Best of BlogHer '11: The Parties

This is my third and final BlogHer 'll post and I thought I'd talk a bit about my favorite parties of the weekend. There are A LOT of parties and private dinners and exclusive events over the course of 3 or 4 very short days at BlogHer. And, two of my favorites happened Wednesday night.

Vicks Dinner

This event was held at Eastern Village Tavern and Bowl in the Gaslamp District of San Diego not far from the conference hotel. Overall it was a pretty low-key relaxed shindig. I'd met a few fabulous ladies (@mommysavers and @micropreemie) at a party beforehand and we meandered on over to this one all together. There was some super yummy sushi and tasty beer to get the night started right. Some folks stayed in the main room, our group got comfy at a long high top next to the 6 or so lanes available for bowling and chatted the night away. It was the perfect way to start the conference and I hope to stay in touch with these ladies for a long time.

*Food, drinks and some Vicks products were provided to me, but I chose to post simply because I had such a good time. All opinions are completely my own.

Wine party by Missouri Wines 

This was an informal gathering of folks who had arrived early to the conference and was led by the lovely Kate from The Guavalicious Life. This event had great people, a great atmosphere (fire pit beside the pool with the lovely San Diego temperatures), and fabulous wine courtesy of Missouri Wines. I never thought I liked wine, but then I'd never met a Missouri Wine before! This stuff is seriously tasty. Go get some, order it if you have to!

*I was given a glass or two or three to taste, but wasn't asked to post a thing. I chose to because they taught me that wine can be tasty! Cheers!

Kick Off Your Heels

This event was held Friday on the 6th floor of the nearby Omni Hotel and had my favorite atmosphere of any of the parties held during the conference. It fell light and airy, yet warm and welcoming at the same time. I walked over to this party with @TaraMetBlog and we went to another after. She's fabulous and you should totally follow her! You can see us getting our glam on at the party here.

*I was given lovely snacks and beverages and a swag bag as well. But, I wrote simply because this party rocked it's awesome and then some!

What were your favorite events at BlogHer '11?

Best of Blogher '11: Brands

At BlogHer '11 there were more than 100 brands on site and a mighty mix of brands present at off-site parties and events that were sprinkled throughout the San Diego Gaslamp Quarter and beyond.

It's stunning and sometimes maybe even a bit overwhelming to manage your time, expectations and experiences with all of the various different companies hoping to snag a bit of your time and perhaps a bit of space on your blog in one way or another.

The list below represents the brands that I felt did a more than fabulous job of connecting with bloggers. I truly valued the time that I spent with each of them learning more about their company, where they are hoping to go in the blogging space and how we can work together in the future.

1) March of Dimes

It was such a joy to sit down the Wednesday afternoon of BlogHer with Beverly Robertson of March of Dimes. As luck would have it we were both staying on the 5th floor and as I headed down for our meeting she heard the clickety-clack of my flip flops and held the door for me. We made small talk and headed down for our meeting. After a few quick texts we realized that we had ridden the elevator down together. Funny how the universe puts you in the path of great people.

Beverly had tweeted earlier in the week asking if folks were going to be around early and if they would like to meet up. I didn't have anything on my schedule and took her up on her offer. Our conversations were easy and fun. It felt like two old friends sitting down to catch up over what turned out to be some lackluster tea and a soda. I'll let you guess which drink was mine.

We talked about life and social media, our interests and passions, March of Dimes and this blog. It was easy and wonderful. I hope we can find great ways to work together. If you haven't had a chance to meet Beverly, you should.

You can find her on Twitter as @marchofdimes.

2) School Bags For Kids

Luis, Kalon and Maria of School Bags For Kids were a group that I met up with after the BlogHer 5k on Friday morning before the main portion of the conference began. They too had tweeted out before the conference asking if folks were interested in meeting up.

School Bags For Kids is a fantastic company that sells high quality adorable backpacks. When you buy one of their backpacks they also give one away to a child in another part of the world that is in need of not only a school bag, but some supplies (which they provide) as well.

We had an easy and yet very exciting conversation about ways that we could partner together. It was the first time in a very long time that I felt so stimulated and excited about a brand and about brainstorming and working together with other people. We seemed to all be very much on the same page and this meeting was definitely a highlight of the conference for me.

Check them out on Twitter too at @schoolbags4kids.

3) BookBaby

I wasn't even sure that BookBaby would relate to me. I initially thought that they were publishers of Children's Books. Not true. They help folks who want to self publish eBooks take their marketing to a new level by making their digital works available at all online retailers. That's great, but what really impressed me about BookBaby was Kate Sullivan who was at their both during BlogHer.

When I said I had a friend who was thinking about writing an eBook with just a few particulars about her. She responded that she knew just who I was talking about and told me a bit more about their conversation that they had had during the day. I was impressed that she had truly been listening during the day to the bloggers who approached her booth.

If you are thinking about writing an eBook, definitely check BookBaby out.

Connect on Twitter @BookBaby.

Nothing to disclose here. None of the above companies handed out 'swag' at BlogHer '11. I just genuinely loved connecting with each of them.

Best of BlogHer '11

So I went to this little enormous blog conference in San Diego three and a half weeks ago and haven't written a single word about it. No more. This is one of a few posts I hope to write in the next week or so. I hope you like 'em. If there is anything you'd like to know in particular, let me know.

Ree Drummond/Kathryn Finney/Lisa Stone

Best of BlogHer '11.

Nope this isn't a list post, it's the single best part of BlogHer--one moment, really one person.

Kathryn. Finney.

Kathryn blogs at The Budget Fashionista and she presented alongside Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) for a two part workshop called My Blog As A Media Company that was one of several tracks of the BlogHer Pathfinder Day. I see that they are offering Pathfinder Day as an option at the conference next year and if you're planning to go to the conference I'd definitely recommend signing up.

Moving on to Kathryn and the Pathfinder Day...saying I'm not into fashion is the understatement of the year century and so I'll admit that before the workshop I didn't know too much about her. After, though I am such a huge fan. She is so open and honest with her journey here in blogland and beyond. She's encouraging and thoughtful and came across as someone who is truly here to help others grow and learn. She was upbeat, hopeful and I could have listened to her speak for the whole weekend.

I really just fell in love on so many levels.

I thought I'd share some of the truly great gems she shared throughout the day. If you ever have an opportunity to hear her speak, RUN don't walk!

• Don't be afraid to begin. Swallow your fear. We all have to begin somewhere.
• Where you begin may not be were you end up. (She started as an epidemiologist and ended up a budget fashion blogger.)
• You have to set your vision. What are you about? How do you bring your blog back to that? It's okay to change directions.
• I've always been my own person even when it's been a challenge to do that.
• Feel empowered to say NO. Not every opportunity is going to be right for you.
• Find when you are most inspired to write and make sure you have the tools to be excited to write.
• Learn SEO, Google it, you can do it yourself!

What was the best thing you learned at BlogHer '11?

Capture the Everyday: Screenshot

My name is Alissa and I am addicted to "tabs". Drives Tim bonkers, makes me so happy. On the screen shot below I have the fewest amount of tabs I ever have open, it's usually at least around 20.

Today's Capture the Everyday prmopt was a screen shot of your computer, since that's the means of this blog, keeping in touch with family and friends, commenting on both Facebook and Twitter, etc.

Since I'm at BlogHer today and more specifically at the pre-sessions called Pathfinder Day I thought that was an appropriate page to show you since it's been occupying nearly every waking hour of my thoughts for at least the last week or so.

You'll also see Gmail open, my Spotify account page, info on how to write an ebook (I'm thinking about it), Twitter, Clever Girls, my Blogger dashboard, BlogHer, and Facebook. It's my standard template and then any additional links I want to check out just get added to the endless list of open tabs.

So what's up on your computer screen today?


This post is part of Melissa's Capture the Everyday project over at Adventuroo. If you've got a moment, go check it out! It's always great to see how different people interpret the prompts!

**REMEMBER: Check back in tomorrow for more VINTAGE ME photos!

10 Things to Keep in Mind for BlogHer '11

 (Photo: S'mores Suite BlogHer '10)

1) Take Care of Yourself: If you don't take care of yourself, who will? Conferences are busy, hectic, fun-filled times and everyone has a different way of recharging their batteries. Whenever you need to hit your "reset" button, DO IT!

For some it might be hanging out with friends for coffee in the morning, for others it's taking a nap during the day. For me it's not sharing a room. I like and need the calm, peaceful oasis of my room at night.

I love you, I really do--but unless you are my husband or son, we won't be sharing a room. I can go GO go all day, but I need that space to myself in the evening. Find out what your "thing" is and stick to it.

2) Business Cards: Have plenty of them and carry them with you everywhere you go during the conference. Also, bring a pen to write information down on the back like where you met folks or a bit of your conversation. This will help immensely when you get back to your room or back home from the conference to figure out who folks were and how you met.

On that note, please don't make your cards glossy on both sides as it makes them really hard for folks including brands to make notes on. Other than that a picture on your card is great for jogging people's memories and I put MY cards in my right pocket and those I collect in my left. If I'm wearing a dress I put mine to the outside of the purse and those I collect to the inside. It helps me from handing someone a card that isn't my own and gives me a good sense of when I need to refill my stash.

• For more tips check out my favorite business card post over at Schmutzie.
• And, the fabulous week's worth of tips over at Bloggy B-Card week at MomComm.

3) Posting: Most blog conferences are insanely busy, but BlogHer is an animal unto itself with workshops, expo halls, private events and parties and that's just to name a few of the things going on in San Diego this year. You are unlikely to find enough time to put out any blog posts that week, so think of scheduling a few. I will be continuing my Vintage Me series here that I started while I was away at the Type-A Parent conference last month.

Personally I find myself a wee bit overwhelmed after conferences and often find it difficult to get started. So having a post or two scheduled for the week after is also a great idea as it will let some of your new ideas percolate a little longer. (Psst... there will be a Linky up the day after BlogHer for my weeklong Awkward Photo Contest--so you can always schedule a post for that.)

One last note on posting. I find myself incredibly energized at conferences and I think you are likely to find yourself feeling the same way. So although you probably won't have enough time to put out polished posts while at BlogHer DO commit to getting yourself on a computer for 30 minutes each night to put a few ideas out. Then when you get yourself together after you get home you'll be able to tap into some of that energy from what you were feeling while you were in the thick of it.

4) Clothes, Shoes, Accessories: It really doesn't matter what you wear, you will see people wearing everything from jeans to fancy dresses and every combination of things in between. I suggest that you wear what you feel comfortable in and although it's not necessary at all I think it does help you to feel a little refreshed to have at least one fabulous thing to wear. It can be some amazing accessories, a new top, or a spark-a-licous pair of flip flops.

Something that makes YOU want to shine!

Speaking of flip flops--please wear them or some other sort of incredibly comfortable footwear during the day. Last year I had multiple blisters the size of a fifty-cent piece on the bottom of each foot. My sister and husband both physically recoiled when they saw them. Nobody can be their absolute best when their feet hurt THAT bad. Save your heels or your slightly-less-comfortable shoes for the evenings. That's when I'll be rocking my heels!

5) Swag: Um...there's going to be A LOT of it even if you don't go to all the external parties. So take inventory once a day (more if you have time) and take down the stuff you don't want or won't use to the Swag Exchange --it just might make someone's day.  Last year I saw a woman nearly cry because someone brought down their Mr. Potato Head to the Swag Exchange Lounge, that's good karma.

The conference, for me anyway, is all about the sessions and the people. But I won't lie--some of the swag is really awesome too!

6) Twitter: Be on it! (I'm going to devote a whole post to this next week.) Last year I wasn't and I missed out on a lot of the conference because of it. I missed out on meeting and following up with great people, really having a good sense of the conference and in networking with brands.

The blogosphere runs on Twitter, so don't let yourself show up with an empty tank.

7) Laptop: Bring one, leave it in your room. I toted a netbook around with me last year, rarely used it and gave my back an extra little workout with everything else I was carrying around. WiFi at hotels or in this case at the convention center is often spotty when you have 3,600 socially powered women chatting up the airwaves.

During the day connect with the fabulous bloggers and speakers around you and use paper and pen instead. Then at night log in for a bit, draft some blog posts and close the thing before you get carried away and don't sleep a wink.

8) Agenda: As I've said above this conference is LOADED with more opportunities than you could ever hope to take advantage of. So make a game plan now--look at the parties, events and sessions and figure out where you'd like to be. Make a rough schedule, be flexible when you can incase an even more amazing opportunity comes your way all while making sure you don't miss your MUST ATTEND events at the conference.

9) Buddy: While it's great to have someone to lean on and catch up with throughout the conference take some space from each other to meet new people, discover new blogs and do the things that YOU want to do.

If there are people that you just can't wait to catch up with or meet "in real life", DO so! Just make sure that you make time to meet all the other awesome folks that you have yet to meet as well.

10) Be the person you wish to meet! After the conference last year I saw lots of posts about how this didn't happen or that opportunity should have been made available to me or a thousand other things. So I leave you with this challenge, "Be the person you wish to meet!"

See someone who looks overwhelmed by it all or who is looking for a group to join at lunch--reach out!

Don't wait for people to ask for your card, ask for theirs.

See someone who is clearly wobbling from too much walking and not enough sitting--offer some Motrin or a band-aid.

Life is too short to get caught up in drama that may only exist in your head.

Just because you see a group of people who are happy to see one another it doesn't mean that they are doing so to exclude you.

Now, go get 'em tiger!

Have post of your own to help folks gear up for BlogHer '11? Add it to the linky below!

Tiny Prints {Review}

Blog conference season is upon us! It seems every weekend there is some sort of fabulous happening in the blogosphere. I am lucky to be attending Type-A Parent and BlogHer this year and I can barely contain my excitement.

Amongst the fabulous workshops, parties and expo halls lies the holy grail of blogging (to me at least) the opportunity to meet and network with other bloggers. The connections I made to other bloggers and with great brands were the absolute highlight of BlogHer '10 for me. With so many people and so little time business cards are an absolute must!

I loved that when I came back home from the conference I was able to review the cards and check out gobs of new blogs, Twitter accounts and Facebook pages.

All that to say that when Tiny Prints contacted me to review some of their super stylish business cards, I couldn't say YES fast enough. In addition to my obsession with business cards for blogging I also go through a fair number for work (interpreting) and I always like to keep my look distinct.

The classiness of Tiny Prints is what intrigued me most. I also loved that several people I trust look to Tiny Prints for great quality products. At one of my son's friends first birthday parties, a fellow mom could not say enough fabulous things about the adorable invitations that she had ordered from Tiny Prints. A co-worker of mine had recently ordered baby shower invites where she couldn't get the photo just right, and she was ecstatic that the designer at Tiny Prints fixed what she could not and sent her a proof just to make sure that everything was correct.

I have to say that my experience with them was also wonderful. I knew that since my blog has a dark background, I also wanted a business card that had the same feel. It took me awhile playing around with the options provided to find a card with colors available that would work with the existing color palette on my blog. But, it was worth the time as I am thrilled with the result. Just like my co-worker I received an email proof confirming my product before it was sent to the printers. I loved the personal touch of having a designer double check things for me. This isn't something that I have experienced with other on-line business card companies.

The cards arrived in a cute little Tiny Prints themed box and were very securely packed. I was impressed with the richness of the colors on my cards as well as the sturdiness of the paper.

If you are at Type-A Parent or BlogHer this year, you'll have to come say hello and snag a card.

[Disclosure: Tiny Prints provided me a 100 business cards for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone and were in no way influenced by Tiny Prints.]