Houston Blogger Symposium Recap

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Houston Blogger Symposium. I am so glad I bought my ticket right away because they sold out quickly and their wait list was huge! This marks my first blogging conference, and I'm so glad that I picked this one to attend!

image via

First of all, the venue was awesome. I love the Hotel Zaza! It also holds a sentimental place in my heart because my husband and I got engaged there! Any time I get to go to the Zaza, I always think about that night.

Taylor and I rode together, and we were the first people to arrive. They had a little display set up to where we find our tables, and then each table was named by a big blogger. I sat at the Sincerely, Jules table. I gotta admit, I had never heard of her blog before then, but now I am hooked!

I really liked how we had assigned seating. I already knew a lot of the girls that were there, so it got me to talk and get to know people I probably wouldn't have visited with beforehand! There were two familiar faces at my table, Whitney, and Michelle (one of my bffs, no less).

After settling down, we immediately picked up and started browsing through the sponsor tables. Among them were The Impeccable Pig, Francesca's, Langford Market, Em&Lee Willa Boutique and Striped Shirt. They were some pretty awesome tables, and many of them were giving deep discounts or working out review deals with bloggers. I scored a deal with Striped Shirt and I have an awesome post about them coming your way!

images via Meg Cady

Before the panels started, I moved around the room trying to socialize with as many people as I could, and catching up with bloggers whom I've met before but haven't seen in a while. Let me just say, I adore my blog friends. We are all so different and unique, but we always have a blast together!

images via Paige Budde

The Symposium included a blogger panel, a sponsor panel, and a PR session. I felt like I didn't learn anything earth shattering about blogging, but it really did give me some things to think about, especially after hearing some successful bloggers share their stories and give their insight. I also thought the networking opportunities were amazing, so this conference was definitely worthwhile.

We sat down to eat a yummy breakfast and start the panels. The blogger panel were the ladies behind the blogs Blog con Queso, Sugarlaws, Dismount Creative, Pretty Shiny Sparkly, and Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno. The sponsor panel included representatives from Langford Market, Francesca's, and Reward Style. Lisa O'Neill spoke on PR.

I was probably most excited to see Kristina from Pretty Shiny Sparkly. I have loved her blog for years and she is just super adorable, down to earth, and gave great advice. She knew who I was since I comment on her blog a lot, and that made me so giddy! I was such a nerd. I also thought it was destiny because we both wore polka dots.

images via me and Paige Budde

All in all, it was definitely a worthwhile experience! I loved the fact that the symposium was very small (about 60-75 there total), because it let everyone really mingle and network. I feel like I could talk to the sponsor tables without them being overwhelmed, and I could go up and speak to any of the blogger panel ladies without them having a swarm around them. The most rewarding aspect of this symposium is the very fact that you could socialize and network with just about everyone there. I would rather have a worthwhile conversation with 20 people rather than quickly say hi to 100. I hope that if this becomes an annual event, that they keep it small. I'm sure that might not be the case since so many people wanted to go this year!

And finally, the swag was AMAZING.

'Nuff said.

And a huge thank you to Megan for planning this amazing event!!!