Happy Sunday everyone!

Yesterday I was very lucky to attend the best blogging conference of the year, Blogtacular 2015. It felt like a TEDXTALK especially for blogging and crafting. Being surrounded by people that do similar things and who understand blogging achievements and struggles was priceless and not to mention FUNNNNN! :D

The day started with key notes from Grace Bonney AKA Design Sponge. She emphasised on the importance of expressing fear and taking risks. She also shared her journey and all the highs and lows. She was very encouraging. Afterwards there was a choice of three talks. I chose the travel blogging one given by Monica Stott from the Travel Hack. I must say that one was fully packed of very useful information. Lunch followed and it was waves of awesome networking and I even got to meet Christine from Thomson Holidays. Everyone was welcomed to pitch. Let's hope my pitch takes me places. Even if it doesn't, at least I got to try and that in its own was a great opportunity of being in Blogtacular.

After lunch, there were even more choices and it was hard to pick. I chose the Grow Your Audience Panel. It was an interesting discussion about attracting the right people to our blogs. Then came the Instagram panel. Like I am not obsessed enough with Instagram! The thing that everyone spoke about was the importance of engagement and being picky with the content. The last talk before the ending was from the ladies at Mollie Makes and they suggested few writing and thinking exercise such as writing the second you wake up three A4s without even thinking or editing, just writing. I can't wait to try all their tips out.

The concluding keynote speaker was Anthony Peters. He is a graphic designer and filmmaker. He told us how hard he tried to make his dream come reality and how it happened! His documentary is going to be launched in October. It was an inspiring ending that filled everyone with motivation. It was a proof that hard work does pay off even if it takes time.

The whole Blogtacular community was about sharing and helping each other. They strongly believe that EVERYONE has a place on the table and that the world could fit all of us, which was a very positive message to celebrate.

Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald — Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald

Everyone was AMAZING and we had to take MANY MANY selfies.

Top Things I learnt at Blogtacular:

1- VIDEOS, I need to start adding them to my blogs because they are the way to the future.

2-There are so many other people who are on the same creative boat, it's only a matter of finding them.

3- Instagram hashtags got to be relevant and even specific to attract the right type of audience.

Can you spot me? ;) Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald — Can you spot me? ;) Credit: Mollie Makes photos taken by Piers MacDonald

After the conference ended, there was MORE! an afterparty at West Elm. We were all so tired by that point, but it was really worth going. I got to interact with even more bloggers who I didn't speak to during the day and we got to craft and chitchat. There were five different crafting stations and I had a finished product from most of them. It was so much fun. I don't think I had this much fun with people that completely get my passion and career choice like I did yesterday. Blogging is a very lonely job at times, where I am glued to my laptop, writing or editing photos, but Blogtacular made it possible for us all to connect and hangout in a very friendly and inspiring environment.

If you could not make the conference in person this year, that's ok! because you can still attend the virtual conference when it is live and get all the amazing tips and pointers :D Follow Blogtacular on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook for their latest updates and virtual conference release date.

Goodie bag & the things I crafted in the workshops