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This past Sunday morning, I attended Blog Brunch DC, which was a gathering of DC area women with a propensity for the creative. Our stories have different starting points, but seemed to follow a similar path: Many of us broke out of the corporate mold and followed a dream, a passion, something that was both scary and exciting, which made it all the more fulfilling when we finally did it.
Blog Brunch was a chance to bring us together and share our stories, get to know one another outside of Instagram, and hopefully leave with new connections and budding friendships.
Hosted by the ever-talented Rebecca of A Daily Something and Joy of Mornings Like These, the event took place in the inspiring Sweet Root Village studio space, inside a lovely old building in Old Town Alexandria. (By the day, I want to personally thank all of you girls for putting on yet another wonderful event.)
I was happy to be joined by Nicole of Finch Sewing Studio for the trip down to Alexandria – I met Nicole back in November when I first discovered her shop, and over that time we’ve discovered that we are both the kind of people who appreciate the possibilities for creativity in life. We get inspired often and carve out time in our days to see where our vision takes us. Clearly, Blog Brunch DC was our kind of gathering.
We were welcomed with open arms (literally) by Rebecca, who I first met at the Kinfolk Dinner she hosted back in May (which was incredible, remember?) I’ve gotten to know her a bit better through the eyes of her Instagram, and she has become someone I look to for inspiration, and hope to personally work with her soon. We were then introduced to the sweet Joy of the blog Mornings Like These. She promotes mindful mornings, which in recent weeks has quickly become my new ritual, and it’s made me enjoy the rest of my day all the more.
I would be remiss if I did not mention how much I just adore the studio that Rebecca and Lauren of Sweet Root Village have put together. They’ve curated the perfect vintage-modern decor for the mostly neutral, yet not at all boring, space. It’s a stark contrast to my bright and colorful, almost childish home office, and although I love my workspace, I am feeling the urge to do a bit of a makeover.
The food. Oh, the food. It’s always the food. I have not yet been steered wrong by any of Rebecca’s recommendations for food-related vendors, and Blog Brunch was no different. Dangerously Delicious Pies lived up to their name. Tapas-style pitas and spreads from Cava Mezze were a big hit. Even fellow Blog Brunch attendee, Amanda of Out of the Box Bakery, provided gluten-free, paleo-friendly goodies that were out of this world.
Once everyone had some time to eat (first things first, right?) and mingle, Joy and Rebecca introduced themselves and spoke about the event and its purpose. We then went around the room, each sharing a bit about ourselves, our journey, our story. No judgement, no criticism. Just a room full of creative women at different stages in our quest to live an inspired life. Many of us have been fortunate enough to hop off the proverbial conveyor belt and follow our own path to happiness, whether that was photographing, baking, planning, sewing, styling, writing. We’re the kind of women who felt caged in our old life, and opted to take it into our own hands.
As expected, everyone seemed to click with one another and so we shared emails, blogs, Instagram names. In fact, most of us felt like we didn’t get to chat with everyone as long as we wanted to, and are finding ways to get together on their own. And this… this is why Blog Brunch DC was created (or so I’d imagine).
We totally went home with tote bags filled with goodies from various vendors like Rifle Paper Co.,Uncommon Goods, Lollia, and Virginia’s own Trouve Magazine (which I’m all about, by the way – I can’t wait for volume 2!). Krystal of Esther & Harper even brought each of us a vintage trolley token as a keepsake to remember our time together.
Above photo borrowed from Lindsay of Shrimp salad circus because I forgot to take one!
There’s nothing like being in a room full of innovative women to get your creative juices flowing. After Blog Brunch DC, I am totally inspired. To do what? Anything and everything.
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I make whimsical art for color-lovers and California dreamers. I'm based in Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. where there are most decidedly no palm trees in sight.