So I don't feel late about getting this post out to you a good week or so after I should have because I can use my fall back ... my suitcase from Haven isn't even unpacked yet!!!

In our defense, we are crazy people that plan trips back to back to back. Sometimes with less than a day between travel on separate trips.   And I am so grateful there isn't another to back on that one. Because I don't own four suitcases.

But we are home now, and will be spending the rest of our summer doing what we love most - pounding nails up at the Momplex - and I have no other excuse to get me out of finally unpacking the suitcases and getting my Haven post together!

Have you read all of the amazing Haven Posts?  The conference really was all that and a huge success.  I am very grateful to have been able to go, and am definitely feeling very inspired by my DIY blog friends.

I know I've been promising you a Haven recap, but I think much more interesting than me telling you about how bad my feet hurt and how dumb (and numbing) it was to spend two days in high heels holding a hammer  ... 

Image from Susie Harris Blog

Is for me to write about what I leaned.  So here goes .. 10 Things I Learned About (our fav) DIY Bloggers!

image from Katie

1. Their personalities are even bigger in person. 

You think they are awesome on their blogs?  That they write killer posts and make you laugh and cry and drool all over your keyboards on reveal day?  Try meeting them in person.  

Within seconds of meeting Katie from Bower Power and Sherry from Young House Love for the first time in person, I was laughing so hard I was snorting! What we love about their personalities on their blogs is so much bigger and bolder in person.  

PS Katie I will never look at silverware the same again :)

image from Traci

2. They work hard. 

It may all look like time to goof off, but behind the giggles is a lot of hard work.  Shortly after this photo was taken, Kate from Centsational Girl was asking me what I needed for my session.  Don't let the fun fool you - behind the blog is a very very hardworking blogger.

image from Love of Family & Home

3. They are better at photographing than being photographed. 

So we all know Kevin and Layla from the Lettered Cottage take amazing photos (and do amazing work), and their session on photography was noted as one of the best at Haven.  But when I met Layla, she seriously glows so much more in person than in photographs.  This woman is gorgeous!  And the same was true of so many of the women at Haven. I was amazed at how much more beautiful all of my blog friends are in real life. 

Image from Before Meets After

4. They are doing what they love.  And it shows. 

For my carpentry session, we built a locker cubby system for kids.  And it ended up being quite large.  When we were done, I wasn't quite sure what to do with it.  Lisa from Before Meets After asked if she could take it home and paint it.  She was sure she could find a way to fit it in her car.  Despite two long exhausting days of DIY at a DIY Blogging conference, Lisa was ready to tackle more!

What struck me about Haven was these bloggers are TRULY doing what they love.  And it shows.

photo by domestiCate

5. They got your back. 

I didn't know this when I wrote my first blog post and clicked the publish button that just like that I'd joined an amazing group of women who would have my back.  Way back when, I received a kind email from The Nester (who I did not know at the time) recommending me to an ad network, which has enabled me to work full time at blogging and cover the cost of all these projects plans.  

Within minutes of seeing Beckie from Infarrantly Creative at Haven, she was telling me that I was worth more than I could even imagine.   She said, email me, I'll share all my blogging business secrets with you.

In any other line of business, we'd be competitors.  We'd be keeping our secrets to ourselves.  But at Haven, I learned something else.  This group of DIY Bloggers look out for each other. They've got your back.

image from Shanty2Chic

6. What brings you together online will bring you together in person.

Maybe it's because we both come from families with lots of sisters, probably because we share a love of lumber, miter saws and heels... whatever it is, I finally got to meet two of my favorite blog friends, Whitney and Ashley from Shanty-2-Chic.  

Just like we hit it off online, our friendship in person was instant and natural.  What brings you together online, will just be that much more real in person.

image from Ashley

7. Their style extends beyond their home.

So you think their homes and projects are cute online?  

These women have style.  We know this.

But that style extends far beyond crafts projects.

The ladies at Haven were some of the best dressed women I've ever seen!  And we aren't talking designer labels.  No way.  We are talking Target tops with handmade necklaces and DIY dresses.  

Every time I see Jaimelyne from I Heart Naptime and Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous, I admire their amazing style.

image from Cleverly Inspired

8. They are strong.

When a giant bug (yikes, it was BIG) that I'd never seen before (yes, I'm scared of bugs) crawled across the floor in the middle of my building session, it wasn't the few men that came to the rescue.  It was my friend Tracie from Cleverly Inspired that saved us all. And then when I needed help building, the DIY Bloggers were fearless in lending a hand.  These women are strong and do whatever it takes to make their lives better.  Go Tracie!

image by Lesli Devito

9. They have crazy talent.

I, Ana White, had the great honor of sharing a high five moment with Lesli Devito, who painted this:

Image by Lesli Devito

I am still in awe that I met Lesli Devito!  She blogs at MY Old Country House and paints the most darling animal portraits with HOUSE PAINT!!!  She was so kind and funny, I found myself feeling sad that we didn't have more time to chat.  

I was totally blown away by the raw talent at Haven.  Amazing.

10. They are real people.

We read their blogs, we follow them on Twitter. We see their Facebook posts.  But the reality behind it all is the bloggers I met at Haven are real people, with real dreams, big hearts, raw talent, and a great desire to share and connect with you.

I feel so lucky to be in their company, so fortunate to have had a chance to get to know them better.  And so sad there just isn't enough hours in the day to link to each and ever amazing DIY blogger I met.  

Can't wait for Haven 2013!