alt...

if there's one thing you should know about me by now, it's that i'll never make you feel badly about missing something. whether it's a party or my birthday or even one of my most aggro two-handed forehands on the off chance we ever play tennis together. {call it out. i don't care. i hate keeping score.}

but if there's one other thing you should really know about me by now, it's that i can't keep a secret.

i won't tell you what a thrill it was to mingle with such a brilliant bunch of creatives at alt design summit. i won't. unless you ask. i also won't even mention how even the most seasoned bloggers walked away from alt with fresh inspiration. nope.

you know how i am with compliments, and you probably know how i cringe whenever i hit publish. but to learn that she struggles with all that nonsense just as much? made me breathe a little easier. i was smitten three seconds after meeting her.

but that's all i'll say about that. because if you knew what you were missing when you missed the chance to meet everyone...oh, what the what. i'm getting tired of all this secrecy. and you'd feel worse if i didn't tell you, right?

briefly, then.

i was super nervous to meet jaime of design milk. i mean...she's it. no need. she was even cooler than her space, if you can imagine that. erin from design for mankind should be in the dictionary under - to borrow a term from melissa - effervescent. and the two of them together? a genius combination.

when maggie mason speaks, you should listen. and write it down.

i nearly clapped when vané from brooklyn bride walked into the room. wait. i did clap. and i turned absolutely pink when i saw the little sprite danni of oh, hello friend in the front row during my panel.

nicole from making it lovely is - no surprise - exactly that. she giggled and shrugged whenever a design superstar walked up to her and gushed. this happened a lot. and allison from petit elefant gets the biggest eyes whenever she says something to make me laugh. like, oh? did that amuse you? yes. it did. this also happened a lot.

i met a new-to-me blogger who fast became a new-to-me friend. her name is shayna roosevelt. she has amazing brows and an even better smile that lit up the lounge at the grand america.

and you already know how i feel about kelly of design crush and caroline duke from greedy girl. they were like little sisters. huge emphasis on little. man...they are petite!

as opposed to the two leggy supermodels i spied all the way in the back row. i recognized {and probably embarrassed the heck out of!} her, but enjoyed her simply because she was cool and friendly and beyond stylish. the next day, i asked my lunch dates to point out kirsten grove. turns out, we'd already met. ugh.

if i'm speaking of stylish and pretty much every other cool adjective, verb, noun, and interjection, i'd be hella remiss if i didn't mention janel of apartment therapy. i first noticed her stylish chop, the just-right shade of red on her lips, and a covetable black wardrobe. but there are giant brains behind that beauty, and an even bigger sense of humor. one of my favorite finds at alt, for sure.

it'll be no surprise that chelsea of frolic! floored me with her openness and expertise she was excited to share, and i found myself a little envious of kathryn's firm little set of rules and way way envious of her stunning complexion and widow's peak. and no surprise that gayla made me want to grow something, monica made me want to learn everything, sheila made my jaw drop with her idea bubbles, and emily made me want to move. or maybe she just moved me. whatever.

my first two bloggers i ever read were there. only a few hours after telling oh joy! that i'd memorized every one of her posts since 2005, we were eating sushi together. but did i introduce myself to dooce? no. i chickened out.

i was standing there, totally psyching myself up for an embarrassing rambling gush-fest, and then it all sort of reminded me of the only other time in my life i waited anxiously to talk to a real. live. star. i was six or seven and wearing a bathing suit, swimming at our town's hotel pool, when i caught sight of liberace. i ran as fast as my soaked, pudgy little body could, and greeted him with my giant smile at the bottom of the stairs. he chucked me under my double chin, and said three words i'll never. ever. forget.

hello, little fella.

i didn't want to chance it.

joslyn? did you think i'd forget you? as if. i just don't have shiny enough words to tell you what an absolute and indisputable real friend you are. not a shocker, but you are my girl. and you are the neatest. person. evvvvv. vvvvver. that last part is not true, but my adoration for you is. the end.

a heartfelt thank-you to gabrielle of design mom fame for organizing alt summit. she and her family are king in my book. and by family, i also mean her and her. it was no surprise to me that this event turned out so well. it was organized by kirtsy. and if i've forgotten anyone i met and loved? remind me sweetly, will you? i raced to write this while esmé coated the house in pink glitter. not a bad thing, exactly...

photos not taken at alt. rather, all photos via heroines.