My BlogHer 2009 Experience!

If I could summarize BlogHer 2009 in one word, overwhelming, would be the best fit! It was a fast paced whirlwind with both negative and positive aspects.  There was certainly plenty of surprises that I wasn’t prepared for.  I never expected to witness grown women lose their composure and drink to excess, a woman parading around naked at a BlogHer party, or seeing how catty and malicious women can be for a little bag of swag.  It was truly disappointing and embarrassing at the same time to be in the same room as some of these women and to call them my fellow bloggers!  I’m sorry, I don’t deem a woman going in the buff in a public place appropriate at all. I don’t care what message she was trying to get across. I found it distasteful and there are better ways to let everyone know you are proud of your self image and that you shouldn’t be ashamed of your body. Although there were for sure some downs to BlogHer, I firmly believe the good far outweighed the bad.

Here’s a pic that Tanya of Mommy Goggles took of the MomDot dinner where I along with several others were distributing swag from our sponsors onto the table:

I was so thrilled to be able to meet and connect with several bloggers that I’ve carried an online relationship with in the past year I’ve been blogging.  To get face time with these friends truly made this blogging conference  magical!  I loved getting to know them on a deeper level and to see for myself that they are true to who they represent on their blogs.  Some of the best ladies I’ve had the pleasure to hang out with and can proudly call my friends include Victoria from The Kids and Me, Sarah from The Ohana Mama, Cissy from Cool Baby Kid, and my roomie, Clarissa from The Poshpreneur!  I was also excited to meet several women from the MomDot Community in whom I’ve come to know and greatly admire.

I was coerced into this pic with the JumpStart Mascot down at the Expo Floor!

Some wonderful highlights were meeting and interacting with new bloggers I wasn’t already acquainted with and getting to mingle and converse with PR Reps. I’m always delighted to meet new people and it was nice to know that PR are just as interested in learning how to best work with bloggers as we are with them. All the PR Reps I’ve met in those few days were eager to hear any advice my friends and I would share their way and it was refreshing to see them in both professional and personal situations. I especially loved hanging out with the Tide and P&G Reps and getting to know them!

There were plenty of parties! In fact, there were so many parties going on, it made it impossible to attend them all between the ones that were offered to all bloggers and the ones that were primarily exclusive. I’ve never party hopped so much in my life and between the conference and all the parties, it didn’t leave much time for sleep. I especially loved attending the Social Luxe party, Nikon party, and Tide Cocktail party.

Here’s a pic of me the famous Carson Kressley at the Nikon Night Out Party with good friends Sarah from The Ohana Mama and Victoria from The Kids and Me:

Don’t pay any mind to any negativity about the Nikon party. The party was excellent and Nikon does not hate babies! I have to chuckle at how venomous and misconstrued the no baby policy at the bar was. The party was held in a place and atmosphere not suitable for babies or kids. I would not have wanted my own children to be there. As packed as the room was (literally elbow to elbow) and as much alcohol that was being served, it would have been plain dangerous for them to allow any children in. The staff at the party was having a hard enough time collecting all the stray champagne glasses and garbage left all over from the party attendees and some were even gutsy enough to clean up after everyone where they could have easily slipped over the edge into the river that the Flatwater Restaurant was sitting on. I honestly enjoyed my time there getting my hair and make up done, meeting Carson Kressley, and hanging out with some of my best blogging buddies! The limo rides weren’t too shabby either and I’m not complaining one bit about the super star treatment I got while I was there!

I want to close by giving a big thanks to the sponsors that made it possible for me to attend BlogHer 2009! I truly appreciate the sponsorship given to me by MomTV, Spa Time Baby, Boogie Wipes, and 4 Truffles! It was an honor and privilege to represent your fine companies during the conference!

Stumble! for WP

About the author

Jacqueline Renner wrote 1027 articles on this blog.

Jacqueline is the Mom/Owner/Editor behind the Blessings Abound Mommy Blog that incorporates her Christian, Alaskan, homeschooling, and stay at home life with five children eight years and younger. You'll also find Alaskan and family favorite recipes directly from her kitchen and family oriented product reviews and giveaways! To learn more about Jacqueline and her family, you can read more about her here.

• Blog

Tags: blogher 2009 carson kressley nikon night out party tide cocktail party tide luncheon tim gunn