MelissaStuff

So it has taken me WAY too long to get around to writing a summary post about my Creative Estates trip. Part of that is because I blogged from the event as I went along, and part of it – well, is just plain being busy. I thought the best things I could share with you, now are the things I learned. #1 - Twitter is a conversation. Previously I used it as a soapbox to yell my latest ideas, savings, and deals from. #2 – Comment on  other people’s posts. I read blogs ALL the time, but unless my whole earth is rocked by the post, I don’t usually take the time to say anything. Apparently, that’s not the best way to go about it in the blogging community. #3 – Title your photos. I didn’t even know how to do this until Creative Estates, but it is critical for searches run on images.google.com. #4 – Schedule posts. I have to admit I knew how to do this and I used it to space out my posts on days when I had a couple hours to post all day. But what I didn’t do was schedule po...

for a Creative Estates giveaway!   One of our wonderful sponsors for this conference was Essential Swimwear . She sent me this adorable swimsuit to try.   No, that is not me. I have lost some weight in preparation for our cruise next month, but I do not look like that yet. In fact, I don’t look good enough that I wanted to get in a swimsuit, take a picture and put it out there for all of you to see. But the best part is she is giving a swimsuit away – whatever swimsuit the winner chooses! Check out these cute options:   Okay, so I’m busy here at the conference so let’s make this easy . . . Entries : (Please leave a separate comment for each of these that you complete so you get the maximum number of entries.) 1. Follow MelissaStuff by GFC, RSS feed , Twitter , Facebook , Networked Blogs or email. (+1 for each method) 2. Tweet this giveaway. (+1 for each) The winner will be chosen after midnight on April 12 and will have 24 hours to respond by e...

We learned all kinds of stuff today at the conference, but the best time we had fellowshipping tonight with a bunch of other bloggers and crafters at the Arizona Girls Night Out. Jenni and I changed outfits once again in order to go hang out with some crazy ladies at the Arizona Girl’s Night Out. We got too busy to get good pictures, but this is what we wore . . . the accessories are the only real interesting parts of our outfits. Jenni’s hair clip – Olive Blue Jenni’s necklace – Ragamuffin Beauties (another item that is coming soon) Melissa’s Earrings – Ragamuffin Beauties (Black Roses – you guessed it, coming soon!!) Melissa’s Headband – Craft E. Magee Tonight’s dinner benefited Kate Macrae – you can read a short synopsis of her story here . Good night . . . more blogging fun tomorrow.

So here we go...we very carefully selected our outfits for this trip because my SIL has her own Etsy store and many of these ladies handmake beautiful items. Here is what we wore today: My top came from Charming Charlie , and my shorts came from Steinmart . My earrings are also from Charming Charlie and they are my favorite. I don't like jewelry very much do they have to be something special for me to bother with, let alone LOVE! My SIL is in an Elle top that came from Kohl's. Her jeans came from a store called Maurices in Waco. Side note: I adore Maurices . They have some super cute stuff in a wide range of sizes and have some great deals on their sale items. She is wearing adorable Merona sandals from Target - a bit jealous about those. Jenni has her own Etsy store - Ragamuffin Beauties  - and the earrings she is wearing are PeachMum, debuting in her shop immediately following the Creative Estates conference. We are both wearing this necklace from VintagePearl : ...

What a day! We have shopped, eaten, talked, laughed, cried, met new people and are finishing up with cupcakes!!! Here's to a great day . . .

The wonderful people at Marriott we're able to get us into our room early...and our hotel was already paid for, so this was an easy, fast check-in.

Getting ready to board...

After pedicures and not much sleep, my SIL and I are on our way to Creative Estates. It's way too early for this not morning person and I think we've already broken a bunch of TSA rules. Hopefully we'll be on this plane and past all the scrutiny. Cheers !

Wow, I can’t believe I was just telling you that you needed to invest in some Mabel’s Labels and then I look and there is a wonderful deal on them!   Mamapedia is offering $20 worth of Mabel’s Labels for just $10 . . . and if you use the code FRIENDS20 you will get an additional 20% off making it just $8 !

Life has been flying by me and I have been meaning to update you on our Creative Estates sponsors! You’ll want to read this because there are some giveaways involved that you will want to get in on. Mabel’s Labels just sent us these awesome travel labels for us to use for our stuff while we attend the conference. Can’t wait . . . they are uber cute!! Shutterfly is donating 20 photo books and notecard sets that we will be giving away here at MelissaStuff, on my SIL ’s blog, through our Twitter accounts and in person at the conference. So keep checking in. You’ll want to get one of those! Essential Swimwear has ALL of their swimwear on sale for 40% off!!!! And they expect to get new styles in March which we will be introducing to you – and you might just have a chance to win one so keep checking out these Creative Estates updates. Tropical Traditions has donated some great organic lip balms that we will be taking to giveaway at the conference! As you know I love the...