Saturday night was the Macy’s party. It was good in theory, I mean, you’re in Macy’s (still not Marshall Field’s though!) and they gave you coupons! They also stuck you in the handbag section with plenty of champagne. It kind of hurt seeing champagne flutes next to Marc Jacobs bags, bags that could be ruined by champagne and never have the chance to be in my possession!

But yeah, load em up with alcohol, make them spend all of their money but not before they spill red wine all over your furniture department. Oh and give them a hot chocolate shot, which actually when you think about it, sounds amazing but when you taste it - YOU WANT TO DIE.  We did not know it was chocolate liquor and pepper vodka. Seriously, pepper vodka?  WHO THINKS THAT WOULD BE GOOD?! I can’t think of any way that would taste good in any drink unless you like torturing yourself.

Then they cut us off.

Yes, that part was not cool because I put down my wine to go the bathroom that makes you want to break out in song, as Leah said.

This was the crazy mirrored and marble bathroom and yeah, we took pictures inside the bathroom so shut your face!

While in the bathroom, we ran into Amalah. Literally - she ran in screaming.  Then I barely let her finish washing her hands before I ran up to introduce myself. Amy is awesome and didn’t mind, I think she was just happy to find a bathroom.

Macy’s then kicked us out but I don’t care because I had an effin’ cheeseburger party to go to. Y who is my favorite blogger in the world, commented on my blog a few weeks ago and told me I had better introduce myself so I could come. I really took this as “introduce yourself and I’ll be your best friend forever” because seriously, Yvonne is ridiculously awesome and I would have followed her around like a puppy. I may or may not have tried to, which is how I got this picture: (more…)

BlogHer wasn’t all fun and games, I actually had to earn my keep. Well not keep, but at least my free pass.

I had to get up far too early to go work the registration desk on Friday. I guess it wasn’t too bad because I was still on Chicago time but I left the hotel at 6:30AM to go flex some muscle and play bouncer.

See that? Staff. S-T-A-F-F. Respect, bitches! (even if my last name is spelled wrong)

Yes, so registration was a mad house for a couple hours. I may or may not have fangirled out a couple times. I got more swag and attended a few great sessions. I tweeted a ton, met more people including Katie, Emily and Ashley. I attended a 20 Something Meet Up. (Note: holier than thou attitudes are a total turn off. Don’t insult me and then try to play nice. Not cool.) There was a small Chicago Meet Up that turned so mommy-centric, we had to leave because it was like we were invisible.

I really wish there was a session, party or more time in the meet up for 20Somethings at BlogHer. I feel like we aren’t really recognized in the blog world yet. 20Somethings recently got added to Alltop, which is awesome step, but others to realize that we can be just as strong of a force as the mommies and other types of bloggers.  There are so many different types of blogs in the 20 Something community and some people might call that unfocused or that we “haven’t found our voice” but I think that diversity is exactly what is so great about us. I’m working on some stuff though, going to send out some emails and hopefully, that will change!

There were a lot of sessions I really wish I could have attended, but there were people there live-blogging. If you weren’t able to attend, you can still check out the live-blogs of each session here. There is a ton of really helpful information, something for everyone.

There is still more - the parties. That will be for tomorrow. The pictures alone are worth it!

Previous BlogHer posts:
- BlogHer (part one)
- video blogging starring Katelin and Jamie

Starring Katelin and Jamie!

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/1381657[/vimeo]

(I don’t normally sound like that, shut up!)

This weekend was all kinds of ridiculous and amazing. I really don’t know where to start. Don’t people usually start at the beginning? I guess we will start there.

After a long flight which was 4ish hours, but felt like 10 because of the Incredible Farting Woman next to us  who was obviously punishing us (us being Jenn and myself) for something and the screeching banshees (children) in front of us, we finally landed in Oakland. Jenn’s friend Colin picked us up and brought us around to our hotel, the Hotel Carlton. It was absolutely adorable! A small boutique (and green!) hotel with pinstriped walls, lovely furniture and super friendly staff that was about 5 blocks away from the Westin where BlogHer was being held. They did give us unopenable wine though. That was not fair and another story to come. I would definitely stay there again though if I end up in San Francisco in the future.

Vanessa stayed with us Thursday night and while Jenn was out seeing the sights, we decided we were freaking starving and needed food. Food that was not the itsy bitsy pretzels that Southwest so generously gave us on the flight. Jenn was going to meet up with us later and we were off in search of Katelin and food! We settled on Lori’s 50’s Diner which blew because we sat for like 20 minutes and were not even acknowledged once. Everytime we needed something, we had to practically pounce on our waitress. And why there are two of that place in a two block vicinity of each other, I do not know, but Jenn finally caught up after a ridiculously confusing phone call that went something like this:

Jenn: I’m in here!

Jamie: No, you aren’t.

Jenn: YES, I am. Where are you?

Jamie: At the bottom of the stairs!!

Jenn: Wait…there are no stairs….god dammit

Then since we were all n00bs to BlogHer, we headed to the Newbie Mixer where there was open bar. Now let me tell you, I only needed one drink because my cranberry vodka was 85% vodka and only an teeeeensy bit cranberry. Open bar was not necessary, I would have been on my ass had I had another. Business card here, photo there, lots of hugs all around. Finally met Sizzle, Missy and Lara that night. Ran into another of Chicago’s Finest, Jessica and her friend/co-worker Theresa. We party hopped between the Mixer and People’s Party. By the time we got to the People’s Party, it had been ravaged. I magically aquired the first of many swag bag’s since there were none left.

And oh, that was just the beginning…

(view from our hotel window)

I wasn’t really going to write about anything yet until I have more time string together more than “awesome”  and “omg”. I can’t really help it though!

I have met some really awesome people so far and it would take too long to name them at the moment.  Trust me though.

I have got a ton of stuff. Giveaways like no tomorrow coming soon. I got the good shit, guys.

I have also learned so much.

I have cupcakes, chocolate and a bottle of wine with my name on it back at the hotel.

Video blogging to come!

Party at Macy’s and cheeseburgers after the keynote.

Sightseeing tomorrow.

Okay, Dooce’s keynote is about to start and I have to pray my stomach doesn’t growl loudly and interrupt everyone because I am STARVING. ***to read the live blog of Dooce’s keynote visit go here***

Do I seriously leave for California in two days? Seriously?

I feel like BlogHer came up out of nowhere. I really can’t believe this weekend I will be hanging out, learning new things and partying it up with some of the most fantastic bloggers I know!

My suitcase is not even close to being packed. My blog cards are still at the printer (ready, just not picked up). I have no idea what to wear. I have emails to send out. Cell numbers to get. Reservations to confirm, well I have them already but I just need to make sure and ask a few questions. I’m paranoid like that! New design to debut tomorrow. Before you start saying, “OMG this is your millionth new design”, shut your face. Those ads over to the right keep my blogging looking pretty and hosted, so there!

Point is, I have much to do. So much to do.

My MacBook is back. It was with the Geniuses for awhile since the plastic was cracking around the top and the hand rest but AppleCare covered it so that’s awesome! Point is: get AppleCare if you don’t have it yet. My replacement Blackberry is in my possesion. I need to call Tmobile and see why my data package isn’t working but I do have it. iPhone hopefully next week as a wrench was kind of thrown in my plans but I’ll work it out.

Okay, now I have to make you all a little bit jealous now. Guess who I’m having dinner with Thursday once we get all settled in our respective hotels and such.

Go on, guess. I’ll wait.

Give up?

Katelin!

I’m super excited to meet her because I’m pretty sure she was one of my first bloggy friends.

These ladies will be there all weekend too and I could NOT be more psyched to meet them.

Katie
Sizzle
Vanessa
Janet
Slynnro
Kristy
Kerri Anne
Y (omg she invited me to a cheeseburger party?!)

And so many more that I know I’m forgetting off the top of my head.

You just know some crazy shit is going to happen when you put that many woman in San Francisco with alcohol and internet access.

I may or may not be promising a video blog sometime during that.

I also may or may not be intoxicated while video blogging.

Stay tuned.

Remember yesterday when I said I was going? Now’s your chance to go to and practically for free!

Over at the WonderSpot there is a contest that ends tomorrow for a chance to win BlogHer full conference passes and 3 nights at the Westin! All you need to do is get airfare.

Go check out how to win right this second!

As you can see from that little badge over there to the right, that I am volunteering at BlogHer this year. Being the broke ass that I am, once I heard they were looking for volunteers, I begged and pleaded until they like “Dude, you’re in. Just shut up”. So yes, I will be at there working my booty off, hoping I don’t screw up and make them regret their decision of giving me a little power.

That’s right, I said power. I’m like the BlogHer bouncer or desk sentinel, as Sizzle so lovingly refers to us as. Attendees have to go through me to get in.

Yes, that’s right.

Me.

Don’t have passes? Tell me my hair looks pretty or have candy and you might just be able to get in. I’m a sucker for Starbursts, but don’t you even think about bringing me orange and yellow ones!

Okay, not really. I lied. I won’t be able to do that, but still, feel free to tell me my hair looks pretty!

My partner in crime and I will be kicking ass and taking names all weekend long. Okay, I lied again. I will more than likely be staring, mouth gaping at my favorite bloggers like a big loser and creeping them out because I will be super intimidated.

Anyway, anyone else going? Live in San Francisco? Been there? What should I do? I already have one offer for a tour guide du jour and I could not be more thrilled!

Day 2 of my birthday was pretty fantastic, minus some upsetting home news, but I’m not going to take about that now. Lunch at TGI Fridays, 21 which makes me want to go back to Las Vegas NOW, and then out! We went to my favorite spot and I took some of your drink suggestions. I was a wee bit tipsy by the end of the night, just a little. I was, in fact, sending silly messages through Blackberry Messenger. Not drunk texting - tipsy texting! I just coined a new phrase. Tipsy Texting copyright Oh! How Lovely! Anyway, it’s awesome when you know the people who run the bar and they cut your tab down to $30, when you had around 8 people drinking for a few hours.

Yesterday, I got an email from BlogHer telling me I was chosen as one of their volunteers for BlogHer 08. This is awesome because it saves me money on the conference, food and getting drunk at the cocktail parties. Yeah, I’m totally don’t get drunk, but I could if I wanted to! Expect some Tipsy Texting! I’ll be working the registration desk for a few hours one of the days which is fabulous, because I will get to register and meet all kinds of amazing bloggers. Jenn also got chosen as a volunteer and she will be live blogging some sessions at BlogHer! Our San Francisco trip is in full swing. Hotels are booked, Flights are booked. We have gigs. We are so set.

Now for some linkage:

Jenn from Free and Flawed has a new geek news ONLY blog now. I urge you to go check it out. Must Love Geek. It is currently under construction while it is getting a face lift from my favorite designer, Jess of Delicious Design Studio. Jess made my design as well as oh…75% of the the blogs on my reader! Go check her out too, while you’re making the rounds.

And of course, Mr. 20 Something Blogger of the Week himself, Ben from No Ordinary Rollercoaster. There is no denying how much I adore Ben and Calvin. Sorry Newf, I might steal them and bring them to Chicago to be my BFFs!

Finally, Happy Birthday to the lovely, Kiraa of Ex Everything!

Bookmark. Google reader. Blog roll.

Do what you do!

I decided to take part in BlogHer’s Letter to My Body initiative. This most definitely isn’t a cry for attention. Just honesty.

Dear Body,

We’ve been through some rough times, you and me. I don’t treat you as well as I should. I know this. It’s such a struggle for me to do what’s right when it comes to you. No one else really understands. They all just think it’s so simple. Unhappy with your body? Slave away in the gym, eat all the right things, do all the right exercises and everything will be perfect. You’ll get that beach body in no time!

It’s not that easy.

Five years ago, I ran you to the ground. I did hours on the elliptical. I didn’t eat as much as I should have. It showed. 20ish pounds down in a matter of months. Small thighs, bony chest, hipbones that could cut glass, but was I really even happy with that? My mother was scared. I was depressed. It was a really rough time.Then I met someone who loved me so much, who thought I was perfect no matter what. It was okay to eat now. To go out to restaurants again. To enjoy food. I got comfortable. Today I am still lucky enough to still be with that someone who makes me so happy and still says I am perfect.

But you, body, no longer make me comfortable. He tells me I am beautiful, but I don’t see that. The mirror and I are not friends. I’ve put back on that weight lost, plus much more. I dread going shopping, it almost always ends with me in near tears. Break downs in fitting rooms are my specialty, it seems. Shoes and bags? Those are my favorite. Why? It doesn’t matter how much you weigh, they will always look good.

You see, for the past few years it’s been a continual power struggle between us. There’s never a medium with me. It’s always one extreme or the other. This is why I am stuck where I am today. Eat eat eat or lose lose lose? I can fluctuate 10 pounds in 2 weeks. Lose it quick, eat and gain it all back, only to do it over 2 weeks later. It’s a never ending cycle.

I don’t find bones appealing, so that is not the look I am going for. I just want to be happy with you again.

So body, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the shit I put you through. I’m sorry for depriving you. I’m sorry for overindulging you.

I’m working my way to finding that medium.

I hope I find it soon.

- J