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BlogHer12 – The Good, The Bad, and the Glitter

August 22, 2012 14 Comments

Well this is one majorly delayed post… blame my brain, or time, or something.

Alas, I bring you my review of BlogHer’12, which in name alone should allude to massive hoards of women everywhere.

The Good

  • I met PEOPLE.
  • I met WOMEN who WRITE.
  • I met amazing souls.  Ahem, I’m speaking about this lovely group of ladies with whom I found myself in bed with at CheeseBurgHer (not like THAT. geeze).

I love EVERYTHING about this Instagram pic!                    (This shot officially belongs to Faith)

I stumbled upon Sarah when we randomly sat down next to each other before Pres Obama’s video address to all us ladies, Thursday night.  Turned out her roommate, Jacki, was also attending Social Luxe and nominated for a BlogLuxe award like me!  We became cab buddies and the rest is champagne with gold flecks history. Losers FOREVER!   Jacki and I met Faith that same night as well.  And if you search hard enough, you might find some karaoke videos of the two of us (thankful for such expert quality and lack of focus on my red pants). We can’t forget Laura, who found my blog months before BlogHer and whom I just had to meet.  Turns out she already knew many of these other ladies.

Birds of a feather? I think so.

And my roommates!  Talk about quality ladies, right there.  It doesn’t get much better than this when you’ve never met each other and decide to share a room for 4 days! Nicci, my bloggy bestie, turned out to be  totally normal (hooray for no serial killers!) and we clicked from the moment I fell through the door.  I said it before, but it’s a good thing she was preggo at this event, or else I can only imagine the trouble we might have gotten into together…

A HUGE shout out of thank you for putting up with me goes out to the Playdate Crashers, Jamie and Krista.  I promise to not get your names mixed up again, anymore, too often. Awesome roommates, for sure.

Without listing everyone in my twitter feed, I must acknowledge the awesomeness of meeting Lyz, Katie, Tricia, Savannah, Jayme, Jen, Brandee, Miranda, Megan, John, & Duffy.  Those are some good, quality people right there.  And they were nice to me.  Bonus.

The Bad

I don’t want to go all sour-puss on you or make you think that I hated my time at this conference, but I don’t see myself going back to another BlogHer.  For all the good, the fun, the partying, the swag… I felt way too conscious of everyone else. In my efforts to network I realized how puny my blog, and myself, were/are – in the grand scheme of blogging things.  I felt very insecure, very sucktastic, and extremely bad about myself and this blog.  And HELLO?!  That’s just the opposite of what BlogHer is supposed to, and can do, for you and your blog! I feel like BlogHer might not be for me.  After all, I only went to 2 sessions since everything was just so jam packed full of people!

Also, if awards are going to be popularity contest, someone needs to let the losers know this ahead of time. coughSocialLuxecough

But the people.  I luff those people who I only see in my computer and on my phone…

 

The Glitter

Take a few DJs, some cheeseburgers, sequins, craft supplies, strobe lights, cake, glow sticks, beds, a dance floor, and a whole mess of liquor and you have yourself some amahzing BlogHer parties.  Both the private parties and the BlogHer hosted ones lead to some serious fun times and major memories.

In fact, if it wasn’t for Social Luxe, Jacki, Faith and I might not have found each other!  Or the Pioneer Woman! or that other lady (Housewife?) from that other TV show (I’m so bad with names)…
Party Bloggers!
And Hasbro knows how to throw a fun party!

 Make it RAIN (monopoly money)!

And the swag was great…

But when it comes down to it, was it worth the time, money, and emotional investment? Sure I’m glad I went and met all these wonderful people. I wish I had steered clear of the cliques and actually slept more, too.  I love being able to say I went and value what I do take away from it, but is that enough for a repeat performance?  I have mixed emotions.

Until tickets go on sale for BlogHer13, I’ll sit back and laugh at these pictures.  You have until then to convince me I need to go, again.

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Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, BlogHer, dorklove
  • Alena

    This year the vibe was different. It felt different for me anyways because I had Holden and I felt like it kept me from really connecting how I had wanted with people I know online. But I think it was different for everyone. Too many people, too small of a venue, too busy a city. It just didn’t work this year. :(

    • http://CrowningVictoria.com/ CrowndVic

      I’m willing to give it another go, and have a different perspective (maybe a not so intoxicated experience, as well). I can imagine your time was different with a behbeh, but damn he’s a cutie. Also thanks to you I know what a Pack-it is, so thanks for keeping me up on the current cold pack phenomenon! Look at that, I DID learn something at BlogHer12 ;)

  • Suzanne

    I didn’t go this year, but from nearly every post I’ve read, you’re not alone in your feelings. I adore your photos — looks to me like you made the best of it!

    • http://CrowningVictoria.com/ CrowndVic

      I take solace in knowing that not everyone enjoyed themselves, as weird as that sounds. It helps me to know that this is not the norm. I’m tempted to try again, or take a different approach next time (mostly because I need to hug your face and will not stop attending blogging conferences until that happens…)
      Please to come to BlogHer13?

  • Jacki

    There were a few shining moments at BlogHer’12 and I think you were in probably all of them. Thank you for making it rain fun the entire time.

    • http://CrowningVictoria.com/ CrowndVic

      MAKE IT RAIN!!! Yes, agreed – you were in many of my standout, fun times. I’m so glad we met, and not just because I plan on crashing at your place in Paris…

  • Babe_Chilla

    OH HAI THERE! Why don’t we have any photos together? LAME!

    • http://CrowningVictoria.com/ CrowndVic

      Oh yes, YOU! We had dinner together and hung out, why are there no pictures to prove this? Photoshop? or bring Everly to DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes. yes do that. bring your husband and we can talk migraines.

  • John

    Seriously, woman, I grow tired just thinking about the spectacle that you fashioned . . . you’re a wonderful person with some serious party skills.

    I keep thinking to future events — I’d be more at-home if the event was smaller (perhaps just having the event not be in NYC will make it feel smaller, even if the participant list doesn’t drop), but I really did have a great time. I’m thinking, next time, if I can manage to work my way there, I’m going to stick to the same plan — buy the party pass, keep going until I just can’t go anymore, and hang out with the pretty ladies ;-)

    • http://CrowningVictoria.com/ CrowndVic

      Ahhh yes, I did have some fun, didn’t I?
      I agree, I *did* have a great time, but maybe I need to focus on people and certain events, not ALL THE THINGS! Because I loved meeting you and Duffy and need to see you again soon!

  • http://twitter.com/f_a_h Faith

    I plan on giving it another shot. I LOVE Chicago and have been to several conferences at the McCormick so hopefully it won’t be as packed and crazy. I had a ton of fun but it wasn’t what I expected. Maybe since we’ll be “seasoned vets” it’ll be better. If not we’ll still get to party!

  • http://twitter.com/FabulousButEvil Tara

    sounds like a lot of fun but this is not the first time i’ve heard it seems to be a popularity contest! i think the only way i’d go is if it was ever in houston.

  • Duffy

    I have a puny blog too, but I took away some inspiration from Blogher however I am not entirely should I could have taken four days of it.

  • http://twitter.com/kassarie Kassi M.

    Go to SNAP! I’m thinking I might go too…. ;)

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