Ten Hilarious Things I Learned at Haven

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The Haven Conference was at the beginning of this month. And since I immediately came home and hit the ground running with my kitchen makeover, I haven’t had much time to reflect on a lot of the things I learned. So today, two weeks after the conference, I’m finally taking the time to do it.

There’s only one catch: if you were at all interested in what the Haven conference was all about, the classes, and how we all learned something important about blogging, you would have already read the 100+ recap posts that you can find at your nearest Google. Or here, maybe. So nothing I can tell you in the traditional structure of this-is-what-we-did-and-here-is-why-it-was-fun is going to really do it for you at this point. And if you’re not interested in hearing at all about a blog conference of 300+ DIY enthusiasts… then a post like that wouldn’t really turn you around to wanting to hear about it either. And after doing both a traditional recap and a more “me” style recap last year, I wound up liking (and re-reading) the one where I talked about being awkward more.

So, since this blog is more about the funny, messy, and sometimes unexpected side of things, here you go:  my brief recap with a twist – ten anecdotes of hilariousness that you may have had to be there to fully appreciate. (Most of these pictures are borrowed – so thank you to the ladies who took the time to actually take photographs!)

1. I re-learned The Wobble.

And thankfully (?), Jessica from Gourley Girl & Guy got a picture of it. And you’d be surprised how many of these ladies (given the right mix of alcohol and music telling you to “shake dat ass”) can really get down on the dance floor.

2. Ryobi hires smokin’ hot tool reps

…to attend a conference full of married women (and one single one). And they make them do things like this:

For those that can’t see it too clearly, it’s all the Ryobi guys with branded umbrellas marching their way to the dance floor to the tune of “It’s Raining Men”. No really, this actually happened. Cost of attendance: worth it.

3. Sandra (Sawdust Girl) likes to teach classes with no pants on.

Sandra was actually just wearing an apron lent to her by Duluth Trading Company, and mistakenly grabbed the men’s version – which wound up completely covering her shorts. But my version of the story is funnier.

4. Magical moments can happen anywhere, even in a closet.

This was a class about forming genuine friendships with other bloggers and blogging etiquette, complete with Katie from Bower Power telling folks that certain requests are a lot like asking to borrow her underwear.

5. The right time to drop your beer bottle

…is definitely the very second that everyone quiets down to hear the winners of a giveaway.

The first night there, we attended a terrace party hosted by Homes.com. I finished my one beer – see? not even tipsy – and in my attempt to grab a business card, let the empty bottle slip from my hands. It hit the ground and didn’t break, which I thought was going to be the worst possible result. Not true. The bottle continued to cling-clang-clatter all over the downward-sloping cement walkway directly behind me. Everyone turned and I had to proudly exclaim, “That was me, sorry!”

6. Staying at the hotel

…lets you both drink more and have ridiculously childish moments with people who totally get this blogging thing.

7. I apparently like stealing flower displays after parties.

See above picture – Rustoleum tricked out one of the events with flower vases using spray paint. And since the flowers are almost always going to go to waste if no one takes them home, they don’t mind when you swipe them for your room. I hope.

8. There’s something called BRF, or Bitchy Resting Face… and I probably have it.

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Sew Woodsy for enlightening me (one of the funniest conversations of the entire trip). And finally, there’s a name for the face I must be making when guys insist that I smile. I wind up wanting to frown even more.

9. Dirty hair? No problem… just curl it.

Thanks, Pamela. From suggesting that we buy special tumblers for drinks, our goofy trip to Target, and taking my phone… you were a riot to room with!

10. There’s so much love… um, lots of it.

Okay – so this post started as things I learned… and since I’m choosing not to go into the actual classes too much, I’ve run out of funny things. Except for maybe a few funny things you might learn about me if you were to meet me in person:

• I have a vulgar sense of humor. If I were to use Dusty’s words here, “Sometimes you just gotta drop an f-bomb.”
• I talk with my hands. A lot. Which may also mean that I accidentally smack the person next to me if I’m in a crowd (sorry, ladies).
• I just might know how to “get low” and make Lil Jon references. I grew up in Atlanta, after all. Okaaay?

Finally, my thanks to the Haven Conference crew and all of the sponsors… the best part about Haven is meeting all of these wonderful people. And the worst part is that all of these friendships have to continue across the country. Let’s be real, here: I’m a girl who loves power tools, beer, and Family Guy. Which also means that my social life typically involves toilet humor and more guy friends than girls. But I still like dressing up, wearing makeup, and acting a little silly every now and then. So here was the perfect opportunity for me to be myself, make some new female friends, and learn a ton of new info about how to be a better blogger and decorator. It’s both fantastic to meet these people, and a shame that there wasn’t enough time to meet even more. Sorry for getting a little sappy – but when your normal life doesn’t involve people who know much about blogging or the culture (I mean, I basically put my daily life on the internet like a total weirdo), it’s completely different when everyone around you acts like it’s the most normal thing in the world. You’re excited for their successes. They’re excited for yours. And you sometimes put the camera down and soak up the minutes instead. Thank you also for YOU reading along. I really do appreciate having my own little corner of the internet to share these things with you.

On Monday, we’ll be back to the usual programming – priming the kitchen is heavily underway, and I’m hoping I can even start painting and reveal the paint color early next week. Have a great weekend!