Wednesday, July 29, 2009

If You're Not Sick of Hearing About It Yet...BlogHer Photos


The kind and lovely Kristine from Mommy Needs Therapy. She had an interview in the MomSelect Suite where we met Maria Bailey and Amy Sobel. Also up there at the time was Angela from Seven Dogs and a Baby and several other bloggers who's names unfortunately fell through the Swiss cheese holes in my brain. Ohhh ohh wait, one was Jenn from Mommy Needs Coffee. The other were mommies that needed something too, so sorry ladies it's the CRS it's bad.



I heart this picture so much! Standing next to Mrs Potato Head my butt actually looks small! I'm framing this or making wallpaper out of it or something. Well maybe not, because that bra strap showing is a bit unclassy. Oh and look there's my water slide pass/paper LobbyCon ID bracelet, never let it be said that Megryansmom doesn't accessorize.



This lady needs no introduction, but just in case for those of you living under a rock, Paula Deen.



The wildly popular Dawn from Because I Said So. I was amazed at how many people recognized her at BlogHer, I was talking to her and heard all this hootin and a hollerin, and man, I was impressed that she got that kind of reaction when she walked into a room. Tim who? Oh and she asked if I had my hair done at the Suave booth because it looked so cute. Thanks Dawn, I hate my hair most days so that was a huge ego boost.

Beth from I Should Be Folding Laundry promised to edit the picture we took together and make me thin and beautiful. I can't wait to see the results, I have total faith in you Beth.

This clever video was totally shoplifted from another blog. But much like swag-stuff on the internet is there for the taking.

Tomorrow, I'll bring you a close up of my best swag. It'll be a good day to skip class if you're tired of my boasting.





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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

10 Things I Hate About Me or Why I Sucked at BlogHer

#1 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

Hold onto to your hats everyone, I'm about to take you on a really fast, not so fun, condensed version of BlogHer '09 ala Megryansmom style.

#2 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

I'd like to thank my wonderful hubby, who provided door to door limo service for me on Sat. I'll be paying that off in *ahem* favors for the next 20 years or so. Plan A was for me to drive to Midway Airport and then take the Orange Line and walk to the Sheraton, Whynot's Plan B was soooo much nicer. Looking back, getting to BlogHer my way would have been fine, getting home, with 4 huge bags of swag nearly impossible!

#3 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

I'd done a little preparation, mingled on Twitter, got an idea of who was going. Read their blogs, tried to remember their faces. I knew who I wanted to meet. I made up some business cards, I planned what to wear, I had comfy shoes. I took a self study-crash course in Twitting by cell phone on Saturday morning. I was bringing my little used cocktail party face and what little courage I could muster from the bottom of my sock drawer.

#4 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

As soon as I entered through the doors of the hotel I could feel the excitement and hear the buzz. There. were. people. everywhere. I took a deep breath and muddled through the throng to find the registration for LobbyCon. I think I walked right passed Barefoot Foodie in the lobby and I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not stopping to interrupt her and say hello. Opportunity missed, big fail.

#5 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

Got to the registration table, was handed a purple water slide wristband and a do it yourself name tag. LobbyCon this big fail is on you. Really? A 29 cent lanyard and pre printed name tag was not in the budget? You'd already saved 79 cents by not providing LobbyCon attendees with an official BlogHer '09 swag bag, you'd still be 50 cents ahead if you provided an official looking name tag so I didn't feel like such a proverbial leper.

#6 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

Cell phone in hand, trying my best to look like I had a clue I was on a mission to find the Expo Hall. Down one escalator and another, desperately looking for even ONE familiar face. Whew I made it, unscathed and not knowing a single soul around me. I shoved some homemade business cards into my jeans pocket and I was set to conquer BlogHer or die trying.

#7 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

I was approached by a smiling Pepisco rep and handed my very first shaggin bag of swag. Yahooo, Swagwhore is born and I'm on a mission to get my greedy, grubby Veruca Salt hands on more, more, more. I WANT IT NOW! I've heard through the grapevine that others were just as greedy but not nearly as polite as I am and should have been dropped down the "Bad Egg" shoot for their obnoxious behavior at a popular party. For the record I am Swagwhore and NOT Swaghag. I am truly grateful for free stuff, it satisfies the hoarder in me. But FOUR bags, I think maybe I went jussssst a little overboard. If not for the thoughtfulness of Kristine from Mommy Needs Therapy, I'd have been schlepping that stuff around all day. I owe her at the very least, a bottle of wine. Thank you Kristine, for storing my stuff and for letting me tag along with you. Your kindness will not be forgotten, you were a real life saver.

#8 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

I didn't meet nearly enough people and I'm so sad about that, however, that still leaves my identity as sort of a mystery. A kind of "Who was that masked blogger?", and "Did you see Megryansmom at BlogHer?" So if you didn't have the opportunity to meet me I can still remain awesome in your eyes and if I did meet you, gawd I hope that you don't think I'm a huge dork.

#9 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

I loved being at BlogHer. I enjoyed talking to everyone I did meet. You and you and you and you and you and you. I remembered to smile. I loved the swag. I loved what little bit of Tweeting I did do. T-Mobile I don't care what anyone else says, I love your service. I was texting and twittering in a elevator full of people with FIVE BARS. I know, I'm such a bad girl. Remember I said that when I ask you to allow me a better discount on that new touch phone I covet. I'd like to thank my Visa card for making it possible for me to attend LobbyCon, I'll be paying you back plus 7.90% interest for the next 48 months.

#10 I didn't plan well at all! I wasn't sure what to expect and even if I had known what to expect, BlogHer was at least 10 times what I could even imagine.

But for this introverted little girl, who grew up in Logan Square and often uses sarcasm as an ice breaker, I feel I've made some progress. With a full year to prepare, I challenge BlogHer to a rematch in 2010. Start Spreading the News! I'm going to take NYC by storm.

p.s. Tomorrow I'll post the too few pictures I took.

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Monday, July 27, 2009

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming to Bring You this Important Message...

Hey the cable guy is a 1/2 hour out, he estimates that I'll be offline for about 4-6 hours. I'm sure you'll all miss me immensely. LOL

When I come back I'll be faster! Whoosh! Plus I'll have my Blogher '09 update, which I know you're all waiting to read.

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Friday, July 24, 2009

LobbyCon '09 HELP!!!!!!

I hemmed and hawed, didn't have the money for the full Blogher conference, couldn't afford to take time off of on top of that, yada yada and then it was sold out. Someone suggested I go just for the cocktail parties, $50, ok more reasonable, I could do that. Unfortunately due to my inability to make a decision that was sold out too. Wah wah wah, Blogher is practically in my backyard and I can't go! But wait! What's this? LobbyCon '09, where I will receive:

  • Access to the Chi Bar at the Sheraton, where we will be live-streaming of all four general sessions, including the Community Keynote and Saturday morning's powerhouse trio of media mavens taking part in the Traditional Media Chops meet a New Media Calling keynote
  • Access to the Expo floor, and the 40 sponsors on that floor (and their swag)
  • Access to both official BlogHer cocktail parties
What is *not* included with my BlogHer '09 LobbyCon pass
  • Access to the seven tracks of break-out programming, including the Geek Lab
  • The official conference tote bag
  • Meals during the day (breakfast, lunch, snacks)

It's all good! I get the swag, whatever is left on Saturday, if anything and I get to meet the fabulous people I've been reading about for over a year. I don't get a bag to schlep my swag in, which totally sucks, because come on, they couldn't mass produce 125 more bags for LobbyCon? And I don't get to eat all day! Which is actually another plus, because much in the same way a camera adds 10 pounds, blogging takes away 50 and IRL I'm FAT.

But oy, I'm freaking out. I'm headed down Sat morning, and all I hear on WBBM 720AM is how horrendous the traffic will be. Venetian night, some other expo, blah blah blah. And did I mention I'm directionally challenged in the city? Yes, I used to work downtown,but that was eleventy billion years ago. I hate to drive in traffic, I have no patience for that sort of shit. So my question is......IF I take the Orange Line, where do I get off and then what? Can I walk? I'm deathly afraid of taking a taxi alone, don't even suggest it, I'd rather walk 20 miles. People die in the back of taxi's dontcha watch CSI? Can I take a smelly bus? I'm ok with smelly buses, I used to live on Diversey Avenue in front of a bus stop. Well my house was on a corner in front of a bus stop.

Does someone want to meet me where the Orange Line lets me off? Pretty please? Or at least tell me how to get to the Sheraton from there? PLEASE!!!!!!

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