Magnolia Market Recap & Pictures

My friend Sienna and I have been wanting to visit the Magnolia Market Silos for a while now.  Summer schedule just didn't work out for us to go, so we were so excited to have the chance on our way home from the Pinners Conference last weekend!  The Magnolia Market just screams JoAnna Gaines...I mean, what else would you expect?  But really, each and every single detail is thoroughly planned and intentional.
Inside the market was a treat for the eyes, as one can't just stop at one thing...it all flows together in perfect rustic-industrial harmony. After perusing the market, we explored other areas of the grounds, such as the Seed & Supply garden store and the Magnolia Market bakery.  My favorite was the actual manicured grounds. (Did you happen to catch my cartwheel shenanigans on Insta?)  Even though it was still burning hot outside, I envision how fun it would be to bring the family on a cool fall evening to run around, enjoy some food truck snacks, and just hang out.  The old jazzy music playing loudly outdoors makes quite the ambiance.
After having visited, I think I'm good.  You know where you're like "checked that off my list" kind of good?  I'm sure I'll go again, but I've seen it, enjoyed the experience, and got to soak in all that I've admired from afar.  But I'm good.  Except of course for those bakery cookies...I could definitely go for that again!

^^^ outside on the lawn looking at the market ^^^

^^^ which is your fave? ^^^

^^^ I was drooling over all the antique tables they put the displays on! ^^^

^^^ What a gorg vignette, huh? ^^^

^^^ Cotton and some more cotton ^^^

^^^ Did you know their iconic magnolia wreath is almost $100?! ^^^

^^^ Picture perfect garden ^^^

^^^ Bakery goodness ^^^

^^^ I heard Letterfolk will soon be sold at Magnolia...how cool! ^^^

^^^ The iconic Silos ^^^

^^^ Why don't cha stay and play!?! ^^^



Have you visited the Silos?  What did you think???




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Pinners Conference | Personal Style Class

Hey friends...Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Mine was fairly eventful, starting with attending and presenting at the Pinners Conference.  I taught a class on personal style, dos and don'ts, and tips for feeling your best when getting dressed.  I was SO grateful to have this opportunity and loved every minute of it. (My outfit I wore for the presentation below.)  Those who attended my class were amazing and contributed so much to the conversation....thanks y'all!
The night before presenting, we attended the V.I.P. night and met some new people and brands.  I would HIGHLY encourage you to attend one of these conferences if you ever get the chance.  Pinners Conference originated in Utah, but now holds four separate conferences in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Utah.  It's basically Pinterest in real life...crafts, shops, hair, beauty, style and so much more.  They really did a wonderful job putting on the Texas conference this year!

blouse: Nordstrom Rack // jeans: Level 99 (On MAJOR SALE) // scarf: old (similar) // clogs: Target // earrings: Lavish Leathers // bag: Kate Spade // sunnies: Nordstrom

Shop this look >>>

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My Top 10 Take-Aways from Disney Social Media Moms Conference

Happy Monday friends!!!!  I'm so excited to share with you my experience at the Disney Social Media Moms "On the Road" Conference!  When I first received my invitation to this exclusive event, I pretty much geeked out.  I've blogged quite a bit lately (HERE and HERE and HERE) about my love for Disney, our family Disney experiences, and how I can pretty much talk anyone into going on a Disney Cruise...so to be included was absolutely an amazing honor!

We listened to several speakers...some who worked for Disney Parks (PR and Social Media), as well as some bloggers and notable influencers who imparted their knowledge and experience throughout their media-based careers.  Here's a few things I took away from the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in relation to blogging:

• Take a cue from Disney and use imaginative story-telling with your blogging.

• Use a Google Doc to create a live functioning editorial calendar.

• See the world as a series of questions...and then provide answers.

• Each platform of social media is a "party" - Focus on a few platforms that really work for you.

• Every blogger should have a "book proposal" ready, meaning, writing/publishing a book/ebook should be part of every bloggers' future goals.

• Know your top search terms for your site.

• Video is EVERYTHING.  From Periscope, to Magisto, to YouTube, to Videolicious...it's where it's AT!

• Two new platforms to get in on now:  Snapchat and Periscope. {follow me on both at @kristennjansen}

• Set up two social media handles for cross promotion.

• Mickey Mouse is a good hugger.  ;)

^^^ Jealous, aren't you? ^^^

^^^ My creds ^^^

^^^ Isn't this SO cool!?  What a creative idea! ^^^

^^^ Shout out to my friend Jennifer!  Loved seeing friends there! ^^^

^^^ Taking photos and taking notes ^^^

^^^ Me and the M-O-U-S-E!  He's just as handsome in person! ^^^

  A HUGE thank you to Disney Social Media Moms for including me in this fun, informative, and most of all MAGICAL conference!  I had such a wonderful time and look forward to the next one!!!!


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Fashion Forward Recap

^^^ Brooke of Power Moms Media // Vera of Lady and the Blog // me // Audrey of Mom Generations ^^^

Visiting New York is always a favorite of mine, especially when it involves friends, blogging, a meeting new people!  Attending the Fashion Forward conference for the second year, I was surprised to have somewhat of a different experience than last...equally amazing, just different mainly due to the pleasure I had of being in the fashion show and everything that went along with that experience.  LOVED every minute of it!

^^^ Me and the lovely Nicole of Mom Trends ^^^

In the fashion show, I wore one of my favorite lines...CAbi's Fall Collection.   The night before, CAbi hosted an exclusive event where we were privileged to see the entire line, as well as chat with CAbi and their PR teams.  

Side note:  I was a little anxious about taking the train out to NJ by myself after the event Monday night...and it just so happened that I was pushing it to make the 8:30ish train on time.  Wearing the above (red) heels, I walk/ran SEVEN blocks with my huge bag AND my suitcase, and made the train by the skin of my teeth.  I kid you not, the doors closed right behind me.  I was in a full-body sweat and couldn't feel my feet as I plopped down in the first open seat.  I then proceeded to ask everyone around me if I was on the right train, as I really had no clue what I was doing.  Oh the looks I received...priceless.  I threw a few "y'alls" out and smiled my sweetest (albeit sweatiest) smile and crossed my fingers their eye daggers would cease and desist.  I don't know how New Yorkers do it everyday...plain exhausting!

^^^ Megan Zietz and I in our CAbi runway wear ^^^

^^^ Megan of TF Diaries // Maria Jose of Very Busy MaMa // me // Carly of Thirty Something Fashion // Lara of Pretty Connected ^^^

^^^ the view from the conference venue in upper Chelsea ^^^

The keynote speaker was the effortlessly gorgeous Christy Turlington Burns.  Her foundation and cause, Every Mother Counts, works to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother.  It was really inspiring to hear her speak about her own scary post-delivery experience and how she's channeled that into helping mothers globally.  Did you know a mother dies every two minutes from pregnancy and birth related complications, of which 95% of them are preventable?  There are several ways to get involved (some as easy as donating old phones) that contribute to the cause...check them out HERE.
That's about all for now...I'll share a few more tidbits about the trip next week.  Have a great weekend friends!!!!

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A Pre-Conference Post...My Excitement and Nerves

Holy-Moly, folks.  Things are about to get crazy 'round these parts... But before the craziness actually sets in, we've got to get Tyler Bree's Dream Catcher party behind us (tomorrow night) and to get through my trip to NYC next week...which is what this post, this pre-conference post, is all about.
Last year was my first to attend the Fashion Forward conference in NYC.  I had a wonderful experience of which you can read about (as well as all my take-aways from it) HERE.  This year, not only was I invited back, but I was asked to be in the fashion show and get to attend an event the night prior to the conference!  I can't wait to see what they have picked out for me to wear, but I will make sure to Instagram and Tweet it out as soon as I have it on!  Add getting my hair, nails, and makeup done, and this girl is EXCITED!
Last year I was in the city just over 24 hours AND I had the help of one of our friends to help me navigate the NJ transit system, as I stayed the night in Jersey.  This time around, I'm staying with my friend Ranya in NJ, but having to negotiate the train system all alone...and I'm not gonna lie...I'm kind of nervous about it.  I've been to NYC several times and feel like I have a fairly good sense of direction and of the subway in Manhattan.  But going outside the city is a different story, as you have to watch for the platform on a screen until it shows it...then everyone makes a mad dash to get on the train in time.  What if I don't know which one is which?  What if I can't get through the crowds with my big luggage and miss the train?  A little nerve-wracking thinking ahead, but my friend assured me she'd walk (text) me through it.
Any helpful insight you may have...give freely, please!
I'd LOVE for you to follow along with me on my trip...please stay in the loop with my celebrity encounters (Christy Turlington Burns is the keynote), cool brands/product discoveries, and of course conference sound-bites and take-aways!

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One Day At BlogHer Conference

As I mentioned in my 5 Surprises about BlogHer post yesterday, I was honored to attend the conference as an ambassador for the One Day app.  The app was launched just two days before the conference, so BlogHer was a BIG deal for them and for "early adopters" of the app.
As a momma of four, I was instantly sold the minute I discovered just how awesome this app is.  It has various themes or stories of questions you ask your kids and video their answers, then stitches them together to make a mini-movie put to music.  Afterwards, the movie is shareable, which makes it even more applicable in our social media-crazed culture.  I like to call them "personalized video montages".   Here's a couple we did the other day...and I'm wanting to do it with me and Blake too!

Favorites:


Tongue Twisters:

Isn't is amazing!?!  I foresee the possibilities being limitless with what can be done with this app...it will soon be customizable with questions, music, etc.  Right now it's free in iTunes so go download it NOW!  (Android will be available soon.) Tweet me at @kristennjansen after you play around with it and we can share tips!

In addition to sharing my new favorite app with you, here's a little Friday Fun to take you into the weekend...Rev Run doing "Tricky" at the BlogHer closing party.  I mean, just classic.  I just loved it!


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5 Things That Suprised Me About BlogHer Conference '14

This past weekend I attended the BlogHer conference in San Jose representing Austin Moms Blog as a brand ambassador for a brand spankin' new and amazing app called One Day (I'll post more about them tomorrow).  I had a wonderful time promoting the One Day app, as well as soaking in everything that is BlogHer.  Before last weekend, I had only attended style blogger conferences, which evidently are a completely different breed because several things caught me off-guard while at this diverse conference...let me know if any of you can relate.

1.  Everyone A LOT of attendees were dressed SO casual.  Again, having only attended style blogger conferences where attendees are dressed to the nines, this was a total shocker to me.  I'm not saying they didn't care what they looked like, but....(I'm sorry that sounds judgy).  I know for one thing for sure, they were a lot more comfortable than I was, which is something I had researched beforehand...dress for comfort.  Clearly, I didn't take the advice.
2.  The Voices of the Year was the main attraction for most attendees.  I didn't attend the VOTY ceremony, however, I asked many repeat BlogHer attendees what their favorite part of the conference was...they ALL responded with how inspirational and uplifting the VOTY's are and that it was the best part of BlogHer.  (You can read them all HERE.)  Not the sessions, not the keynotes, but the blog posts of the year that were so moving, poignant, and made a difference in people's lives.  Note taken...next time, don't miss it.
3.  Arianna Huffington is a little spit fire.  This woman (yeah, that woman---Huffington Post)...I didn't know much about her before I heard her interview (by Guy Kawasaki), but I was very interested and impressed by what she had to say.  He asked various questions about her new book and about her amazing career in general, and do you know what the running theme of ALL of her answers was?  SLEEP.  How cool (and so true) is that?!?  Coming from such a successful and inspirational women talking to a room full of mom bloggers hanging on her every word....sleep was the message.  I loved it. Oh, and she speaks in quotable 140 characters, to be sure.
4.  Bloggers are Bloggers are Bloggers.  Being my first exposure to a diversity of bloggers, I wasn't sure what I would encounter.  In the expo at the One Day booth, I wondered if we'd meet bloggers who were all about the brand collabs, or bloggers who just were looking for free stuff, or bloggers who just wanted to talk and share their story or bloggers who were exuberant to have some "alone time" away from kids.  And what I found was that none could be pegged.  Yes, there were some that fit into each of those categories, but mainly what I realized (and curiously enough, I realized this from a vendor standpoint), was that they're generally all the same.  Just like me.  And having a general knowledge of how all these other bloggers thought and were motivated, it brought a new dimension to performing my job as a One Day ambassador...a sense of community and relatability.  (I hope that makes sense.)  Basically, we're all in this crazy thing called blogging together...we GET each other.
5.  Feminist undertones heard throughout many of the breakout sessions.  Bloggers are influencers, so asking them to sit on a panel and discuss the "future of blogging" or "the social aspect of their brand" will inevitably steer towards personal experiences...most of which I'm sure had already been documented in their respective blogs.  I guess this one isn't too surprising, but I was slightly amused at how much "girl power" seemed to drive several of the sessions and conversations. Duh Kristen, BlogHER.  

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

I had a wonderful time and would love to attend again next year!  A huge thanks to One Day for bringing me along with them for this incredible experience! 
-Have you ever attended a BlogHer conference or were you there this past weekend? -If so, where you "surprised" by anything you experienced there?


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Fashion Forward Conference

I think I'm finally recovered from my trip to NYC last week for the Fashion Forward Conference.  Okay realistically, I'm probably still at about 85%...however, I'll take it.  Things have calmed down a bit to digest what I experienced....

I was invited to the conference by Nicole of Mom Trends (she's one of the founders), and was so thrilled to find out that it was completely focused toward mom style bloggers.  It's so refreshing and beneficial to have a conference for such a unique niche of bloggers.  I felt like it was a perfect fit and am SO glad I was able to go (thanks to Zulily).

Here are some shots I took while at the conference that I hope convey the true feel and vibe of it.  You'll find my take-aways and new knowledge learned at the bottom of the post, so stick around 'till the end!

This was such a cool, bright, and crisp venue.  All the sponsors had their spots set up, with whom I really enjoyed getting to talk to.  Jodi from Stokke was one I instantly hit it off with...she was such a delight!

Countess LuAnn was on one of the panels about brand partnering...this is her being interviewed beforehand.  It was interesting getting to talk with her for a bit....er, I mean...with her assistant, that is.  Yep.

Rosie Pope was delightful.  Besides the fact that I loved just listening to her talk, I couldn't take my eyes off her earrings...gorg!  The "Pregnant In Heels" star is the kind of woman you sorta want to hate (I mean, who looks that great pregnant with her fourth child???), but she's truly super charming and is a spectacular business woman.

One of the conference sponsors, New Balance, had a little contest to match up celebrities with their New Balance kicks....guess who won?!?  This girl did!  I'll be sure to post the "prize" whenever I get it later this week!

If this face looks familiar, it's probably because it is...Phillip Bloch kind of a big deal in the stylist world.  You remember Halle Berry's sheer embroidered Oscar dress when she won?  Yeah, that was all him.  He sat at my table and was a hoot....aaaand he kinda likes the mic.  :)

The day was packed full of panels, style shows, and treats.  So much fun in one day...and well put on!

Now I know I should be a lot better about having chronicled my outfits, but I was travelling alone, therefore, didn't really have anyone to take my pictures.  So...this was the best I got...in full sunlight, with a dog photobomber...def not ideal, but it was so nice of the girl I met taking it for me.  You get the gist though, right?  I talked about this outfit HERE, so you can reference all the details.

Okay, on to some of my take-aways...which is the real reason you're reading this post, right?
-On what Brands looks for when collaborating with bloggers:  Longevity, new ideas, specifics from blogger in a pitch.  (Panelists included GM, Calypso, Countess LuAnn from RHNY, American Express)
-On Trendsetting/Trend spotting:  Not losing your authenticity by diluting your voice with sponsored content, Fall hair trend-short/pixie, making sure you understand the digital space and how it will continue to evolve.  (Panelists included Phillip Bloch-stylist, Ladies Home Journal, Sarah Potempa-celebrity hair stylist, NBC/Universal)
-On being a social media powerhouse:  Sponsored Pinterest boards and group boards are successful, on YouTube making sure you tell a story, don't pay attention to Clout score.  (Panelists included Danielle Smith-YouTube sensation, Melisa Fluhr-Project Nursery, Liz Gumbinner-Cool Mom Picks, Yuli Ziv-founder of Style Coalition)
That's about all I'm going to share here, but to sum it up, it was well worth the quick trip!  I can't wait to go back next year!!!

***If you missed it yesterday, check out my full run-down of Zulily's Trend Week.  Today feature is Animal Prints....make sure to look around, as they've got some serious steals and deals for Fall women and kids styles!  Psst, the shoes today are to die for!