What Happens in Vegas...

Oh my word. Vegas has come and gone! It was a whirlwind of awesomeness (is that even a word??) and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I'm linking up with my sweet friend Deirdre to share all about the TpT conference!

This past week, over 800 TpT teacher authors joined forces in Vegas for the first Teachers Pay Teachers Conference! WOW! I could feel the positive energy surging from every single person there. From happy hours, to fabulous sessions, we all were SO excited to be there!

My week started out with the 3rd annual Teacher/Blogger Meet-Up in Vegas hosted by the lovely Natalie and Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants. They did an amazing job putting together the most fabulous meet-up for all teachers! 

I finally got to meet some of my bloggy BFF's in person! YAY! Here are a few snapshots from that night. :)

Molly from Lessons With Laughter was SUCH A SWEETHEART! You'll also see my Weekend Warrior friends Aimee from Primarily Speaking and Christy from Crayons and Whimsy! They are so talented and such great bloggy friends! And of course you can recognize Jennifer from First Grade Blue Skies! She was an absolute DOLL and could listen to her sweet southern accent all flipping day long! 

Can I just say how much more I love Cheryl from Primary Graffiti after finally meeting her this week?!? She is seriously so genuine and sweet! We both were super excited to meet each other but didn't get a chance to chat during the meet-up. SAD FACE! But guess what she did? She came over to our table at dinner and gave me the biggest hug and introduced herself! AGH! Heart of gold, that one! 

Amy Borrell Berner was also there chatting it up with all the teachers! Thank you 
so much for all that you and the TpT team have done for us! Deanna Jump 
was her sweet usual self and gladly took pictures will all the teachers there.

These are some of the SoCal girls representing!! Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher was so stinking fabulous! I could talk to that girl all day long! I am so glad we've become friends! Teeny, tell your hubs a guacamole cook-off is in order!! ;)  And of course it was so nice reuniting with my BFF Christy!! If you haven't been following her IG, she's been across the globe in Iceland and France! So glad she's back!! Hadar from Miss Kindergarten (like she needs an intro, right?!?) could not have been more friendly and genuine! She's another with the heart of gold and I could not be happier to call her my friend! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all these girls!!

       

Catherine from The Brown Bag Teacher  and April from A Modern Teacher were both fun to meet! They are so sweet and easy to talk to! Can you believe Catherine is ONLY a second-year teacher?? She's on her way to even more fabulousness!! 

Friday was the TpT Conference and started out with a powerful keynote session by Paul Edelman, the founder of TpT and Deanna Jump. Sigh...I could go on for days about that girl. She is an inspiration to teachers everywhere and is such a humble, hardworking person. She shared her TpT journey and left such an impact on all of us there. For all teachers struggling to make ends meet and just stay afloat...she says, "Just keep swimming." GAHHHH! So much love for her!! Here are Christy, Stephanie, and I with Paul.

Then it was time for our sessions!! All of them were SO amazing. From Tammy and Christy's presentation on all things TpT to Mel D's advanced Pinterest, and Hadar's bloggy basics, I was in awe of how talented this group of women are. So much love for these girls!!! Mel, one word...#tacosisters.

Oh and you know, I just got to have the most fabulous chat with the amazing Jen Jones from Hello Literacy. She is my reading hero!! Trying to get her to come and visit our school in Redondo Beach!! ;)

My Weekend Warrior crew!! :)

My Cali girls!! XOXO

Overall, it was the BEST experience I could have ever imagined! Got to meet my bloggy friends in person, connected with followers and fans, as well as created friendships that have made my heart happy! I only wish there was MORE time so I could get to chat with my more bloggy friends and followers!! Until next time, Vegas! And now, for a little r&r!