Photography Credit: (c) Avi Gerver Photography
September 17, 2015: The 2015 Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Celebration at the Hudson Hotel in New York City.
What a whirlwind of a week! Since I can remember, my biggest dream was to live and work in New York City. I had never been there at the time but I still remember daydreaming of the fast paced lifestyle, the city lights, the contemporary buildings, the “fancy” people and the “important” career. I just knew that the day I graduated I would pack it all up and head to the Big Apple. My first time spent in NYC was my Junior year of college in 2004 studying interior design at the University of Georgia and we spent a week touring design firms, designer’s homes and studios. I fell in love with the glitz and glam but deep down I knew that my dreams of a husband and family had since surpassed my dreams for the city life. Of course there is still a piece of me that loves those moments of travel, of work, of pretending I’m “important” (insert a huge LOL) and at least a couple of days of the “go-go-go” lifestyle.
Several months ago I received an invitation from Better Homes and Gardens for their 3rd annual Stylemaker Celebration. They chose around 50 home and food bloggers across the United States to join them in NYC to celebrate STYLE. I mean, I like to think I am somewhat of a stylemaker in the confines of our little 10 acre “farm”… but THEY think I am? Now how on Earth did that happen?!? I am still asking myself this same thing. But… I was and I went and I had an absolutely, unbelievably AMAZING time…
Since I cannot man the subway, the streets of NYC, the Atlanta airport and all of that jazz solo… quite yet… I brought my gorgeous little Barbie doll of a sister. We packed our bags and drove out of Monroe, GA around 6am Wednesday morning. Our flight landed in NYC at 1pm and we made our way to the Hudson Hotel. Wow I think I was all heart eyes from the moment we walked in…
Photos Via: trendyguide.wordpress.com
Photo Via: hotels.com
Photo Via: foodandflipflops.com
Photo Via: travelpony.com
Photo Via: nye.com
The remainder of the day was spent perusing the streets touring Grand Central Station, Times Square, a few Starbucks and ending our day meeting one of my “IG besties” Shauna with The House of Silver Lining for dinner at The Smith. Since Maghan had never been to New York, we tried to hit all of the touristy hot spots. The following morning we were up bright and early for our 8:30am Check-In and Breakfast…
8:30am Check-In and Breakfast
Top: Victoria’s Secret, Skirt: ChicWish, Shoes: Joyfolie
Mallory with Style Your Senses
Stephen Orr- Editor in Chief with BHG
Simon Andrews with Simon Cooks
9:30am Opening Remarks
The Conference Space
Kenzie Kramer- BHG Social Media Editor
10am Session #1- Creating a 360 Brand
Kaelin Zawilinski- BHG Digital Editorial Manager
10:45am Networking Break
Eddie Ross- East Coast Editor + Publisher
11:30am Panel: Getting A Book Deal
(from left to right): Eddie Ross- Editor + Publisher, Sara Forte- The Sprouted Kitchen, Rux Martin- Rux Martin Books, Stephen Orr- BHG Editor in Chief
12:30pm Lunch
(from left to right): Julia- Cuckoo 4 Design, Chelsea- Two Twenty One, Bridget- DIY Playbook, ME, Casey- DIY Playbook
1:30pm Session #2- Photo Shoot-Worthy Flower Arranging
Matthew Robbins- Matthew Robbins Design
Maghan with Oma Ford- BHG Executive Editor
2:30pm Session #3- Styling the Perfect Holiday Table
Eddie Ross- BHG East Coast Editor + Author of “The Modern Mix”
3:30pm Panel- Ask the Editors Q & A
(Editors from left to right): Stephen Orr, Nancy Hopkins, Oma Ford, Eddie Ross & Amy Panos
4:30pm Panel- Stylemaker Discussion
(from left to right): Clodagh McKenna, Patrick Mele, Erin Gleeson & Kishani Perera
6-8pm Stylemaker Celebration Cocktail Party!
BHG Cover Girl Brooke Shields!
All Photography (unless otherwise noted):
Photography Credit: (c) Avi Gerver Photography
I think I sat staring at my computer for the last fifteen minutes trying to sum up my trip in less than a gazillion words. I could ramble for hours. Literally. Everyone keeps asking, “what was it?”… “how was it?”! It was amazing. It was inspiring. It was refreshing. And it was once in a lifetime. To spend time with such creative, accomplished and important (in my field) people gives you such a huge burst of desire. Of motivation. I came home Sunday night and I told my hubby, “I literally think my head is going to explode.” I want to design. I want to write a book. I want to travel more. I want to blog more. I want to do everything, design everything and share everything across every social media platform there is. So now to hone it all in and get to work!
I think what I enjoyed most was the networking. In my small town in rural Georgia, I am pretty confident everyone thinks I am crazy. I have such a huge passion for design and to be around so many others with this same “fire” for what I do was electric. I would say what I learned most was to be ME. To be different. To stand out. Sometimes I find myself questioning my bold style, questioning how much I share with the world, questioning if I should just get a “real job”. And after this trip, after feeling such a high for what I do, I know I am in the right place.
Stay tuned for more on my shopping trip and lunch outing with Eddie Ross last Saturday!
XOXO, Brittany Hayes
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