I don’t really know where to begin with an alt recap to be honest. I could talk about what I did each day but if you follow alt attendees you know about the food trucks and croquet. Instead I could tell you what my 5 takeaways are, but I’d just regurgitate what other attendees have already so eloquently said, because it’s all so true.
So instead, I’m going to post pictures (all by Justin Hackworth and Brooke Dennis unless otherwise noted) and share tid bits here and there about my journey through blogging and what alt means to me.
I started blogging in 1999/2000 with Blue Glass and then White Nenya. I coded my blog in notepad and ran several personal websites just for the heck of it. But life got hectic, so in 2007 I stopped – right around when Joy and all those other big bloggers got their start. At this realization an embarrassing thought ran through my head – “Tan! You could be where they are today if you stuck with it you no good quitter!”
…yeah….I like to dream. And belittle myself apparently.
Here’s the thing: even if I stuck with it, there’s no way I’d be a fraction near our-holy-mother-of-blogging Joy Cho. Why? Because she has inhumane perseverance. She didn’t wait for anyone to find her and ask to work together, she put herself out there every single time. That takes a lot of courage, something I hope to gain more of as time goes on rather than hide down my cozy, dark rabbit hole.
As much as I love it, Alt freaks me out. I may hug everyone, hoot and holler loudly and go up to strangers and say hi, but in all honest truth constantly putting myself out there being around so many people kind of makes me want to curl into a ball. There were certainly times I felt like I was back in high school, completely out of my comfort zone and not knowing what to do with myself, so I’m beyond thankful to have met some truly amazing welcoming and friendly girls I could go up to and chat with and know I’d have a genuinely good time. These four are just a handful of the ladies I’m so pleased to have gotten to know and look forward to chatting with more in the future <3
(p.s. my resting face is “mega be-otch”, I’m not actually angry in this photo).
Speaking on a panel was such an incredible experience and privilege. I’m not going to lie, my hands were mega sweaty and my stomach was turning knots that a sailor couldn’t untie, but I felt so elated to be up there with 4 incredible other ladies sharing my experiences in growing a small blog. This certainly was a pivotal moment for me, and I truly hope I get to do it again.
Oh, if you’re looking for that PDF, don’t worry! It’s coming!
Blogging can be a pretty darn lonely venture. You’re at home by yourself all day with no one to talk to but your cat (sorry Lucy, you keep good company). I was asked on our last evening if I would attend Alt again, and truthfully I wasn’t sure. It’s a lot of money to spend, and being a teacher I have to take personal unpaid leave – more chaching down the drain! But Alt gives something that I couldn’t get easily elsewhere – a recharge. Attending Alt electrifies my inspiration, making me want to work harder, smarter, and better. It surrounds me with likeminded people and revives my love of blogging. I don’t know that I’d go in January again because I’m a total wimp when it comes to ice and snow (the number of people I shocked when I said I was from Canada and we don’t get snow). I loved the smaller, more laid back feel of this June Alt, and I truly hope they host it again because you know what? I do hope I’ll come back and relive the experience all over again.
Kristen of When at Home / Laura of S.S. Heart / Christina of Just Call Me Chris / Bethany of Twenty Something Plus / Gilit of Shoes Off Please
Don’t worry I didn’t forget about the Friday Five! Check our 5 other fantastic Alt recaps. Wishing you all a beautiful weekend!
And don’t forget, today is your last chance to enter to win a $150 Gift Card from Wayfair ! Hurry Hurry!!
Tan! I love this post! You are such a presence and I am so selfishly glad you came and I got to meet you. It’s hard, this world of ours, but it’s also so wonderful. What other community is as loving and supportive? I’ve never met such a big group of people who just root for one another and understand each other. Yes there is competition and copycatting and levels of personal success but I love this world and am so glad you’re in it. Thanks for dancing with me
It is SUCH a supportive community isn’t it? It’s rare and looked down upon if someone is judgy/comparative, which is a great thing you don’t find in many places.
Love this recap!!! So glad to have met you!!
So glad we met too!
Sounds like it was a great time! A chance to recharge and be inspired is always refreshing. Enjoy your weekend, Tan!
Refreshing is right!
It was so great to have connected at alt! This was a great recap on your time there. I had a wonderful time chatting with you Friday morning especially!
So glad we got to meet at the last moment!