I have had the best time reading through all the blog posts about BlogHer in Chicago last weekend. As I read, I’m constantly amazed at the talent and beauty of so many women who have gathered together to share their voice, their purpose, and uplift women.
I’m sure if I attended, I would have been star struck and completely giddy for the opportunity of being in the same room with the big girls.
Since I’m an eternal optimist, I’m not going to comment on the drama that ensued but leave you with links of the fun and fabulous bloggers I’ve lived vicariously through:
5 Minutes for Moms BlogHer Link Up
Design Mom
The Pioneer Woman
Marie’s BlogHer schedule
I Should Be Folding Laundry – winner list
There are too many to list, but you can blog jog from those Ladies. I believe the next blogging conference is the Type-A Conference in September.
Speaking of blog conferences, I’m speaking at SITSCation in Las Vegas this October! I’m over-the-top excited to meet everyone and have started gathering my thoughts on my topic. This amazing opportunity has been dominating my thoughts lately.
Every time I think about SITScation, I ask these questions to myself:
- What do Tip Junkie’s want to know?
- What do they want to take home from such an experience?
So whether you’re able to attend or not, can you help me out and let me know what you would like to get out of attending a blogging conference? You can simply leave your topic suggestions and questions for me in the comments.
I’m also looking for a couple heart-warming blogging success stories that I can reference. Not your stats but uplifting stories that have helped you on a personal level:
- Has another blogger has inspired you or helped you over come a trial?
- Has your blog given you a sense of purpose or helped you a learn new skill?
- Has your blog helped you create a home business?
Please leave your post links in the comments of this post. If I use your story or question, I’ll be sure to announce your blog to everyone at the conference. {{wink}}
Thank you kindly for your help. Also, if you’d like more information on SITSCation in Las Vegas, click the link. I’m looking foward to meeting you in real life.
I totally agree. There are days when I am completely burnt out and I’ll open my inbox to find the kindest e-mail. Due to those kind words, I’ll feel a little appreciated and the creativity will once again flow.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! And huge hugs to you and your family for sacrificing for the protection of our country.
That’s so exciting, Laurie!! I have never been to a blogging conference before because I kind of glean that they are for more “commercial” bloggers, and I’m just not there. I wrote a post about what blogging has done for me here (http://jackandmandy.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-can-blogging-do-for-you.html), but when you wrote asking about the home business thing I thought I’d share the business it’s brought me in, which is blog design.
I started learning about blog design because I wanted to make my blogs pretty. I knew how to do digital scrapbooking, so I just designed headers and such instead of pages and learned the HTML to create a cohesive look. Someone asked me if I would design theirs, and I agreed. When asked how much I would charge, I told her to make a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society for my Bike MS ride and that would be good enough. I raised about $3,000 for this year’s ride blog designing, and Blogs by Mandy (http://www.blogsbymandy.com) was born.
I’ll be honest: I don’t make much money at it. I probably would if I worked harder at marketing and charged people more, but what I love about this business is that I have something to donate to bloggers looking to do giveaways to raise money for their causes, AND I always have something to give away on my own blog when I want to do a contest. I know that sounds a little silly, but it’s fun to give stuff away, and for some reason, blog makeovers make people ridiculously happy! At this point, with all the HTML templates I have created, it only takes me a few hours to create a blog, so to me, it’s totally worth my time to make somebody happy. Plus, free blog makeovers bring in paying blog orders sometimes too.
I also donate at least 30% of what I make when I actually do charge to a charity I choose each month, so that’s a nice way for me to be able to donate to a cause I care about even when I don’t have a bunch of extra money to donate to them from my own pocket.
My crafting blog has indeed helped me to start up a home business. I came out of college with a computing bachelors and master degree. After doing my required co-ops {paid internships} during college, I also had an inkling that corporate America was not where my heart lie. I had always loved crafts, but mostly for fun or making stuff for my friends and family. Well, shortly after graduating I became an Army wife, which also meant that staying at home was the best line of “work” for me. One weekend, whilst my husband was away on a long training mission, I stumbled upon “papercrafting blogland.” There were literally hundreds {if not thousands!} of blogs out there dedicated solely to the art of crafting with paper and related crafty-type items. I’ve also met some wonderful ladies and even friends via these blogs. They’re there to “comment” on posts when you’ve had a crisis or feeling like you lost your “crafting mojo,” or just to say “great job!” on a card or project. They are my own little blogging world which helps keep me company when my husband is away for the day at work or away for weeks or months being deployed. Crafting itself also helps keep me busy during those times and keep my mind preoccupied, otherwise I’d go crazy with the pain of missing him! On top of that, it has led me into opening my own Etsy shop {coming this weekend}. This is the perfect way for me to not only work from home, but to help supplement our income {and pay for crafty goodies hehe}! The Crafting Blogland has really been a wonderful thing on so many levels.
What a great list of blogs! Thanks for posting that!
Two very special blogs have inspired me to finally tackle my weight this past spring. I should probably say one blog and one very special person. They are
http://www.shrinkingjeans.net/ and
Christy at http://www.real-life-adventures.com/
I have lost ten pounds with the help of these wonderful people. The Sisterhood is amazing. They only want to help and inspire you on your journey to weight loss, but more importantly to a healthy lifestyle. Anyone can lose weight, but keeping it off is the hard thing. They give you the tools, the confidence and the support to help you along your way.
Christy is totally amazing. We met through the Sisterhood and she has been my friend from day one. We email back and forth and visit each others blogs all the time. She won’t let me get down on myself and she pushes me when I need it. She’ll kick my butt when I need it and she praises me when I deserve it. She is the best.
I hope this is what you are looking for. Thanks.