The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

I just couldn’t stay away…

by

I had not planned to go to BlogHer at all this year.

All along I was not going but still asked Jen to save me a spot in the hotel room “just in case” because we had so much other stuff going on this summer.

But then as people started to show up on Wednesday and Jennifer sent a picture of her and Melissa my Instagram and Twitter and Facebook feeds all filled up with ALL THE BLOGHER THINGS I started to get really sad.  And REALLY wanted to go after all.

So… someone super awesome, who loves me lots made it happen.  Because he is THE MAN.
(thank you, Honey for using miles so that I could get there to see my friends – you are the best!!!!)

It was a whirlwind trip, y’all.

I got there Friday afternoon and left Sunday morning.  But it was enough time for me to hug and dance with and tear-up with and dine with some of my most favorite people on the planet.

What more could a blogging girl ask for?

(a guaranteed ticket for next year, perhaps…?)

p.s. this post is super picture heavy because that’s what I do.  I TAKE PICTURES. 🙂
(or I give the camera to someone else to take a picture with me in it)

Also, I saw lots of friends!! WOOHOO! 😀

Friday Afternoon

Friends on a bus. Me and Erin.  I was so happy to see her board the shuttle bus at the same time as me! 🙂 
I found my girl Jennifer at the Expo.  I think she refrained from crying.  We hugged. BIG. 
Lifetime Party

Ladies above:  Alex, Kir, Angela, Shireen, Katie, Jennifer

Kristin getting her make-up done.  So pretty! 

Voices of the Year

 Jennifer & Jennie (all the way from France!)

Jennifer with her honored VOTY post!
(by the way, this HUMONGOUS sign occupied our hotel room for the rest of the weekend)
And here we are with our roomie and fan favorite, Arnebya

Sweetheart, Kir

One of my new friends, Heather!  So funny, so nice.  I love new friends!

And we also picked up Jordan at dinner (a.k.a. Guiliana Ransic!)(that’s what I was calling her all night in my head after I told her she looks like her).  She’s awesome, inside and out.


Friday Parties
Me and Katie
And also Jennifer… 
Ann and Colleen and me – BIG SMILES! 
Some of my girls… including Colleen in green.  Ooh, that rhymes!

Our other roomie, Melissa. She’s the best, y’all.
Jordan and Dude Mom

Karaoke

p.s. there’s also a mildly entertaining video of me a few of my closest friends “singing” together. 
Amy was an awesome hostess!

Saturday… 

With the fabulous and busy Tracy!
She laid here for at least a half hour…

Stacey and Arnebya at dinner on Saturday
Deborah and Jen
A blurry pic from dinner.  You just can’t count on a waiter these days… 😉

Dancing after the awesome fashion show
Jen and Jordan – new fast friends! (I love this photo)
Shell, Ashley an Kristen – such beautiful friends!

I am so glad I went.  It was a blast, as always.

In truth, the people I hung out with last weekend are some of my best friends.  It doesn’t matter HOW I got to know them, but I am SO very thankful that I did.

And thanks to BlogHer for getting us together.  And for free drinks.

Or not.

Will I see YOU there next year?

p.s.  if you need more convincing to go, see last year’s BlogHer post…

p.p.s. I do not talk about the sessions or the swag or the keynotes because those things do not mean as much to me as the PEOPLE. But if you have a question about any of that just ask! 🙂

Comments

  1. When I saw you, I squeed and thought OMG, I didn’t know she was going to be here! So glad you ended up getting to go!

  2. And now I’m all kinds of teary! Soooo happy you were able to come. It seemed so easy as soon as I saw your face. People can make fun of online friendships but that is because they haven’t experienced all that we have. We are incredibly fortunate to have our hearts filled so very full!! xo

    • DITTO to everything Kristen said…because she’s very wise and wonderful!
      I was so happy to be able to hug both of you whenever I wanted to. xoxo

    • Yes, Kristen, SO fortunate for sure! I was SO very happy to meet and hug you too! And you are JUST as amazing in person as online, which I of course knew would be the case. xoxo

  4. So very glad you got to make it there (I had no idea you WEREN’T going!) And, a tinge jealous. One day I’ll get to meet people that I want to hug!

    In the mean time, I’ll get to hug a couple in September at Type-A..are you making that trip?

  11. Your pictures are absolutely fantastic! It looks like such an amazing time.And how awesome is it that your man helped make it happen:)

  13. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, LOVE!!!!!! Everyone, everything!!! Except that photo of me on the bed by myself. That photo sucks. LOL

  16. I seriously LOVED every single thing about you (getting to meet, HUG, HUG, HUG, you again) plus you are by far the sweetest giggle I have ever heard. And these pictures..>WOW>.

    SO glad you ended up coming, it was the UNICORN of the weekend.
    xo

  23. I am SO happy you were able to squeeze in the trip. I can’t believe we didn’t take a picture together at the Bean!!!

    (Can I just add that I’m possibly much to giddy over the fact that I made this year’s post AND last year’s?????)

    • I still have a pic going up of us from the bean! It’s one of us taking a pic in the reflection. I’m doing a whole post of the photos I took on our walk. 🙂

  27. I love all of these pics! I love the pic of us! I am so glad I got to hug you and love up on you, woman! Next year there is definitely a karaoke duet in the cards for us but I’m not allowed to drink first 😉

  29. I thought I decided last minute to go to BlogHer13 (9 days out) but you take the cake! I’m glad you were able to make it happen and got to go and make so many wonderful memories. Your pictures are fabulous and it’s obvious you have a ton of friends. This was my first conference and I had a tough time because I went alone. I’m already looking forward to next year. Maybe I’ll get to meet you then! In the meantime, I just found your blog and I’m excited to get to know you! 🙂

  31. I know I saw you. We said hi, right? But I’m not sure we hugged. NEXT TIME.

    Also, after looking at the picture of my big giant head and scrolled down too far. I think instead of BlogHer next year I want to go to your high school reunion!!

  33. This post is awesome and your pictures are incredible. Makes me wish I’d actually brought my camera! I want to go back and get more time than just a dinner.