In the past, I’ve followed up my BlogHer weekends with a blow by blow of each day. This may be more closely tied to mild OCD tendencies than a belief that my comings and goings are really ALL that interesting to whomever is reading… But there is something very satisfying about recording the details of a brief span of time entirely devoted to ME.
Seriously – when was the last time that happened? Now life is all about “us” (and more often when children are involved, “them”) so there is very little time for “me.” And that’s fine. I love us. I ADORE them. But having that one weekend of “just me” is pretty fantastic and worth celebrating with a long and self indulgent blog post.
And I’m not doing that this year. Not because there aren’t countless moments to immortalize in Times New Roman (Verdana? I’m terrible with fonts…) It’s just that even during BlogHer last weekend, I kept thinking “then what?” This was oddly ahead of schedule, as it typically happens days later, after that feeling of being able to achieve anything I set my mind to starts to wane. Which invariably coincides with reentry into a world of never ending house cleaning and constant financial stress.
It’s a bummer.
Insert that scratchy needle being dragged across a record sound here. (If you were born so far after the age of vinyl that this doesn’t ring a bell, I suggest Googling “record players” or “Olivia Newton John”)
After typing those first few paragraphs, I decided to shake off the gathering blahs by checking my Twitter feed. Pithy remarks…witty observations…pictures of toddlers unintentionally making rude gestures…bright shiny object! bright shiny object! We can always count on social media for a good distraction. And instead, I found links to BlogHer posts. All about “ME!” All about the extraordinary experiences. All expressing thoughts and feelings that I have thought or felt myself. And none that reflected my own slide back into self doubt.
Except one. And even if you are feeling GREAT today…even if you have never attended a conference of any kind – let alone the giant sorority rush party that is BlogHer (please note that I have never actually attended a sorority rush party – so my metaphor may suck)…I really think you should read THIS.
Thanks Amy. I needed that reminder that I’m not alone in this. And more importantly, THANK YOU for reminding me that time is fluid and that there isn’t a deadline when it comes to finding your way. Which is a good thing because I’m already 40 and still completely clueless.
SO instead of subjecting you to a long winded excerpt from “Kate’s Journey to Self Actualization,” you can check out some pictures of my super fun weekend!
Since each year I take approximately three pictures with my own camera, I was smart and didn’t bother bringing one. My iPhone provided a nice back up.
Here is a shot of my roommate, Anna and me from Thursday night. There were a number of people waiting in our cab line going to the same party, so we all ended up in a limo.
It’s been years since I’ve been in a wedding, but I really felt like I should be wearing synthetic taffeta and holding a wilted bouquet… Actually that was a pretty good picture considering the rest looked more like this.
Apparently, limo lighting isn’t ideal for photography. Oh well – at least we have one decent picture of our fancy New York limousine.
Then this happened when we arrived.
Yeah – I have no idea. Sometimes my alter (i.e. more fun) ego makes an appearance, but it’s rarely captured on film.
I couldn’t stay long at the party though, since I had a date with these lovely ladies.
Left to right: Elizabeth McGuire, Melisa Wells (from her camera), Amy Wilson, Me, Stephanie McCratic, Lela Davidson, Lisa Page Rosenberg, Ann Imig and Varda Steinhardt [not pictured: Holly Rosen Fink]
Big thanks to Ann Imig for hosting a fabulous happy hour for the Listen to Your Mother producers. And let me tell you, I was VERY happy to be sitting at that table since I couldn’t find a cab, and had to walk 15 city blocks under a blazing sun to get there. Unlike Carrie Bradshaw, I spend less time traipsing around the city in heels than driving around suburbia in flip flops, so this didn’t end well. By block 14, I thought I was doing a fairly good job of faking it…but when a semi-homeless looking man asked me if I was okay, I knew it must not look good. Luckily, I got more of a wave from the table than get up and hug each other kind of welcome. So my advance decision to request air kisses only wasn’t necessary.
Later in the evening, Anna and I hit the conference parties and ended up in a picture or two:
Anna, Me and Amy Windsor
I think the giant name tags really make our ensembles. I’m pretty sure that we posed with other people for other cameras…but Amy is the only one who posted hers online for me to steal.
The next morning, there were a couple of celebrity photo ops at a brunch hosted by Iconix in the lobby of our hotel.
Anna was a little nervous meeting Snoopy, but I think she played it pretty cool. He would never know.
Then we got to shake hands with, oh you know – a couple of fashion icons…
Totally worth the fifteen minutes in line. They were lovely.
Actually I spent half of our wait laughing because of this little exchange… While looking at the Snoopy shots, Anna was exclaiming over how unphotogenic she was. In fact, she wasn’t even bringing cameras into it – just flat out saying that she looked terrible in every picture she scrolled through on her phone. The grainy limo pictures were particularly repulsive to her and she cringed at each one like they were images from a grisly murder scene. Finally she held up one that she thought I took of her saying, “look at me, I’m hideous!”
And what could I say? I had to tell her the truth. I looked at the picture. And I very honestly told Anna, “that’s me.”
True story.
Moving on… I also got a couple of pictures with new friends in the Serenity Suite the next morning.
Me with Annie Prenni (I linked to a recent post because the story is funny and the image is priceless!)
Me with Lady Jennie (Oooh la la – all the way from France!)
I spent a lot of time with each of them over the weekend, so I’m very glad we got those “just met you, but it’s Friday morning and we’re so excited to be here, LET’S TAKE PICTURES” photos. With my giant name tag.
Later that evening, Melisa (of the LTYM producers above) took a picture of me before the Listen to Your Mother Open Mic Salon.
I feel a little weird posting a picture of just me…but I do love that dress and it’s the only time it’s ever been in a photo. I feel the dress really deserves its day…and my shoes. I really like those shoes.
And here’s where my access to BlogHer pictures kind of fizzles. If there are more – I don’t have copies (and haven’t seen copies that I can steal from other websites).
These are kind of cool though.
I was trying to take a picture of my pretty green dress in the window. Didn’t really work – but I like the half image effect.
This is a family in front of me on the sidewalk. Hopefully they won’t sue me since you can’t see their faces.
Can you believe that I happened upon a wedding party just strolling down the center of Fifth Avenue on Saturday? Not sure what that colorful character on the left is doing but hey – that’s New York for you.
Oh wait! I do have one other celebrity pic from the conference. How could I forget?
And that pretty much sums up what BlogHer has to offer. Just kidding – unless you’re into that kind of thing.
So that’s it for this BlogHer recap – just the pictures and a few funny stories. No millions of links to people I saw/loved/hugged/missed this year. There are too many. And really – how do you follow up a giant orange furry?
BlogHer ’13 or bust!
oh, sweetie, i loved seeing your pics. still cringing over the HIDEOUS remark, but i’m glad we could laugh about it!!!! btw, i checked my camera and i have a super clear glam shot of us in the limo. decidedly NOT hideous. miss you already! xo
anna see recently posted..I Wanted
Kate!
I loved this Post. So good–so funny–so true!! I loved Amy’s Post too and I needed to read that, so thank you!! I laughed out loud about the story where Anna complains about her hideous picture and I remembered you sharing that with me in the “Serenity Suite” when we first met. I LOVE the yellow dress and shoes and totally think they deserved an appearance on this Blog! Thank you for being so sweet to share our photo too and linking to my funny story. I LOVED meeting you because it makes reading you even better!
Love,
Annie
Love all your photos – you look GORGEOUS! So glad you had a good time … SO wish I could have shared it with you. Funny enough, I read Amy’s posting about BH right before this, and it’s just so true.
Look forward to seeing you soon! xx
You and Anna. Down right jaw-dropping gorgeous. Oh my word! You are SO not seeing my photo. Neither of you. Nope. No sireebob.
You look great in every single picture – not hideous at all (ha ha). I thought this was a good recap but I’ll still go check out Amy’s link. If I had had a picture of us, I would have included that in my post as well, but I suppose there’s enough of me in my flat hair, with which I look hideous.
Hugs! :-)
Lady Jennie recently posted..Highlights, BlogHer 2012
Loved spending time with you and your yellow dress. I was a little jealous because it was very “Mrs. Sun”.
you look stunning in every picture. that’s why I refuse to be photographed with you. xoxo
Marinka recently posted..Texts From Son
Great pictures Kate! especially the lovely one of you in your yellow dress. So glad you had some “YOU” time.
I nearly spit out my drink when I read about your friend Anna’s comment on the photo of you/her. I felt like I was with you as I could hear you telling her “that’s me!”
You both look great in these pics; two photogenic lovelies! I found it difficult to recap my BlogHer experience in 2010 so appreciate where you’re coming from. Does look like a super fun weekend (and stylish, loving your little green dress).
Yellow dress gorgeous and stunning! I wish I was there to meet you and Anna!
Denise recently posted..Life Still Has Firsts
Anna’s comment, and your perfect reaction, made me spit out my tea. I can just HEAR you saying that Kate.
You look absolutely gorgeous. Love that yellow dress! So glad you had a great time – you deserve the break!
I absolutely love the photos and the asides and that yellow dress!! I have a yellow dress that I love. Your dress reminds me of it. If I were there I would have just forced myself upon you and Anna, and followed you around wherever you went.
I wish I could have been there just to see you guys. I’m so glad you had a good time.
heidi recently posted..being brave
You look fabulous, Kate, and I am happy for you that you got away for a much-deserved little break. xo
annechovie recently posted..BRIGHT SPOTS
I was offline during and immediately after Blogher so I missed a lot of the wrap-ups. When I started reading yours, I immediately felt better about my decision not to go this year. Then I saw your pictures and I was completely jealous. And not just because of your yellow dress – (seriously, where did you get it? I swear I won’t wear it to Blogher13). I am glad you had a super fun weekend. You deserve it!
Poppy recently posted..Cosmo 7K Run – I Won!