This past weekend me and about four thousand of my closet friends all descended upon New York City for a small intimate gathering known as BlogHer.
If you remember correctly, I was very excited to go. I needed a break from the ins and outs of my every day life. I needed a chance to hang out with friends that I hadn’t seen in a year… basically, I just needed some time to reconnect with myself where no one asked me to get them a snack or wipe their butt.
Let’s just say, BlogHer did not disappoint. It gave me everything I needed and more and the best way I can tell you about it is through random thoughts.
Airport Security Fail
I do not travel often and to watch me go through airport security this fact is made abundantly clear. I am like a freaking neon sign. I forgot about the liquid rule, I packed my suitcase too heavy which caused a panicked moment where I had to choose between my shoes and the vodka I packed
(fortunately, I was able to discard the soda and keep the shoes and vodka) and I thought nothing of wearing pants with little metal spikes on them (as it turns out, TSA is not a fan of pants with metal spike embroidered into the material… something about making the xray machine going crazy).
Sessions Smessions
BlogHer is a blogging conference and it is full of wonder educational sessions about how to better your blog, how to better understand SEO and branding, how to vlog and the list goes on and on. If you want to learn about the craft of blogging, this is your mecca. But apparently, I don’t want to take advantage of all this education since I didn’t go.
(The above statement is not totally true, I did go to one panel discussion session called, “Mom, Quit Blogging about Me!” it was fabulous and left me with much food for thought.)
Conference Goal
As the time for BlogHer got closer and closer, I read many a blog post and many a tweet about people making plans for the conference. They charted out what sessions and parties to attend, where to be when and what people to meet. For me, BlogHer is about flying by the seat of your pants. It is the time to have no plan, no time line, no place to be. I feel this opens you up to sitting in a bar picking up younger guys (just for fun) and meeting really awesome people like all the ones that live in my computer.
SWAG!
Is swag even a word? I asked Google and he is confused too. What I am talking about is all the free stuff that companies, brands and bloggers give out to promote themselves. Some people go freaking nuts over the stuff. Me, I really couldn’t care less expect for one thing… the vibrator swag.
Um, free sex toys?! Yes, please. Also where else but around the vibrator swag table can you hear woman say, “Um, is THAT supposed to go in me? It’s freaking huge!” Or “Excuse but but does that cock ring stretch because my husband is a bit bigger than that hole.” Priceless.
Clothes, Shoes, OH MY!
For me, BlogHer is all about the clothes. I deeply care about what I will be wearing at this conference because whether you believe it or not, BlogHer is the fashion show capital of the Blogosphere. It is the place to be seen in the cute shoes, hot pants and fabulous dress.
I didn’t not plan out my conference time or what sessions I wanted to attend but you bet your ass, I had a flow chart of what outfit I was going to wear when, what shoes when with it and the best jewelry options.
Experience the City
I don’t consider myself a blog conference newbie. I have been to many conferences large and small but until this trip, I feel like I was doing them wrong. Blog conferences are held in some pretty awesome locations and until New York City, the only thing I saw of each city was the conference space and the airport.
On this trip, we (Rachel, my roomie and BFF) ventured out into the city. I got to see and stand in places that I see on my TV. These places are real places and I was there.
Food
BlogHer provides conference goers with breakfast, lunch and snacks. It is really nice and keeps your cost down but in a city like New York, you have to go out and experience the food. New York City is known for amazing restaurants, cafes and food trucks.
And because Rachel is a foodie and certified SOM, we did just that. She choose some of the most fabulous food and wine I have ever tasted. We are talking… orgasm in my chair good, it was so good. And it is for that reason when she said, “don’t eat the crab curry sandwich, it smells wrong”, I should have listened.
But I didn’t… and I paid for that mistake and so did our hotel room toilet.
Dance
BlogHer throws some kick ass awesome parties. The best one in my opinion being Sparklecorn sponsored by MomPop. Why is it the best? Well, its a fabulous dance party where every one is on the dance floor shaking what their momma gave them.
I don’t know about you but only time I get to dance now a days is at wedding where usually the only people dancing are the old people doing the polka or the young people doing the Hookie Pookie. Sparklecorn is not like that… dance floor packed, sweaty bodies everywhere, music so loud you feel it in your chest. I love it.
Coming Home
I have to say BlogHer did it’s job. I needed a break, I got one and by the last day… I was ready to come home. I actually began to miss my babies and I wanted nothing more than to hold them in my arms again. I enjoyed living like I was a single 20 something fashionista but there is nothing better than slipping back into the yoga pants and snot stained shirt of being a mom.
And since Jeff left for work this morning like a bat outta hell, I am pretty sure he was glad to have me home again too.
Awesome recap! I like that you explored the city some as well – I feel like sometimes people forget this when they go to conferences in fun places. So excited that it’s in Chicago next year!
Oh, I am totally excited for Chicago next year
Yes, yes, yes… next time around: fewer sessions, more Rachel time and more “get out of the conference center time.”
Perfect!
I have a goal… get to BlogHer next year because it’s in Chicago. That’s it.
I like that goal!
I miss you so much already!! We had a blast and took NYC by storm! xoxo
It was an awesome time… the only problem was it when by too quickly.
Shouldn’t there be a photo of you wearing something sparkly and glitsy???
Yes, there probably should be but if I showed you those then I would have to kill you.
Kidding. There are not any photos of me all sparkly because I was too busy dancing to mess around with my camera.
Wow. I must be getting more immersed into the blog world these days. I’ve heard so much about Blog Her this year (I haven’t really had blog conferences on my radar before) and I’ve developed a yearning to go to one. Love your irreverant summary of it! Maybe one day I’ll get along to a Blog Her. The challenge is to get a sponsor to fly this small time blogger over to the US! (Because at this stage, there’s no way hubby is paying for me to leave him – with the triplets particularly!)
Swag is a word, short for swagger.
Oh dear. We do blog conferences differently. sort of.
either way, next year it is on.
also? Shakespeare made up the word “swagger” which is descriptive way to talk about how someone walks. I am not sure how it got shortened to swag as in free stuff.
We may do them differently but I think that we’d still have an awesome time together. Maybe we can balance each other out.
You looked amazing every time I saw and was with you! You know how to do a conference right. Sorry about the sandwich though. And to think I almost grabbed one of those… ;p
Sounds decadent anyway you slice it…well, except for the part where you worship at the porcelain alter. But other than that, you made up my mind. I have a conference planned in Toronto in October, and I’ve been humming and hawwing about it, but now, I’m definitely going to go and dip my toe in the pond! Thanks for the advice!
Yes, go! Blog conferences are awesome.
I so want to go to BlogHer sometime. And I so love NYC. I was only there once but I feel like I need to go again.
You should totally go to BlogHer sometime, it can be overwhelming but totally worth it.
Loved seeing all your pics on instagram! Next year, I’m going.
Yeah!
Glad you had a great time. I think had I not read this I would spend most of my time in classes thinking I was supposed to go and not wanting to get “in trouble”. Totally going to do it your way if I ever make one
Yes, I am a blog conference rebel.
Definitely heading to Chicago next year and I can’t wait! Looks like you had a great time and you looked fabulous.
Swag is reall an acronym for “Stuff We All Get” isn’t it? I mean at makes sense.
Okay, so mad I only got to see you for like a fraction of a second at lunch. That sucked, but I was totally looking for you at Sparklecorn!
Great recap… I think I love you, dear, and promise you’ll save a dance for me in Chicago next year???
I am sad we didn’t get more time together too.
Chicago is in my back yard so you bet your ass, I will be there!
I didn’t have a flowchart, but my husband makes fun of me for putting little sticky notes on outfits to indicate which day of the week I plan on wearing them at conferences.
So glad you had a great time! I’ll have to see if you posted pics of your outfits someplace!
you diva, you. ♥
I don’t know if there are any outfit pictures… my bad.
But sometime, I should do a fashion post.
Looks awesome!!! Such a great recap!! Glad you had such a great time.
Dude…totally thought I commented!
Looks fun and overwhelming and awesome all at the same time!
You could have mailed me your booze:)