Wow. What a day, right?

First of all, I could’ve sworn I took more pictures. Really. But apparently I was much too busy shopping!

Our morning started bright and early, with me taking advantage of our lovely golden ticket to the UCS:

And let me just give you this plug for next year.

YOU REALLY NEED TO VOLUNTEER TO GET THIS TICKET.

I’ve “tried” the UCS in the past, and kinda had a “take-it-or-leave-it” feeling about it. But WOW, this year, I really got some fabulous finds! TONS. Perhaps it’s just because I really had good stuff on my list this year, perhaps it’s because I got in so early while the piles were “fresh.” Not sure.  But I am telling you I really, really got some great deals. I saw even more, but I had to reign myself in. It was hard, but I did.

Really. Put it on your to do list NOW for next year. It was worth every minute of it this year, and now I’m a firm believer and UCS convert! 🙂

(PS. Go in there and buy my stuff! We had a lot of stuff in there, and I really don’t want it back!!!!)

After lunch, I started back in the Exhibit Hall. I was just going to kill some time before a session I wanted to go to. And like the casinos in Las Vegas (which have no windows or clocks so you can’t notice time passing), I lost time. Hubby finally pulled me out of there at 6pm.

This is most of my total haul for the day. Not all. But most.

My poor 31 Gifts cart might not ever be the same after carrying that load.

(PS. Did you know you could check boxes of items so you don’t have to haul them around all day? It’s in the Exhibit hall, all the way toward the left side on the front wall. I checked those two boxes on top. And then of course went back and got more!)

There are some totally good deals in there, folks! Support your exhibitors, so we’ll see them again next year!! Truly, so many interesting people to talk to!

Like I said, I could’ve swore I took more pictures, so if you don’t see your picture here, I will try again tomorrow!

And what is now an annual tradition, we had BBQ for dinner! Y’all didn’t know I was a world connoisseur of BBQ, and that I actually have BBQ sauce running through my veins, did you? Well, I do!

And it was awesome. 🙂

 

And oh, for you guys that are curious.

And no, I refuse to walk even one more step to make it to the goal! I am D-O-N-E.

See y’all tomorrow!

Man, was it PACKED today or what?? I am loving all the activities HEAV had here today!

And how fun is it that our dear babysitter from last year (before we moved from VA to PA) showed up and surprised me?? Apparently babysitting for us helped her decide to homeschool herself, and so she and her husband came to check out #HEAVCon this weekend! That was such a fun surprise! You’ll never know who you will run into in the halls here!

Speaking of “running”:

That was almost ALL since we arrived here – from 3pm-7pm. As we say in the deep South, “my dogs are barking.” (Translation: my feet are killing me.) I have no idea how I will make it through tomorrow.

So, after our blogger “Meet and Greet” with the Exhibitors, I started to peruse the hall and check out all the awesome stuff. (That would be me in the teal “Homeschool Rocks” t-shirt and the poofy hair. I told you guys to wear your homeschool bling! Ha!)

I didn’t even make it through half the hall. THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME BOOTHS OF STUFF THIS YEAR!

Here are a few highlights:

 

 

I really had some lovely conversations with several more vendors, but the camera was not cooperating with me. More pictures tomorrow!

And here is a NEW offering at #HEAVCon this year! I just love that we have this!

 

Okay, it is time for shut-eye so I can be up and ready bright and early tomorrow! First up will be dropping the rugrats off at the Children’s program, and then getting in line at the UCS first thing! (I signed up to volunteer so I could get in early! Did you???? I bet they still need some volunteers!)

And then, who knows . . .