(Anthropologie’s Maitland Lace Dress.)
One of my favorite things about attending Texas Style Council was that I got to dress like myself. That might seem weird, but when I attended Alt Summit, I felt the need to really kick things up a notch and play dress-up, if you will. I mean, it’s not every day that I wear feathers in my hair and pair navy tights with pink shoes. That’s just not me.
It’s hot here in Austin, and that forces you to make conscientious fashion decisions. Most of the conference attendees were from Texas, so we all knew how to dress stylishly in the heat. The awful, oppressive heat that starts early in the day and penetrates the concrete by evening, so the result is like a sauna or an oven, at 7 pm, in the shade.
For the opening event of the conference, a clothing and book swap on 2nd Street, I chose the Maitland Lace Dress from Anthropologie, which is, much to my delight, made in the United States. I’ve been on the hunt for a lace dress recently, and this one is light and easy to wear, with a black slip underneath and the lovely trim at the skirt. To avoid looking too sweet, I added a leather and gold belt to give things a bit of edge, and then chose my trusty pair of ivory and black flats, since I knew I might have to walk several blocks.
It was hot Friday night (did I already mention the heat?), and the temperature was over 100 degrees all afternoon. I was inevitably hot, but stayed fairly cool and composed in this dress, which will also be great for fall.
I don’t have pictures of my other conference outfits, because you’ve seen them before. I wore my “Frida Loves Diego” dress from Mata Traders Saturday and my Riviera Romance dress from ModCloth Sunday morning, both of which are in heavy rotation in my closet these days. I felt cool and comfortable, and pretty, too, which made it easier to enjoy myself at the conference.
(Texas Style Council 2013 credentials.)
Last weekend I attended Texas Style Council, an up-and-coming conference for bloggers and small businesses, held right here in Austin. It’s times like this that I really wish I was 25 again, because juggling motherhood and a budding blogging career gets pretty tough sometimes. My parents graciously watched the boys for the weekend, and Ryan kindly shuttled me back and forth between our house and the conference site downtown, since there’s not much parking and I’m a wimp when it comes to driving in city traffic. We also got to spend some much-needed time together without our little guys, and though there were lots of schedule changes, it all worked out in the end and I really enjoyed the conference!
(Outside the Texas Style Council clothing swap.)
This was TxSC’s fourth year, and it has literally grown to ten times its original size. Beginning as a small fashion event attended by 35 people during South by Southwest in 2010, the conference hosted over 350 attendees this past weekend. There were lots of amazing events, including a clothing swap, inspiring speeches, a prom party, and plenty of time to meet new friends from around Texas and beyond. Since I attended Alt Summit in January, I knew what to expect as far as conferences go, and I definitely felt more relaxed in my own city.
Though it was billed as a “fashion” conference, that’s really just one aspect of TxSC, and all the attendees were incredibly friendly and eager to learn more about expanding their blogs and their businesses. There were no blue tights in the bunch (though I did see some amazing printed leggings!), and we all knew how to dress appropriately for the August heat.
( Chatting with Bethany, The Glamorous Housewife, outside the swap Friday night. It was really hot and I was kind of melting.)
I attended talks by Jenni Dawson from Story of My Life and Bethany Herwegh of The Glamorous Housewife (whom I might have encouraged to come!). And the keynote address by Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess was really fun and informative, too! The clothing swap Friday night was insane and overwhelming, but I walked away with a new book, a new blouse, and a new dress! It was definitely an ice-breaker and a great way to kick off the weekend.
(Elsie and Emma from A Beautiful Mess gave a very fun and informative keynote speech.)
Overall, Texas Style Council is a great opportunity to engage with other bloggers and businesses, and is also an incredible value for the price. Tickets sold out quickly, and I don’t think the large number of attendees was expected, because things were a little crowded at times. But that’s an awesome problem to have, and I definitely think I’ll attend next year, since it’s literally in my backyard. I’m excited to watch this event grow larger each year, and I’m thrilled to support it. Next year, I think I’ll book a room at the hotel and enjoy the full experience. Y’all should come!
(Words to live by, from Elsie and Emma’s speech.)
If you attended Texas Style Council 2013, don’t be shy! Leave a comment and let me know how your weekend went.
This weekend was a whirlwind of excitement with Texas Style Council and the boys visiting my parents, and I can’t wait to share what I learned with you this week!
Today’s question is: What Advice Would You Give to a Beginning Blogger?
This can be a tough one, but I’m going to keep things simple: Just Have Fun! Seriously, while blogging is a commitment, it should be something you love to do and look forward to each day. There are so many different reasons why people start blogs, and you don’t have to have a business plan or branding in place when you start. Really, it’s okay not to know what the heck you’re doing.
As corny as this sounds, blogging is kind of an organic process and will grow with you over time. That’s definitely been my experience, and I’m still learning new things daily, too.
It’s good to have a basic idea in place and know your blog’s general purpose, but I also think it’s okay to go with the flow and figure things out as you need to, not all at once, necessarily. If you love what you’re doing and can’t wait to jump on the keyboard every day, then you’re definitely on the right track. Write for yourself, because that way, your real voice will shine through and, in this crazy world of ours, it’s just too exhausting to try to be something you’re not.
Don’t forget to support fellow bloggers, because they are your online friends, and you’ll be rewarded with followers and relationships in return. That is one of the greatest blogging rewards, I think, and it’s amazing how many new friendships are forged across continents. Take this little collaboration with Shayla, for example!
Blogging is about connecting with your readers, first and foremost, so relax and enjoy yourself, and things will fall into place. I promise!
Be sure to check out Shayla’s response, too, as we are nearing the end of this part of our conversation. We’ll be taking a break for the fall, but plan to return early next year.
