“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love.”

– Sophia Loren, actress

Later this month I will board an airplane in Omaha, bound for the equally cold landscape of Salt Lake City. The reason? Alt Summit 2013. It’s a multi-day conference designed for bloggers and creatives who are looking to get inspired, get noticed, and meet new faces.

This will mark my first Alt conference. From the countless blog posts I have read by previous attendees, I’m certain the experience will be engaging, enlightening, highly fashionable, and just plain fun. And although I don’t consider myself a lifestyle blogger, I do view the conference as an opportunity to network, potentially refine my writing/editing skills, and discover new partnerships alongside Jessica McKay of COOP and Birdhouse Interior Design.

Jessica and I became fast friends a few years ago (say that five times fast!) after we met via Twitter. Since then we have collaborated on a variety of projects (me writing for COOP, her helping with my interior design projects at home). We balance each other quite well – both personally and professionally – and I’m rather eager to investigate opportunities for the Birdhouse and COOP brands.

Have you attended an Alt conference? What advice or suggestions can you pass along? Until then, see you in Salt Lake City!