Thanks to One2One Network, Sean, Rosie and I packed up the minivan and headed from Chicago (or thereabouts) to Nashville. It was my first time at Blissdom – a conference for women bloggers. I’d been to a few other conferences – BlogHer, which is the biggest, was the first one I went to, sort of jumping in the deep end. Disney Social Media Moms is the conference that inspired me to start Kelly’s Lucky You. I’d heard of Blissdom and was thrilled when I won a contest at One2One Network that paid for my entire trip! Side note: If you are a blogger, make sure you join One2One Network, there are amazing benefits and maybe you’ll be the lucky one next year!
In the three days, I attended workshops and sessions, parties and concerts. I learned about writing from the heart, giving back, SEO, twitter tricks, and facebook tips. But the most important things I learned? They were about people, because in my book, people are the most important things in life. Here they are:
1. You have to be courageous. 99% of women bloggers are wonderful and kind people. However, there were 600 women at the conference, which means there were six stinkers in the group. I had the misfortune (despite being usually very lucky) to meet one at the first workshop I went to. I sat next to her, and she had a laptop skin with the name of her big blog. I should have known better but I didn’t…. I introduced myself and offered her my business card. She looked at it like it was, well, a piece o’poop. And said, “no thank you”. Yikes. Can you believe it? Thankfully, I have a pretty thick skin and went on to meet some delightful women that you will hear about next!
Completely opposite is Sippy Cup Mom:
Melissa of Sippy Cup Mom
2. Sippy Cup Mom, who is a fellow Nutrisystem blogger is the warmest, nicest person – ever. If I needed to see a friendly face in a sea of stranger, I could count on this beautiful woman! If I was going to cheat on Nutrisystem with anyone, I would love it to be Sippy Cup Mom! Not that we did…. no, not us, nuh, uh. Did I mention there was also a religious convention at Opryland and there were quite a few nuns in attendance? But, I’m still sticking to my story. No, not us, well…. not much. And we walked… a lot ;)
Kay of Bucksome Boomer
3. Kay Lynn of Bucksome Boomer is my go-to-girl for ANY 80 mile hike. Well, it wasn’t really 80 miles. But Kay kept me moving on the fitness walk around the beautiful Gaylord Hotel. As we admired flowers, plants, men in waders, I told her well, pretty much my life story. You rock, Kay. Thank you for not taking that last set of stairs, whew!
Kay’s blog is Bucksome Boomer and she blogs about money and life on the way to retirement. Give her a shout out and tell her Kelly sent you!
4. Karen Wilson of cirini handmade bags and her daughter, Natalie are lovely and gracious. I had the pleasure of waiting with them in the GE suite for our manicures and massages, then sitting with them for the afternoon session on Friday. I wish Natalie much success with her new blog and admire her courage in wanting to help other young women. When y’all come to Chicago, I hope you’ll be in touch!
Cammy of The Tippy Toe Diet
5. Cammy from The Tippy Toe Diet is an inspiration! We not only enjoyed the fitness walk (at 7 AM!!) but shared some great conversation during a delicious yogurt break.
Cammy writes about tippy toeing your way to a healthier lifestyle – one eensy, teensy step at a time. And she knows of what she writes, she’s lost 100 pounds!
Jaycie of Coupon Geek
6. At the screening of Melissa Peterman’s new tv series, I looked behind me to see Jaycie! She has a very popular blog, Coupon Geek, but is the most down-to-earth person you would want to meet. Jaycie and I met at the Coca-Cola Freestyle event in Chicago a few months ago. This time, we were ooh-ing and ah-ing over the great products at the inCourage suite.
Holly, founder of Blog Frog
7.  I was sitting at a table waiting for the welcome presentation, with the fantabulous Brene Brown, to begin when a lovely women sits down and I notice her necklace says “Blog Frog” – yes, it was Holly Hamann, one of the founders of Blog Frog. I love the Blog Frog community and was very excited to meet her. She is proof positive that not all big-bloggers/social- media-mavens are like my unfortunate first experience. (aka piece-o’-poop experience)
Alicia of Confessions of A Snowflake
8. Alicia is truly a snowflake – unique and beautiful. Her blog, Confessions of a Snowflake, is one of my new favorites! We talked mostly about the advantages of homeschooling but I feel blessed to have met her and look forward to reading her spiritual ponderings through her posts.
9. Blair, Prime Publishing, LLC and I shared a party meal (dinner is not quite the right word to use) and found out that the pretty things in the bottom of the Blissdom Signature Drinks were actually hibiscus flowers. Wow, who knew? We also saw Michelle Branch sing and took the Tide Challenge. We are now blood sisters, don’t you think?
Jen of 4tunate
10. QuatroMom has the best memory (and heart)! She remembered so much about me from our time at Disney last year, that I was falling over in surprise. We tried to catch up at the inCourage suite but it was so jam-packed, you can imagine the volume level. Still great to see her and hear about her boys. Jen has four, four-year-olds and writes the blog 4tunate. You have to go to her blog and see their pictures – adorable!!!
I hope you got a feeling from this of what the conference was like – tons to do, see, and learn. And mostly, fantastic women to meet! Other highlights: flash mob dance at the end of the conference (search on YouTube for videos) and Scott Stratten in a pink dress! I was not my usual picture-snappin’ self, but here are a few:
Edited 2/2/01 to add this amazing photo taken by Casey of Moosh In Indy. (Note the huge difference in photo quality, she is amazing! Check out her blog for more photo art.) This is afore-mentioned Scott Stratten (you know the Twitter Guru Guy of UnMarketing! and one of the best speakers in the universe.)
And of course, there was the swag! Would you like to share in the bounty? I have a Blissdom Bag O’Swag to share with a reader! Actually, there will be more coming later, too, on the Blissdom Sponsor posts and some individual giveaways coming up, so stay tuned!
This Blissdom Bag O’Swag contains:
- Coupon for free Peter Pan Peanut Butter
- (3) Coupons for free Yo-Crunch Yogurt
- Blue Bunny Beanie Toy
- Purex Crystals and 3-in-1 Sheets
- Gain Laundry Soap
- Greeting Cards from DaySpring
- Dove bag
- iRobot clips
- Pistachios
Entries (do any or all):
1. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect.
2. Subscribe to Kelly’s Lucky You by email or rss feed.
3. Follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect.
4. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link to your post in the comments.
5. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You on twitter and tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day). Feel free to use this sample:
Enter to win a Blissdom Bag O’Swag @KellysLuckyYou! http://tinyurl.com/477s87b #giveaway Please RT
6. Like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook.
Leave one comment for each entry. Contest ends February 16th at midnight EST. A winner will be chosen for each prize by random.org and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comments. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. See my Giveaway Rules page for further information.
Disclosure: This prize is giveaways from the Blissdom conference.
Following you via GFC
subscribe via e mail
following healthyheyday via gfc
Following you on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/thoughtfromcali
Like you on FB
Tweeted about the giveaway!
OH wow you had an AWESOME experience – I am dying to know who the Piece of Poop was!! (SO I can run if I ever meet her – how RUDE!!)
I love love Melissa! She is so sweet – I hope to meet her at Blogher! And you too! Good job on sticking to NS!
EMily
(I follow Via GFC!)
Thanks, Emily! I wish I was going to BlogHer. I went to the one in Chicago two years ago, and loved it.
I follow Healthy Heyday via GFC
I like you on FB!
I subscribe via RSS! :)
Wow! What a neat experience, except for the 6 party poopers! I follow you with GFC.
Melissa Peterman is so funny. Loved her on Reba!
Email subscriber
Followed Healthy Heydey.
I Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect.
I Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect
I Subscribe to Kelly’s Lucky You by RSS feed
I Follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect.
I Like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook.
I follow via google friend connect
Thank you!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I subscribe via email
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I am a new follower of Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I follow you on GFC.
I now follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect.
I like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook (Jane Eileen).
I follow you!
I subscribe to you!
I like you on facebook!
tonya stutzman filleman
We’re so happy that you had a great time at the conference and met so many wonderful people (for the most part…) Thank you for being a One2One Network member and thank you, also, for the great shout-out!
I was a big One2One fan before Blissdom but after seeing how efficient, organized, professional, and FUN you are, now I’m a HUGE fan :)
i’m so sorry you had to deal with a stinker. 1% is still too much in my book. #lame
I follow this blog publicly GFC CindyWindy2003,
email subscriber
Follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect, CindyWindy2003
twitter follower, @carafferty and tweet http://twitter.com/#!/carafferty/status/32868232427732992
I’m a gfc follower.
Followed your link from somewhere. I just wanted to say I’m sorry your first fellow conference attendee was a bit of a butt! I’m always so surprised and sad to hear that. Glad the rest was great. I was hoping to sneak over and see some friends who were in town for the conference but they had obligations to their sponsors. I’m dying to see the hotel again since the renovations.
The hotel was amazing Michelle! You would never know that it had been flooded. My five year old was so cute, she said, “Mommy, it’s like your outside, but you don’t need your coat.”
I hope I see you there next year :)
You don’t need to enter me in the giveaway, but I just had to comment that I adore Sippy Cup Mom too. She’s wonderful!
following you via GFC as Addison K.A.T.
RSS feed subscriber
anita [dot] truck [at] gmail [dot] com
like you on Facebook as Addison Kat
anita [dot] truck [at] gmail [dot] com
I am a blog follower via GFC :)
twitter follower micaela6955 tweet http://twitter.com/#!/micaela6955/status/32958625211219968
I like you on FB Michele Pineda
Oh thank you so much for the kind mention! You were definitely one of the highlights of the conference for me!
Though there’s no need to enter me in the giveaway, I’ll definitely tweet it!
Thanks for the tweets, Cammy! Have you taken a look at my friend’s blog, Healthy Heyday (http://HealthyHeyday.com)? I think you two have much in common.
I follow you through GFC(Jennifer).
Thanks,
Jen
jryder416 at yahoo dot com
I’m an email subscriber.
jryder416 at yahoo dot com
Hi Kelly, I’m over visting from Cammy’s blog (love her). I cannot believe that woman…there’s no accounting for taste. Her loss, not getting to know you. New Follower here.
Loved reading about your experience- you are so sweet and so right, it’s all about the fabulous people! Poop to the person who treated you like that, it is certainly their loss for not getting to know you, because as I know from experience, that is a TREAT! :)
I follow you on google friend connect
I subscribe to your RSS feed
Follow Healthy Heyday on google friend connect
Follow & tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/lkim496/status/33371904555495424
You are truly lucky (and dare I say blessed) to have gotten such an opportunity. I’m sure it was the experience of a lifetime to have learned and received so much! Also the time on your own away from family must have been a real treat.
follow you with GFC
subscribe by rss feed in google reader
follow healthy heydey in GFC (skgaff)
like you on facebook (stephanie gaffney)
I found you from Cammy’s blog! I subscribed!!!
I Liked you on FB but I don’t Twitter – I know! I am one of the few!
I follow KLY via GFC. :-)
I subscribe to KLY by Email.
I follow Healthy Heyday via GFC.
I follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect.
I follow you on Twitter. Here’s my tweet – http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/33711287435407360
I like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook (FB name: Maddie Brubaker).
I subscribe to your RSS feed.
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/33868789451984896
maddiemb {at} comcast (dot) net
please delete this one!
Ooops, can you delete comment #61? Wrong link! It should be: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/33868904652746752
follow you via gfc
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
Subscribe to Kelly’s Lucky You by email
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
Follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
follow you on twitter an tweeted
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/33920168509833218
Like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook.
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I joined your GFC. I found your blog through Cammy’s Tippy Toe Diet. I really enjoyed reading your recap of the blog event.
I follow you on Google Friend Connect
tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribe to your email
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow Healthy Heyday on Google Friend Connect
tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/33952454122934272
I like you on Facebook
Facebook.com/tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/34240405272797184
tweet
vlbelk(at)hotmial.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/34280558661992448
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/34286215926788096
New GFC follower!
gingeroo616 at aol dot com
Healthy Heyday GFC follower.
gingeroo616 at aol dot com
FB fan!
oursafehaven
gingeroo616 at aol dot com
What a neat experience! I’m following Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect as sunnymum.
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/34560912677539840
tweet
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/34636190757945344
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/34920197408309248
Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect (Lori Thomas)
ctymice@gmail.com
Subscriber to Kelly’s Lucky You by email
ctymice@gmail.com
Follow Healthy Heyday with Google Friend Connect (Lori Thomas)
ctymice@gmail.com
Follow Kelly’s Lucky You on twitter and tweeted (http://twitter.com/#!/crftyldy/status/34941135138848769)
ctymice@gmail.com
Like Kelly’s Lucky You on Facebook (Lori Thomas)
ctymice@gmail.com
tweet
vlbelk(at)Hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/34986911013539840
gfc follower
email subscriber
Email subscriber!
shukra likes you on FB
Google follower!
Google follower Healthy Heyday!
Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/35286528079040512
tweet
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/35380222043885568
vlbelk(at)Hotmail.com
following via GFC
following via twitter @clerk79
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/35532390965182464
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/35648406928109568
tweet
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/35729974279278592
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/35891981234212864
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/36005795351113728
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/36228337617600513
GFC follower
Neat giveaway, thanks.
email subscriber
I follow Healthy Heyday on GFC.
Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/36402617840177152
tweet
vlbelk(at)hotmial.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/36404245255168000
Teresa says:
February 7, 2011 at 8:44 pm
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/34781958164840448
**Somehow I posted on Handmade With Love instead of here (comment # 619) – this is February 7, 2011 entry
Teresa says:
February 8, 2011 at 8:38 pm
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/35142115902103552
**Somehow I posted on Handmade With Love instead of here (comment # 620) – this is February 8, 2011 entry
Teresa says:
February 9, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/35550006228295680
**Somehow I posted on Handmade With Love instead of here (comment # 621) – this is February 9, 2011 entry
Teresa says:
February 10, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/35866678655066112
**Somehow I posted on Handmade With Love instead of here (comment # 622) – this is February 10, 2011 entry
Teresa says:
February 11, 2011 at 6:26 pm
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/36203984033157120
**Somehow I posted on Handmade With Love instead of here (comment # 623) – this is February 11, 2011 entry
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/36468090246008833
GFC follower
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/36615162500874240
1. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You with Google Friend Connect.
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/36757516906004480
tweet
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/36773113941200897
GFC follower.
HH GFC follower.
KLY facebook fan.
Email subscriber.
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/36847062201008128
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/36898159330332673
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/37093997390475264
tweet
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/37175479362387968
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/37317277514870784
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/37348843783720961
gfc follower- jennifer wilson
jenniferwlsn33 at gmail.com
email subscriber
jenniferwlsn33 at gmail.com
gfc follower of healthy heyday
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/37466791643070464
tweet
vlbelk(at)Hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/37487719844151296
I follow on GFC, etlinder at aol dot com
subscribe by e-mail, etlinder at aol dot com
GFC follower
RSS feed subscriber (Google Reader)
FB fan of Kelly’s Lucky You (Cheryl S)
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/37679596849733632
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/37696623442280448
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/37821033411117056
tweet
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
http://twitter.com/vickiecouturier/status/37927483852464128
follow gfc
follow healthy heyday gfc
email subscriber
http://twitter.com/#!/clerk79/status/38073225082703873
I tweeted this giveaway – @tssk10
tssk10(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/tssk10/status/38089175613964288