The things I learned at BlogHer will take more than one post, time to collect my thoughts (and notes) and more cognitive energy than I possess after this whirlwind weekend. But, I wanted to post a quick recap of the things I learned in Chicago.
- When you visit Chicago you will walk your arse off. Wear comfortable shoes and know how to read a map. Don’t bother asking for directions because people will either be rude or ignore you all together.
- Navy Pier rocks! It looks like you are looking at the ocean rather than Lake Michigan.
- Do not walk on Navy Pier when you are hungry and in the running to be the Mamavation mom. You will only walk past a bazillion vendors, tempting you with their fried dough smothered in straight to your hips chocolate sauce. The Haagen Daaz booth, the Ben and Jerry’s- it was torture.
- I am learning self control when it comes to food. As it turns out I did not eat any of the above. I got a fruit and walnut salad from Mickey D’s and a diet coke. Go me!
- Some women crave drama and attention. They will go to ridiculous lengths to get said attention and it is incredibly irritating and disappointing.
- On the flip side, the blogosphere is full of genuine, friendly and awesome gals from all blogs walks of life that will hug you, laugh with you, cry with you, share knowledge with you and connect with you on a soul sister level.
- A relatively normal sized hotel will seem GIGANTIC when you have to be from one end to the other, balancing a plate, in under five minutes. Your room will seem smaller and smaller as all the swag gets dumped and you run off to the next party educational session.
- Being away from your hubby and kids is not as much fun as you think it will be. You will be looking at all the sites and wishing they were there to share them with.
- The Starbucks in the Safeway does not serve food, no matter which entrance you come through. Just ask @scrappinmichele.
- Homemaker Barbi is the cutest pregnant woman I have ever seen. She is also a fabulous mentor and a sweet friend who was even brave enough to give me my MS shot. (I’m too chicken to do it myself)
- They call it beauty sleep for a reason.
- Social Luxe and EA Sports Active know how to throw parties. Some others do not.
- BlogHer should never claim to be experts at event planning.
- You can wear slippers to a cocktail party, put on a tiara and feel like a princess.
- Shuttles to the airport suck.
- Women can now pee standing up, it is awesome to win a Kodak video camera and Croc flip-flops are comfy!
- I want to learn how to use Whrrl.
- Women should not run around naked if such a sight is going to cause the people subjected to it to have nightmares about what their body could end up looking like someday. Actually, they just shouldn’t run around naked in a hotel, period. I’m pretty sure most people know that.
- The decibel in which a woman screams when she matches a person with their avatar will make your ears bleed.
- I am so glad I went.
More about my travel adventures, lessons learned and why I think “mommyblogging” gets a bad rap sometimes when I have had enough sleep to make me eyes turn from bloodshot to green again. Thanks Homemaker Barbi and Parentella for making my trip possible!
