles. That's where riding boots come in. A good pair of riding boots is classic, and while they don't quite go with everything, they go with just about anything I want to wear on a daily basis. Sorry ballgowns. Look for a pair made out of real leather because it will wear beautifully, with a small heel for comfort, that has classic detailing that you'll be able to wear forever. I also love zip-up styles as opposed to pull-on, because they have a more flattering fit and are easier to put on with jeans.

Fun Flats

I love having a fun pair of flats in my closet to switch things up every now and then. I'm still loving loafers, but lace-ups and mules are really fun right now too! I have this pair of mules that I wore basically all spring, and now I would love a pair in a more fall-appropriate color. They're so comfortable, and they're really easy to slip on and go!

Over-the-Knee Boots

I really apologize for posting a photo with snow in it - I know, it makes my heart hurt too. But you need these boots. They're incredibly stretchy and fit closely to your calves, they're insanely comfortable, and they stay up. Which, really, is the most important part. This pair is basically amazing and full of magical rainbows to do all of those things for that price. OTK boots are a super cute way to wear your dresses into fall, but also work really well over leggings or jeans. Plus, they're insanely warm in cold weather - it's like wearing a pair of pants over your pants! Oh, and I know I already said it, but this pair is the best. Don't even look anywhere else. I'm not even going to link up any other options. Just know they run about a half size large - size down!

Rain Boots

Okay, am I basically saying all that you need for fall is boots? But really, rain boots are different. I used to be a rain boot non-believer and marched everywhere in college in my trusty, rusty flats. And then I tried rain boots, and oh my gosh you guys, they made all the difference. Especially in the fall, when it can be wet and rainy and cold. Or just especially muddy in a pumpkin patch. But believe me, you definitely need some rain boots in your life!

So tell me, what are your essential shoes for fall??

Linking up with Friday Fab Favorites.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

July Budget

Every month I post about my clothing budget. My budget per month is $350, which may seem like a lot to some and a little to others, but feels just right for me. You can read my thoughts on my 2016 budget here.

It's kind of funny, but I wrote my June blog post before the end of the month, and this post is coming afterwards, which means this is almost six weeks of budget versus four. I almost couldn't believe this Rosé in the USA tote was supposed to be included in my July budget since it feels like I bought it so long ago. Don't worry though, Old Navy currently has a lot of cute totes that aren't USA themed if you're looking for something fun to carry around.

I did a ton of shopping online this month thanks to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but the majority of it is actually going back so this budget post feels a little empty considering how much I bought. I did get the faux-leather leggings in the mail as I was pulling stuff together for this post, and they're so good I had to add them in. I also ended up buying these booties since I decided to return the other pair I bought (waterproof, but the stitching rubbed my ankles too much to ignore) but they haven't come in the mail yet, I'll let you know what I think once I get them!

So, on to what I bought in July!

Lush Raw Edge Tee - originally $24, on sale $15.90. I originally passed over this tee because I don't love raw edges and I was worried it would be too thin & flimsy, but after seeing numerous good reviews I decided to give it a try. You guys. I literally took it out of the box, put it on my body, and wore it two days straight. The drape is perfect, the v-neck somehow isn't too deep on me, and the fabric isn't tissue thin. Win win win.
Articles of Society Skinny Jeans - originally $59, on sale $38.90. I needed some new jeans, and I love these. My waist is my trouble-spot, and these have plenty of room at the waistline. They're also super stretchy but don't stretch out, and are really slim around the ankles.
Kut from the Kloth Faux Suede Jacket - originally $88, on sale $58.90. This was definitely my favorite purchase from the sale. It looks like a jacket, but it's so soft and comfortable it feels more like wearing a cardigan. I ended up wearing it over the weekend thanks to a temperature dip, and it's seriously so perfect. If it comes back into stock definitely snag it!!
Halogen Tunic - originally $39, on sale $24.90. I always want more tunics to wear with leggings, and more stripes, and this fit both of those needs ;) Still available in a couple of colors!
Gap Boyfriend Shorts - originally $49.50, on sale + used rewards $20.77. These were to replace a pair I bought a few years ago, and they're just as good now as they were back then - somehow oversized but still flattering. Definitely my favorite shorts!
Old Navy Tote (other cute tote options) - originally $8.95, on sale $8. I carried this all month long - yay for rosé! I saw a bunch of other totes when I was in the store last week and they are all super adorable!
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings - originally $98, on sale $64.90. I've heard good things about these leggings for the past couple of years, but there was no way I was spending a hundred bucks on leggings. $65 was much easier to swallow so I decided to give them a try, and you guys, they're so good. Super flattering, super comfortable, and really cute. I can't wait to wear them with my favorite OTK boots this fall!
LOFT Skinny Ankle Pants - originally $69.50, on sale $34.75. I've been looking and looking for a new pair of dress pants, and this pair is great! Really stretchy, not too wide in the leg, and really comfortable. Oh, and they aren't black like my other dress pants, but instead this pretty gray/blue color. I've been doing a lot of presentations at work lately, and these will definitely help me feel confident!

Total Spent: $267.02
Total Saved: $168.93

Yahoo, under budget! You may have noticed this pair of flats was excluded from my list, it's mainly because I'm still not 100% I'm going to keep them. I haven't found a reason to wear them yet, and if that continues they're going back.

I really can't believe we're getting into August now! I don't really have any big holes in my wardrobe at the moment, although I am still looking for a new winter coat. I'll keep you posted!

Did you budget in July? How did you do?

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

One Shoulder + Striped Skirt

Top (currently on final sale for less than $7!!!) - LOFT / Skirt - J. Crew Factory / Sandals  (similar) - Dolce Vita / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters / Earrings (also, have you tried ear support patches for statement earrings? They make a huge difference!!) - BaubleBar

Were you done seeing pictures of me in Napa yet? Because, sorry, I wasn't done sharing them ;) 

Napa Valley may just be one of my favorite places on Earth. I love the laid-back feel, the countryside + mountain views, and, of course, the wine. Plus, the weather somehow seems to be absolutely perfect. I'm basing that off of only two trips, but somehow because of the humidity and the lack of wind the hot never feels that hot, nor does the cold ever feel that cold. When can I move in? 

For our trip (now two weekends ago?!) I picked a lot of blue and white to mix and match in my suitcase. I hadn't tried these two pieces together previously, but the combo of a one-shoulder top with a pretty skirt feels both classic and trendy at the same time. Perfect for wine tasting, and then more wine tasting, and then all the way through dinner! 

We took these pictures in and around Yountville, mainly in the gardens for the French Laundry. If you haven't heard of it, it's one of the fanciest restaurants in the United States, and dinner for two can easily cost over $500. While we have so far decided the price isn't quite in our budget for these trips (mainly because we'd rather spend that money on more wine!) I'm still hoping that somehow we'll make it! In the meantime, their gardens across the street are open to the public, and are full of every produce item you can think of! Plus, there's no missing that view :) 

Top (currently on final sale for less than $7!!!) - LOFT / Skirt - J. Crew Factory / Sandals  (similar) - Dolce Vita / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters / Earrings (also, have you tried ear support patches for statement earrings? They make a huge difference!!) - BaubleBar

Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, Style Sessions, Trend Spin Linkup.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!