RStheCon Recap

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T-Shirt // Skirt (Dress version, Long Dress version) // Red Heels (another option) // Bag // Earrings // Sunnies // Lipstick // Ring 1 // Ring 2 // Ring 3

If you’re following along with me on Instagram and watching my stories, then you probably saw all the fun from the busy weekend I had during #RStheCon in Dallas. If you’re not, then you seriously missed out and you should have FOMO! haha. Today, I’m sharing my #RStheCon recap including all my outfits, what it is, and a few take aways + tips from what I learned at the conference.

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Dress (Also here & similar option) // Bag // Shoes // Sunnies // Earrings // Lipstick // Ring 1 // Ring 2 // Ring 3

What is #RStheCon?

#RStheCon stands for the Rewardstyle Conference. Essentially, it’s a long weekend conference put on by Rewardstyle for their top 200 performing influencers from the past year. I know that not EVERYone of the top 200 attend, so they extend invitations down based on performance after they get ‘regrets’ from others. Rewardstyle is the affiliate program that helps influencers monetize their content on their blogs and social media. They own LiketoKnow.It, which now has their own app you can download free in the app store and makes all of our Instagram’s easily shoppable. The conference provides networking and learning opportunities for bloggers with different brands and other influencers in the form of group talks, lunches and parties, individual meetings, and smaller classroom sessions.

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Dress // Booties (another option) // Bag // Jacket // Sunnies // Lipstick // Earrings //  Ring 1 // Ring 2 // Ring 3

How was it?

This was my first year to go to the conference and I had a really great experience! It was definitely a long weekend full of work and just trying to be constantly ‘on’ in a variety of situations, but it was also a lot of fun. I learned a lot that I am excited to implement in my blog and social media and had wonderful opportunities to connect with so many dream brands that I would love to work with! I got to see some girls I’ve met before again, meet and connect with new ones, and spend time with some of my blogger besties.

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Dress (Skirt Version) // Bralette // Bag // Sunnies // Wedges // Earrings // Necklace // Lipstick // Ring 1 // Ring 2 // Ring 3

What did you do?

Thursday afternoon was check in at the Crescent hotel and a networking opportunity with brands. I had to work that day, so I changed and arrived later during the check in time. I got my welcome bag and weekend schedule then grabbed a cocktail with some girlfriends. I shot my look with my photographer and then hung out at the kickoff party hosted at the pool by Supergoop! It was so much fun and they had an adorable surprise synchronized swimming performance. I got to talk to the team and CEO during the party and just loved hearing more about their mission. I recently ordered their sunscreen as a part of switching more of my husband and I’s beauty over to clean products and I really love it. After the party I went to dinner at Town Hearth, one of my favorites, with a group of girls.

Friday started early. I shot my look upon arriving to the hotel and then ate breakfast before a group speaking event. The founder of Rewardstyle, Amber Venz Box spoke to the group along with other key RewardStyle people, Kendra Scott, and Aimee Song. They also did a panel featuring a representative from Express, Urban Outfitters, and Supergoop where they answered questions about what they look for when working with influencers and what they have liked about some partnerships over others. I love all three of these brands and have had the opportunity to work with Express on multiple occasions, so I loved hearing their perspective on things! Following the talks, we had lunch at the Crescent in the garden room and courtyard hosted by Banana Republic.

I hung out with some girlfriends before a few brand meetings. I met with Colleen Rothschild, who is Dallas based and makes the most amazing cleansing balm! I’m a skincare junkie and was so excited to connect with them and learn more about their products. I’m adding a few more of their products into my routine starting this week and I can’t wait to share more with you all. Next, I met with Express. I’ve loved each of our partnerships and definitely want to continue working with them in the future! You all seem to love their clothing as much as I do lately. I especially love all the sales they run frequently on their site! I had a little break to network with a ton of different brands in the networking hall before my next meeting, so I spent about an hour up there. Some of my favorites that I didn’t have meetings with were Loft, Urban Outfitters, Kopari, eBay, Sole Society, and Bloomingdales. After the networking hall I had a meeting with Supergoop! I loved getting to talk more with them about their products and discuss how we may be able to work together in the future. I have a lot of beach trips coming up both with girlfriends and my husband, so having a natural and safe skincare routine to protect me is important!

I had a little break to run home and change after my Supergoop meeting before I needed to be back at the hotel to shoot with my photographer and go to a courtyard fiesta hosted by Express. They absolutely crushed it at this party!! After the fiesta, a group of girlfriends and I went to Javier’s to hang in the cigar bar and eat dinner. It’s such a fun restaurant and definitely a Dallas institution if you ever find yourself here!

On Saturday, I had a classroom session in the morning to learn more about new LiketoKnow.It products and features coming out in the near future. I shot with my photographer after this class and before my next one to learn more about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). After this, I went to a lunch at Marie Gabrielle hosted by Sole Society. It was raining this day, so instead of walking we all went back and forth in a big pink bus that they had for us. I hung out with some girlfriends in the lobby of the hotel for a little bit before going to my next class about the ‘Swipe Up’ feature on Instagram stories taught by the amazing and hilarious Courtney of Kerrently. After that I had one last brand meeting with Ann Taylor. I love their classic style that is not only perfect for work, but for play, too! Their easy dresses will be perfect for all of my upcoming travels. After that meeting, I went home to change and get ready for the finale party.

I had some college girlfriends in town so my husband and I ran by to  see them for a few minutes before going to dinner and to the finale party. The finale was SO much fun! RewardStyle always puts so much thought and detail into their parties and events. Seriously everything is done so well and they are always so much fun!!

The whole weekend was so busy, but so fun!! I barely had any time to go home and lost my voice in between all of the talking, meetings, and fun, but it was oh so worth it. Attending RStheCon was a big goal I set for myself for this year and I am so proud of all of my hard work that brought me there.

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Dress // Bralette // Bag // Heels // Earrings // Lipstick //  Ring 1 // Ring 2 // Ring 3 //  Suit Jacket // Suit Pants // White Dress Shirt // His Shoes // Pocket Square

What did you learn?

I learned so much that my brain is honestly still trying to organize all the information! I wanted to share a few highlight points or tips from the weekend that I took away with you all. Whether you’re a blogger or just someone looking to be inspired in their own industry, many of my favorite points from the weekend are things that can be applied to so many different jobs aspects of life!

Things that apply for anyone-

• “No” is merely a suggestion. Kendra Scott spoke to the whole group one morning and told the story of how she got started. She said the first store she tried to sell jewelry to told her ‘no.’ She has since been told no countless times, and likes to look at it as a way to turn things around and make yourself more ‘on.’ She was a wonderful, inspiring speaking and I absolutely loved hearing more from her. 

• Things aren’t always what they seem. Aimee Song, who writes Song of Style, is an OG and one of the bloggers I personally have been following for years, also spoke to our whole group in sort of an interview/chat with the founder of RewardStyle, Amber Venz Box. Aimee was describing how so many people will comment #GOALS or tell her that her life is a dream, but in reality, she struggles with things just like any one else. She has been very open recently about some struggles with mental health, which I told her that I personally admire her so much for. Not only for her inspiring courage to discuss something that may be challenging to share, but also just because of my work in the mental health industry.

• Ignore the haters. Aimee and Amber both talked about how several years ago people were wondering what the heck blogging was and why people were posting photos of themselves on the internet. While people certainly seem to know more about it since it’s widely popular today, there are still people who ‘just don’t get it’ and don’t seem to be super supportive, particularly in the beginning. You just have to ignore them! Kendra Scott touched on this, too. Let people telling you that you can’t do something be your motivation to show them that you can.
• Stay humble. Things change. Who may be on the top one year may not another. Success is not a guarantee and you never know who may ‘lap’ you or be ahead or on the top in the next year or even five. Stay humble and remember the days when you were starting out, growing, or still finding your way.

• Remember who helped you along the way. As people find success on their own, they may ‘move on’ to another person or group who they think will better serve them. While this is a good way to learn and grow, don’t forget who helped get you where you are and helped you find success. Be kind, be grateful, be inclusive. As I mentioned above, you never know how things may change. You don’t want to be someone who comes off as  using others and thinking that you’re above someone once you find success.

Takeaways for bloggers-

• Take time to learn SEO. I’ll admit that I didn’t learn as much about this as I should have early on. I honestly don’t think I knew how little I knew until the SEO class I was in one day. It’s essential for driving new traffic to your blog and finding new readers. I’ll definitely be implementing all that I learned and striving to learn more.
• Listen to your audience. Use polls. What do they want to see? You may think they like what you’re doing when in fact they may prefer something else. You may think something will be an awesome blog post topic or thing to do on your stories, when in fact they are not interested. Just ask!
• Be patient. This applies to growing your blog and to talking to your audience. If your audience is growing every day, don’t get upset if you’ve answered a question about the dry shampoo you use 100 times. Someone may have just heard you talk about it for the first time because they are new to following your or maybe they didn’t see your post or your story when you talked about it last. A good solution is to make a ‘FAQ’ highlight on your profile and direct people there for questions you get asked about often.
• Direct to your blog. While you don’t have to ALWAYS do this if there is a simpler way or a better way to share info, but when possible, direct your readers and followers to your blog. You own your blog. Not Instagram, not Pinterest, not anything else. It’s in every blogger’s best interest to direct their audience to their blog. *For those of you who aren’t bloggers reading this, this is why I often direct you to a page of my blog or the LiketoKnow.It app for shopping links instead of directly to the retailer. If you don’t buy something right that second on a story, then I don’t get the credit for the sale.
• Go above and beyond. When you work with a brand or create content,  you’re representing yourself and also creating something for someone else. Go above and beyond the expectation. This will make a reader more likely to come back or recommend that their friend follows you or reads your blog. This will also make a brand more likely to want to work with you. Partnerships are essential to blogging, so be sure to think about what the brand represents, what their style is, and what made them want to partner with you in the first place. For example, Kendra Scott’s models are always smiling in their photos because they feel happiness represents their brand. Therefore, you should be smiling or happy in a photo wearing her product, particularly if it is for a partnership post.

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Hopefully there are some things I learned that help inspire you in some aspect of your life! This conference really helped me see my hard work pay off. I loved connecting with so many like-minded women and learning how I can continue to improve and grow in the next year. I hope you all loved following along on Instagram stories throughout the weekend. I’ll definitely be extra tired this Monday, but it was oh so worth it!! Hope your Monday gets off to a great start. XO

PS: Shoutout to Glow by Molls for my killer spray tan for the weekend. Go see her at Simply Glowing at Era Salon here in Dallas. Also, Lo Muns for keeping my lash extensions looking fabulous and Bellacures for my mani/pedi.