Obligatory BlogHer Post — slackermama . com

Everyone else seems to be posting about BlogHer this week, so I figured I should join suit. I’m such a follower. It’s amazing that I have a single original thought in my head sometimes, isn’t it? I really should be ashamed of myself.

Oh, and if you are one of the unfortunate ones who isn’t able to attend this year and posts like this are making your head hurt? Feel free to skip this one. I give you a free pass. I understand.

So. Where was I? (I had to take a small break to entertain Evie, who was requesting some face-time.) Oh yes. BlogHer. The conference with which to end all conferences. The Big Kahuna. The Drunk Tank, if you will.

Every year, as much fun as I have, I always walk away with some regrets. This year, I vow, will be different. I’m sure there might be a regret or two (or three), but I am hoping they are NEW regrets and not the same old tired issues I had the year before. After all, I want to foster personal growth and expansion here, don’t I?

With that in mind, I vow:

NOT to duck out on sessions on Day 2 like I always seem to do. I was better about this last year. But there were still a few times where I just hung out instead of going to a session and I feel, afterward, like this was time wasted, somehow. This said, I do not regret missing the “speed dating” dealie and hope to miss it this year as well. I’m all for putting myself out there this year, but even I have my limits.
I will introduce myself to more people and get more business cards, etc. I was better about this last year, again, but there is definitely room for improvement. This is like one of the major reasons for going to BlogHer in the first place and to let my insecurities prevent me from enjoying the legions? Is just goofy. I will spread myself around a lot better this year, I PROMISE. I hope to return home with NO business cards left this year. And a huge passel of cards from other people.
I will NOT be weighed down with tons of crap this year. Now, I’m a lot less certain about my ability to uphold this one. The future of our Westin hotel room is in jeopardy, after all, and I’m hoping to be able to dump swag there as needed. I plan to carry my husband’s laptop (which is itty bitty and I normally detest it but for such an event, I can definitely see it’s merits) in the diaper bag. Because, yes, I will have Evie with me. I’m hoping to having her in a carrier, but I’ll still need a diaper bag. Especially if I’m planning to have her in cloth. Which I am. So the less crap to carry around? The better. I will try to offload the swag as soon as I can. Perhaps during the speed dating! (Two birds, one stone! Sweet!)

Yep, Evie will be with me the entire time. I will be putting Liam in childcare. Harry will be staying in San Jose with my parents. Kile will have Blessed Time To Himself. I’m sure he’s looking forward to it. I’m a little bit nervous about having Evie with me the entire time, but I’m sure she’ll be a good girl. I’m thinking I’d like to find a good nursing cover so I don’t have to wrangle a blanket to cover her every time she wants to eat. As for my own session (first thing, Friday morning!), I’m hoping that maybe I can foist her off on some good-hearted soul. Tell me, if you’re going to my Introversion session, would you be willing to Evie-Sit? Also, for the record, if anyone wants to hold her or something (particularly if they want to hold her so I can eat), PLEASE ASK. I will, chances are, be more than happy to hand her off. You know, provided you’re not an axe murderer or something.

Evie stands to be the better dressed of the two of us too. I’m okay with that, at least for now. Chances are the morning of Day One I will be fretting that I don’t look nearly cool enough to be seen amidst such an amazing group of women. I’m thinking, however, that I’ll rock jeans (perhaps capris) and t-shirts. Maybe a blouse. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make any cocktail parties, but if I were, I would probably change for them. As for shoes, comfort is key. I will probably wear various and sundry flip-flops. But if i’m wearing jeans, that might look silly. So we’ll see.

I’m ordering business cards from Zazzle this year. They have “Moo” shaped cards but you can order in smaller increments. I’ve always had 100 cards and always come home with about 90 cards left. Even if I hope to pass out more cards this year, I still doubt I’ll pass out more than 60. So that’s what I’m going to get.

Wow, this has already taken hours upon hours to compose. What a geek I am.

I guess my point (do I have one?) is that a) yes, I’m excited about going to BlogHer and b) I’m hoping to not make some of the mistakes I’ve made in years past. I had other things I was going to say, but Liam woke up from his nap and he’s in a Mood. The whining is seriously blocking any coherent thought from my brain. I’ll leave you here and if I have anything else to say, then… I guess I’ll say it. Later.

Oh! One last thing: Can I have breakfast with you on Day 1? Please? I’m all by my lonesome at this thing!

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