Do you remember your first day of school as a high school Freshman? I remember. I was nervous…and excited.
The night before my first day, I remember spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to wear. I lived in Arizona at the time, so it was HOT. Do I wear a sundress? No, that’s not right. Jeans? No way, sweaty mess. Shorts? Yeah, I think shorts is good. Maybe the pink shorts? Yeah… pink is good. Whew! I have the bottoms figured out. Now what about a top? Oh my…
Is my backpack ready to go? Notebooks? Check. Pencils? Check. Class schedule? Yep. As I’m digging through my backpack, I wonder who’s going to be in my class? Will anyone be my friend? Who will I sit with at lunch? I’m the new girl.
As with most high schools, several middle schools fed into the high school. Same for me, except my family had just moved to Arizona and I knew no one. Not a soul. I was nervous and then I remembered that no one knew that I didn’t know anyone. I knew a lot of people would know someone, but no one would know everyone. There would be a lot of someones and anyones and everyones, but we’d all be new ones to someone.
Are you with me?
Fast forward to my Freshman year of Haven. Haven 2013. I’m wearing my cute purple maxi sundress. Got my tote bag? Check. Enough business cards? Check. Fun pink lip gloss. Yep. Wearing a smile? Sorta.
And I step onto the Japanese garden for the kickoff cocktail party and there is a sea of new faces. An ocean of beautiful women… smiling… chatting… cocktailing. (Cocktailing: Verb | meaning holding a festive drink while smiling and chatting). There was music and lots of cocktailing.
And off I go. The new girl. Hoping to meet everyone or someone or anyone and certainly not no one.
And I did… meet some special someones… while cocktailing and in class and at lunch and eating dinner… who are now a few of my new bloggie friends.
I didn’t take many pictures (I’ve no idea why.), so click on the link to read more about a few of the special someones I met during Haven 2013. Actually, they are more than special. They are aaaamazing! I had a great Haven Freshman experience and I can’t wait until my Sophomore year!
- Angie from Angie’s Roost
- Ashley from Domestic Imperfection
- Denise from Denise Designed
- Emily from Two Purple Couches
- Jamie from So Much Better with Age
- Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof
- Lauren from The Thinking Closet
- Lauren from The Endearing Home
- Lynda from Oh So Shabby
- Rachel from Lines Across
- Rosemary from Not Just Paper and Paint
Our Rosey Life 
Love your comparison of Haven to freshman year of high school! It fits perfectly! So honored to be included on your list of pals. Such a joy to meet you and spend some quality conversation time with you, Michele. Hope we can rub shoulders at Haven 2014! Woot woot!
A great, and appropriate, analogy! I am so glad I met you! And I cannot wait to see where all of our new Haven knowledge takes us 😉
Awwwww…this is such a cute post! It really did feel like starting high school…except with cocktails! Could you imagine if we had cocktails in high school?! It was such a pleasure to meet you and I totally hope we get to see each other for Haven 2014! And maybe share a cab again!!!
Thanks Michele for including me and giving me a shout out. I love that you did that. I am going to have to copy you when I finally post mine. 🙂 Like you, I didn’t take many pics either. Not quite sure why I didn’t. But great post! Great to read your perspective. But I gotta say…I cannot even remember my freshman year. Ha! Thanks again! Look forward to catching up soon. I will work on our Tribe page. 🙂
Oh, Michele, you are such a sweetie! It was wonderful meeting you! Hope to see you there in 2014!
Thanks so much for including me in your list Michele, you made my day! Haven was such a whirlwind of a weekend, learned a ton but honestly the best part was meeting other bloggers and I am so happy to meet you! I didn’t take many pics either and the ones I took on my phone did not turn out so great, bummer. Let’s keep in touch and hope to see you again next year!!!
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Hi Denise,
Thanks for the shout out too and for taking the lead on gathering the tribe. Truly appreciate it!
Michele
OH my gosh that is so funny I have not posted yet because I feel so picture deficient! I was so overwhelmed and in awww that I just failed at that!
Hi Kelly, I totally understand. Ditto on the awww-struck. The few pictures I did take, the lighting was awful so the picture was too. Oh well. There’s always next year.
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What a great way to describe it. I moved around a lot growing up, so I too understand the feeling of being new and not knowing anyone. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. I had so much fun getting to know you. Thanks for the shout-out!
So great meeting you!! Thanks for the link back to my blog 😉
Hugs,
Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com
What a fabulous post! Glad I found my way to your blog and I’ll be back often. Promise! 🙂