BlogHer 09 The Quick Recap

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.

1. 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.
2. Navy Pier rocks!  It looks like you are looking at the ocean rather than Lake Michigan.
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. Some women crave drama and attention.  They will go to ridiculous lengths to get said attention and it is incredibly irritating and disappointing.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. The Starbucks in the Safeway does not serve food, no matter which entrance you come through.  Just ask @scrappinmichele.
10. 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)
11. They call it beauty sleep for a reason.
12. Social Luxe and EA Sports Active know how to throw parties.  Some others do not.
13. BlogHer should never claim to be experts at event planning.
14. You can wear slippers to a cocktail party, put on a tiara and feel like a princess.
15. Shuttles to the airport suck.
16. Women can now pee standing up, it is awesome to win a Kodak video camera and Croc flip-flops are comfy!
17. I want to learn how to use Whrrl.
18. 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.
19. The decibel in which a woman screams when she matches a person with their avatar will make your ears bleed.
20. 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!

Me, Beautiful?

What makes you feel beautiful, ageless? 

 B.C. (before children) I felt beautiful when I saw my flat stomach in the mirror, when my chest was, shall we say, perkier?  When my hair was done and make-up applied. Granted, I am only thirty years old, but circumstances make me feel older than that on most days.

When I saw this contest and thought about writing this post I had to think about what makes me feel beautiful now.  When you live with chronic illness, feeling beautiful is a rare occurence.  I have bruises on my stomach and hips from my injections, I have gained weight (a fabulous side effect of many medications) and no amount of concealer can masquerade the dark circles under my eyes. 

But, thankfully this post gave me pause to reflect on the moments I feel beautiful.  When one of my boys strokes my face as I’m reading a story, the way my husband looks at me like I’m the only woman in the room, when my grandmother compliments my complexion, those are the moments I feel beautiful.  And I feel beautiful when I feel strong, when I make it through a difficult day or procedure, when I push through pain and fatigue to be the mama, wife and friend I am called to be.

Most importantly, all I have to do is look at myself through my Heavenly Father’s eyes.  He sees no faults, no fat, just my motives and my heart.  Thankfully, those things are far more beautiful than the package they come in.

If you are going to BlogHer, be sure to stop by Our Ordinary Life and tell them what makes you ageless for a chance to win money towards your trip.

Multitasking Mama is an Everything Mom

So, life is always full of surprises….I had given up on going to BlogHer months ago when they sold out faster than tickets to a Kenny Chesney concert.  I left it in God’s hands.  Last week I got a ticket. Woo hoo!  I am going to Chicago- going to Chicago.  Sorry, I digress! (the excitement does overwhelm me at times)

Now, just when my hubby is asking how in the H-E-double hockey sticks I am going to pay my way I find a sponsorship contest by Everything Mom.  In the interest of full disclosure (a big deal in the blogosphere recently)I had never visited the Everything Mom site before hearing about this contest on Twitter.  However, I am thinking this works in my favor.  Their goal with this contest is to spread the word about their site and the details of their Sharing Revenue Program with moms. 

Speaking of the Sharing Revenue Program (go CHECK it out!!) that helps blogging mama’s, such as myself, make a little extra spending money to support our blogging habit pad our pockets- I would love the chance to share the opportunity with the gals I meet at BlogHer (did I mention I got a ticket and I’m going yet? squee!)  How would I do this you ask?  Well, by blogging and vlogging my little heart out on behalf of Everything Mom, for starters.  In addition, putting my marketing background to good use (hey, I am not above shameless self promotion at this point) I would develop creative and fun ways to let mom bloggers know about the money making opportunities that await them at Everything Mom.  Off the cuff,  I am thinking business “cards” that look like money with the Sharing Revenue Program details on the back.  In addition, I would be willing to wear (and make if need be) Everything Mom on my head (a hat that is), chest (a shirt that is), and anything else they would ask of me.  Suffice it to say, Everything Mom would be very well represented!

Now, as for what I hope to get out of attending the BlogHer conference itself (other than meeting other fantabulous bloggers, learning more about the ins and outs of blogging through the break out sessions, making connections with companies and brands and enhancing my online presence) I would really like to show my hubby that blogging is not just my hobby. It is a relevant, modern mode of communication with the outside world that has proven to be a lifeline for me since I started blogging a little over a year ago.

So, go check out Everything Mom and say a little prayer that I have the honor of representing them at BlogHer next month.