I had a much better time at BlogHer than my camera did... (3)

Part 1
Part 2

Friday 8/6/10

Friday morning started with breakfast and the opening Keynote.  I finally started to feel like I was in New York for a purpose other than fun.  Sitting and listening really gave me a little focus on what my day might bring.

And once again... I got a little overwhelmed with the mere volume of bloggers all in one place.

The first session I attended was"Usability for Beginning Bloggers".  It was run by Abi Jones and    Tracy Osborn.  It was an beginner class... but I think I got a lot out of it.  It immediately made me want to redo my blog (AGAIN).  I did make some changes as soon as I got home.  I think my blog is looking a little more streamlined... a little easier to use... a little easier on the eyes.  What do you think?

After that session we had a lunch break... and I ventured out with Colleen and Kelly.  (I had sushi for the first time.  I'll say that I liked it well enough... but it was not added to my list of "very favorite things of all time.")

Colleen and Kelly

After lunch Colleen and I headed into the Expo Hall for a while.  The place was HUGE... and it was filled with amazing booths for amazing sponsors.  I have to admit that I'm still sorting through my last bag of "swag" 2 weeks later... er... almost 3 weeks later.

(Side note... We were back too late to go to the 2nd session.  I SHOULD have made a much better effort to make it to the session on Fighting Spam and Hackers.  Biggest annoyance of BlogHer?  My e-mail was hacked and my whole address book was sent spam.  My gmail was shut down.  Solving that issue while in NYC on wifi could be a whole post in and of itself.)

Some things I actually took a moment to take photos of in the Expo Hall...
One of the Puffs kids demonstrate the quality of Puffs tissues versus another brand.

Colleen sat down with a dream expert while I took an online survey/quiz about making my bed.

I met the one and only Mrs. Potato Head!

After the expo hall I rushed off (a teeny tiny bit late) to catch a session on How to Take Great Photos.  Unfortunately it was VERY full.  The session seemed popular... and I think it could have benefited being placed in a larger room.  Oh well.

I decided to step into another session... since I knew of some of the bloggers listed on the panel and they had space.  The session was "Bringing Sex Out Of The Closet".  The panelists were AV Flox, Tess Danesi, Genia Stevens and Kristen Chase.  I didn't plan on going into this session... but it did give me some interesting things to think about as far as how to talk to Zoe and Ana about personal issues... and how important it is to talk about things in a way that makes them feel comfortable coming to me to talk or to ask question.  Are you ready for your kids to talk to you about sex?  I'm so not looking forward to those talks.

After the sessions I headed up to the room to relax for a little bit before getting ready to go to the Gala Welcome Party and Art Auction.

I went down to the Gala.  It wasn't actually an art auction right then.  It was actually more a gallery to view the art.  The Art Auction is actually happening now, on ebay.  More art is added each week.  So if you are interested in viewing and bidding go see the listings on ebay for bloghergulfauction.  There are really some amazing pieces.

I wandered around looking at the art.  I was very happy to find Jenny, The Bloggess.  She was on my list of people I absolutely wanted to find and meet... and I succeeded!  (Next year my goal will be to spend some time with her in the bathroom!)

I stood in line and waiting for Jenny to "read me" and type up a little poem, of sorts, on this little pink typewriter.  My poem says "You have skin like peavches and cream.  sticky, but delicious."

I asked the person behind me if they would mind taking a picture for me.  It's blurry and dark... and editing doesn't improve it... but I got a photo with The Bloggess.  :)

I wandered around looking at the art and looking around to see if there would be anyone to connect with.  I have to admit I was feeling a little lost again.  I was THRILLED to run into Casey.  Moosh In Indy was one of my very first and still favorite blogs.  She is every bit the nice person she claims to be. 

Casey invited me to join her and her roommates for the evening.  While we were making a stop in their room Casey very nicely asked how I was enjoying BlogHer... and if I was having a good time... and I'm embarrassed to admit I got all teary.  It was really quite overwhelming to be alone in this crowded place and not really connect with anyone.  I will be forever grateful to Casey and her roommates, Kim and Sam and Emily , for turning my BlogHer experience around.  (And, I was beyond thrilled to meet Sam since I read her blog and follow her on Twitter, etc etc etc.  I'm not sure how I never found Kim or Emily before... )

I joined Casey and her roommates at The Striderite & Robeez party... where they had the yummiest tiny cupcakes.  Then we headed off in a cab to the Aiming Low EZPZ party.  We were able to get in for the last 10 minutes.  It was so very rushed... I'm not quite sure who I saw there... except I did get a peek at little Miss Annabel, and she is just as cute in person as she is in all of her photos.  Such a sweetie!!!

I walked back towards the hotel with Casey and Kim.  I split up with them a block before the hotel because I had an invite from Elise... who lives just a town over from me.  We may have passed each other around town without knowing it, but we had to go all the way to NYC to actually make sure we met!  Elise works for BabyBites.com and they were having a small party.  I was so glad I had said I would go... and stuck to my plan.  I met so many wonderful people at that party!

I ended up leaving that party just around midnight.  I was totally exhausted... and had really enjoyed a cosmo (or 3).  All I can really say is that Friday at BlogHer was a huge whirlwind of a day for me.

I had a much better time at BlogHer than my camera did... (2)

(Part 1 here)

Thursday 8/5/10


On Thursday afternoon Miss Banshee and I hopped on a train in Madison and the next thing I knew she had me in the lobby bar having a drink with the MamaPop people.  Amalah, Sweetney, Black Hockey Jesus, Goon Squad Sarah...(Again... NO PIC).  It was surreal to be surrounded by people you only know through written words.  That one gathering in that one bar is kind of how I felt all weekend.  I guess I was slightly awed at the fact that BlogHer pulled together this huge (2,400 people!) number of bloggers into one place.

Miss Banshee and I stayed long enough to finish our drinks... and then we headed back to the room to for what what ended up being a very over-scheduled evening (for me at least).  My first stop was to a party being hosted by NYCityMama at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

I was thrilled to meet (another) Colleen.  We had planned on meeting... and she was one of the few people I had exchanged cell numbers with in advance.  I was so happy to meet her in person.

Zoe was most excited by this picture.  She's a new fan to all the Disney music stars, and when I saw the Miley Cyrus wax figure I just had to get Zoe this picture.

As we were walking through the museum we came to a spot where all of the N'Sync figures were standing.  (You know... the boy band.)  As we were standing there I was waiting for this woman to take a picture.  She just kept aiming... and I didn't think she would ever take her shot.  I then realized she was wax too.   So... as impressed as I was with the realness of all of the wax statues... this random tourist figure was my favorite.  I was left wondering how many other statues I had said "excuse me" to.

We finished up at the Madame Tussaud's party (MUCH later than I had expected) and made our way back to the Hilton to catch the end of the People's Party.    (I totally missed the Schick Intuition party.)

From the People's Party we headed across the street to another private party (after receiving a last minute invitation from Loralee.)  All I can say about that party?  The hotel suite had a view TO DIE FOR.  Oh... and the swag bags were just full of awesome.  My favorite items in the bags... a Lisa Leonard bracelet, some Kristen Bowen products that smell AMAZING, and an orange tote bag by Hobo International that has quickly become my favorite bag.  But the view.... it was totally NYC at night.

I finished off Thursday night at the Hilton bar with a group of women making use out of the Bumpits that were also in those goodie-bags.  (Um... I didn't bring mine home... they got dropped off at the swag exchange room... ahem.) There was drinking, and laughing, and it almost didn't matter that my drink cost $14.50.  (yikes!)

I had a much better time at BlogHer than my camera did... (1)

I went to the BlogHer conference in NYC... and I think I've been putting off writing about it.  I think I'm just not sure what to say.

It was great fun... and it was overly intimidating.
I met some amazing people... and I met some, um... other people.
I felt like I was right where I belonged... and I questioned what in the world I was thinking going in the first place.

Maybe we'll just say it was a hugely overwhelming experience... an experience that I think I'm still processing?  An experience I'm glad to have had.

My main (and I think most important) observation?  BlogHer (and I'm sure any other big blog conference) would be best enjoyed by going with at least one person who you have made a true connection with before the conference.  Not necessarily an in-real-life connection (although that would be awesome) but a solid definite person who is your "home base".
***Um... prep for BlogHer 2011 - San Diego, CA...  Carrie?  Wanna be my person? My BlogHer buddy?  Dance the night away at Sparklecorn and CheeseburgHer with me?  :)

My second main (and also important) observation???  The DSLR is great... but BlogHer requires a nice small point-n-click, in my opinion.  I had these visions of getting some pics of me with some of my favorite blog people.  It's not so easy to take a self portrait with the clunky DSLR.  It's also not easy to hand off your big clunky camera to "strangers".  So... note to self... keep your eyes open for a handy little point-n-click.  Preferably one that will fit in a small party bag.

Now that I've made the point about the little camera... let me just point out the post title. 

1. I had (mostly) an awesome time.  The pictures I did take just don't capture that.  I was disappointed all around with the photos I came home with.  I do not do well with getting my camera to do what I want in hotel/conference/party type locations.  I found myself hugely frustrated with my camera. Grrr.

2. I got a few photos of people... but I'm actually quite sad that I missed the opportunity to get photos with most of the awesome people I met.  How did I not make myself get a photo of Casey and Kim and Sam and Emily??????  They saved my BlogHer!  And Miss Banshee.  She was my ROOMIE! I did not get one single pic with her!  And Jodi... I actually got to really talk to her.  (No pic.)  And Schmutzie... I happened on a random tweet and I was suddenly sitting with her at the closing keynote.  (Not even an iPhone pic) And Amanda... sweet lovely Amanda... who I most wanted to meet... and who I ended up passing in hallways in a rush more times than I could count. (Nope... no pic.)

So... I believe I had a much better time than my pictures show.  I so wish I had photographic proof (even just for myself) of more of the amazing people I was able to meet by stepping out of my safe little space in Madison, NJ.

***This has gotten long... and I haven't even shared photos yet... so I'm going to break it into parts.***

Our Thoughts on Jumpstart Get Moving: Family Fitness (and a Giveaway!!!)

Please click on over and read about Our Thoughts on Jumpstart Get Moving: Family Fitness.  

And while you're there... make sure you enter the giveaway to win your own copy of the Wii game.

Shiny... like the sun

This is SO not a good photo... but I love it just the same.

Our Thoughts on Diapers.com and Soap.com

One of the booths at BlogHer10 was run by Diapers.com and their new site Soap.com.  They were having people draw coupon cards out of a big box... and I was lucky enough to get a coupon for "$20 + Free Shipping" so I could try out their sites.  Come read Our Thoughts on Diapers.com and Soap.com... and also get a 15% off coupon code!

Our Thoughts on the BlogHer10 Expo Hall

So... this post is just to tell you that I wrote a post telling you I plan to write some more posts.

That makes total sense, right?

Good!

Ana's Thoughts on Photography

MOMMY! MO-MAY!

You all done you pitchas!

Der ya go!

A Little Like Humpty Dumpty

I fell today... and I can't quite pull myself back together again.

It was a slightly traumatic morning for me.  I am fine.  We are fine.  But...

I fell.

I am physically alright.  My right knee is scraped up.  It feels worse than it looks (for now).  My left knee feels twisted... strained.  My left elbow is a scraped up mess that is already showing the lovely purpleness that won't be so lovely.  My right palm looks unharmed now... except for a small spot that looks like a piece of gravel may have decided to make a home there.  My thumb doesn't hurt a bit... but has started to take on a lovely shade of gray blue.

I physically ache.

But, what is worse.... was has me out of bed when I am physically spent... what has it so I can't pull my emotions back into check...

I fell on Ana.

I was holding Ana.  And I fell. On her.

Now... she is alright.  All checked out.  Nothing wrong save for a small scrape on her back... a barely visible scrape on her right arm... and a small egg on her head that started out as the HUGEST LUMP on a toddler head I have ever seen and felt (and people... I worked with infants and toddlers for YEARS.  I know head bumps). 

Ana is fine.

We had pulled into the parking lot of the community pool to take Zoe for her lesson.  We were just on time... verging on late.  We were collecting all of our "stuff".

In the short time and distance it took to get from taking her out of her carseat to walk to the back of the minivan where her stroller was waiting for her... I fell.  I tripped.  On my own feet? On a rock? If you ask Zoe I tripped "on the wheel".  I don't know.

What I do know?  I may never forget that split second right as we were falling.  The moment I tried to figure out how NOT to land with all of my 182 pounds on top of my 2 year old. The brief look on her face when our eyes met.  The moment we hit the ground... and I was sure I broke her.  Her body between me and the ground.  Her head between my chest and the pavement.  The thought of "I just squished her."

She cried.

I cried.

(I think the poor very young male lifeguard wanted to cry as he tried to clean my wounds... as I held Ana clinging to my chest.  Poor kid.)

I am fine.  She is fine.

We went right to the pediatrician (after talking to them on the phone).  The doctor and nurses were kind enough to check us both out.  They cleaned the remaining gravel out of my cuts and scrapes.  They warned that we would be tired... that it would hurt more tomorrow... that we would be cranky.

We are bruise, scraped, bumped.  We'll heal.  We're ok.

I just want my heart to stop racing at the thought of that one moment.  My mommy heart just crumbled.

Moon Moon Moon

We love the Laurie Berkner Band.  Every single song has been named our favorite at some point or another.  Currently... MY favorite is The Goldfish.  I guess Zoe's favorite is Moon Moon Moon.

(I'm setting this to post while I'm in NYC at BlogHer.  If I have time to check in on my blog I just might cry my eyes out.... because as much fun as I'm sure I'm having... I'm sure I'll be missing this girl.)

A BlogHer Perk

BlogHer is just a few short days away.  I am filled with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. 

I am hoping to get a lot out of BlogHer.

I want to learn...

I want to have fun...

I want to meet people...

I want to do something just for myself.

I just want to enjoy the whole experience.


But do you want to know the most random realization I made about BlogHer????

I will not be wiping anyone's butt but my own for 3 whole days.

(And don't you dare ask me to!)

My Pretty Little Flowers

We recently were on vacation in North Carolina.  We spent a week at the beach in Nags Head, Outer Banks (and I WILL share photos).  After finishing our time at the beach we made a stop on our way home to visit one of my college roommates, Amanda, and her family in Durham (near Raleigh).  She happened to have a portrait session scheduled for her children, so we tagged along with her to the Duke Gardens at Duke University.

I took advantage of the situation and had my own little personal photo session (featuring the gorgeous pillow case dresses made by my friend Carrie!!!)   It was very hot, and very humid, and I had 2 little girls who were slightly exhausted from a week at the beach and traveling.  That said... I think I got quite a few good shots.  Oh... and the gorgeous location didn't hurt either!  (If you ever are near Duke University... make an effort to get to the gardens.  I was thoroughly impressed!) 

And... if I can "toot my own horn" just a bit... I will have you know that the majority of these photos came right out of the camera.  Manual settings.  No editing.  Well... except maybe a bit of cropping here and there.  It just goes to show you what some good natural lighting at the right time of day can do for you!