So the flight to New York was as I expected - Nerve racking. I am terrified of flying and for an hour and a half or so, I remained that way. However, I knew this experience would be worth it and these last two days have certainly proven it to me.

With such a tight schedule, every minute spent in the city counted. It began with a lunch at the HGTV offices, where a portion of the attending “Nate Day” bloggers met in a group for the first time. Once we were all in and sat down, the magnitude of this gathering really began to sink in. I was in a room with so many inspirational writers, stylists, designers and friends, several with whom I tweet with or read their blogs on a daily basis. At last, there we were, all under one roof, at one table, at one time, no cables or wireless connections between us. This had to be good, and it was.

We were then treated to an evening gala at the New York Design Centre to celebrate the launch of Rue Magazine. Crystal and Anne were sparkling and with such a successful campaign promoting their new online magazine now under their designer belts, the sky is the limit for them. Their “Rue Crew” as they like to call them, comprises of such talented, down to earth and personable individuals, which made meeting some of them so very memorable.

Highlights also included meeting more fantastic fellow Tweeters and the terms “surreal” and “amazing” were used to describe the experience of our real-life reunion in such beautiful surroundings. Conversations flowed easily and I can honestly say it was a true honor to be in the company of those who attended that night.

The next day we all arrived for the taping of the Nate Berkus show, the reason behind our trip to New York city. Incredible enough, it became a reality with the help of a simple idea and a tweet from Julieann and the Moggit Girls to the man himself. Everything went smoothly, each segment rolled into the next. Nate worked the guests, made us giggle here and there yet the most engaging part to us all there truly only started once the cameras stopped filming.

We were able to ask him anything. The lines of communication were finally open and we all took turns to pick his brain on several different subjects from whether or not I should keep my original metal kitchen cabinets, to what inspires him on a daily basis. Here are some of his answers to some very smart questions.

Nate talks inspiration, books, and blogging in HD from Holley & Gill on Vimeo.

Nate talks social media and Twitter in HD from Holley & Gill on Vimeo.

All in all, the two days came and went and I couldn’t have been any more refreshed, renewed and revitalized from this experience. Thank you Julieann, the Moggit Girls, HGTV, Rue Magazine, their team, and The Nate Show. Thank you to all my friends who I met in New York. Without you all I wouldn’t have been there and I am eternally grateful to each and every one of you.

Who’s who in these photos from top to bottom: Will from Bright Bazaar, Joy & Janet are The Moggit Girls, Jade from Flip Flops & Pearls, Karen from Hammocks & High Tea, Anishka from Ishka Designs, Nicole from So Haute, Cassandra from Coco+Kelley, Emily from Emily Johnston Anderson Photography, the restaurant shot has so many of my fave people in it notably our gracious hosts who brought us there Susan and William Brinson of House of Brinson, Michelle from Design Evolution, and Kerry from First Time Fancy.