My #BlogHer10 Expierence Part 1

Okay so I don’t even know where to start with my BlogHer experience, as it was so amazing and an awesome experience.  I first want to thank my sponsor Feld Entertainment who helped me out financially towards my New York Trip.  I would say the conference cost just over $1000 when you factor in hotel, airfare, and the conference cost, thankfully my meals were covered by the conference, so it is definitely not something I could do all the time but I am glad I went.  I also figured when else would I have a reason and opportunity to go to New York so I figured it would be a great excuse (hence my husband wanting to tag along.)

Thursday

I arrived Thursday at around 1PM in New York with my husband and brother in tow.  (My brother is a New York expert so he took my husband around sight seeing while I was busy.)  We checked in at the Hilton and from there the craziness started.  I was so busy from the moment I put my luggage in the room, than I don’t know how I did it all.

(The Hilton and our room)

(Had to add the picture of the purses, that I forgot to go back and buy one – these were sold right outside our hotel) (Picture of BlogHer registration)

First, I registered and got an awesome BlogHer swag bag.  Then I met up with Maria from My Chicago Mommy and we started our party hopping.  We hit a few suites in the hotel to check out what they offered, attended an Open Sky presentation presented by Redbook, wined and dined at the Team Mom Bloganthropy Awards dinner, experienced a private party and then tour at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.  Next we headed to the Shick Intuition Party where we had a private performance from Caitlin Moe (a rock electronic violinist), Gavin DeGraw (sings the theme song for One Tree Hill), and DJ Mia Moretti.  I also want to add that we walked to all these parities all around New York, which I am very proud of!

(Caitlin Moe and Gavin DeGraw)

(Shick Intuition Girls Pretend Shaving my legs and Maria & Me)

The Team Mom Bloganthrophy Awards Dinner was truly amazing at it featured women who are really making a difference through their blogs so it was interesting to hear their stories and be inspired by them.  Before and after the awards ceremony we had a chance to talk with the sponsors who were all around the room and since it was such a small venue, I feel like I really got to talk to all of them and check out new products.  (Some sponsors there were E.L.F., Nickelodeon, K’nex, Toyota, and Cold Stone Creamery.)

(All four are pictures from the Team Mom dinner)

(Harrison Ford just hanging out in the lobby – his wax figure of course!) (Me with my vamp Robert Pattinson)

Everything Thursday night was truly amazing and I had so much fun being out with other women and networking.

Friday

Today was the first official day of the conference and it was busy as usual.  I started my day with a 6AM wake up call.  My first stop was meeting some of my other Sprout Moms for breakfast at a nearby hotel and it was great to all of them.  Next stop I had breakfast and listened to the opening address for BlogHer.

(Breakfast and how all the meals were served) (BlogHer opening annoucement)

Then I headed down and met the wonderful ladies from Shop At Home to go on a private garment district shopping spree led by The Elegant Tightwad.  We were basically let into private showrooms where old and new season clothes were, and one-of-a kind clothes, and allowed to shop the racks.  I purchased a few items for less than $20 each; my favorite is actually a $5 sweater! I didn’t recognize any of the brands, but one of the showrooms did have a picture of Brittney Spears wearing one of the dresses available.  All of us got $150 cash to spend and as small groups we went to the showrooms, definitely an experience, but I couldn’t find a lot of Large and Extra-Large items.  (To go on a similar experience, The Elegant Tightwad hosts tours and it costs around $80 a person to go shopping!)

(Me and the girls doing the Shop At Home Shopping Spree) (Clothes from one of the showrooms)

Next I hit the expo, which I am still in awe of, it was so huge!  Now I went to the expo at the Chicago BlogHer last year but it was not nearly as big as this one in New York.  I met some awesome PR people and checked out some great up and coming products that I hope to share with all of you!  The first floor was jam packed with everything and anything you could think of and the second floor was a lot of food products, like Hillshire Farms, Jimmy Dean, McDonalds, and Healthy Choice.  I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to catch any sessions as my Shop At Home event lasted until just past 1 PM and since the expo closed early I wanted to pop in there.

(Me and Mario with Mrs. Potato Head in the Expo) (The Sprout Booth)

After the expo craziness, I headed with Maria to the Mom Central appetizer and drinks party.  It was so nice to meet some of the Mom Central contacts I have been working with and some of the other fabulous Mom Central moms!  This party was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson so we got some adorable full size Johnson products to take home!

(Me and Maria drinking again!) (Me and Louise from Mom Start)

Finally, we headed back to the Hilton to check out the BlogHer Gala and mingle.  I didn’t last too much longer and after talking with Maria for a while about life and blogging, I crashed.

To Be Continued…