BlogHer08 Quick Recap

So I chatter incessantly about how I’m going to a blogging conference, I give you a cryptic post about being a pretzel, and then leave you hanging.

Not very nice of me, sorry about that. Maybe I should ask for guest bloggers next time?

Truthfully, I have just experienced the best few days I’ve had in a long, long time. I’ve met so many amazing bloggers, attended so many amazing sessions and learned so much. The passion and enthusiasm of the women that surrounded me was nothing short of incredible. You can’t help but let yourself be swept up by the massive amounts of energy pulsing through the hotel. I’m also left with this feeling that my entire blog needs a facelift and redesign!

A huge part of what I wanted to get from this conference was face time with my favorite bloggers. Believe me, it happened! I immediately met, Jenn who writes both FreeandFlawed and Must Love Geek and Jamie from Oh How Lovely! who generously shared their hotel room with me Thursday night. Thank you ladies, it was a great night with late night girl talk, desperately needed. You are both fabulous! I also had the pleasure of meeting (in no particular order):

Katelin of Gorgeous Footsteps in the Sand
Jessica of Everyday Adventures in the City
Sizzle of Sizzle Says
Nanette of Say It, Don’t Spray it!
Kristabella
Crash Test Mommy
Amalah in a brief encounter in the bathroom
Sarah of Hair Thursday
Leah of Accidentally Jewish
Loralee of Loraleeslooneytunes
Velma of A Smeddling Kiss
Tara of Tall Tara

I know I’m leaving out more than a couple handfuls of bloggers and my apologies there, but the Squee! factor was high and some moments where slightly overwhelming.

Speaking of overwhelming, I have never been to a conference with so much schwag! I turned down most of what was offered and still came home with way more than I need. Hello? SEVEN new tee shirts? An awesome yoga mat (thank you Jessica!), Sigg bottle, magazines, books, software, computer skins from HP, DVDs, the list goes on and on. Keep an eye out here; it’s going to be contest central for a while.

The closing keynote was amazing. Dooce and Stephanie Kline graciously answered endless questions. Stephanie spoke about how she is the same person on her blog as in real life and Dooce spoke to the fact that she treats blogging as her full time job and yes, she reads every single comment. Absolutely amazing for someone who gets the comment love like she does. Dooce also revealed the not so surprising fact that not every comment she gets is kind as evidenced in her “Hate Mail” posts. I think I am an even bigger fan of Dooce than before. Previously I thought of her as distanced, possibly even a myth, but she is down to earth, real as can be, genuine, sincere and most of all wickedly funny.

While I already miss my new bloggie friends and can’t help but wonder where BlogHer 2009 will be held, exhaustion reigns and I’m ready to sleep in my bed rather than on a tray table.

So tell me, what did you do this weekend?