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.

I'm 10 Feet Away From Amy Sedaris.

Amy Sedaris is right in front of me talking about craft blogs. Who knew craft blogs could be cool?

Jenny is sitting next to me. She's writing Amy Sedaris a love note. Seriously. Jenny is convinced they're going to be best friends.

Jenny's usually right.
Photos to come.

Identity Crisis. Angst. And Book Deals.

I'm in the self-branding and self-promotion session. Fascinating sociological meeting of the agendas. I can almost feel the anxiety of it all. Right this minute, people in the audience are getting hammered for asking how they can take their blog to the next level. Um, I think that's the point of the session.

Jen Lemen leans over to me and says "this whole thing is like trying to convince your parents you should get a bigger allowance."

Exactly.

I wish I could hear more from each person in "the audience". Surely the people behind the laptops each have interesting thoughts and insights they've accumulated through their own experiences. This blogging thing is a personal medium, after all.

Oh now a panelist just halfway yelled at this 70-year-old "new" blogger because she didn't like the way she asked her question on how she could get more readers. And sadly, I'm not kidding. This in no way is congruent with anything I've experienced so far at Blogher (which is overall a group of extremely smart and supportive individuals). I think this panel is just off. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people here would agree that if you're over 65 and here and blogging about it, then hell to the yeah, you rock. I'm going to try to find her after this and find out what her blog is. Because as far as I'm concerned, she's great and she should have more readers.

My favorite new blog I found in this session: Sneaker Blogger.

Tomorrow Will Be Better. Even If I Am In The Same Outfit.

So we finally arrived in Chicago after MANY delays. And by many, I mean it's 2:11 a.m., and I'm just going to bed. But I'm not wearing pajamas. Because my luggage didn't make it. That's right. I have the clothes on my back and a lovely W robe. Not sure which I'll wear to the conference tomorrow. Should be interesting. More soon. In the meantime, check out Jenny's post. It's longer. With photos. And turkeys.

Where My Girls At?

Blogher. So much rah rah rah over a weekend in Chicago. And I for one am leading some of the cheers. Three days in Chicago with smart girls. Awesome.
I'll be blogging from there. Reporting on what I see. What I hear. What my roommate does when she's drunk. You know, the usual. So check back later in the week.

Plus, the whole shebang is going to be kicked off with an officially unofficial party at the rooftop bar at the W hotel. And sk*rt is sponsoring awesome door prizes and amazing giveaways. You can read all about it at the sk*rt blog.

But now, I'm supposed to sum myself up in 10 seconds. Which let's face it, is impossible. But here's a go anyhow.

I'm not afraid of cake. Elvis was my first concert. I work outside of the home and inside of the home and all around homes but I never know how to decorate a home. My brother in law thinks I'm an awesome decorator and just told me that last week. He might be on crack. I read blogs. I love sk*rt. I write for Cool Mom Picks. I write ads for a living, so I know I'm way over 10 seconds already and have really told you nothing. I would be the worst speed dater ever. Good thing I've got a hunky husband who is nice enough not to care that I'm missing our anniversary to go to a great party in Chicago tomorrow night (with prizes and party favors from sk*rt). He's that cool. I'll definitely miss him and my super fab ninja son The Hurricane. But they will be in the excellent hands of my mother-in-law, who is extremely fun and talented (and she cooks too), so they won't miss me at all. That's enough. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.

Also. The Queso is moving today. It should forward from here, so don't freak. But any minute now (I think) we'll be moving on up to the East side and to the queso dot com. Watch for it.

Spain Colored Orange and Harry's Last Worldwide Spell

My friend Eric's band, Spain Colored Orange (they're fantastic, listen), well, they're up for Best Indie Rock band in the Houston Press Music Awards. So if you're in a voting mood, go hook them up with a vote. They deserve it.

And, I'm thinking we're all going to a Harry Potter extravaganza tonight.

Because that's the kind of parent I am. The kind that wakes a 22-month-old kid up to take him out after midnight. The kind that draws Harry Potter glasses on a one-month-old with eyeliner. Yeah. That's right. That kind. Actually, earlier in the day I was thinking I wouldn't pull the Hurricane out into the madness, but then I read that other responsible citizens were doing it. And I'm a lemming. A lemming with a camera.

Plus, the Cambridgians are in town, so I think we're all going to load up, then find the Harriest Potterist spot around, and drive by it screaming "Hermoine dies!"

Oh calm down of course we won't. Mainly because I have no idea if that's true. Plus, I think anyone who pulls that kind of crap should be hauled off to Azkaban or Arkansas. And if you even think about doing that to me, I'll cut you.

Seriously.

There will be no talking about the Potter con Queso for at least a week.

At least. Depending on nap schedules.

And with that, Evanesco.

I'm out.

Different Directions

I'm going in so many different directions right now that I'm not going anywhere.

I'm just standing here. Putting it off. Twittering and reading CNN and NYT and sk*rt and such because I'm not ready to pick a stack of tasks and get that crap done.

You know the feeling, right?

I need to pick a direction and start moving.

Luckily wherever I go, they'll have waffles.

Monday is the First Day of the Rest of Your Week.

So this Monday there's a lot to report. A lot of new. A lot of improved. A lot of interest in waxing and weighing.

1.) First of all, I've joined the cult and I'm all a twitter. I blame Evil Dwight. But really, the HcQ sucked me in with his convincing automatically generated email. (And I think we all know that I'm a sucker for my husband's automatically generated emails. Yeah baby. ) So there's a new BcQ feature in the house: a twitter badge that will constantly update you on what I'm doing, eating, thinking, freebasing, you name it.

2.) Cool con Queso has a new accessory. A new banner. Hooray. Thanks Kristen and Laurie. It takes a village.

3.) As usual, there are numerous excellent things going on today at sk*rt. By popular demand (and the normal evolution of things), sk*rt is now sporting the latest in runway categories. Check them out here. Read about them here.

4.) Also, there was a lot of interest in the weight of things in last week's first-ever vote for your oh-so-interesting topic contest. And the winner is: The Writing's On the Wall. (What if your weight was written on the office wall? Wouldn't that suck? If you answered yes, then you really shouldn't work at my office). Watch for it. And thanks for voting. You're all winners. Really.

My Yearly Paige Turner Sighting

About this time each year, I remember my old friend Paige Turner.

Because it's usually right aroud the time, I start to spend my days lounging by the ocean, working on my tan. Drinking fancy fruity drinks and reading the day away. Oh the life. Oh the luxury. Oh who am I kidding. I spend my beach days three steps behind the Hurricane making sure he doesn't eat seven pounds of sand, pull down his pants to pee on some kid's sandcastle, or get hauled off by that creepy guy with the metal detector.

However, if my name were Paige Turner, I'd be lounging like a mofo. And if my name were Paige Turner, this is what I'd recommend.

SPF 4
Light, fast-absorbing, quick coverage

• Gone with The Windsors by Laurie Graham
• Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him by Danielle Ganek
  
• Second Chance by Jane Green
  
• Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
  

SPF 30
Easy to use and non-greasy

• On Love by Alain de Botton
  
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
  
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
  
• Saturday by Ian McEwan

SPF 50
Broad-spectrum protection, deflects, scatters and absorbs

• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  
• In the Spirit of Happiness by The Monks of New Skete
  
• Watchdogs of Democracy? by Helen Thomas
  
• Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
  

So, this summer, just think "What Would Paige Read?" And then remember what she'd say..."readers are leaders." And then remember, the rest of us, because we're just trying to keep the kids from peeing in your fruity drink.

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And, also. Voting will be open until Sunday night at midnight. Democracy rules.

Get Out Your Number Two Pencils

So I'm so into voting right now. Honestly. Maybe it's because of sk*rt. Or maybe it's because I'm really ready for the presidential elections. Or maybe I'm just jonesing for some live televised singing and breakdancing competition. But gah! I just can't get enough of the voting!

Ask me anything. Like, um, what the next 7 wonders of the world should be. Or what type of frosting some people I don't know should have on their TV wedding cake. Or um, even um...hey, I know!... ask me about my favorite robot! You never knew I had a favorite robot? Well neither did I. That is, until I found out I could vote for it. You see, I'll vote for anything. I even stopped in the mall and let some random person survey me about electronics. Seriously. It's that bad.

So.

To keep me from taking an extra job as a phone surveyor (and because I've always wanted to try one of these), I'm going to do a survey con queso. That's right. You heard me. A survey. With cheese.

Over the last few days, I've had a few odd things happen. Too many odd things, actually. And I can't really go into all of the details (because, really, who has the time?), but I could gather enough energy to rattle on about one. So. You get to vote. For the rambling topic that seems, well, most interesting to you. And your current choices aaaarrreee...

• I See Rich People. (They're everywhere. Seriously.)
• Living With a Mime. (The Hurricane thinks talking is for losers.)
• Waxing Poetic. (Getting everything below your eyebrows waxed and living to tell about it.)
• Working It. (Bringing home the bacon and ordering takeout.)
• The Writing's On The Wall. (What if your weight was written on the office wall? Wouldn't that suck? If you answered yes, then you really shouldn't work at my office.)
• Why the Hell Did I Sign Up for This? (I was apparently on crack at school volunteer night. Good juicy crack.)
  

So vote. The winner gets to exist. The losers, well, you may never hear from them again. It's that serious people.

(Also, I may have done something a little wrong because although my preview shows a "cast your vote" button underneath the options, my browser just shows a black box. If you just see black, that's okay, just click the black abyss under the options and your vote should go through just fine.)

Opinion Polls & Market Research

The Fourth. Finds. And Flair.

I'm still in Holiday mode, so I'll just share a few of my favorite things I've seen this week.

• An authentic Italian Limoncello recipe. I don't care what we're celebrating, bring it on.

• iPhone: The Musical. We have one of these in our house. And by one of these, I mean someone who might burst into song at any given moment because he so loves his new iPhone.

• The Verve: Reunited (kinda) and Touring (a little). Okay, so I put this one on there. But still. It's good news.

• I've Been in a Fight with Kinky Friedman. Maybe it's because I'm from Texas. Or maybe it's because I once had a similar experience with Michael Jackson. But this just made me laugh.

• Paul Potts Has Got Talent. This is amazing and I can't stop watching it.

• And finally, Confirmed: "Sex and the City" movie shooting starts in Sept. Hallelujah. I'm glad you girls finally worked it out.

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And now for the flair. This nice lady gave me a rockin' girl blogger award. I don't know what it is, but it's pink and contains the word "rockin'", so of course I love it. Thanks.

And now I'm supposed to pass it on. It only takes a spark. To get a fire going. So I'm giving this award to some of my favorite bloggers who are no longer, or who aren't as much, (or who never were) blogging...in order to perhaps urge them to start up the blogging again. So this goes out to The Padrino, Fizzle, Super Zoe, Law Boy, Piglet of Fire, Eric and Jill (although you two have 4.5 good excuses), Bek, Em, and Green Like. (Oh, and if the boys don't like the pink flair, then I give you Jenny's blue version found here.) See, now you have the bling. So you have to blog. About your bling. It's fresh like spring. You'll want to pass it on.

7.4.7

I Need a 24-Hour Pharmacist

For whatever reason, I've never been all that interested in drugs. Perhaps it has something to do with an alcoholic grandfather who managed to scare two generations straight…or, well, straightish. But I've never felt any real calling to call someone up in the middle of the night for a fix.

Until I had a child. And now, a 24-hour pharmacist sounds like a darn good idea that has nothing to do with illegal substances, and everything to do with health, wellness and sleep. You can read more about that at Cool Stuff, where I've written a "Parent Bloggers Network does drugs" review.

Also, if you visit PBN and leave a comment, you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to CVS! Cool, huh?