Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Event in NYC

Last week, I traveled to NYC to attend the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Event and Party at the BHG offices and as I write this post, I still can’t believe that I just had this wonderful experience.  I have been so excited to share this day and the whole event with you guys!

Just to give you a little background about the BHG Stylemaker Event, 70 bloggers from across the country were invited to attend a workshop and party in celebration of BHG’s September “Stylemaker” issue.  The group of bloggers were about as diverse as you could get because we all came from different backgrounds and blogging niche areas including; food, home, organizing, lifestyle, fashion/beauty and DIY bloggers.  

By the way, just so you know, this is what bloggers do when we all get together:

Yes, we pretty much document everything!

Of course, the Better Homes and Gardens editorial staff was there and just as diverse as us and they came from different areas of expertise and magazine departments (home, food, fashion, photography, art direction, etc..). So this mix of bloggers stirred up with the talented BHG team was the most delicious recipe for inspiring conversations and ideas from a lot of different perspectives.  

The day began with a workshop in the morning at the BHG/Meredith Publishing Midtown offices.  The event was kicked off with a breakfast reception hosted by Minted.  I couldn’t believe it but Minted had covered all of the walls of the conference room with framed pictures of each of our families from our Instagram feeds.  It was really so thoughtful and talk about a great ice breaker! We all had so much fun sharing and talking about our families!  What a special way to start such an exciting day!

Minted also created these fun heart collages with all of the 70 bloggers pictures (the lower right was my family pictures) #mysweetfamily:

The day just kept getting better!

Every room in the BHG offices that we stepped into had an amazing view!  It was hard for me to concentrate.  Yes, that’s my nose pressed against the glass in the picture below like a child, puppy or you know, someone like me whose daily view is usually crickets and tall beautiful East Texas pine trees:

During the day at the workshop, I had the opportunity to meet in five small group classes and learn tips from the BHG team that included tricks for improving my photos, photo styling ideas and ways that I can better choose projects to share with you guys on the blog.

Here is a picture from one of my classes with BHG’s Oma Blaise Ford, Executive Editor and Allison Maze, Digital Editor:

 

I also had the chance to learn some awesome photo styling tips from the talented Eddie Ross, East Coast Editor/Producer (By the way, if you’re not following Eddie Ross on Instagram here, you need to! Eddie has the most amazing thrift store karma and it’s so fun to see all the great stuff that he always seems to find):

 

 

To be honest with you guys, I stayed amazed the whole day that the BHG team dedicated a whole day to share their expertise with us. The best part of it all is that they were just as excited to have this conversation and experience with us bloggers, as we were with them!

At the end of the workshop, we all met for a panel discussion in the studios of The Better Show, which is also located in the same building.  When I walked in, this is who I saw:

 

 

Oh hello sweet Nate Berkus!  I’m pretty sure I let out a little squeal (another nose against the glass moment!)…

The Stylemaker panel discussion was really inspiring for me because it included Stylemaker’s that were recently featured in the BHG September issue (Susan Feldman; Co-Founder of One Kings Lane, Gaby Dalkin; What’s Gaby’s Cooking and Gen Sohr; Pencil and Paper Development Co.):

 

 

Nate moderated and led the discussion on what inspires this talented group of Stylemakers and how that inspiration plays a part in helping them better define and convey their style.  Such great stuff that I just soaked it in because trust me, if you check out these ladies (and Nate)(links above), you will see that they are seriously off-the-charts amazing!

Another highlight for me was when BHG’s Editor-in-Chief Gayle Goodson Butler, who really pulled the day together with her words about how BHG Magazine and bloggers share the same passion and purpose; to inspire and encourage our readers to tap into their own creativity and explore their personal style.

 

 

After the panel discussion, Beth Cochran from The Better Show asked me to do an interview for an upcoming show about the Stylemaker event.  Beth took this picture of me while I was doing the interview:

 

I always get a little nervous in front of the camera, so I really hope that my excitement for the event hid my nervousness! I wasn’t familiar with The Better Show (which is part of BHG/Meredith Publishing) because the show is not available in my area.  I checked The Better Show out online and it looks like something I would love. Have you guys ever watched it?  You can see if you get the show here.

After the panel, we all got on buses that took us across town to the Gansevoort Hotel for the party.  Here are some pictures from the party from BHG photographer Avi Gerver:

 

 

Of course, with BHG involved, you know the food was seriously out of this world!

 

 

 

There was a photo booth at the party too and you know, who could resist, right?

 

 

In the picture above are my longtime blogging friends; Kim from Sand and Sisal (left), Beth from Home Stories A to Z (right), Sarah from the Yellow Cape Cod (front) and I’m in the back:  It was so fun to catch up with old friends, connect with new faces and have great conversations with BHG staff.

Getting the opportunity to connect and learn firsthand from a team of experts and other bloggers, really reenergized and inspired me.   I can’t thank BHG enough for wanting to encourage and help us to better connect with our readers.  I’m back from NYC to my tall pine trees but I have come home with a lot of inspiration and new tricks up my sleeve thanks to BHG!  Stay tuned!

Thank you so much BHG! #bhgstyle

Cheers!

Cyndy