Tag: blogging

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Travel

Going to BlogHer part 6 {guest post}

I’m finishing the Going to BlogHer, now what? guest post series today. Thanks to the posts by Suzanne, Suzanne, Alena, & Miranda, I’m feeling pretty good & prepared. BlogHer must have thought we’ve had good advice because they linked back here in their Nine Tips for BlogHer newbies post!

Today, I’m so happy to welcome my third roomie, Diana from Hormonal Imbalances, for her take on our upcoming trip. With just ONE WEEK until BlogHer, as usual she has great advice to give for those of us going through last minute packing rushes.

BlogHer on a budget

When I think of BlogHer this year, I think of SHINY. I think of new and things that smell new and light up and make everyone around me ooh and aah over what latest piece of technology I have. I think of people saying, “ZOMG look what an amazing (fill in the blank) she has.”

Sure. Fill that blank in with “rack”. I’m ok with that too.

Because I am a mom in a one income household on a budget, wanting all the latest everything is a very unrealistic, often dangerous, little dream.

So many times these past months I’ve had to talk myself off the shopping spree cliff. Would I like to have a new laptop to take to BlogHer? Yes. Do I need one? Yes No.

Would it be great to have name brand dresses and clothes to pack? Yes. In a Louis Vuitton suitcase? Yes. With a small white poodle?

No.

But the point is, these things aren’t necessary for why I’m going. I’m going to learn. To create. To be inspired and to come back a better writer. A Kate Spade bag might look KILLER next to my chair at the sessions, but it will only serve as a reminder of what I need to pay off once I come home. And it won’t make me any smarter or a better blogger. Because if it did? I would own them all.

Then I stress about what to wear. I will be buying a few new things, because as a SAHM I own lots of jeans and t-shirts. And sandals. So I need to do some upgrading. From snotty to hottie. (Ya like that?)

I did allow myself a few fun things – my birthday is right before BlogHer so everything nice I bought had the birthday excuse attached to it. I bought a Gussy bag. A pair of killer sparkly heels for Sparklecorn.

What is important to remember is this: 3,000 of us? Feel the same way as you. We all want to look nice. We want to wear designer clothes and carry show stopping bags and have perfect hair and makeup. We want to make sure that we hug everyone just tight enough to say, “Oh, you’re the best” but not “OMG I JUST ATE A PIECE OF YOUR HAIR SO I CAN HAVE A PART OF YOU WITH ME FOREVER.”

But we’re going to be so worried about us, we won’t notice that your top is one you wore on a blog pic. We won’t smirk because those shoes are so last year. We won’t care. And if someone does, that’s their problem. If they give you the evil sad eye because your hair isn’t done by a stylist from your private hotel room, they aren’t worth idolizing anyway.

Thank you Diana! Remind me of this as I’m pulling on shopped-from-my-closet outfits, k?! Can’t wait to give you an IRL hug next week! Read more from Diana at her blog, Hormonal Imbalances, & follow along with Diana’s BlogHer weekend on twitter as @LifeasaSAHM.

Don’t think this is my last BlogHer post. 😛 I’ve got one more up my sleeve as I do final preparations before next week. Did you stick with your budget? How’s your packing & schedule coming together?!

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Everything Else

Bloggy Shopping Night

As I’d mentioned in my project 365 post, last Thursday I met up with some other Raleigh bloggers for a night of after-hours shopping {& chatting & a lil wine drinking} at Clothes Hound. It was great to reconnect with Erin & Melissa. I really enjoyed meeting Elizabeth, Molly, & Malise. [flickr id=”5976630144″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Clothes Hound {which just moved from online only to a boutique in N Raleigh} stayed open late just for us & even rolled out the pink carpet. It’s such a cute shop with so many fun party clothes & accessories. We all tried on a few things. My favorites {& what I brought home with me} were this $18 owl ring & the big center gold earrings which were only $12! [flickr id=”5976629942″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

Thanks Erin for inviting me. So much fun! Looking forward to hopefully seeing everyone again soon.

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Everything Else Travel

Going to BlogHer part five {guest post}

Welcome back to my Going to BlogHer, now what? series! {Did you miss Alena’s post about roommates?}

It’s getting to be crunch time, so I’m featuring Miranda from Not Super…Just Mom‘s post today. I was so happy when Miranda joined up with Alena & I as roomies then even more excited as I’ve gotten to know her online. After seeing her & hearing her sweet southern voice via Skype last week, I really can’t wait to meet her & I bet you already love her too, right?

In theory my head I am an awesome, seasoned traveler.

Staying in hotels (even the dumpy ones) is fun. The little soaps and shampoos and neatly folded towels! The freshly made beds every day! Free pens! Traveling is an adventure!

I sound eye-rolling ridiculous, right? Right. I know. ::sigh::

We didn’t travel much when I was a kid. If we did, it was from one corner of the state to the other to visit family. We never went on single family vacation. We never stayed in a hotel (except that time we lived in one…) It just wasn’t in the budget. Ever.

Since virtual reality machines don’t count, I’ve only been on a plane three times. (If you count round-trip flights as one ride, that is. Six times if you don’t. And eight if you count the plane changes on my Honeymoon.)

In just over two weeks from the time I’m writing this (Monday night, a full three days AFTER I said I’d have this done, in case you were wondering) I will be boarding a plane to head west to California. Farther west than I have ever been.

Despite any notions of adventure, I’m not accustomed to traveling and there are things about this adventure that terrify me.

Things like, should I leave my car at the park-and-ride for an entire weekend? Will it be safe?

Are the TSA agents going to laugh at my mom-flab when they see it on the scanner? Will I have to get all up-close-and-personal with one of them in the name of my protection?

I am also paralyzed with fear at the idea of taking my southern accent and pearl earrings across the Mississippi. I feel all country-mouse-goes-to-the-city when I think too much about this conference.

But the excitement of traveling to a new place is like crack that I just cannot quit.

That is how this whole BlogHer trip has become for me. Crack.

I’m excited to breathe new, Pacific-coast air. I’m excited to meet new people. I’m excited to attend parties and wear dresses! Hell, I’m mostly just excited to wear clothes that don’t have drool stains and toddler snot on the shoulder!

I’m excited to learn things about how I can do this whole blogging thing a little better than I am doing it now.

How many more days do I have?

I’m looking forward to that Pacific coast air too, Miranda & a hug from you in a week & a half! & no worries, BlogHer has become my crack too! Anyone else?!

Be sure to keep up with Miranda’s BlogHer {& other} adventures on her blog & also on twitter as @notsuperjustmom. & come back next Wednesday for my third roomie’s post!

Categories
Everything Else

What I Wore Wednesday {version two}

Last week was so fun that I thought I’d try linking up with Lindsey‘s What I wore Wednesday again.

Last Wednesday I broke out a fall dress. I realized it was shorter than I remembered! [flickr id=”5952660475″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

dress: fall Vineyard Vines {on sale at belk}

shoes: gold Jack Rogers

jewelry: Ma’s necklace, DY ring, Swiss Army watch & DY bracelet.

You might’ve seen a preview of Thursday’s outfit in my project 365 post. [flickr id=”5952660411″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

top: Lilly Pulitzer

khaki skirt: Target

shoes: gold gladiators from belk

jewelry: Allora Handmade necklace, usual watch & DY bracelet, fake gold bracelet also passed down from Ma.

Saturday morning I went for a jog then took a quick shower before I had my hair cut & highlighted. I also planned my outfit around a chill date night ~ grabbed dinner at Jason’s Deli before the 10p showing of the last Harry Potter. My hair’s a little better in the right photos, yes? [flickr id=”5953214298″ thumbnail=”medium” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”center”]

tanks: green from Lilly Pulitzer {from spring sale}; yellow from Old Navy

jeans: sweetheart style Old Navy

jewelry: Stella & Dot bracelet & Lia Sophia earrings.

pleated poppy

Categories
Everything Else Travel

Going to BlogHer part 4 {guest post}

Thanks for coming back for part four of my BlogHer guest post series! {if you missed Suzanne or Suzanne ~ yep two of them, read their posts & I jumped in Sat}.

Alena of Charmingly Chandler is one of the reasons I’m going to BlogHer. Back in the fall, when I learned she was going, I emailed her & BA & asked, should I go? What do I need to know before I decide & if/when I decide, who would I stay with? Alena’s resounding YES & WITH ME has had my excitement brewing since then. I’m fortunate enough to have hung out with her twice before & can’t wait to spend four days in San Diego with her soon.

Roommates.  I haz ’em.

In fact Suz, Miranda & Diana are mine, and they are awesome.

When I read about blogher last year I knew that the only way I’d be able to swing it is to have roommates.  I didn’t know who was going.  Or how to find roommates.  Or how to pick the right roommates.  But here I am, the conference is upon us.  And I have the most awesome roommates (if you have roommates and you think yours are awesome, I’m sorry.  But mine? AWESOMER!).

I know you all want to read about something that may be helpful or encouraging or funny.  But instead I’m going to tell you why roommates (especially mine) make the difference.

I have people in my corner.  If I get overwhelmed, or drink too much, or feel all alone in a sea of bloggers…I know my roommates have my back.  I know that I can text them or meet up with them if I feel like the lone blogger.  I know that one of them will surely help me back to my room if I can’t remember my room number because the cocktails were strong.  It’s a safety net.  And I don’t know if I’m brave enough to have gone into Blogher with out one.

Also awesome about roommates?  Someone is on the look out for conference/party info when you can’t be.  We are IMing, texting, or FBing about things we see so that there’s no roommate left behind.  We’ve compared plans, and schedules.  It’s really helped me feel prepared.  Again, this has been vital in keeping me from freaking out about blogher.

Another awesome thing about MY roommates?  We are all new to this.  Now to some that may come off as a disadvantage.  No one to give us advice.  But that’s what twitter is for.  To each other we can geek out, squee, CAP LOCK SCREAM with excitement, look like dorks, obsesses over things the old timers don’t care about….and it has made the weeks leading up to BlogHer even that much more fun.

The other great thing about my roommates?  I’ve gotten to know 3 fellow bloggers better.  We were all friends on some level before we became roommates.  But we know each other so much better now.  I think we’re better friends.  We are closer.  And it’s something that wouldn’t have happened if I had roomed solo.

Plus? We split the room 4 ways. WINNING!

This may not help anyone for Blogher11.  Since it’s SO CLOSE and changing plans would be rather difficult.  But Blogher12 will be here before you know it.  So if you’re thinking about going next year….roommates.  It’s the way to go.

So glad & proud that I can call Alena roomie! Go show her some love at her blog, Charmingly Chandler & on twitter as @alena29. Then be sure to come back Friday for a post by another one of my kick-ass roomies!