What The Nervous Kids Do to Get Ready for BlogHer

Thanks to the California Table Grape Commission (Liz and Jim are amazing!), I'm headed to BlogHer in a few weeks.  It will be my first blogging conference, and no big deal, only the 3000 top bloggers will be in attendance.

GASP.  ((panic ensuing))

I'm a little nervous. If this isn't trial by fire, I don't know what is.  I'm going alone, I have no roommates, I only know people that look like 1 inch by 1 inch avatars.  If they aren't wearing their blog design on a sandwich board, then I'm going in blind. What is a newbie to do??

Here are things I'm doing writing about in preparation for my upcoming ER visit due to paralyzing social anxiety trip to BlogHer.

1.  Make a Google Calendar, bonus if color-coded.  I'm trying to keep it together.  I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row.  By ducks I mean parties.  And by "in a row" I mean this:
Some of the things are pipe dreams, you know just because you apply to some parties, doesn't mean you get in.  You know, like being left off the cheerleading squad.  Oh sorry....nevermind, another time.

2.  Over-Book yourself.  It's my first time and I'm saying yes to every party invitation I get.  I'm excited, I want to network, I want to have fun, but I'll be running amok around San Diego with my little phone GPS crying because I'll be lost for sure.

3.  Stalk the Twitter hashtags for BlogHer and pray that someone is more nervous than I am.  Oh and there's that word "stalk" again, I'm starting to develop a strange online presence, no? Oh and Nope, I'm still the nervousest.

4.  Make up Words.  Like nervousest.

5. Look into my closet daily and cry.  I only have Hawaii clothes, and that's like almost wearing nothing.  I have no style, or no sass in the closet.  I'm a mom who blogs, no one cares what I wear, especially me.  (insert intervention here)

6. Go to AAA and buy all the San Diego Gaslamp area maps, study them, then still get lost.  It'll happen, just watch.

7.  Give out your cell # and hopes someone rescues you from your hotel room.

8. Go back to old posts like THIS ONE, and reminisce all those years that I've wanted to go, and didn't.  Remind myself, this is my year!

9.  Find that one awesome friend or friends you met at non-BlogHer events (Kraft, Lifelock, and Hoover), pray nightly that they're going to BlogHer '11, find out they are,  and beg her to hang with you!  (Love ya Kelli, Hilary, Toni, and Crystal!!)

10.  Get there, put on my big girl panties, and have the time of my blogging life.  (Follow up to come!)

18 supporters in group:

  1. Trish said...

    I love this and can TOTALLY relate! Let's hook up!

  2. SuzRocks said...

    It's going to be great!! It's my first time too- I just want to have a fun time- and meet some cool people!

  3. The Mom Jen said...

    Let's Trish!! DM me on Twitter!

  4. TerriAnn @ Cookies and Clogs said...

    Glad I'm not the only one totally overbooking and freaking out :P

  5. Anonymous said...

    The Google Calendar is a great idea. Right now I have a bunch of invite emails printed out, a BlogHer schedule with seminars circled and a headache.

  6. The Mom Jen said...

    The calendar has really calmed me!

  7. Liz Mays said...

    Seriously it's your first blog conference? I never would have believed that. We need to meet up and hang, mama. Seriously!!!!

  8. Mrs4444 said...

    You'll have a ball, and your clothes won't matter at all; everyone'll be having to much fun to notice. Have a great time!!!

  9. Serendipityissweet said...

    I'd be nervous too, but I'm sure you'll have a blast! Enjoy ;)

  10. MTgunfighter said...

    San Diego isn't that hard to find your way around. It's big, but it is pretty well laid out...

    Not nearly as bad Denver or Salt Lake City...

    mtdoonmeister at gmail dot com

  11. Michelle said...

    Have a great time!

  12. Anonymous said...

    I love your system.

    marysims810 at gmail dot com

  13. Mie said...

    I actually feel a bit jelous to all of you in US that have this thing. Here in Sweden there are som conventions for bloggers. But it is mostly blonde girls with big boobs, skinny as hell, that write about fashion. Sadly I am the total wrong girl for those things lol.

  14. Kelli said...

    You are totally going to have a shadow... remember, I am from the country! We don't even have public transportation here! I am going to be totally lost and walking all of San Diego because I have no idea how to get on a bus nor how to hail a taxi! I am yours. I told you to call me so we can compare schedules. :-)
    Kelli - yep, the ones who had her name proudly mentioned in the above post) LOL!

  15. Zenaida said...

    Congratulations. Your calendar is on time!

  16. lewalk said...

    I would have been the EXACT same way. Lol. Sounds like you had a good time, tired feet and all. We went to San Diego this summer for vacay and to see little sis who is in the Navy and stationed there. I live in Louisiana so I absolutely LOVED the weather, not all the tons and tons of people though. LOl. And as I say every single time I comment here, lol, I adore the way you write. It's the way I think.

    lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

  17. VickieC said...

    I hope you had fun,sounds like there wasnt a moment to spare,,

  18. Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

    looks like you had a full schedule! i hope you had fun!

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