BlogHer Weekend: The Best Event I Attended, Photos & A Recap

So do we really need another BlogHer recap? Probably not. Especially since BlogHer was almost two weeks ago and I’m like moldy bread late with this post in terms of Internet time. But here I go anyway. Because after four years of BlogHer conferences, it’s what I do.

I’ve been a little slow to post it partly because I was on vacation after the conference so I lost a bit of my momentum and blogging mojo… but really it’s mostly because BlogHer is just so dang overwhelming. My head is still spinning and just *thinking* about the weekend still tires me out, let alone the idea of posting about it.

Which brings me to, am I going again next year? Because it’s so exhausting, why would I? The answer is yes, but I’m trying not to think about it much at this point. The bottom line is that everyone’s BlogHer experience is different – it’s dependent on how long you’ve been blogging but more to the point, who you are and what you choose to do with your time there. For me – I’m not there to make new contacts. It’s too much and I frankly don’t believe that walking up to someone at a booth is going to get you some big opportunity.

BlogHer is more the opportunity to reconnect with the brands I’ve already been working with. Because that’s where the true opps lie, in my opinion. The best opportunities come from the reps you’ve nurtured a relationship with and the brands you truly enjoy and want to work with. Which takes time.

And of course BlogHer is also chance to see all of my great blogging girlfriends and to have a good time with them! There’s definitely a part of me that considers the weekend to be a glorified girls weekend. I get very disheartened when I hear of the swag drama or the just general negativity surrounding the experience at the conference.

Christine from Boston Mamas gives a great intro at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge

But enough of that. Let’s talk about the positives & the events. The best event I attended was hands down the very first event once I got to New York City – and that was an intimate gathering at the Hope Lodge with the American Cancer Society. The event was in honor of Susan Niebur (@WhyMommy), a Mom blogger who lost her battle with cancer last year. I didn’t know Susan but I followed her story and my heart breaks just to think about what she went through and knowing that her poor kids are without their mother today.

Everyone made a tile for Susan - these will be put together and displayed at the Hope Lodge in Atlanta in her memory

Forgive me for not remembering her name, but a lovely woman from the American Cancer Society got up and spoke about the Hope Lodge and what they do there. [edited to add – it was Jessica D’ Avanza from ACS who spoke! You can also visit her at her running blog, rUnladylike] One quote she said stuck with me; she said that the American Cancer Society exists to put itself out of business. I loved that. Wouldn’t the world just be such a better place if they do eventually put themselves out of business.

I knew about the American Cancer Society, of course, but I didn’t know about the Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge is a home away from home for cancer patients. Cancer patients travel to their local Hope Lodge and stay for a time – services are offered to help support the patient and their family, basically helping them come to terms with what is happening and to offer resources on the best way to fight cancer.

I could go on and on about this one event. Really though, in looking back at the entire weekend, that event sticks out because it’s the event I went to that had the most meaning. We’re bloggers with a big reach – people read us and listen, and it’s important (IMO) to make a difference and remember what really matters when you’re in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of everyday blogging life.

Moving on from anything else serious, and since I’m getting so long-winded I’ve probably lost 99% of the people who started reading this post, I’ll leave you all with a photo montage of the rest of the weekend:

Love all these girls! Some of my bloggy friends at the American Cancer Society event

Getting my makeup done at the Clinique booth at Lord & Taylor for the Lifetime Moms event (wrote down the blush she used, which was amazing! Will review soon.)

Always love running into Erica from Women on the Fence. We were so excited to see one another that we were all girly & screaming and the PR ppl at the booth near us commented about it (nicely lol)

At the Scholastic Breakfast with my BlogHer roomie and best bloggy buddy Colleen from Classy Mommy

Vera, Melissa, me & Audrey at Vera & Audrey's amazing Getting Gorgeous event

Always love making new friends! Here I am rooftop with Tanya from Montreal Mom

CheeseburgHER nonsense with Adam Keats & Colleen

Dancing with Melissa. I can't look at this photo and NOT smile.

Philly Mom Bloggers Gone Wild. No seriously, can you look at this and NOT smile? You can't. Love these girls and love seeing them have fun. It just makes my day. (Kelly Whalen from the Centsible Life, Melissa from All Things Chic and Colleen from Classy Mommy)