In 2011, I purchased my first Erin Condren Life Planner. Fast forward a few years later and I started joining planner/planning related groups on Facebook. I found the group Planners Gone Wild and I've met so many amazing friends throughout the planner community because of this group.
The admins of the Planners Gone Wild group put on a huge planner conference once a year called Go Wild. In 2016, the first Go Wild was in New Orleans. I did not attend that one.
The admins knock the Go Wild planner conferences out of the park each and every time. Their attention to detail is impeccable. All of the sponsors, speakers, volunteers, entertainment, etc. do so much work for this event and it truly is a huge accomplishment that they pull off each year.
In 2017, they had the conference in Nashville, TN and that was my first conference that I attended. Here is a blog post about that trip: Go Wild 2017. In 2018, they had the conference in Austin, Texas. Here is a blog post about that trip: Go Wild 2018.
Today, I'm going to write about the 2019 Go Wild Planner Conference which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On May 1st, my mom and I flew to Las Vegas, Nevada. My mom was coming with me on this trip but not attending the conference. My aunt and her girlfriend drove in from San Francisco, CA to spend time with my mom while I was at the conference. My mom and I had two flights to get to Las Vegas. After leaving the airport, we went straight to the hotel (we stayed at the Hardrock Hotel & Casino which is where the conference was taking place). That hotel has since been taken over, remodeled and re-named. We were very hungry so we had food at Mr. Luckys 24-7 restaurant in the hotel. I had a bacon cheeseburger and French Fries. My mom and I spent a little time by the pool but it was pretty chilly this day so we didn't stay out too long. After the pool, I had a delicious mango smoothie from the Juice Bar. My mom and I walked to CVS and picked up some snacks and drinks. We came back to the hotel, I forgot what we ate for dinner, and we crashed really early.
On May 2nd, was the registration for the conference where we were given our conference bags, t-shirts, lanyard and some other goodies. Then there were meet and greets and different activity booths as well as the Erin Condren Pop Up Shop where I did some shopping.
^I absolutely adore this photo of Erin Condren and myself.^
^Even though I have my eyes closed, I still love this picture of Erin Condren and myself.^
^Photo with Kristin of Krissy Anne Designs.^
My mom and I had lunch at Pink Taco at the hotel. I didn't go outside of the hotel at all except to go to CVS the first day. With my chronic hip pain, I can't do too much walking. My mom was able to go out and do things with my aunt and her girlfriend though! Pink Taco was so delicous! I had chicken tacos and lots of chips/guac/ and salsa.
At 8pm on Thursday, was the Welcome Party sponsored by Krissy Anne Designs. I stayed for about an hour and a half but it was really crowded and I was in a lot of pain so I went back to our room and finished watching the 76er's basketball game on TV before heading to bed.
^The sign outside of the Welcome Party.^
Friday was the first day of the conference. I sat at the Pumpkin Paper Co. table and we were spoiled with so many awesome goodies!
The first session of the conference after the welcome and announcements, was the Boss Panel featuring Belinda Selene, Irene Kwong of Simply Gilded, Kaylyn Minix, Keshia Glam, Mica May, Michelle Askin, and Tesia Royer.
^The Boss Panel^
The next session was the Hustle & Vision Workshop with Teresa Collins. I met Teresa before at another event and loved her talk at both that event and at Go Wild. I also read her book in January of 2019 and it was amazing.
The next session was the Erin Condren Fireside Chat which was moderated by the amazing Jen of Jen Plans on IG & Youtube.
The next session for Friday was the All In Panel moderated by Erin Condren and featured Amy Tangerine, Jen DuFore, Jen Ross, Joy Cho, Jen Robin, and Jaaack Jack.
^I was so excited to meet Amy Tangerine!^
^With the amazing Jen Ross.^
^With the lovely and amazing Jen DuFore.^
^With Jaaack Jack.^
We then had a break for lunch and then came back for the last session of the day: the Live Podcast Taping of The Uncurated Life Podcast with Cindy Guentert-Baldo.
After the event ended for the day, I took some photos with people and had them sign my notebook. I did some more shopping at the Erin Condren Pop Up Shop. I went to the Juice Bar again and spent some time relaxing in the hotel room. I went down to the pizza place in the hotel and got my mom and I a pizza for dinner. My mom and I spent the rest of the night relaxing in the hotel room. We watched some movies on TV, and I was planning in my planner and writing in my journal before I headed to bed.
Saturday, was the second and last day of the conference. I made some new friends and I ended up eating lunch with them. The first session of Saturday was the Chase Your Dreams session with Kristin Damian of Krissy Anne Designs. Kristin is amazing and I love her so much!
The second session of the day was Planning for Personal Growth with Stephanie Fleming of The Happy Planner & Me and My Big Ideas.
I can't remember which day (I think it was Friday), there was a make and take card workshop with Amber of Damask Love.
The final session of the day on Saturday was the keynote speaker: Terry Ellis of En Vogue.
After the keynote, my friends and I went to Pink Taco for lunch and then we went to the booths and make and takes and walked around for a bit in there and spent time together. I got glitter added to my hair for the planjama party later that night.
I went back to the hotel room and relaxed for a bit, organized some of my swag (you get a ton of swag at this conference), watched some TV, and had small and early dinner.
I got to see Andrea of SPC again and meet some other planner friends who weren't at the conference but were staying in Las Vegas for Marg of OMWL's bachelorette party.
It was so funny because they were all dressed up and I was in my pajamas for the planjama party.
After this, I lined up to get ready for the planjama party. This is always the last event of Go Wild and it's always a great time. I spent the night with my friends that I made earlier that day. It was such a fun night.
^With my lovely friend, Sam who works at Erin Condren.^
The next photos were taken on the confetti carpet during the Planjama party.
On Sunday, my mom and I had breakfast and then I spent a few hours in a restaurant watching the 76er's game and the Mets game. I played the slots for the first time in my life. I put in $5 and I won $76. Then my mom and I headed to the airport early. We had dinner there and ice cream for desert there and then we had a red eye flight and then another connecting flight to get back home. That red eye flight was the worst flight of my life.
Unfortunately, due to my health issues and not working, I will not be able to attend the 2020 Go Wild Conference (which is taking place in Anaheim, California) due to lack of funds. However, if I could afford it, I would go to every single Go Wild Planner Conference. I have the time of my life at these conferences. I soak up so much inspiration from the speakers and from being in a room filled with people who have the same love, joy, and passion for planning as I do.
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