The RewardStyle Conference ( #rsthecon ) 2017 Recap

Wow, I’ve actually been putting off writing this post because I knew it was going to be a long one, and I still feel like I haven’t digested all that was #rsthecon because it was THAT amazing. First, I’ve never really been away on business for Pure Joy Home so it was kind of validating to be leaving on a jet plane headed to the headquarters of the fashion blogging world, RewardStyle. I was REALLY nervous for the flight but I got there safe and sound and met up with Natasha at the airport where we immediately hugged like we had known each other for years. When we all found out who was invited back in January, my friend Ashlee and I got a group together which included myself, Ash, Sara from Haute and Humid and Veronika from Veronika’s Blushing. We started a text chain that day and have been in constant (somewhat obsessive) communication from then on. We got two adjoining rooms at the Hotel Crescent Court and we had SO, SO much fun together, it kind of felt like being back at college, except better. We are also all moms of children about the same age so we just have so much in common.

I LOVED this outfit.The first day we all took photos in some of our outfits to get it out of the way, and Ramy Brook sponsored us. I love this skirt and paired it with my off the shoulder top and I loved they way they looked together! I also wore these shoes and earrings with everything!

So back to the conference, the “work” days consisted of classroom sessions, brand meetings, and networking. Each blogger was paired with about 3 brands to meet with one on one to talk about possible collaborations, and then the classroom sessions were lecture type settings on topics like SEO and how to utilize liketoknow.it…The speakers varied from rewardstyle representatives, to big brand owners like the owner of Bumble (such a boss babe I LOVED her, big bloggers like Rach Parcell, etc…It was all so informative and inspiring, my head was literally spinning at the end of the day, so thank goodness for the champagne because I probably wouldn’t have slept a wink with all the ideas I had floating around my head.

Speaking of champagne, THE PARTIES Y’ALL. The parties were SO good in my opinion, the first night was a Tulum-inpired pool party hosted by Sole Society. It was gorgeous and this was the first night so everyone was SOOO excited to meet one another. Right when you walked in you got a watermelon margarita and just started mingling. It was super fun.

I wore this two-piece dress and everyone was obsessed! It is seriously SO pretty on

top / skirt / sunnies / the earrings I wish I wore / shoes (similar)

During the day, there were beautiful picnic lunches, the first hosted by Banana Republic at Shake Shack and the second, a garden terrace lunch hosted by TOPSHOP. I literally felt like the most glamorous person attending these lunches and parties. I mean compared to my everyday lunch time which looks like the uneaten crusts of Brian and Grace’s PB&J’s while I’m washing the peanut butter off their hands. Mama felt goood, real good. It was also super fun to just look nice and put together for once. In my everyday life I look like a bag of sh*t, so to have makeup and pretty dresses on was amazing!

sweater / white jeans / bag / shoes (similar)

The second night, we went to a cocktail party hosted by Bumble BFF. It was adorable and again, FUN. I chatted a lot with a blogger who I’ve known forever, Beautifully Seaside, and so many others. We left that party, went out for BBQ and then ended up at a bar across the street from the hotel and had WAY too much fun. At one point, from sweet southern style guide was pushing me across the street in the bell cart… we were acting ridiculous but we were having a blast so who cared. Then we all went back to her room and took active charcoal pills to prevent hangovers. Well I didn’t take it because I was scared but the other girls did and guess who didn’t feel amazing the next morning <<me>>.

We worked with Rent the Runway for some of our evening looks and I LOVED my Elizabeth and James cocktail dress!

The final night was black tie, and it was so fun. At that point, our feet were basically falling off because none of us wear heels that much and we were all so tired, but they did a very cool job and we of course pulled ourselves together and had fun. It was so hard not to, amazing people, amazing food, drinks, music, scenery I mean perfection. We started out the night by getting our hair done by the Aveda stylists at Tangerine salons. I did a braided style to go with my boho-esque dress.

It was all so, so fun and so inspiring! If you made it this far, thank you for reading!!

Lastly, some of the people I loved meeting:

Advice from a Twenty-Something