Blissful Learning and Laughing
You know what I did this past weekend? I learned a lot. I laughed a lot. It was Bliss.
Pun intended. It has taken me the better part of the past few days to process. Which is why I am late to the ‘Blissdom Wrap Up’ game.
I was in Nashville at the Blissdom Conference….put on by Ali - MrsFussypants and Barbara Jones of One2One Network.
If you read my site last week, you know I was nervous. Nervous in that wow-I’m-about-to-walk-into-a-room-full-of-women-and-what-if-I’m-transported-to-an-episode-of-Mean-Girls kind of nervous. You know what I mean, right? I hoped it wouldn’t be bad. I mean, how could it be? I was going to be surrounded by people who ‘get me’, right? Most are moms, we’re all close in age, and we do the same thing - blog. Some more ’successfully’ than others, but some aren’t blogging to be successful in a monetary way, but in a peaceful, centered way.
My goal, as a relative new kid on the block, was to sop up the information I expected to be falling from bloggers mouths like a mouse on a cheese hunt. I also hoped to make some friends. Both missions accomplished.
I met and learned from some of the best and some of my personal favorites: Velveteen Mind, MomAdvice, SecretAgentMama, Rocks in my Dryer.
But I also made amazing new friends: JustPureLovely is just that: Just. Pure. Lovely. We arrived within seconds of each other, and she made sure I was never lonely.
SugarJones made me laugh non-stop. Amber told me a beautiful story I will never forget. Josh and Rebecca from MomFaves felt like family. And Carissa and Jyl from MomItForward reminded me what it is like to ‘be on the same page’ as someone else.
It would be impossible for me to recount for you every wonderful person I met, every amazing opportunity to ’share my voice’ I have discovered, or everything I learned.
But, for me, the mom who spends the better part of her waking hours surrounded by small people (and by small, I mean 3 feet and under) who love me unconditionally, yet, don’t quite ‘get me’, it was truly pure heaven to be in the midst of strong, intelligent, hard working and KIND women. (And men - thanks to Josh from MomFaves and John from WalMart - he is an expert: working with the ElevenMoms)
As a final thought, I must address the KINDNESS I felt. Seriously…I have not had that many people be so truly NICE to me since I was pregnant. I must have appeared vulnerable. Was it the bunny slippers? Was it my dancing to MamaMia ? That’s it, isn’t it? You felt sorry for me and my lack of dancing abilities. At least I didn’t make you listen to me karaoke. That alone may have brought the elevators to a standstill.
I’m including a few of my favorite pictures/memories below. They include Chris Mann (seriously - his voice could make a girl melt), the darling Ender and Nathan from Yanni Voices and the Fabulous and hilarious Jen Lancaster. (Yes!! That is a picture of Jen and I!) If you haven’t read her books, get there. And, of course, some fabulous Bloggers. (I Should be Folding Laundry, A Southern Fairy Tale, Real Life Sarah, CoolMom Guide, Bargain Briana, ClassyMommy, Katja, and Pensieve Robin are in some of these pictures, but there were so many more!) Thank you, new friends, for making my first serious venture into the bloggy world so very memorable and smile-filled.
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It was great meeting you… I think you are FABULOUS!
Danielle,
It was such a pleasure meeting you and getting to know you. We agree, you are like family to us. There are some VERY exciting days ahead!
Your fans,
Josh and Rebecca
MomFaves
WhyMomsMatter
I am so glad that you had a great time! Oh how I wish I could have been there! Is it by invite only? I would love to actually get to meet you!
I was so honored to meet you, Danielle. I wish I could have sat with you more and just absorb your essence, but the moments that we interacted and smiled at each other are forever etched in my heart.
Thank you for being you and for being my friend!
Much Love Always~
P.S. The picture on my blog is yours!!
Reading these updates is making me kind of sad because 1) I miss everyone and 2) I keep seeing names and faces of people I did NOT meet and I feel like maybe I wasn’t putting myself out there enough. But I DID meet so many…next year it needs to be three days!!
Such a great recap. Well, we’re both new kids on the block and I agree - such a wonderful group of women (and the few men weren’t bad either.
Oh, Danielle! Thank you. This is a great recap. I could do another 12 recaps, myself.
I hope to have the honor of seeing you again one day, and until then, consider me one of your beloved blog stalkers.
I love your comment about sopping up information–that’s a great visual. I felt that way too with all of those awesome women –and cute men!
Nice to meet you!
Cheers,
Gwen
Fabulous to meet you! I can’t wait to chat with you more.
Great post and pictures! My biggest mistake was not just going up and introducing myself to more people. Lost opportunities!
(Love the slippers)
It was great meeting you at Blissdom!
I adore you, you gorgeous, fabulous, huge hearted wonderful woman!
The pleasure was all mine!
I am so happy for you! I love that you keep blazing trails for me. First, you started a blog and then I followed in your footsteps and started my own. And now you’re exploring a whole new world, and maybe one day I’ll follow in your footsteps again and attend a conference like this. It sounds amazing, and I am so glad you were inspired and loved and that the world got to know the Danielle I know too! Many blessings, and remember this is only the beginning! You have lots ahead of you! I’m proud of you.
It was so wonderful meeting you, I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself!
(I’m not even that jealous of your hair anymore)
(which is a total lie.)
I was so glad to meet you!
great meeting you in nashville! love your blog…
It was such a pleasure meeting you, I’m seriously so warm and fuzzy reading about your experience. It’s exactly what we hoped for everyone!
`Arianne
What great pictures! Great to talk to you over breakfast the last morning. Best wishes to you and the move to Fla! Oh, just to tell ya, broadcasting class went well! Thanks for your advice.
I agree about so many NICE people being there. It really was a wonderful weekend.
Take care,
You rock my socks off, hot lady! I miss you terribly!!!
Hey, girl! Thanks for the shoutout! It was EXCELLENT meeting you and having someone to hang with. I wish I’d been feeling less cramp-y the last day and night so I could have gotten over myself and gotten to know the others better. You were great at mingling. I wish I’d stuck with you the last night — so, like a couple others above said, my regret is not getting to know some of the faces/names better that I’m seeing online.
I’m already looking forward to Blissdom ‘10. You?
I’m putting the pic of us that you have up as my WW and I’m linking it to you if that’s okay, we’re one hot group of mamas!
It was great to meet you! Hope to get to meet up again!