Thrive Creative Conference – There and Back Again

I am passionate about this blogging thing.

This blog started in 2011 and while I definitely was NOT consistent in the beginning, I am now proud of the community, friends, and following I have developed in the past few years. 

Even though blogging has been around for quite a while now, I think there is a misconception that this can be a “Real” business! It absolutely can be a legit business! 

There are actually quite a few bloggers out there working to make a good income from their blog and social media influence. If you have thought about starting a blog and wondered if you could make a business out of it feel free to message me and ask! 

This was my second year attending Thrive Creative Conference. It is always a weekend full of trainings, inspiring speakers, networking, and fun. Not to mention, EMPOWERING!

This year was AMAZING!!!!

I have to admit, that two weeks later I am still processing all the information and creating actionable plans and systems to put into practice from what I learned. 

I am very invigorated by learning. It fuels me. I secretly wish I could go back to school just for the high of learning new things! Every speaker really brought their A Game to the trainings and shared practical steps and tips for growing our businesses. 

Besides the amazing speakers, Thrive also does an incredible job making the conference beautiful, inspiring, and really fun. It’s kind of hilarious having a huge room full of bloggers who are instagramming, taking selfies, doing insta-stories, boomerangs, and “All The Things” bloggers do to get great pictures. 

This years conference was in Austin, TX. It was the perfect distance for me to drive.

I love a road trip!

*Disclaimer: I was given a Mazda 6 to drive for the week. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I was able to drive a Grand Touring 2017 Mazda 6 to the conference and back home to Houston. It was THE perfect car to drive on a road trip!

With an estimated 35 mpg on the highway, I didn’t spend hardly anything on gas. There are five seats and plenty of room for long legs and lots of luggage! 

There was so much room in my trunk. Jayden loaded the car for me, and he was pretty proud of himself helping his momma go on a trip.

Jada, however, wanted to go with me and climbed in the car when no one was looking. 

The husband was happy I was driving the Mazda 6 because of it’s Top Safety ratings. It has Smart City Brake Support, Distance Recognition Support System and Lane Departure Warning Systems built in. These systems all give you a peace of mind while driving and keep you alert to your surroundings while driving. 

I really love the way the car felt in my hands. It was extremely comfortable and sensitive to turns. I am pretty picky about cars, especially when I am going on a long drive. The Mazda6 was definitely a perfect touring the town and beyond vehicle. 

Everything was at my fingertips. The dash and console are expertly designed and flow nicely for the driver when you need to something. 

I was able to be a part of the team at Thrive again this year. Which makes the weekend even more intense and fun! I didn’t get to go exploring all over Austin like I wanted to (next year I will for sure!). But I did get to eat some good food and hang out with some awesome boss babes, which made my foodie heart happy.

I can’t wait for next year! I am secretly hoping I will be able to drive the Mazda 6 again and explore more of Austin. 

If you get a chance to attend a conference for something you are passionate about, I totally recommend going! It’s a great way to learn, be inspired and have a girls weekend all in one!