BlogHer ’09: Woo Hoo!

So I am swagged out! I loved, loved, loved BlogHer ’09! I didn’t go to any parties and I only went on Friday, but I met so many nice people and learned so much, oh and of course I got lots and lots of swag!

I forgot my camera and my cell phone camera sucks, otherwise I would be posting tons and tons of pictures, but I will do my best to walk you through my day. Well first let me say that I was so intimidated that I actually almost didn’t go. I was nervous all the other bloggers would be in cliques and I wouldn’t be cool enough to join them, but it was the opposite. Everyone was super nice! I really wish I could have attended some parties, but with packing and then moving last week, I have been a mess and so jumbled.

So Thursday night (July 23) I was running around my box filled house searching for my business cards, a notebook, pens, and my new laptop bag. I finally got everything together and I decided I was going to go to sleep early since I haven’t had to get up at a scheduled time for over 2 years. (Since I worked outside the home last.) So I fell asleep relatively early (11 pm) but my 12 month old decided he was going to wake up in the middle of the night and want to play. My husband was pretty good and Gavin didn’t bother me too much.

So at 6 am I woke up, showered, blow dried and straightened my hair (yes it is very wavy) and I found some unwrinkled clothes in my mess of a dresser which has been unpacked to the floor of my new walk-in closet. Then luckily my in-laws came over to help my husband for the day so we also didn’t have to drag them out to the train station this morning. My husband dropped me off at the train station, and it was actually on-time! After a quick 30 minute train ride (yeah for no rush hour), I then hopped a taxi and arrived at my destination.

I registered and walked around Blogher for an hour before I met Kasandria from Southern Bella’s Ways to Save and we became fast friends. Now since I was unable to get a regular ticket, I was luckily able to purchase a Lobbycon ticket which met I got to see the Blogher intro and conclusion on a tv screen in the lobby and I got access to the expo floor. I of course got the chance to network with anyone and everyone I could force my business card upon!

So if you are clueless as to what Blogher is, then you are not alone! I initially thought it would be like a Kids expo or Bridal Expo where companies try to sell you their products and are not very helpful. Well the expo floor had over 40 sponsors that all were awesome, relevant, and no one tried to sell me anything! All the companies were basically there just to inform you of their product and share samples with you! I also loved that the representatives were actually very knowledgeable about the products and could really explain them and demo them properly.

I actually don’t have a favorite sponsor as they were all pretty cool, and swag I love it all! I can’t believe it but they actually already announced BlogHer 2010 and it will be in New York City! I am definitely going, and hitting all the parties, and by then I hope to really sound like I know what I am talking about! I am so excited about next years event and really this year’s BlogHer isn’t over yet! I think it was just because I was so nervous and unorganized due to moving that I didn’t enjoy this event as much as I should have. Some of the parties sounded awesome and the swag was even better than expected, those bloggers actually got video cameras and other cool items. The parties by the way were all free and I found out that you actually didn’t need a BlogHer ticket to attend them. Next year though I will be the drunk blogger (I get tipsy after 1 drink now) that is table dancing and kareoke’ing.

Okay so let me explaing “swag” too since some of you may be clueless. Swag is a free item that a company hands out to promote their company or product. Not only did each company in the expo give out some kind of swag, but also bloggers brought swag from their sponsors to hand out. All I can say is that I had 4 totebags so filled they were about to break and my shoulders have permanent indentations.

If you are thinking about BlogHer for next year, get your tickets now! Don’t hesitate or it may sell out and I promise you if you buy the ticket now and something comes up, you will have no problem selling the ticket. Bloggers were begging all over the forums for an extra ticket to purchase this year. BlogHer is also for newbie’s to experts. One girl I met, actually has only been blogging for a few weeks, while others have been doing it for 5+ years.

So please ask me any questions and I can try to answer them about BlogHer or share your experiences with me!

Picture of my swag: