First things first, you may notice that things look a bit different around here. As life changes and evolves, so must blogs, so I recently decided to both change the name of my blog to acknowledge my new forever travel partner and to change blogging platforms. That former part is very interesting, the latter not so much. All that to say, if you're used to The Wandering Mind, don't forget to add The Hart - someone who brings balance to both my life and my travels.

Now, back to the story.

To say spring was busy does not adequately capture the intensity of the months leading up to the wedding. Not only was I planning the event of a lifetime and doing all the things (showers, parties, not sleeping) surrounding such an occasion, I was frequently out of town for work related events. This had the potential to be a struggle for me, especially when I wanted my attention to be at home. However, as in all things, I had a choice about how to respond. In the weeks before the wedding, I had a pair of conferences that provided the perfect opportunity for me to practice finding the joy amid the challenge.

So what are my secrets?

1. Enjoy the nice hotel. One fun thing about conferences is that they often take place at resorts or other fun places to stay. My first conference was at The Resort at the Mountain in Welches, Oregon.

Located in a gorgeous spot near Mt. Hood, the resort was nestled among evergreens with rooms clearly designed to be cozy.

There was even a real fireplace, which was perfect on a still chilly spring night after a long day of pretending to be smart and talking to all the people.

2. If you have a choice, book the nice hotel. For my next event, which was in Portland, I was able to choose my own hotel. I took advantage of this opportunity to check out the oh-so-cool McMenamins Kennedy School.

Built in a restored elementary school that first opened in 1915, there are seemingly endless nooks and crannies to explore. I spent an evening doing just that. Let's start with the room. In the main building, former classrooms are now large hotel rooms with nods to the rooms' original purpose. Each room is also named after someone associated with the school and includes their story. My room was named after one of the school's first students, Evelyn Anderson Connell.

And the room was just the beginning. There were unique bars such as the Detention Bar (in what was formerly the detention hall) and the Boiler Room (in, you guessed it, an actual boiler room), there was the Gymnasium that hosts bands and other events, and there was even a Movie Theater (where guests get to enjoy movies for free!). The walls are covered in artwork and pieces of the school's history line the hallways. I spent the evening wandering, finding something interesting around every corner.

3. Do something that feeds your soul. For me that's being outdoors - going for a walk, taking in breathtaking scenery. It really doesn't have to be much. In Welches, I took a quick stroll around the property of the hotel to stretch my legs and get some fresh air between driving 4 hours and sitting in a conference for the remainder of the day.

The following day, I stopped by Jonsrud Viewpoint. Hardly more than a minuscule parking lot and a sign, this spot offers an unbeatable view of Mt. Hood in the middle of Sandy, Oregon.

Just a few minutes and a few deep breaths helped me reset and be ready for the rest of the day.

4. Relax. So I may have implied that I chose the Kennedy School simply for the unique hotel and interesting history. But that would not be entirely true. I also chose that particular hotel because of this:

The Soaking Pool - hot water + a cider (in a plastic cup available upon request from any of the bars or restaurant) + a book = my happy place.

5. Eat great food. One thing I truly enjoy is dining solo - treating myself to a delicious meal, having a nice cocktail or glass of wine, and reading a good book in a quiet corner of a restaurant. In Portland, I had dinner at the Kennedy School's Cypress Restaurant.

Pear Sidecar made with Edgefield's Pear Brandy

And a turkey and apple reuben sandwich with a side of African peanut soup

6. Explore. Because new places are the best. Since first learning of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, it's been a spot on my Oregon Bucket List. When I realized that taking a slightly less direct route home from the conference in Welches would allow me to visit the festival, I knew it needed to happen.

Whenever I am out of town for a conference, I make an effort to check out at least one new place. In this case, that place was fields of tulips in every color imaginable. Despite being a weekday, the festival was packed. I can't imagine what the weekends must be like, when activities such as hot air balloon rides are offered. The festival occurs yearly more or less during the month of April, although the exact dates vary year to year depending on the blooms. If you're in Oregon, this is definitely worth a stop.

And of course I had to bring some gorgeous tulips home with me

Nerd that I am, I truly love the opportunity to learn and be exposed to new ideas at conferences. However, as an introvert (and as someone who was vastly over scheduled during the spring), I have to be intentional about finding balance and engaging in self care to be at my best. These are just a few of the ways that I do that. What are your favorite tips for managing conferences or finding work-life balance, whatever that work may be?

That Conference Life

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