{Blog Podium!} + My Week in Review

Picture this ... you walk into a decadent conference room and all around you are women {and some men} sitting at tables placed systematically around the room. All are impeccably dressed; hair done, wearing bright and colourful summer outfits, and as you enter, laughter and excited chatter fills the air. The setting is Toronto's Arcadian Court and Lofts. The view of the space is of Old City Hall. Contemporary-looking chandeliers sparkle and shimmer above you. To the right of the room is an exposed brick wall and at the front of the room is a long conference table and a podium. This is quite fitting seeing as the event you're attending is Blog Podium, a conference where bloggers, writers, vendors and businesses across Canada all come together for the purpose of collaboration, community, sharing knowledge, information - {hugs!} - and supporting each other in their unique-yet-similar paths. 

For me, one thing that made Blog Podium stand out is its encouragement to engage in social media "tweeting" during the event. While most people shy away from typing on their phones out of fear of being rude, Blog Podium organizers encouraged and supported this cyber speak. So community was not only being built in the room, but also in Cyberspace as people connected, chatted and posted via Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. And yes, I was one of them!

I must admit that I did one of the worst things imaginable on the day: I forgot my camera! And I'm not fortunate to have a cell phone camera that produces high-quality images, so right off the bat, please forgive me for that. But I want to give a shout-out to the sponsors of Blog Podium: EQ3, blurb, HomeSense & The Home Depot as well as the vendors who were friendly, engaging and informative: West Elm, PARA Paints, Benjamin Moore, DECOR-Rest, sheblogs, Gluckstein Home, Posterjack, AYA Kitchens & Baths, Mango Studios {and all of the other vendors that helped make this event possible. If any were forgotten, please let me know and I'll kindly add them in}.

A big thank you to the event organizers, the lovely Lindsay Stephenson of Little House Blog and Jennifer Flores of Rambling Renovators, as well as Nicole Balch from Making it Lovely, Cheryl Kozoriz, Laura Muirhead, Christine Dovey from Bijou and Boheme and Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault as well as all of the staff at Acadian venue for their individual involvement on the day.

What I was up to this week:

 Inspiring spaces ~ coastal cottage charm.

{1 Room, 2 Perspectives} - plates aren't for tables anymore.

Spring table setting ideas.

Hanging photos ~ 3 different ways to battle bare walls.

{The Art of Photo Hanging} 3 Different Ways to Battle Bare Walls

 

Images Clockwise from the left: Apartment Therapy, Poppytalk, Domino Magazine

Just another short-but-sweet post from me today as I prepare for tomorrow's Blog Podium event. It's my first time attending and I'm excited about the knowledge that I'll be receiving, the possibilities that are within reach, and the connections I will create with fellow creative gurus. {Stay tuned for more posts about the event!} With that being said, yesterday's post was all about hanging plates on the walls. Today, it's all about tackling that boring, blank canvas {a.k.a. the dreaded blank walls that everyone seems to fear}. For many of us, blank walls mean one thing: unfinished. I've been impressed how people have chosen to hang their frames, in unique and often inspiring ways which brings forth how skilled we can be at balance, perspective, shapes and synergy. These three photos show photos hanging in different methods. Which one is your favourite? I'm partial to the bedroom scene in which framed portraits of various silhouettes seem to dance along the wall. Maybe I just like the vintage look of the space. What's your pick? Happy Thursday, gang!