BlogHer & Friends

BlogHer is done and over with for another year and that means for at least the next week or so the blogosphere is going to be saturated with BlogHer wrap up posts, pictures, and more tweets about how everyone is missing each other. I am no different than all the others and am jumping on the bandwagon.

So was my first BlogHer everything that I could have ever wanted it to be? eh… sure. It was really good but I missed out on the keynotes, VOTY awards, and the sessions and that was my own fault because I didn’t get a full conference pass. It’ll be okay though because now that the sessions are being transcribed and posted on the BlogHer site I can read through them at my own pace.

There are a few things that I did learn though. First of all the conference really solidified how much of an introvert I really am. I mean geesh… I spent so much time worried about being the annoying person that didn’t have friends that I didn’t just walk up to groups of people and talk to them. I tended to keep to myself more than I should have and I think that hurt my overall experience.

On the bright side I met just about everyone on my list of must meet people as well as so many other wonderful people. There were smiles, laughter, and lots and lots of hugs. I felt like I belonged and accepted to a special group of people. I was with friends and it was amazing because these people who I have “known” and chatted with for the past three years were with me in person and the best part… these women were no longer just my friends in the computer, they were my real life friends.

BlogHer 1

Did I mention that there was lots of hugging? What about the squeeing? Well, there was a lot of that too.

The first day that I arrived in Chicago I met up with an amazing group of women…. there had to be close to 20 of us there at lunch. Most of them I had met through blogging and others were totally new to me. Regardless, I was met with smiles and hugs… I felt totally welcomed to the group. The rest of the weekend was much of the same.

BlogHer 2

My biggest regret? Not taking enough pictures! When I was going through my phone looking at the pictures I did take I realized that there weren’t that many and I didn’t get pictures with everyone!

Another thing that I learned was actually before the conference began. The women who were once just online friends are open, honest, and trusting… we swapped phone numbers without a second thought and almost immediately started talking to one another. And we are still talking.

I’ve found my ‘tribe’. The group of bloggers who I trust completely and would help out in anyway that I could if they asked. They’re women that I could sit up talking to late at night sharing silly stories, laughs, serious conversations, and more. I made connections that I value greatly and they’re connections that I will continue to maintain and grow because aside from simply being a connection they’re friendships and that is more important.

It’s Wednesday and because of that I’m linking up with Shell for Pour Your Heart Out and Angie & Amanda for Wordful Wednesday.

What I hope… #BlogHer13

In just a couple days time I’ll be on a train headed to Chicago and the biggest blogging conference around. Yes, I’ll be attending my very first BlogHer conference! Like everyone else who is attending I am excited and looking to a fun filled weekend and just like all of the other newbies I’m a little nervous because I don’t fully know what to expect.

Right now at this very moment my biggest worry is if I will be able to see the amazing Queen Latifah at the VOTY awards! Seriously, this is important, first world problems because I only bought an expo/party pass. If not, then I’ll be the one hovering right outside the door peaking in the window or through the door barely cracked just to see a little bit. I sent out a tweet or two and posted my issues on Facebook so I’ll find out soon enough. Fingers crossed people!

Anyway, I have a lot of hopes and dreams for #BlogHer13.

i hope

I hope that I get to meet everyone that is on my lists of must meet. Bloggers who I admire and have followed since day one.

I hope that this little conference will help push my name & blog out there to the front where more people can see it.

I hope that I make some excellent and long lasting connections with some of the amazing brands that will be there.

I hope I can make connections with PR reps from various marketing firms that I leave a good impression on.

I hope that I get to meet Ree Drummond because I do love her show on Food Network.

I hope that I get to meet Queen Latifah because I’ve listened to her for years and she’s pretty awesome.

I hope that I can past my nervousness & introvertness (yes, I made that word up) and put myself out there a little bit.

I hope… well, I hope that I don’t make a fool out of myself. That would be terrible!

What about you? What are your hopes and dreams for BlogHer if you’re going this year?

 

Getting to know me – Bloggy Bootcamp Style

Alright, if you didn’t already know I’ll be heading to Chicago this weekend for Bloggy Bootcamp which is an incredible one day blogging conference hosted by the SITS Girls!

Of course I’m excited to be going and that I’ll be meeting up with some old friends, Julie & Elena (my roommates), Jen and then meeting some new people as well! Kmama, Mother’s Hideaway, and Coffee Lovin’ Mom. Of course there are so many others that are going to be attending that I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know but it’d take a lifetime to list all 125 women!

I can’t forget the SITS girls who will be our hostess’ for the day, Tiffany and Francesca! Because without them we all wouldn’t be going to this great event or learning everything that they have to offer through their website. Seriously, they’re incredible!

Oh, one of the cool things about going to Bloggy Bootcamp….  My SITS day was just the other day! It’s like the holidays have come early!

So for those of you who haven’t met me I’ll give you a bit of background in case you don’t feel like poking around here all day trying to figure things out.

  • I’m married to a pretty good guy who puts up with all my social media addictions and idiosyncrasies. A big thank you goes out to him for letting me get away this weekend and staying home with the kids.
  • I have 4 kids. Yup, you heard me right. And even more fun is that there are 3 girls (15, 11, 9) and 1 boy (19 months). Big age gap, huh?
  • I work full time outside the home as a product owner at a small software development company in Michigan. It’s a good job and a even better place to work but it’s not my dream job.
  • I’m somewhat reserved and I suppose that at times I can come across as mean/rude/bitchy or something along those lines. But believe me I’m none of those things (at least I don’t think I am). I just don’t know what to say and have this fear of looking/sounding like an idiot.
  • I can be fun so come talk to me. Please…. don’t leave me alone sitting in that hard chair in the corner.
  • Yes, I’ve been stressing over what to wear. Do I change before the cocktail party? Should I dress up or go more casual? Do I find something new or wear what I have? Ugg…. decisions… decisions. I really need Tracy to help me!
  • This is my second blog conference so I can officially say that I’m not a newbie. This May I went to Gleek Retreat right here in Michigan and had a great time! I suggest that you check it out.
  • I love social media! A lot. So much that I have a goal to make a career change and find a job in the social media field.

Come find me and say Hi!

Me

By the way... this is me.