BlogHer 2010
BlogHer 2010 was held in New York City. Last I heard, there were 7,000 people there for the conference, between the bloggers, brands, and offsite parties. It was a madhouse.
Rather than share an account of what I did and saw, let me share what I learned.
From Woman’s Day magazine:
Thanksgiving desserts in the middle of summer are worth the splurge. Also, having the job of working in a test kitchen looks like lots of fun. This amazing cheesecake will be in the Thanksgiving issue of Woman’s Day magazine.
From Pursuing Your Passion, lead by the founders of Pursuing Our Passion (or POP! Social Media Inc.):
Figure out not just what you love, but what you are really good at doing, and then go after it!
If you want to feel inspired and also learn a lot, read the book Making A Living Without A Job.
From the Martha Stewart Bloggers’ Night Out event:
Fake eyelashes can make you feel beautiful, even when you are having a bad hair day.
Have water available at any event, even if you are offering other beverages (Martha failed at this).
Darcy Miller is as fabulous in person as you would think she is.
From the BlogHer Expo & other brands:
The power of face to face contact is unmatchable, both between bloggers and in the blogger/brand relationship.
Some people are really crazy about getting free stuff. They are missing the point and purpose.
I really believe in some companies and brands. Those ones I believe in, I am very passionate about supporting. From BlogHer this includes Tempur-Pedic, Flatout Bread, Jackson Wines (whose dinner will receive its own post), Dove bodywash, Swiffer, and many more.
I really disagree with other companies and brands. I prefer not to mention them.
From Getting Gorgeous:
The power of a bit of pampering can be tremendous.
Tide has come up with an amazing product called “Swash: Smooth it Out“. It is only sold online, but it is heaven in a bottle. This spray dewrinkles your clothes without needing an iron! I need to order some asap.
The women who organized it must have spent dozens of hours planning it. I hope they think it was worth it because I can’t wait to attend the next one.
From old and new friendships:
Sharing my Healthy Living Summit Healthy Entertaining Presentation with Tina & Heather was educational. They gave me great insight, and I know it will be even better with their help. I hope you all come to my session this weekend at 11:45 AM.
Kath, Tina, Ashley, and I had a fabulous conversation on all things blogging. I left refreshed, renewed, and inspired. I also really enjoyed meeting Roni, Shannon, Jenn and other healthy living bloggers.
We met the be all end all of food bloggers… Elise (whose recipes I have been using for YEARS), Ree, & Jaden. They are all incredible women, and I feel lucky we were able to meet them at BlogHer.
Overall thoughts on the BlogHer Conference:
The sessions were not really learning experiences for me. I learned more from personal conversations and networking than I did from any BlogHer session I attended. I also learned the power of face to face contact. I was able to really connect with several bloggers and brands, and I like the think we have not only strengthened relationships, but we have learned from one another. BlogHer was an inspiring experience. I feel as though I have found what I was looking for in my blog, and now I have the tools to carry me there. Being around like minded people and sharing ideas and passions truly inspired me.
I also have to say that I am proud of myself. I was completely confident and forward and introduced myself to so many people- more than I would have in the past. I think the experience of the Foodbuzz Festival as well as several blogger meet ups have taught me not to be scared to say hello and not to be afraid to share my thoughts. Yes, sometimes I get nervous and put my foot in my mouth, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t do that. I learned so much not just about blogging this weekend, but about myself.
And I missed salads. And feta.
And my husband. And my new floors.
I can’t wait to share my inspiration with you in the next few days, weeks, months and years.
I can’t wait to read some more about what you learned! I saw you tweet that Windows Live Writer can be used with Macs? Please share!
@Jessica @ How Sweet, YES. You can use a program called PARALLELS or you can switch to make your Mac run as a PC using something called Boot Camp, which is already on the computer. The Windows contact is sending me full instructions etc and I will be sure to share when I have all the info!
@RhodeyGirlTests, Awesome! Thanks. π
@Jessica @ How Sweet, Would you please share it with me as well?
what a fun and BUSY weekend!!! i’m definitely reading that book…like immediately. i would love to make money without actually working (although doing the things i love don’t feel like work at all) π
I’ve been waiting for this post! So excited for you. Sounds like it was just awesome. My SIL went to BlogHer last year and had a blast. Too bad San Diego is so far from Boston! π
Wonderful post – sorry I kept interrupting you while you were writing it! π
It was so great meeting you at the conference Sabrina, and sharing lunch and breakfast with you on Friday! I love that you displayed BlogHer through the lessons you learned. I totally agree with you on the sessions…I learned much more from interacting with my peers than I did through going to them. Although the humor writing session was HYSTERICAL. I missed feta too. I bought some as soon as I got back home. Crazy.
@Joanne, Hi! It was SO nice to meet you as well. I am still getting settled in from being back home, how about you?? I wish I had attended the humor writing session. Looks like I missed out!
i had a nice time reading about BLOGHER posts all over the web π
Swash by tide? that’s a very nice creation…i hope it will be available here in my side of town π
@jassy, Thanks! Swash is only available online!
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts Sabrina. I would love to attend BlogHer next year.
It’s nice to see a different take on the conference- about what was learned or how it inspired. Looking forward to seeing more!
Great recap post. I like seeing different types of reviews/recaps on these huge conferences.
sounds like it was a good time!
Absolutely- there will be a whole post devoted to it!
What a great, honest review. I think I’d learn more from face to face contact as well. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I like this recap. It is a reminder that no matter how much fluff and stuff there is, without a relationship you don’t really learn anything.
You wouldn’t happen to know if that Tide stuff has a different formula than normal TIDE? I’m allergic to TIDE but would love something like that.
@Cynthia (It All Changes), Thanks! I am really not sure of the formula.. maybe it is available online? Sorry I can not be of more help!
It was fun to follow along with you girls through blogs and tweets! Glad you had a great time. Can’t wait to meet you in Chicago!
What an experience! Glad you had fun, met so many great bloggers and learned a lot in the process (even if it wasn’t from the BlogHer breakouts). Totally jealous π
I so need to go to a conference one of these days. I just feel so behind from what others are doing.
I want to attend BlogHer next year for sure- it looks like such a great learning experience!! I’m excited for your presentation at HLS; I love entertaining, so it’s right up my alley π
By the way, do you know when FoodBuzz Festival tickets go on sale? I’m dying to go!!
I loved this post- thank you so much for sharing with us!
You are so BRAVE to be able to go out and do what you do. I feel like I might just fade away into the background if I were at an event like that!
And you look totally gorgeous doing it! You look beautiful in all of the other blog post’s from other bloggers you’re in, too! On an unrelated note… would you ever do a makeup/face care post? I would love to know what products you use!
@Sonia @ Master of Her Romaine, thank you so much!! I would be happy to do so, except I don’t do anything special?! I will put something together though π
Did you mean Kendall-Jackson wines?
@Stepf, Actually no. They had Kendall Jackson, but also Cambria and La Crema. They are all from (Kendall) Jackson Wine Estates, but throughout the evening they kept referring to it simply as “jackson wines” π
@RhodeyGirlTests, Cool! I didn’t know that they had two. Everyone else kept talking about Kendall-Jackson. Was that the dinner with Jenna’s bf? (Love that she calls him Almanzo!)
@Stepf, Sorry, that came out wrong. It is the same people as Kendall-Jackson and the dinner they were talking about, but they also had La Crema and Cambria wines!
It was great meeting you – and then running into you numerous times at BlogHer! I am glad you mentioned how you felt about the conference sessions… I feel the exact same way. I liked meeting people and connecting that way much more than any session. Thanks for introducing yourself to me Friday morning… I can’t wait to become a regular RhodeyGirl Tests reader! π
You are speedy, girl! You win the “fastest comment responder” award. Lol. Loved your comment on the people who are all about the swag (or is it schwag). Spot on, Sabrina!
look forward to meeting you at HLS and perhaps hearing you talk! π
Sabrina, thank you for sharing your thoughts! I always value your opinion on things ; ) I will have to try to go to BlogHer next year, sounds amazing! Good luck with your presentation at HLS, you will do great!!
Great post! I’m glad I got to meet you!
as you know, i adored meeting you and cannot wait until I get the opportunity to hang out again!
xo
Awesome recap! I am so jealous you met Ree. I hear she is just a very down to earth mom/foodie π
Thank you for the comment on my blog post about cabs (pre-blogher). I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet you. I love your blog & and all the cooking info. For some reason I am a hot mess when it comes to cooking. Look forward to reading more of your posts.
Will your Healthy Entertaining presentation be available for those of us who couldn’t be there?
@Sandy, Yes! I am putting it up right now actually!!!
I know I’m late on commenting but I read this post when you first wrote it. I had such a wonderful time meeting and chatting with you at BlogHer and at the HLS this weekend! You are truly beautiful inside and out – and congrats again on a very well done presentation. I can’t wait to hear more about this Windows Live Write on a Mac, too. That would make my dreams come true. π