Event Recap: The Southern Blog Society’s 3rd Annual #SBSCon in Charleston

If you follow along on Snapchat, (username: stephaniepernas)  Instagram, or read the blog regularly,  I’m sure you know about my roadtrip to attend Southern Blog Society’s SBS Con in Charleston a few weeks ago. I had SUCH  a blast, networking with amazing brands like Lilly Pulitzer and Kendra Scott, learning new strategies and blogging tips, and meeting other blogger gals that I’ve followed on the interwebs for years. I made so many new friends and just generally had a blast! If you’re a member of SBS, you MUST go next year! If you aren’t… you need to apply. (Southern Blog Society is going national!)

My roomie for the weekend at the BEAUTIFUL Belmond Charleston Place was my blogging bestie, Kristin Brophy from The Fancy Things. I loved staying with a friend- we basically had a slumber party all weekend, ordering room service and gossiping. Truth be told, we both felt a little under the weather, so we ended up spending way more time in the hotel room than wandering around Charleston, which I am TOTALLY bummed about! (Oh well, guess I need to just plan another trip!) The hotel was awesome. So luxurious and beautiful. (THAT WHITE MARBLE BATHROOM, THOUGH!) It was really a blogger’s dream room- white marble everywhere, beautiful light, personal touches… love.

If you visit Charleston, the Belmond is the ONLY place you should stay.

Our first night, there was a welcome cocktail party on the patio hosted by Swoozies. (Everyone kept calling it Sweaty Swoozies because it was 800 DEGREES OUTSIDE!) It was a great time to mingle and meet other bloggers. I was SO excited to meet the lovely Julie Leah, who is so adorable, as well as Nina from Law of Fashion and Lawren from Salt Water and Stilettos. Networking at a blogger function is so funny- you sort of know everyone, but you really don’t. It’s so fun to meet someone in person you’ve been following online.

Swoozies gifted us these adorable personalized notepads to take notes in! Here’s mine and a shot of my gal Kristin Clark’s! 

I shared this photo yesterday on Instagram of me and Cathy from Poor Little It Girl (one of the co-founders of Southern Blog Society)… because, seriously, it’s hilarious. Fun fact: Cathy and I met in college and were roomies in NYC! 

Taking a sec to pose with Kristin from Fancy Things, Nina from Law of Fashion, and Darcy from Hello Luvvy!

Kristin and I went to dinner with Nina and Lawren after the cocktail party, and then headed home to get to sleep on the early(ish) side so we would be fresh for the morning! The next day, we grabbed breakfast at the Charleston Grill before heading over the the conference at the Riviera Theater right across the street. There were some really great speakers and I definitely felt inspired to get home and take things to the next level, blogwise!

The SBS Con brand panel featured speakers from Lilly Pulitzer, Kendra Scott and The Real Real.

After the conference was the fun part- the brand networking and gifting suite! Going from booth to booth  meeting brand reps and handing out cards and media kits was so fun- and also (to quote Cathy) felt kind of like adult trick or treating; only instead of candy, we got to scoop up goodies from Kendra Scott, Lilly Pulitzer, Vera Bradley, IT Cosmetics and Moon & Lola! (Among other amazing brands in attendance!)

First thing we did was choose a Vera Bradley Big Tote to stuff all our goodies in! I went with the blue and orange but now I’m wishing I’d done the black and white… even though I really just want BOTH of them! (They’re on sale for $32, I think I’ll scoop one up!)

How “Totes Adorbs” is the My Kind of Lovely table?? I’m so jazzed to have one of those bags!! I love it.

SO excited to check out the amazing Mystic Bazaar collection from Kendra Scott hitting stores July 15! It’s SO GOOD. 

I’m obsessed with Hallmark Signature collection cards. I stocked up on cards to send to friends and fam! 
After the networking panel, Kristin and I headed back to our room and ordered some yummy room service- we were SO TIRED. Then, it was time to get ready for the Top Member Dinner at Edmund’s Oast… it was FABULOUS. The food was delish and the cocktails were so yummy and refreshing!

I went to bed at, like, 9:30 that night! I was so tired… we were up early the last day for a delicious breakfast sponsored by Hallmark Signature and then headed home! Overall, it was a really great weekend, I only wish I had more time to explore Charleston! See below for my social media posts: