BlogHer Friday

What an amazing event!

Was I lucky the BlogHer conference took place in my own backyard- next year I will have to travel! I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to attend, even for just one day. I learned so much and it's great to connect with like-minded women of intelligence and drive. It doesn't happen often enough.

I got up early to workout and drive to SF- I timed it well and arrived in Union Square just before 8. Right away I got my badge and bag of swag, and went inside for breakfast.

I was among the first to sit down, but the tables filled up quickly. I got to know some amazing women during this hour. I really hope to stay in touch with them, and I have so many amazing new blogs to read! Here are Claire, Nora, and Jen.

I did have the opportunity to meet Kath, the author of a blog I've been reading regularly for a little while. She and her mom are visiting from North Carolina for the conference.

This was my first conference experience; heard lots but I'd never been. I was in awe of all the tradeshow booths,

and the big bag of swag- cute! My new favorite grocery bag :-)

I was a little spastic in the morning, stepping into 3 different sessions: Blogging and Introversion, FAQs for Beginners, and 20-something Bloggers. In between I had a fabulous chair massage- sweet!

I think of the three I enjoyed the talk with 20-something Bloggers the most. It was great to sit with others my age, and to learn about what others write about and the issues that concern them.

Breakfast was not the greatest (1/2 a small muffin and a little fruit). They had MILK and COOKIES 30 minutes after breakfast, can you believe it? (Sorry for the blur, I was having difficulty with the lighting inside the hotel).

They smelled amazing but I can't imagine wanting a cookie at 9:30 AM. I passed on those, so I was STARVING by lunch. I ate with a breakfast companion, Jen, who I really think is a kindred spirit. :-) She's from Washington D.C., but I really hope we stay in touch. Her blog Semi-Charmed Wife focuses on personal growth and well-being, and she's also a newlywed like me.

Anyhoo, lunch was actually quite delicious- a vegan wrap with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, red peppers and spinach in a tortilla. I gobbled the first half and carved the insides out of the second. It came with some yummy fruit; I left the rest behind.

In the afternoon I went to some fashion and travel session: I wanted to hear more about what other women blog about. Very interesting! On my way home I stopped in the bookstore, which was filled with publications by bloggers. I wanted a few of them but I didn't buy- instead, I took pictures to remember titles.

I wish I could meet this blogger, Stefanie Wilder Taylor. Anyone so clever to think of these witty titles is a person worth speaking to! I want these when we have kids. :-)

~:~

I think the biggest lesson I took away is that your blog is your own, and it doesn't need to have a particular focus- it evolves as you do. I drove home exhausted but filled with ideas.

My hunger to write continues to grow, and I hope the opportunity arises to do so more than this space.