Friday night was the opening kick-off party at Langford Market, a boutique in Houston. I had been looking forward to getting dolled up and going out with my gals and this night did not disappoint! This boutique is in Rice Village and they have tons of fabulous treasures! You’ve got to check it out!
The symposium was Saturday at Hotel Zaza. This place holds a special place in my heart since it is where I started my transition to Houston from Virginia over 5 years ago, so it’s always a delight to go back. The hotel is stunning and has an amazing view of the Houston's Medical Center.
Attendees were greeted with bubbly and delicious parfaits in martini glasses. Place cards for table settings were hung on string with clothes pins (SO adorable!). 
There were several panels addressing everything from sponsorship to organizing and tips for content and finding one’s blogging voice. I loved hearing from some of the top bloggers and what their strategies were, or weren’t, and how they achieved their goals.
You can’t spell symposium with swag bag….. or can you? Nope you can’t ;-) The swag bags were a-maz-ing! Some of the contents: scarf, leggings, camisole, cookies, bracelets, earrings, perfume samplers, bubble bath, stationary, coupons, bags, tickets and SO much more! I WAS SPOILED!
I have grown to love blogging and LWTH is truly my first baby, and I will always adore this place and the people I have met through the blogosphere. So often the internet gets a bad rap for decreasing face-to-face relationships, and I can see how easily that could happen. However, I have to say that this has NOT been MY experience and this weekend is just one of the many examples why. The support and encouragement I have gained through the blogging community is irreplaceable and came to my life at the perfect and most needed moment. I am SO grateful for the relationships I have developed and the friends I have gained (I AM REFERRING TO YOU HERE!!! :-)
Behind this day was the brilliant master-mind, Megan Silianoff from Greetings from Texas. She did a fabulous job developing this event, and I’m so proud of her and grateful for all of the effort she invested in producing such a fun symposium! Thank you Megan!!! I can’t wait until next year! ;-)
The event was so perfect but I was so sad when it was over because I was having so much fun! However, as I was waiting for the valet to deliver my car, guess who got out of her car and was staying at the hotel?!?!
PAULA DEEN!
People I was SO star-struck that my bags and my jaw hit the ground! It wasn’t until I heard the famous “Hey Y’all” that I knew I wasn’t dreaming. Do you remember me telling you just a couple weeks ago that her and I were besties, she just didn’t know it yet (see here)? Well we are one-step closer to becoming friends! lol I had a hard time concentrating on getting my camera to work (because of said "star-struck") so this is the best picture I got of her and her dog (in the brown Louis Vuitton). You’ll just have to believe me when I say I met her and got a wave from her. 
So that was seriously the perfect ending to the perfect weekend! I had so much fun, and I’m definitely looking forward to next year :-)
