alt summit: my five favorites

well, friends, i made it to the frozen tundra and back and man have i got good stories to tell! alt summit (super mega awesome blogger conference in salt lake city, utah. look it up. its amazing.) was everything i had imagined it would be and more. and utah, believe it or not, is colder in real life than it is in my imagination. funny, huh? anyways, i want to tell you guys all about my many adventures throughout my time in salt lake, but for now (since my brain is still mush and i still haven't slept since getting home) i am just going to give you my five favorites from the trip.

1. the people. i cannot tell you how many amazing, creative, fantastic, outgoing and friendly people i met at alt. have you ever been sitting in the car and then all of the sudden a song that you loved in middle school comes on, and you know all the words and crank the volume up and realize that this song is exactly what you wanted to hear without knowing it ahead of time? that's how i feel about the wonderful people i met at alt. i'll admit i was nervous - will they like me? will i be cool/funny/hip/witty enough? and that feeling was gone almost immediately. i knew that they were my crowd - like, these are my people! yes! they were funny and interesting and creative and so so so kind. i was worried, going into a conference dominated by women, that there would be jealousy, or judgement, and i should have known better. my people wouldn't be like that. i'm not like that and i was so so happy to find that in this room of magnificent women, each of them was more supportive than the last. everyone is rooting for everyone. it's an amazing dynamic, and i am so lucky to have found alt.

2. the information. i mean, brain overload in the best most inspiring way. i have goose bumps just thinking about it now. my notebook is full of brilliant ideas and thoughts and words of encouragement. everyone is so generous with their advice and the classes and panels are top notch. literally everything you can think of that is related to the expansive world of blogging is talked about. and not just the flowery, awesome, lets all rule the world together kind of stuff. the real stuff too. how hard it is. how much work it is. the information was real, nitty gritty, details about the business of blogging. yes, business. the info is invaluable actually and i am so thankful to have had the opportunity/blessing/gift from who knows where/chance to go.

3. the business cards. ok, if you know anything at all about alt, you know that business cards are traded like they are high valued rookie baseball cards. they are gold and everyone brings it hard when it comes to designing them. we are not talking about your average joe "i'm a plumber" business cards. we are talking "i am going to put this on my fridge because it is fine art" business cards. they are amazing. i promise i will do a whole post on some of the jaw-droppers i received. seriously, they were all amazing. more on that later...

the windows at joujou are where dreams come true.

4. the hotel. alt summit is held at the grand america in downtown salt lake city and holy moly is it gorgeous! i am talking sweeping foyers, ballroom after beautiful ballroom, architectural details, fountain filled courtyards and even a personal crystal chandelier in every bathroom stall (your OWN chandelier!) honestly. i almost took a picture, but then didnt want to be that girl. sorry. i should have done it. next year! anyways, it was the most beautiful hotel i've ever seen. better than the breakers in palm beach, and all of the "over the tops" of las vegas. i don't even know that hotel is the right word because it was so much more than that. resort maybe? out of body fantastical temporary living facility? it's incredible. my favorite part was the toy store (yes, stop judging!) it is called joujou and is whimsical and magical and made for the kid in all of us! think monsters and fairies and robots and candy - and you are only two steps in the doorway. i'm serious, go there now. my second favorite part was the pastry shop called la bonne vie - obviously french for "you are about to gain 20 pounds" because it is full of the most dreamy and delicious pastries, excuse me, confections. i had my first ever macaron there :) YUM!

5. the motivation/opportunity/new fresh outlook. all of the magical pieces of alt summit lead to one thing -motivation. the great sponsors they invite are all excited to work with new people. the people who attend are excited to meet you and hear all about you. the speakers on the panels are eager to tell you all their secrets and are cheering for you. the keynotes are telling you amazing stories that make you believe that literally anything is possible. and it is, isn't it? i say yes. it is all possible because of alt. honestly, i feel like a kid who wants to be an astronaut and i'm currently so convinced that i can do it that i can taste the freeze dried ice cream. screw nasa and their downsizing, i'm doing it! ok, but on a real note. i'm inspired. i'm moved. i'm excited! how many people say they are excited about their job? not many. and while blogging isn't my job, yet, i still feel like i can take this baby to the moon! or at least to your living room in the wee hours of the night when you can't sleep and need a laugh. or when you are stressed about that party you have to throw and need inspiration. or when you are really excited about the new project you just finished and you pop over here to brag to me about it. i want that. all of it and i hope that you want it too. i'm totally excited about this next year and it is all because of alt. get ready folks, it's about to get real up in here!