If you are tired of reading about BlogHer posts then I have good and bad news.
Bad news: this post is about BlogHer ’11.
Good news: this is my last Blogher ’11 post.
Now, get ready for Stream of Consciousness writing with no timeline. Forget the rules of good blogging, grammar, spelling, and sense.
People:
I was fortunate to meet some really amazing women (and men) at BlogHer. One way that I got to meet (almost) everyone on my list was by attending the Haute Green Social Hour Party on Thursday. I also happened to be a co-host. I was able to hug @KatiesPickles, @TheEcoChic, @ClothDiaperGeek, @KellyWels, @HauteMommyBlog, @HygeiaSylvia, @MamaPearDesigns, @EcoNuts, @PhDinParenting, @BabyRabies, @DagmarBleasedale, and so many more it isn’t funny. These are my TWEEPS! I love them and I loved meeting them for the first time. I met many more new people too, which is kinda the point, yes?
My friend came to visit me who is local to San Diego. Unfortunately it was short but at least I got to hug her neck. She is hoping for a Homebirth any day now and I am wishing her the best of luck and can’t wait to hear about it. Thanks Lyndsey!
At the conference I also met @TwoPretzels and @TheGrumbles. I think I want to run away with both of them. We were at the same table for the Saturday Night Keynote. Ricki Lake spoke about women in the media and about her little movie, you know, The Business of Being Born. I was a wreck about being late for this one so my roomie and I took a PediCab for a 20 minute walk. It was fun, and 20$ well spent.
I mentioned before that I was hoping to meet Ricki Lake. I have been tweeting at her and her new show’s Twitter Handle @TheRickiLakeShow for a few weeks now. Not in a stalkery way, I hope. I was asked to meet up with Ricki and other bloggers after the speech at the Tequila Bar by the pool of our hotel. Margaritas were dispensed and I felt positively minute in the company of some amazing women. I knew that Amy Lupold (@ResourcefulMom) would be there as well so I took the opportunity earlier that day to introduce myself after her session on Professional Blogging. This was a great decision. I saw a friendly face in the crowd. Later on others I knew made it, including Annie of PhDinParenting. I was able to chat with Ricki Lake, have a photo taken (SQUEE), and then talk to folks from the show. I may have talked the ear of of a producer for almost 30 minutes about cloth diapers. He may have sounded very interested in them. And I may be crossing my fingers that they decide to talk about them on her new show coming in September 2012.
Other Highlights:
Watching my roomie, Julie AKA the Cloth Diaper Geek, dance the night away at Sparklecorn. Eating part of a Unicorn’s butt. Decorating a few adult toys with googly eyes. Hopping in a Photobooth with @BebehBlog and making silly faces. Getting tattooed and having an invitation to “Lick me” written on the back of my neck at Aiming Low. Eating cheeseburgers taken from silverdomed servingware. Being filmed eating sausage on a stick. Taking a Pedicab with Julie (@ClothDiaperGeek). Joining a Pumping Party. And of course being a part of the 300 oz+ breastmilk donation.
If it weren’t for Twitter I would have missed the Queen Bee Market, anadorable suite at the Hilton, full of handmade goods. It was seriously like Etsy threw up in a room. I could have spent hours and hours there, and hundreds of dollars. Luckily I only had 10 minutes to spare so I bought a flower for my hair and a ring for my finger.
The Swag:
If you have heard of BlogHer you mostly hear about the swag. I was either doing it wrong, or doing it right. I came home with a suitcase full of a few samples and coupons, that is it. Toothpaste, detergent, 2 bracelets, a DVD, some *ahem* toys, a water bottle, a sponge, stationary, Angry Bird Keychain, and a neti pot. I didn’t win anything, I didn’t party hop to procure swag, I didn’t run through the Expo Hall grabbing stuff, and I stayed true to myself. I’m going to be honest and say that I was a tad jealous of the cool stuff I saw, but it is a lot of work to swag it up. The people with the most swag are either really famous and had it coming at them hand over fist, or good at party hopping. They also probably missed most of the official stuff in order to swag hop.
More Photos:
I would love to bore you with what I LEARNED at BlogHer but my kids won’t sit still long enough for me to make it coherent.
Next year BlogHer is back in New York City. I am 2 parts excited, and 1 part nervous. I have never been and I am terrified of traveling there alone. San Diego is nothing compared to NYC. Yes, I live 4 hours away from NYC and never go there. Sad, yes? See you next year BlogHer!