The Top 10 Reasons To Go To Blogher

1. You Can Constantly Make Up New Words and People Will Simply Smile and Nod (as Long As Said New Words Start With the Letters "Blog"). So we already have blogosphere, blogiversary, and blogsnob. But I went ahead and used as many new blogikers and I could possibly blogcieve throughout the blogference. A few new faves: blogtard, blogtini, blogtastic, blogcastic, blogorrhea, and blognoying. Or my favorite: Blogshe. (It's like Blogher but different. Only blogshes know exactly how different.) I feel a wiki entry coming on.

2. Free Stuff. So much free stuff and so little baggage to store it in. From the Goody Blog party to the Dove/Hess blogapallooza last night, my suitcase runneth over. Plus sk*rt gave away some pretty freaking cool stuff to at least 222 people.

22 Winners of sk*rt giveaways were announced today here.

3. The Card Business. I love business cards. They're like little works of art. And its the kind of art that flows like downstream lemonade at Blogher. Actually, I think the reason I had to pay extra on the way back for ginormously heavy luggage had something to do with the amount of three-inch cards I was toting.

4. The Views. Oh my got, Chicago was aesthetically pleasing.

Taken from my window in the hotel.

Taken from a window in a conference work room.

5. Product Previews. I'll admit it, I like seeing new stuff. Especially really new stuff. A few people let me in on some of their up-and-coming super secret schemes. Excellent things. I'll let you know as soon as they open the vault.

6. Catching Up with Old Friends. I realized while I was there that I had missed my one year blogging mark, or as the locals like to call it, my blogiversary...which to me sounds like a personality disorder. But whatever. Anyway, I've been blogging for over a year. And in that almost 400 days I've met a few cool people.

Here we are. The writers and the people behind Cool Mom Picks.

Laurie and Gabby, my sk*rts in crime.

Jenny, who was honestly the greatest roommate ever and didn't snore at all.

7. Meeting New Friends. I met a lot of people this weekend. People who I might have heard of maybe (or maybe not). People who may or may not have run when I tried to sell them Amway. (Oh of course I'm just kidding. I didn't really have an Amway party this time. More like a Cabi slash Pampered Chef Party. Duh. I mean, these are women right? Don't all women bodyslam themselves to get their hands on overpriced rayon and spatulas? And pedometers. By the way, people, stop with the pedometer giveaways.)

8. The Photo Ops. I've been seriously holding out on a flickr account, but this might put me over the edge.

Lovely Liz.

Bossy and Ree

Jen, Kristen, and Lindsay talking about cocktails. Or something.

Brilliant Catherine.
The sk*rts...right before we ate some serious sushi with Kyran

9. The Celeblogty Stalking Ops. I didn't stalk nearly as much as I could have. With Amy Sedaris, Elizabeth Edwards, and that Bloganeer Woman running around, well, lets just say restraining orders could've been given out like MIPs at a frat house.

Amy Sedaris photo stolen from Jenny.

But there's really nothing like stalking a celebrity by wearing her clothes. That's right. My neighbor Chloe Dao was at the Dove Party. And yes, I was wearing Chloe Dao. Nice. I'm like one of those people that wears Valentino to a Valentino party. So obvious.

(Also, I'm a giant. )

I had no idea she would be there. She noticed her top immediately (of course) and started yelling at me to take a picture with her. Urgh, I so hate it when celebs beg to have my photo taken with them. So annoying. Or maybe it was other way around. I really can't remember. I do know she didn't kick me when I asked..."Where's Aaandre?"

10. Traveling Makes You Miss What You Love. I had a blast, but I was sure happy to walk in the door and see this face.

Awesome.

Also, dude, someone stole my banner (see above). Or walked off with it. While I was in Chicago. Did you notice? So if you see a used Blog con Queso blog banner, (or if you see someone who knows how to replace banners that magically disappear), head to Lost and Found. Thanks.

Update: The banner's back and all fixed. I'm totally magic.