BlissDom ’09– I came, I saw, I (more or less) conquered! Didn’t karaoke, though.
Well, the BlissDom conference is over and I am way smarter.
Seriously– lean in and take a good look at me. You can tell, right?
I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or anything, but I might have broken something valuable in my brain while trying to learn how to serve you, the reader better because I will leave no stone unturned in my quest to provide quality content and enrich your lives and blahblahblah. I took a bunch of notes in a bunch of (really well put-together) sessions. I learned a lot of new catchphrases like, “Social media footprint” and “hyper-targeting” and “deepening reader engagement”. Yeah, I don’t get it either, but I took great notes. The long and short of it seems to be that apparently I’m supposed to be making a crapload of money from this dang thing, but it also sounds really complicated and time-consuming so I’m thinking it would just be a lot easier on all of us if you guys would just send me all your money. And thanks.
There were so many highlights that I can’t even decide which ones to tell you about. The overview is that I was mightily impressed with the whole thing, and I think Ali Worthington (of Mrs. Fussypants, Blissfully Domestic, and Worthington Wire) the curly blonde genius who put this whole thing together is a remarkable woman. And in case you don’t feel intimidated enough? She’s also the mother of 5 young boys. Yeah. There were some very heavy hitter bloggers attending, the panels were very informative, and the ‘socializing time’ was surprisingly entertaining.
I am pleased to be able to report that I handed out blogging cards right and left, ate lunch downstairs with everybody like a real person, attended the still-kind-of-awkward cocktail parties and generally had a really good time. I met so many women in person that I have been reading for years, and then met about a million more for the first time. I fell in bloggy love all over the place– nothing like a few hundred brilliant, crazy, passionate, funny women to get a person fired up about writing! And did I mention that a whole bunch of them were wearing babies, pushing strollers and breastfeeding during the sessions? So I got to expand my creative horizons AND kiss a few bald baby heads at the same time! Total SCORE.
(Didn’t take a lot of pictures– hello, I was TAKING NOTES, remember?– but I’ll throw in a couple:)
**Opening welcome by Ali (she’s the one in front of the screen). Note the white and pink Land’s End bag on the floor– that’s what the swag came in! Good stuff!
**Friday night party, home of the conference’s signature cocktail, the Blisstini!
** Ok, you’ve got to LOVE a cocktail party with strollers!
One of my bloggy BFFs, Robin– KNEW I’d love her, I was right.
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WHOO! Cocktails, conferences, and NO HAMBURGER BAGS!
I found this music video on the web, thought this might be interesting to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY
Its really cool.
Yes, you’re right! I can tell by looking at your picture that you are “way smarter”! Makes me want to go read a book, or watch some Jeopardy, or something.
So……..what is the one most valuable thing you learned there? You did take notes, right?
Glad you had a good time and ate lunch with everyone else, for goodness sakes!
I would send you my money, but the IRS knocked first! Sorry.
Loved the pictures! You and Robin are gorgeous in that picture!
Wow, JD! That video is really something! How’d they do that?
Well, that’s exactly why I don’t wear pajamas——-they look more like work attire……..like pants and a shirt. Now, a nightgown denotes elegance and leisure and sleep…..most the time. That’s for me. You won’t see a lady in a night gown doin’ all that runnin’ around and stuff.
Back to my 1040.
Jess– LOVE that video, can’t wait to show it to Madi.
Linda– I guess one of the most valuable things was the importance of working the social media (like FaceBook, Twitter, etc.) in relation to your blog. Who knew?
You and Robin are so pretty and happy that you could be blogger-poster-girls. And, I definately can see that you are smarter. Maybe you would like to do my taxes this year?
I have an idea for some future titles…all you have to do is supply the substance and words that follow each title. How about, “A Day In The Life of Tori;” “Those Years Riding a Bus;” “The Day My Hair Caught on Fire;” ….and I could come up with a hundred more. I love your natural, breezy, sometimes-comical and sometimes sentimental…stories you incorporate into your blogs. You fall in love with the bloggers you meet at those sessions? Well, we fall in love with you, Tori Taff, over and over again. As the kids say, You Rock!
I didn’t karaoke either. Not enough Blisstinis in me although I did sing Honky Tonk Bodonkadonk.
Seriously (I’m a rambler) it was so great to meet you. That is a gorgeous photo of you and Robin!
p.s. Isn’t Alli amazing? Really…she must run on an hour of sleep a night. OK off to check out that video.
I agree with everyone – that picture is awesome. Love your hair in it Tori! (Wish mine looked that good!)
Glad that you had a great time and learned alot. Just be glad you aren’t one of my students because you’d have a quiz. LOL
Momma Lloyd, you’re like a walking affirmation!
Blondemomblog– SO glad to meet you, let’s get together!
gracelynn– I’m VERY glad there’s no quiz!!
Glad you had a great time and learned alot. The check is in the mail…
This whole blog thing still amazes me. I don’t find alot of time to get into other blogs because I’m really not on the internet more than a couple times a week. I fell into your blog Tori, because of a music interest but I fell in love with the site and found a door open that doesn’t mind me popping in to see what’s going on.
It’s just an amazing experience to read words that take you places and introduce you to people and words that make you laugh and make you cry. How you can make it better than that – I don’t know. But I’m sure going to stick around, ’cause’ I sure like being a part of and a visitor of this safe place in cyberspace.
Sometimes I feel guilty for not paying you a therapy session fee!
OK, granted I might be a little PMS-y, but that kinda made me tear up a little, Robyn! You guys honor me by stopping by and being part of this site and my family’s journey. Thank you for those words.
Wow, I feel a little paparazzied with the pic of me and the stroller. Kinda Sweet Home Alabamish, “You have a baby…in a bar!”
LOL! Thanks!
Is that you, Amanda? The “stroller mom”? Don’t worry, as long as baby didn’t have a drink and become obnoxious, you’re okay. Wish I could have seen baby’s face! I love babies!
Amanda– Girl, you looked too hawt strolling that baby through the bar! You both look young enough to be carded!
Glad you had a good time, you go girl! When are they going to realize that you are “The Best” and have you as a speaker at those conferences? You could teach them a lot! Yes we love you and will always be here reading and replying!
As for sending money, why don’t you set up a pay pal account and we could just have money sent to it automatically on a monthly basis. Would that work? Just trying to be a blessing.
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