Many of you asked me to share what I learned this weekend at BlogHer12 in NYC.
Mostly, I learned that my blog-friends are nuts in the very best way possible.
I also learned that I could do more here, in my little blog, to make you all happier to come here and me look a bit smarterer.
Being that I have been anonymous all this time, it was interesting to see/hear people’s reactions when we finally met. I was a little nervous about pulling back the curtain, but it felt really freeing. At one session I attended, I stood to ask a question and introduced myself to a room full of people.
It felt great.
I was proud to be associated with my name, my blog and body of work.
I felt the support of everyone in the room to be myself. I can’t articulate what that means.
I’m close to getting shmoopy, so let me stop there, and just tell you a few more things I learned this weekend at BlogHer12:
1. I leave a lasting impression on everyone I meet.
Not only did we meet by then. We met THREE TIMES and hugged at least twice.
@TheSuniverse makes my heart sing. We also got married via Twitter. Which I think is totally legit.
2. If you are tall & Day-Glo white, you will make many friends simply based on the fact that you’re super easy to find in dark, crowded rooms.
3. Little stools in photo booths are DANGEROUS, man. So are bewigged women.
That is MotherhoodWTF?, Underachiever’s Guide to Being a Domestic Goddess, NinjaMom, Robin O’Bryant, me & the cleverly hidden People I Want to Punch in the Throat in a tiny photo booth where I may or may not have fallen to my near-death while the camera live-streamed the incident on a large screen to everyone at the Come As You Are party.
4. It is possible to learn while laughing. The sessions I went to had me both scribbling notes down like crazy, and wiping my tears of laughter.
5. Angry Birds are EVERYWHERE, and shall not be messed with. Especially while traveling in gangs.
Seriously. We (The Bearded Iris, me, MotherhoodWTF?, & NinjaMom) are very badass. We will cut a bitch.
6. If you are an anonymous blogger and pounce on people whose name tags you read before they got a chance to read your name tag, there will be some uncomfortable moments and possibly the dialing of 911 until you explain yourself.
7. Sleep is for sissies.
8. If you buy adorable new super-comfy shoes for a blogging conference and they break within minutes of arrival, just look around: There might be a Duck Tape booth right in front of you where you can repair the shoe and get on wit yo bad self.
Something whiter than me does exist. I know, amazing, right?!
9. Having a photo of yourself show up on Twitter after years of anonymous blogging isn’t the worst thing in the world. Almost pooping in an elevator full of people is.
(More on that story later…)
Oddly enough, I was not overwhelmed by a sea of 5,000 bloggers, writers, sponsors & staff this weekend. I felt nourished, involved, a part of something. I felt like I was in the right place, learning what I needed to.
This weekend brought me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.
I got to essentially live for 4 days with my writing wife NinjaMom, who normally has the audacity to stay 650 miles away from me at all times.
I got to learn more about how to improve upon both my blogging and my non-blogging writing careers.
I got to let people see in person what all the fuss I make about Britely is for. So many bloggers came out of the kiosk saying “Oooohhh…..NOW I get it!”
I had the crazy experience for the first time of someone coming up to me and telling me they are a fan of my blog. More than once. I even hit one of them because she passed me a note. And because I am a fan of hers. (!!!) This feels so good it should be illegal.
I got to dance & laugh & sing & eat & read & share & spend countless hours sitting in the hotel lounge with about 20 interesting, funny, friendly women so we could get to know one another on a deeper level. And talk about shit, balls, vaginas & the weather.
I got to make myself a priority for a weekend.
I got to see all the places I could go.
And they look pretty amazing.
I saw you but didn’t get to chat. But one of my BlogHer highlights was when you asked that question in the Book promotion panel and after you said, “I’m Let Me Start By Saying,” the girl in front of you turned around and gasped audibly like you’d said you were Elvis. So funny and so cool.
I will continue silently internet stalking you now…
I know! I felt bad that we started talking for about a second, but I was supposed to be somewhere else and was being both interrupted for reasons that I needed to help the women on my left with their understanding of Britely and get to where I was supposed to be. Sorry to run off!
I didn’t hear her gasp because I was too busy trying not to say anything stupid in front of the room, but I love The Outlaw Mama and was tickled that she passed me a love note.
It was such a great weekend of reciprocal love.
Hope you had a great time!
I love The Outlaw Mama, too! She’s the one who passed you the note? That’s adorable. She and I barely caught each other on Sunday morning, so glad I got to see her.
And no worries! I had a great time chatting with Britely. I’d been thinking Storify had me covered (I use it a lot) but I think Britely will fill another nice niche for me. Glad you and MotherhoodWTF and others are out promoting it.
Yes! Love her. Her parenting test post slays me each time I read it.
So glad you love Britely! Please, spread the word. It deserves some big pimpin’.
Just wanted to say it was a real pleasure to meet you last weekend. And I’m glad I wasn’t in that elevator.
twobusy recently posted..Blue and Wonder
It was so nice to meet you, too. I’m really glad the guys showed up, and that I was able to talk to some of you, as well. It must be interesting to be so outnumbered.
And, yes, I’m as ass who doesn’t realize who she’s talking to while she’s talking to them because she can’t see the name tags from more than 2 feet away. That means I asked if you’d been there before and OF COURSE you have. I’ll shut up now.
Except to say that you should be very glad to have missed the whole elevator experience.
I miss you and your clenched buttcheeks. xo Chicago or bust!
Underachieving Domestic Goddess recently posted..Underachieving at BlogHer 2012..
I’m telling you, I’m going to trademark the term Anal Kegels and make a fortune. Maybe I’ll be able to get us all a huge suite at BlogHer13 in Chicago?
I vowed not to read any of these BlogHer recaps {Yes, I am jealous much} but I couldn’t resist. Glad you had such a fab time. Someday I’ll hook up with y’all so we can discuss the weather and vaginas and balls and shit. And writing.
Kerry Ann @Vinobaby’s Voice recently posted..Those Days Go By
Oh yeah. And writing.
If you were there, I would have been a very happy bunny. Next time, I hope?
First of all, I will never believe a word you say because you are adorable, warm, funny, and hilarious in person, but you told me you looked like a Wookie. Um, only if Wookies are adorable!!! Maybe they are, what do I know. Point is, I am so happy I met you and got to stalk you with my business card notes. You better get used to it. Glad you had a great time. I am looking forward to every word you write. Even if you are not the Wookie you professed to be. oxoxox
I DID tell you about my strategic waxing, right? 4 weeks ago you wouldn’t have been able to hear my voice, due to all the blonde fur covering my mouth. It costs me about $100 to de-Wookie myself before public appearances.
And sorry if I hit you harder than I should have. Not that I should be hitting people. But, well, when I realized it was YOU, it just happened. And I meant to call you to tell you to come play with us all, but then I almost shit in an elevator and got stuck in another and things got confusing. Next time, baby. Next time.
I am so equally happy for your amazing time and jealous. The photobooth pictures are frame worthy! I am also hopeful that I can meet you next year because next year I’ll be there and I will be BlogHer-ing on like Donkey Kong.
Bethany @ Bad Parenting Moments recently posted..Tripping the Hazmat Fantastic.
My in-laws live there, so Husband has to my approve of my going. Bwah! Ah! Ahhhhhhh!
I’m with Kerry, but I had to read your recap. All I can say is that you better be talking about tiny chairs when you say “Little stools in photo booths are DANGEROUS, man” and not the kind of stools you apparently almost unleashed in the elevator.
Yes, I’m still bitter I missed all the fun, but so happy you had a good time
Abby recently posted..A Day in the Life
In this case, it was a tiny black STEPSTOOL in a dark black photobooth. Not the kind of equation that ever works well for me.
I’m so jealous. I’ve been following everyones’ Blogher adventures on Twitter and having a little sulk about being on this side of the world. Woe is me, blablabla.
Glad you had an awesome time, and great to finally see a picture of you. Talk about HOT!
Wub Boo Mummy recently posted..This blog is so awesome it farts Unicorns
I felt like that last year, though I am glad I waited.
There’s gonna be so many recaps this week, I’m shocked anyone is even reading this. But so glad you dig my sparkly shirt. Which is actually a dress. But fit like a shirt on me. Like I said: I’m tall.
That was a dress? Must be the same dress that lady who was wearing a sparkly blue way to short dress was wearing.
Allison @ Motherhood, WTF? recently posted..WTF Heads to BlogHer
Yep, that was a dress. For whores. Or a shirt. For non-whores.
I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL I FINALLY GET TO MEET YOU AT BLOGHER13 IN CHICAGO!
HAHAHAHA.
Yeah, I’m still a jackass.
XOXOXOXOXO
Keep those cheeks clenched.
Suniverse recently posted..Just a reminder
Who is this again….?
It looks like a blast! Love the pictures! I am a novice blogger, but would love to have the opportunity someday!
Kelly recently posted..August…I dread your arrival!!!
There were quite a few brand-new bloggers there. You just have to want to try it, and you’ll be amazed at what you can learn.
Bitch, stop calling me a sissy! At midnight, I turn into a pumpkin. I’m serious. I really do.
I had no idea your shoe broke. That sucks! Are those the same shoes I was planning to steal?
I agree with you. It was a great weekend! I am already missing my BlogHer bloggy peeps. Such awesome Chiquitas!!!
Stephanie recently posted..This corny family is going to Disney!
You didn’t see them in the back seat? I had to un-tape them from me before driving home Thursday night, so they were still back there when I picked you up. I’ll be making a trip to DSW this week for a return…That’s for sure. Sad Kim.
I’m so glad you ended up coming, even though you’re already leaving again. Have a hoot at Disney!!
I love reading this!!!! I am just getting started and you all inspire me so much! Maybe when my blog grows up I’ll get to go to BlogHer!!!! Congrats on all your success and all you do is simply amazing!!!!
Joy recently posted..Evil Plea…..
Thanks, Joy! Even newbies can go to a BlogHer conference. If you’re intimidated, try a SITS Girls Bloggy Boot Camp. That’s what I did, and learned a lot. Good luck!
I am so jealous. Not just of the fun you had, but of the apparent ease at which it came to you. I love all the bloggers you mentioned (including you), but alas, I am a hopeless introvert and was there by myself, so I sat in back corners and kept my head down. Glad you had so many unmentionable moments, which = a great time! I am living vicariously through the post-BlogHer wrap-ups of all you amazing Poplular Girls.
See, we talked about this. Most of us deal with anxiety at one level or another. My thing is that I experience anxiety about certain things, but appear calm. So I’m fighting a battle that no one can see. It’s all inside.
Others faced anxiety that weekend as well, but it’s not mine to discuss here.
I’m not saying the entire trip was a piece of cake for everything – trust me, this was a very medicated group who likely had a quick chat with their therapists before leaving.
And I can’t say any of us are The Popular Girls to anyone but each other. We find like-minded people who can overlook and support our flaws, and stick together. I’m guessing you have your own popular group that could help you do something like this, and if not? I bet you’d find one pretty quickly. It’s THAT amazing of an experience, being surrounded by other bloggers.
Thanks for your support, as always…
Good points, Kim, thanks for the clarity. I tend to think everyone else is super secure and confident when I see them having a grand ol’ time, esp in those kinds of settings. But like you said, who knows at what effort (meds, therapists, quaking internally the whole time).
And I wasn’t thinking when I left my reply, that “Popular Girls” can certainly have a very negative connotation, and I didn’t mean to insult. I think you guys are all so aMAZing and I just wish I could do what you all do. Reading your experiences, I was right there saying, see? That could have been my experience, too, if I would have just gotten OVER myself for two seconds. Insecurities are so boring. So cliched.
Anyway. All that to say, I think it’s awesome that you guys were able to connect and have a blast like the rock stars I know you all to be. Can I be your groupie? I’ll be there with the mouthwash the next time there’s an incident in the photobooth.
Many of us Fake It Til We Make It.
I had obscene amounts of gum on me. If you come to BlogHer13, you are MORE than encouraged to ask for a piece of Trident every time you pass me by.
WTF – you’re blonde????
Fabulous, now you’re a funny talented writer who’s also gorgeous, so I’m afraid I have to hate you.
Also, are you kidding about BH13 being in Chicago? Because my husband was all like, “Oh, too bad it wasn’t in Chicago, maybe next year…” clearly assuming it would be in France or something and he’d be safe – so if it’s in Chicago he might’ve already agreed to me going! Too early to be excited about next year?
Hollow Tree Ventures recently posted..I’m Having Dead People For Dinner
Shut up. You love me. And it is reciprocal, beyotch.
CHICAGO 2013 BABAY!!!! My in-laws live downtown Chicago, so my ass is there. And I think we both need to enter the Voices of the Year, so we could potentially have another reason to go. Winner winner chicken dinner.
Heeeeey…I think I saw you. Were you in the morning session on Saturday about how to promote your blog? I knew I should have said something…I have vodka for you.
thoughtsappear recently posted..How to Join the Heman-Womun Haters Club
I stood up at the Bootstrapping Your Book session & the Blogging Professionally one. So, yeah. I’m bummed I missed you! I love vodka! I mean, You.
So much fun! And so so exhausting. I’m glad this conference only happens once a year because it takes about that much time for me to work up the energy to go to another.
Kat recently posted..Going To A Blog Conference
I felt like I truly was “ON” 20 hours a day from Thursday afternoon-Sunday afternoon. No real breaks, 4 hours of sleep a night.
No wonder I can only handle one of these a year.
Worth every second of prep, but wooooooo exhausting.
Glad you had a great time – thank you for sharing the conference experience (i.e. for those of us stuck north of the border;)
On the lighter side:
In the spirit of blogging, networking and chainletter fun I am just stopping by to let you know that I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Please stop by halfpastnormal to claim your well-deserved prize and get more details. Have a fantastic day!
xo Angela http://halfpastnormal.wordpress.com
Angela recently posted..Versatile Blogger Award – Sharing the Love
Aw, thank you Angela!
Pingback: How I Made the Kind of Friends You Need While Almost Crapping My Pants in an Elevator. Twice. | Let Me Start By Saying…
It was so incredibly nice to meet you this weekend!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..What I Wore to #BlogHer12
You, too! I knew you had great style, but it was a treat to see you were lovely in person, as well. Any time you need a dinner date here in NJ, you just let me know.
We met at speed-dating – I will be going to check out Britely as you suggested, but I wanted to drop in and say as well.
It was great talking to you, however briefly. I’m glad you had a good time!
Megan Gordon recently posted..Direction And Energy
Thanks for popping by! At least the few people I did get to meet at Speed-Dating were nice to chat with. Including you, of course. It was lovely meeting you. Have fun checking out Britely!
Pingback: Summing Up My Week… (8/5-8/12) | Let Me Start By Saying…
You are one resourceful woman. Love the duck tape. Thanks for sharing about BlogHer for us newbies. Ellen
The fact that my shoe broke RIGHT before I passed a ducktape kiosk was too serendipitous to overlook. Thankfully, since there was no may I could have lasted the whole night with only one shoe!