Food Fun Family

The Best Moments of #BlogHer12 Through Instagram – #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:08:51 +0000

The other day, I posted some of the photos that I took on my “real camera” during Blogher last weekend. Although they are certainly better quality, these shots that I took with my HTC One S from T-Mobile (no, I am not being sponsored to say this…) truly highlight the best moments of BlogHer for me.

I’ve discussed this year’s BlogHer with a few of my friends who were also there, and came to the conclusion that as enjoyable as my time there was, the conference simply didn’t meet up to my expectations. Despite the fact that many people view what I do either as a time-consuming hobby or as a constant party, I like to treat my blog as a business, and conferences are where I network and make contacts to pull me through the upcoming year. As much as I tried to make meaningful connections with brands at BlogHer (hello! Two brands that I am fiercely loyal to – Canon and T-Mobile – were sponsors at BlogHer), I felt like I was just one in the crowd of faces and business cards.

Luckily, my experience with my sponsor, Dodge, was fantastic, and I DID get some one-on-one time with them. Like I said before, my time at BlogHer was enjoyable…and I am so grateful for the chance I had to go. But I wanted to get a little more out of the conference than a few new t-shirts and a bunch of new re-usable bags for grocery shopping.

And now to move on to the happier things. From Radio City Music Hall to Newsies to fantastic views of New York City, it WAS an incredible weekend.

Please note: Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

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Let #BlogHer12 Begin!

Lolli — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:45:30 +0000

In case you were wondering…Newsies on Broadway was incredible.

Let the BlogHer begin!

Will You Be #Spotted at #Blogher12?

Lolli — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:04:19 +0000

Tomorrow at this time, I’ll be arriving in New York City (yes, another trip to new York!) for the BlogHer Conference – an incredible and fast-paced LONG weekend of classes, parties, and sight seeing. Also, expect lots and lots of Instagram updates from me…

Picaboo’s Get #Spotted at #Blogher12 Project

You know I like to take pictures. Together, Becca from Picaboo and I are going to take pictures of the attendees at the conference. Then, we’ll throw the photos into Picaboo Collage Posters and share them here, on the Picaboo blog, and on Twitter.

Be sure to keep an eye out to see if YOU or YOUR FRIENDS have been #spotted during the conference (in the expo hall, in the elevators, in classes, at private parties…). We’ll be taking candids or you can grab one of us to take a picture of you and your fellow blogging buddies.

You can follow the project on my twitter stream (@1momof5) as well as Picaboo’s twitter stream. We’ll be using our own hashtag #Spotted and #BlogHer12, which is BlogHer’s official conference hashtag.

We’re giving away Picaboo Collage Posters

If you’re not familiar with Picaboo’s Collage Posters, you should be! Picaboo’s Collage Posters are inexpensive, easy to make and a perfect gift for holidays, birthdays and everyday events. You can make a Collage Poster in less than 10 minutes and they start at just $3.99 for an 8×10.

I featured two collage posters that Becca made using the head shots I took at Type-A Parent Conference earlier this summer in a post. Here’s an example of a what you can do (just imagine these with your family’s vacation photos…):

These collages include head shots of these amazing bloggers. And if YOU need a head shot at Blogher, come find me!

Tara at FeelsLikeHomeBlog.com
Amy at freakyperfect.com
Kris at littletechgirl.com/
Danielle at kittenagogo.com
Robin at simplegreenorganichappy.com/
Andrea at lilkidthings.com/
Erin at aparentingproduction.com
Connie at brainfoggles.com
Amy at amillionbox.com/

Ready to win 1 of 3 Picaboo Collage Posters? Just head over to the Picaboo blog and follow the instructions there. You don’t even have to be attending Blogher to follow along OR to win the collages!

See you at Blogher!

My Journey to BlogHer

Lolli — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:30:35 +0000

Months ago, with BlogHer well in the distance, and no money in my account to purchase an early bird ticket, I took a gamble. I applied to be a volunteer and figured that I’d go only if I was chosen as a volunteer and got the free ticket. As luck would have it, I was chosen, got my volunteer ticket, and then searched for a few friends to share a room with at the Hilton. Since I can take the train to New York City, I figured that I’d be able to get away with fairly minimal costs for the trip. But still, BlogHer is not cheap.

So when I heard about the “Journey to BlogHer” contest with Dodge, I figured it was worth entering. When I read their prompt (describe your journey to becoming a blogger and why you want to win a trip to the New York City BlogHer Conference) I was inspired to write this short paragraph about my own journey to BlogHer:

When my 4th grade teacher asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up, I answered simply “I want to be a Mom/Writer.” I always knew that I wanted to be a mom and I developed a love for writing at an early age.

As a quiet introvert, I always had difficulty vocally expressing what was inside me, but on paper everything came out. Fast forward 28 years to today; I never would have guessed that my young dream to be a “Mom/writer” would be realized in such a profoundly emotional, fulfilling, stimulating, and socially exhilarating manner. Today I have more friends than I ever did as the “quiet girl.” I love what I do…because of the chance I have to express myself in writing daily, challenge my brain, make friends, and still be a good mom to my 5 kids.

BlogHer ’12 is the reward, the place where all I’ve worked for comes together, but mostly, Blogher is my opportunity to connect with those people who have brought an added dimension of meaning and purpose to the life of this stay-at-home-mom-turned-blogger. I’m one of the lucky ones. I am doing exactly what I envisioned I wanted to do when I was a young girl. BlogHer will help me keep doing that…and do it even better.

I’ll admit – it took me just a few short minutes to write the paragraph. I hit submit and tucked the contest in the back of my mind.

Imagine my shock when I received an email a few weeks later declaring me one of two winners (I found out later that the other winner was my friend Emily Vanek from ColoradoMoms.com). The coolest part (besides the prize) was the fact that my little paragraph was chosen by a panel from Dodge out of hundreds of entries, not randomly, but on merit. Apparently, they liked what I had to say.

So in addition to the BlogHer ticket (and, by the way, I was able to release my volunteer ticket so that someone on the waiting list could go), Dodge is giving me 5 nights at the Hilton, a new iPad (something my husband is over-joyed about, since he’ll be getting my old iPad), transportation to New York City, and $750 spending cash. I’m using some of that cash to see Newsies on Broadway on Wednesday night.

Yes, I am still overwhelmed by the incredible blessing that this Dodge Journey to BlogHer sponsorship is. I can’t wait to meet fellow bloggers, old and new friends, and connect with the many brands that will be at the conference. If you’re going to be there, please make sure to grab me for a hug!

Sisterhood of the Bloggess’ Traveling Red Dress

Lolli — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:55:00 +0000

I wrote this post the day after BlogHer ended, and it has been sitting in my drafts since. I didn’t make it to BlogHer this year and was pretty sad about missing it until I attended a local HomeHer party for all of those who couldn’t make the conference.

I go to many local blogging events each year, but this particular one was different, and I was grateful that I was there instead of at BlogHer this year.

I was pouring myself my first plastic cup of Coke when I heard cheering from the other room.

Surrounded by women in jean shorts and sandals stood a woman in a fancy red dress.

“It’s the Bloggess’ red dress,” I heard.

I figured there must be a story behind the red dress, but it wasn’t until much later in the evening that I heard its history and its significance.

Every 5 to 10 minutes for the rest of the night, a different woman would walk down the stairs in the Bloggess’ red dress. Smiling. Stunning. Glowing.

Everyone looked different. There were short women, tall women, blonde, brunette, thin, well-endowed, dark skinned, light.

As each person took a turn trying on the red dress, the energy in the room began to change. Something was happening to us.

Finally, it was my turn. I followed Amy up the stairs and was right behind her as she took the red dress off. I stepped into the dress and Kristen fastened the corset back.

In less than a minute, I was ready for my debut. I walked down the stairs and the room cheered.

I felt beautiful. But I realized with a jolt as my picture was being taken that I had no idea what I looked like at that moment.

Photo by MammaLoves

Each one of us had walked down those stairs into a room full of other women without ever passing a mirror. Everyone looked gorgeous but that was not what we were focused on.

The magic of the Bloggess’ traveling red dress was the way it made each woman feel.

Later that night, after the dress had been put away, I was sitting next to Susan. She told me the story of the dress and how it had come to be at our party.

The red dress’ history started with this post from the Bloggess. The dress has been shared with many women of various sizes, shapes, ages, and backgrounds, including a trip to BlogHer last year.

Recently, Susan, who has been battling breast cancer, tweeted about the constant pain she has been in.

The Bloggess noticed the tweets, and a few days later the red dress showed up on Susan’s door step.

She knew she had to share it.

And so it was that the Bloggess’ red dress ended up at a HomeHer party in Maryland.

I’m glad I ended up there, too.

Photos of everyone else taken on @AmusingFoodie‘s phone. See all of the pictures on her twitpic stream.

I Wish I Was Heading to BlogHer

Lolli — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:26:55 +0000

….kind of.

I had a blast last year with my two fantastic roomies, Amy and Safire.

I met a ton of great bloggers, connected with dozens of brands, brought home a suitcase full of awesome swag, and enjoyed more parties in one weekend than I usually do in a year.

Plus, I participated in my first ever 5K race (who cares that we were some of the last to finish? I had an severely injured back. We had a blast running and walking through the streets of New York City wearing tutus).

I am sad that I’m missing BlogHer this year, but I know that my BlogHer-bound friends will keep me in the loop.

Plus, I am super excited to be participating in the first ever BlogHop Conference at Home with an amazing list of bloggers NOT going to BlogHer. You will be amazed at some of the great topics these ladies are going to be covering (I know…I’ve seen the list!).

PS – If you are at BlogHer this weekend, feel free to send me all of your extra swag….

PPS – I know. My Wordless Wednesdays are NEVER wordless…

For more inspiring photos, check: High Impact Mom, The Bonafide Life, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Mom Blog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories.

Linked up to Wordful Wednesday, Wordish Wednesday, and Wordless Wednesdays all over.

Are you playing along with Wordless or Wordful Wednesday today? Link up!
Want to grab my button?

Eucerin Blogher Gift Bag Giveaway

Lolli — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:09:51 +0000

Back to School Giveaway Week, Day One:

Didn’t make it to Blogher?? The wonderful Eucerin representatives from Blogher 2010 in New York have a few extra swag bags and they are offering them to YOU. Five of you, to be exact! That’s right. We’re giving five of you who didn’t make it to Blogher the chance to walk away with swag bags of your own. (You can even enter if you did make it to Blogher).

I’m somewhat picky when it comes to lotion. Lotion that simply smells good doesn’t do it for me. My lotion needs to DO something. I am lucky to live in a humid climate (half of the year, at least) and so my skin stays relatively well hydrated. But during those times when my hands and feet become dry, cracked, and rough, you can’t get me to my lotion fast enough. Eucerin is one of the brands that has passed the test of time. It does the job. In fact, it’s the only lotion that my daughter will use on her hands, so we always have some in the house.

During Blogher, Eucerin launched the Skin First IQ quiz, which is now available on the Eucerin Skin First website for everyone to play. Eucerin is also encouraging everyone to take the Skin First Pledge. When you take the Skin First Pledge, Eucerin will make a donation to HealthyWomen.org. After you do that, you can visit facebook.com/EucerinUS for free Eucerin product (for everyone!).

The giveaway:

Five readers will win the Eucerin Blogher Swag Bag pictured above. Included in this swag bag are the new Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Body Lotion, Daily Skin Balance Hand Crème as well as the Everyday Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 and the Everyday Protection Body Lotion SPF 15 and a health and wellness journal. All this in a reusable shopping bag.

The entry:

All you have to do to enter is tell me what part of you is most in need of lotion right now.

The extras:

Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. You can do this once a day. Sample tweet:
- Didn’t make it to #blogher10? Win one of 5 Eucerin Swag Bags from @1momof5 https://foodfunfamily.com/eucerin #giveaway
Take the Skin First Pledge
Follow my blog via Google friends connect.
Subscribe to my blog’s RSS feed or get email updates when I post

The fine print:

Eucerin gave me a swag bag at Blogher but I was not otherwise compensated for this post or giveaway. My dry skin needs and preferences are my own.

This giveaway will end on Monday, Sept 6, 2010 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Five winners will be chosen at random and notified by email. Good luck!

Best of BlogHer 2010

Lolli — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:07:31 +0000

I think I have finally made it through looking at all of the pictures I took at BlogHer. Hmm. I take that back. Half of the pictures I took at BlogHer were taken on one of my fabulous roommate’s cameras. There just wasn’t any sense in taking 3 of the same shots everywhere we went.

Where to start? I already listed my Top 10 Surprises of BlogHer. But that doesn’t even scratch the surface of my experience in New York this weekend. How do I condense four days of non-stop fun into one (or two or three) posts? I don’t.

Each of these pictures is a post in itself. Meeting Angie from I Heart Faces and shooting alongside her. Seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Traveling by S’mores train with some of the best bloggers in the country (Maryland bloggers rock!). Seeing incredible writers, inspiring friends for the first time and reconnecting with many others.

There just aren’t words.

Thank goodness there are pictures…..

Top 10 Surprises of BlogHer 2010

Lolli — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:58:34 +0000

After a half dozen cab rides through the crazy-busy streets of New York City, a sweat-your-life-away romp through the Central Park Zoo, more parties than I typically attend in a year’s time, better food than I ever cook for myself, and general fun with my friends, I am finally back home in the land of wash-your-own-dishes and make-your-own-bed. I am uploading my BlogHer pictures as I speak (all 760 of them!), and am struggling to get back into my blogging and children-tending rhythm, when all I really want to do today is sleep.

I must say that BlogHer was nearly completely different than I was imagining. Does that make sense? Nearly completely? Here are a few of my biggest surprises from BlogHer 2010:

I didn’t use my computer. In fact, I only pulled my laptop out once. It ended up being a waste of precious extra space (which I was running very low on come Sunday morning). Who would have known that I would do no blogging while at a blogging conference?
I saw the same people almost everywhere I went (usually people that I already knew quite well) and others I couldn’t meet up with for the life of me.
They fed us….and they fed us well! I was expecting free water and maybe a few cookies, but we had fancy food at every meal. The only time I had to buy food was on my way to the train station to leave on Sunday afternoon. And I felt compelled, anyway, to eat a gyro from a street vendor (which ended up being a little piece of heaven!)
Even New Yorkers stare at three tut-clad women walking the streets at 7:00 in the morning with strange looks.
The swag from all of the vendors was way better than I was expecting, and way MORE than I ever could have imagined. And the brands who attended BlogHer were so much nicer and engaging than I could have hoped for.
Ree, the Pioneer Woman, was both gorgeous (and tall) in person and kind enough to stop and chat. But even more amazing was the fact that she remembered a picture of mine that she featured on her blog back in January 2009. How cool is that?

I hardly made it to any classes. And yet, I feel like I came away having learned a lot.
I won tons of cool things (like a great new phone from t-mobile and shoes of my choice from Ecco). Last night was seriously like Christmas when I got home and opened my suitcase.
I love bloggers. Not that that is a huge revelation. But this weekend was immensely positive. And I connected with people I never would have expected to.
My sponsors, Mabel’s Labels, SEED, and Hershey’s S’mores were the MOST AWESOME companies ever to work with (did you guys see the S’Mores suite?!). I have nothing but the best things to say about them!!

If you went to BlogHer this year, what surprised you the most about the conference weekend?

Note: During BlogHer 2010 in New York City, I received many items free of charge, either as swag or contest prizes. I was not obligated to write about any of the cool stuff I received, and all mentions are purely because I really appreciated them!

WordFul Wednesday – BlogHer Addition

Lolli — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:57:23 +0000

It was a year ago that I wrote a very excited post about winning a trip to Blogher10 from Mabel’s Labels. I can’t believe the time has come and I will be arriving in New York City for 4 whirlwind days of partying, classes, and meeting great bloggers. In a few hours, I’ll be heading to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law, who will be hanging out with the kids (including my biggest kid–her youngest son!) while I’m gone.

Sadly, my to-do list is still looking pretty big (this is as far as I’ve gotten with packing), but I am so excited that BlogHer is here!

Here’s a final shout-out to two of my awesome sponsors. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to work with than Mabel’s Labels and SEED body care (remember that crazy video I did in March that won me an additional sponsorship from SEED?) and Hershey’s (who is sending me and a bunch of other DC bloggers up to New York tomorrow. It’s all worth it! Tomorrow I’ll be meeting all of these amazing companies. Don’t worry–I’ll be taking plenty of pictures and hopefully blogging a little from NYC.