The Biggest Thing I Learned at Blogher

Hi friends!!  I'm back home after a great trip to Chicago!!!

It was a whirlwind, and it was wonderful, and I'm excited to tell you more about my experience in the next few days; but, tonight I wanted to pop in and share the biggest thing I learned at Blogher...

Yes, I learned a lot about the blogging industry and felt both challenged and inspired by some of the "experts" in the field; but, more than anything else, I realized while I was there that I care a lot more about connecting with YOU than I do about connecting with big brands or big bloggers....

I know absolutely nothing about search engine optimization (and I really have no interest in learning it), I don't have an email newsletter for my blog (nor do I plan on starting one), and I'm pretty much doing Twitter and Facebook totally wrong. 

BUT, despite all that (and maybe partly because of it), we've got a good thing going here.

I don't just write for myself.  As I've said before (and many of your mentioned again in the comments of last week's post), if I wanted to just write for myself, I would keep a journal.  I also don't just write for free stuff, fame, or money.

I think all of those things are awesome "bonuses" to blogging.  Writing makes me happy and helps me process things in my life.  It's fun to get free stuff or have a stranger say "I read your blog" in the elevator.  And, as little as it may be, it is nice to be recognized and (occasionally) compensated for the time and energy I put in to blogging.

But, FAR beyond any of those things, I blog because of YOU.

You guys - my fellow mommas, teachers, girlfriends, and formerly Type A hot messes - you guys, are my people.

So, thanks.  Thanks for making this fun.  Thanks for genuinely caring about me and the people I love and write about.  Thanks for leaving comments, and sending emails, and just showing up. Thanks for making me feel like my voice is worth being heard, and that I'm not the only one wearing a bathing suit bottom as underwear because I haven't done laundry in a week (oh, maybe that really is just me). 

Thanks for being my people.

P.S. My roommate for Blogher, Heather (from Desperately Seeking Sanity), has been reading my blog for a while.  On Saturday morning, after she had to drag me  out of bed like a teenager for an appointment I was clearly going to be late for, she said (with love and in good humor): "I used to think you really did have it together from reading your blog; now that I've spent time with you, I realize you aren't exaggerating when you say that you DO NOT." I felt kind-of proud. ;)

Me, Myself, and My Spray Tan are Officially in Chicago

** If you are a first time visitor/ new friend from Blogher '13 - WELCOME to my little corner of the internet!! First and foremost, I feel it is only fair to disclose that, in real life, my skin is VERY pale and very freckly.  Pretty much everything else you need to know about me you can learn by scrolling through the About page up there... THANK YOU for stopping by, and I hope you'll leave a comment to let me know you've been here so I can pop in at your place too! **


Ok, first of all, we need to talk about the fact that I am, literally, blogging IN THE AIR right now.  Yes, I paid $5.95 for "inflight wireless" and I should be partying it up on a fireworks cruise right now; but, really, what kind of blogger would I be if I passed up the opportunity to join the social-media nerd's equivalent to the "mile high club"?

So, a little about my day of traveling adventures...

This is me at about 2PM on Wednesday getting ready to walk out the door and head to the airport...

 (I know this picture is terrible - and it totally doesn't do my spray-tan justice - but I was alone... In person, I look exactly like a tanned American Flag.  #represent)

And this is approximately five seconds later when my suitcase rolled down the front steps while I was shutting the door...

(Remember the last time this happened? It wasn't a suitcase that rolled down the stairs while I was closing the door; it was Sam. Oops.)

That suitcase contains six pairs of shoes (and I'm not even a "shoe" person), three "summer scarves," and an extra duffle bag for "swag," but apparently I forgot to pack my BRAIN...

First, I almost missed my flight because, even though I was over an hour early to the terminal of my very small airport, I decided that I needed to use the bathroom right when they started boarding. #whoknewtheywouldboardsofast? I literally came out of the bathroom to my name being called over the loud speaker - again, mind you, in the tiniest airport ever.  #winning

Then, once I was safely seated on the plane, I somehow forgot how to turn off my iphone and had to ask the burly teenage boy sitting next to me.  Cool.

Obviously, the moral of the story is this:  All the planning in the world, can't keep a hot mess from being a hot mess on a travel day... ;)

I napped on the first leg of my flight.  (As a side note:  I used to wonder how people could just get on an airplane and fall asleep before they'd even taken off... How did they get comfortable? Weren't they excited about where they were going? Didn't the noise bother them? Now I know - they must be parents.  ANY time is a good nap time in my book.)

Not to worry, the peace was short lived... When I arrived at the Charlotte airport about an hour later, I was greeted by loud sirens and a massive crowd of chaos in the terminal.  Apparently one of the moving walkways had caught on fire and the entire terminal (that I had just landed in) was closed down.  (I mean, I couldn't make this stuff up!) 

Of course, I had to stand in a line with hundreds of grumpy, sweaty people and wait for a Charlotte city bus to pick me up and drive me to my connecting terminal (which would have been about a five minute walk through the airport under normal circumstances) and, naturally, missed my flight to Chicago by about 15 minutes...

Two hours, one Frappuccino, and forty-five minutes of lightening delays later - I was officially Chicago-bound. :)

Sadly, my messed up flight caused me to miss the Seadogs Fireworks Cruise I had planned to attend; but, otherwise, it really wasn't so bad... And, lucky for you, if I have this much to say before I've even gotten to the conference,we're in for a real treat these next few days!!

Alright, I better go now... The girl sitting next to me is beginning to wonder about the selfie I just uploaded for above (of myself in the exact same outfit I'm currently wearing, keep in mind), and I seem to have misplaced one of my shoes... But, onelastthing:

I'll be trying really hard to keep up (in a healthy way) with the social media mavens throughout the conference this week/weekend.  If you care at all, I would LOVE if you'd follow my adventures (and I'm sure there will be plenty) via Twitter (@justemyselfandi) and Instagram (@emyselfandi).  And, if you are at Blogher this weekend, please come say hi - I'll be the bronzed beauty awkwardly sipping diet coke in the corner!

P.S. Thanks for being the best readers and friends EVER.  Your words of wisdom and encouragement on this post meant SO much to me.  YOU are why I blog.  :)

Trying to Keep Up... And Failing

Remember my word for the year?  (It was surrender in case you don't feel like re-reading.)  A funny thing (ha ha ha): I think somehow (totally unconsciously) I told myself that once I completed my 40 day social media fast (which felt like a pretty big deal) I was done - I had accomplished my goal and achieved surrender.  Isn't that funny?!?  I'm a darn fool. ;)

Let me back up a little bit and admit that my priorities have been all kinds of messed up lately... I'm ashamed to admit how much time I have spent doing things like reading blogs, online shopping, and scrolling Facebook and Twitter in the name of "Blogher prep" the last couple of weeks.  I haven't had a choice really; party invites go up on Twitter and are filled in under a minute.  I'm not even kidding.  Plus, everyone on the #Blogher13 chat seems to be best friends with each other, and I know a whopping TWO people that will be in Chicago, so I've had a lot of catching up to do.  And, since I'm being honest here, my 350 Twitter followers aren't exactly going to impress many of the big brands.

Seriously, I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE DO IT -- they tweet all day long, have 10K followers, and never miss a thing!! 

So, here's the thing... I've been trying to keep up.  I've been trying really hard to build my Twitter following, get invited to private parties, create an impressive media kit, and find the perfect wardrobe all while still managing my family, my house, and two online summer jobs... And, I've failed.

I can't keep up.

I'm really really excited about my time in Chicago (in case you haven't been able to tell), but I've also been convicted that as much I want to be a good blogger, I really want to be a good mom/wife/teacher/friend/etc. more.  In my heart and mind, I KNOW that, but it is just so easy to forget...

One of the things that I both love and hate about God is that he has a way of always bringing me back to earth when this sort of thing happens -- First, it was the mistake I made in my online class that had me calling a parent to apologize and doing extra work to get back on track.  It really wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was a major reminder that I was dangerously close to entering the "I'm doing too much and not doing anything well" place I find myself in a couple of times a year.  

That incident led to a couple of other things which led me to actually call up two girlfriends who were planning to visit me last week and cancel on them.  I knew it was the right thing to do (and they were, of course, wonderful about it it), but I felt SO bad.  I had been looking forward to my time with them, and again, I was slapped in the face with the reminder that I had let things spin out of control a little bit in my life...

So yesterday, finally, I made some changes.  I unplugged my internet and took Sam out for donuts and an early morning park date instead.  I did a project around the house I've been procrastinating for some time now, and I prayed - a lot.

I can't keep up, and that's OK because my value is found in Him and not in the number of people liking my status or reading my blog.

A good reminder and the perfect timing.

P.S. Don't worry, I'm not going to be serious forever... I'll see you tomorrow to discuss THE MEN TELL ALL (totally making time for that)!

Five on Friday: Preparing for Blogher

This Five on Friday linky party has been quite the hit in the blog world lately. Always the trend follower, I thought I'd join in today with a special "Preparing for Blogher" edition since I leave in just FIVE short days...

 1. Business Cards

Front

Back

Thanks to The Fairy Blogmother for the design & Got Print for printing.

2. Bag

Dalia bag in Cuban Sand & Neon Yellow from Sole Society

I first spotted this beauty at Lily's Style and immedilately fell in love with it.  It is from Sole Society and it fits all of my criteria for the perfect Blogher bag (i.e. adorable, stylish, large enough for laptop, smaller clutch inside). I tweeted how much I was obsessed with it and - like a dream come true - the amazing ladies at Sole Society offered to send me one FOR FREE!!! Now I'll be toting in style at the conference (and, hopefully, easy to spot in a crowd - haha). :)

It will be filled with: my laptop & iPhone, an array of chargers, a cute new pad-folio from Target (because I'm a total nerd), my planner, business cards, a small wallet, and - of course - plenty of my favorite pens.

*Get it here!

  

3. Clothes

This is totally the area that I have stressed the most over even though I promised myself I wouldn't. (In fact, since I made the above graphic earlier this week, I'm already second guessing both outfits!) I really want to be comfortable and look like myself, but still stand out a little bit... Plus, it's always fun to have a reason to wear cute clothes and get dressed up!  What do you think? Be honest.  How do you feel about the scarf in the summer look?

4. Schedule

When I first decided to go to Blogher, I imagined it to be like the teaching conferences I've been to in the past -- a few large group speakers and an array of break-out sessions to choose from for filling my day.  Then (silly me), I actually thought I'd have time to relax, blog, and maybe even sightsee in the evenings. Ha!  While there will be AWESOME sessions to attend, there is SO much more going on while I'm in Chicago.  Truth be told, it's a little overwhelming...

This weekend, one of my goals is to sit down and really sketch out my time.  From the (millions) of advice posts I've read, I know "not to overbook" myself; but, there is just so much I want to do!!  Here are a few things (outside of the regular conference agenda) that are definitely on my agenda:

(1.) SeaDogs Fireworks Cruise on Wednesday night with Madame Deals.
(2.) Pathfinder Day - My Blog as a Book Proposal on Thursday.
(3.) Save Babies Blogger Baby Shower with The Baby Ladies on Thursday afternoon.
(4.) Fresh & Clean SocialLuxe Lounge on Thursday evening.
(5.) The Big Toy Book's Sweet Suite on Thursday night.
(6.) Newbie Breakfast on Friday morning.
(7.) Voices of the Year on Friday evening.
(8.) Hasbro Coktail Party on Friday night.
(9.) Disney's Delivery Man screening on Saturday night (hoping for a Vince Vaughn appearance)

See why I'm so excited?!?!

5. Intentions & Expectations

And last, but definitely not least, I'm trying to stay focused on the reasons I'm going to Blogher and have realistic expectations about the whole thing.  I have to admit that my preparation for this has had me on a roller coaster of feeling really excited and motivated to insecure and discouraged.  I, like most normal people, can get caught up in all the invitations and opportunities a big conference like this presents.  I can let myself daydream about "making it big" and developing really awesome brand partnerships from this conference; but, the reality is -- I'm going to be a little fish in a big sea.  I know I'm going to be overwhelmed.  I know there are going to be LOTS of bloggers that are WAY bigger than me.  I know I won't be the funniest, cutest, or most talented person there (by a long shot).  So, I keep reminding myself WHY I signed up in the first place --- to learn from more experienced bloggers about how to grow my blog AND stay true to my voice and values, to meet new friends, and to stretch myself by doing something "out of my comfort zone" that is "just for me". 


If you are going to be at Blogher, PLEASE email me so we can make plans to meet up!  And, for those of you not going, will you answer a question for me?  How much do you want to know about my experience there?  Should I plan to blog about it during/after the conference or - be honest - are you kind-of over it already?!?

(Join the 5 on Friday linky party here, here, here, and here! - All of their blogs are SO cute, I just started following all four!)

Private Parties and Fireworks Cruises at Blogher

I'm going to let you in on a little secret... My preparation for the Blogher conference coming up next month (it's in Chicago July 24th - 27th) has brought out some middle school-esque insecurities in me.  See, apparently, there is this whole other world of private parties outside the conference itself.  These parties are mostly hosted by brands/ pr agencies and require an official invitation.  People say that getting an invite has less to do with your stats and more to do with your social media presence; but, let's be honest, it takes me right back to my days of running for (and losing) the distinguished (ha!) office of Senior Class President.

When I really stop to think about it - and remind myself why I blog and why I'm going to this conference in the first place (which is, to learn from some great bloggers and stretch myself to get out of my comfort zone) - the parties really don't matter...

But, I'mnotgoingtolie, I was pretty darn excited when I saw an invite from Madame Deals to her Seadogs Fireworks Cruise in my inbox a few weeks ago... :)

Here's a little info about the company that is sponsoring the party:

Are you ready for an entertaining cruise experience along Chicago’s scenic lakefront? Come out to Navy Pier and let Seadog show you the city April-October, weather permitting.

Seadog offers four exciting ways to see and experience Chicago from the water:

Lakefront Speedboat Tour
This 30-minute cruise along the shoreline offers a descriptive tour of Chicago’s famous skyline, while playing your favorite music.
Extreme Thrill Ride
This cruise is perfect for the dare-devil in you! This 30-minute ride features splash down stops, 180-degree turns, slalom runs and more.
River and Lake Architectural Tour
Enjoy historic views of Chicago’s famous landmarks and neighborhoods during this 75-minute cruise on both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Lakefront Fireworks Cruise
Enjoy front-row seats to the spectacular fireworks display aboard our Lakefront Fireworks Cruise! Cruise along Lake Michigan with an exciting speedboat ride paired with an informative tour of the Chicago skyline, then end the evening with a dazzling fireworks show and top-40 hits playing in the background! The open aired vessel allows for panoramic views, providing a perfect view. The Seadog Fireworks Cruise is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, running from Memorial Day – Labor Day.

Seadog is great for both individuals and groups. We offer customizable group events for up to 450 people.
Seadog also features specific holiday cruises, such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Halloween.
Not only can you enjoy a Seadog Cruise, but your dog can as well! Dogs ride for free, space permitting.
For more information, please visit www.seadogcruises.com/chicago/ or call 888-636-7737.

Now, the big questions remain...

What should I wear?  And, how can I get Addy through the airport and onto that boat?!? ;)

 

P.S. I wasn't compensated for this post, but I do get to go to the party on Wednesday night with all the cool kids!