At the beginning of October, I joined almost 200 other creative women at Designer Vaca in Palm Springs for a 3 day ‘conference’ to connect, share stories and get a little extra inspired. After attending last year, I wasn’t sure I would go back for another year. But in the end, I guess the fear of missing out won over the rest of my concerns. Many of my dislikes from last year were vastly improved this time around and knowing what to expect made the experience more enjoyable. Reconnecting with the women I met last year was an added bonus. I don’t have a creative ‘tribe’ in Montreal so it’s great to bounce ideas and share the good and the bad about balancing life and being a artists, day jobs, scary client stories and talking instagram grids – cuz we are all obsessed with the grid.
Some key moments of the trip worth remembering:
- My first visit of an in-and-out burger and discovering their not-so-secret menu.
- Finding a baby chihuahua abandoned in a gas station and bringing it along to Salvation Mountain in a yellow Camaro convertible.
- Elle Luna – her talk was so inspiring, she just seems to have an aura to her that is calming and mesmerizing.
- The irony of a taco party for a bunch of ladies, the cactarium, many avocado toasts eaten by the pool and early mornings before everyone else wakes up.
And while I was in the land of California, I was able to visit these two punks for approximately 20 hours before I flew home. I already miss everyone – new and old friends – who made this trip worth the terrible exchange rate for the Canadian dollar.