Dang. It’s taken me a few days to unpack from BlogHer – I don’t mean my bags, I live in the Chicago area. I mean the experience.
Sunday I didn’t move from my couch. I don’t know if it was because I drank more wine in previous three nights than I had in the previous three months, or if it was just exhausting to be out of the house for three days straight (how DO you people do that?!). Either way I still don’t feel fully recovered.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I was bracing myself for much worse than that, as I heard that last years’ conference was very cliquey and left people feeling extremely disconnected from each other. I can’t say that it didn’t happen at least a little bit again this year, but to be fair, you can’t exactly walk into a room with 800 women and expect to connect with everyone. But I will also admit to having more high-school girl moments in which I sometimes felt extremely awkward and unsure of how to start a conversation – this coming from me, yes, ME, who LOVES networking, public speaking, and meeting people. GAH.
The greatness of it was meeting so many talented writers who I have met and/or admired online: Plain Jane, Jennifer Satterwhite, Paula Neale Mooney (despite the fact I blew her off!! 
), BusyMom, Shannon Hutton, Gina Trapani, Penelope Trunk, Elizabeth Perry, Colette Ellis, Elise Bauer, Kelly Erb, Stephanie Cockerl, Search Engine Guide ticket-winner Helene Taylor, Nataly Kogan from WorkItMom, Laura Mayes from Sk-rt, Denise Wakeman from The Blog Squad, and kindred spirit Armen Berjikly from the Experience Project.
Plus I got to see my “old” blogging friends, Liz Strauss, Robyn Tippins, Christine Kane, Danielle Wiley, Sheila Scarborough and made some new friends: Jenny Lauck, Carmen Staicer, Paula Bruno, Elizabeth York, and Elisa Taub.
Lastly, I’m totally kicking myself for not talking to IzzyMom, Vanessa Fox, Arieanna Schweber, Dory Devlin, Liz Gumbinner, Mia Kim, and b5Media’s CJ. I either didn’t put two and two together quickly enough, or was never in the right place at the right time to strike up a conversation. Dang, dang, dang, ladies. 
< / whine >
The “wow” brought out the uber::business geek in me as I was impressed with the level of successful corporations and mainstream media represented there – not reporting on the conference, but in it: participating, conversing, questioning, listening. Companies and publications like GM, Dove, Redbook, Country Living, Yahoo, Google, Edelman, Weber-Shandwick and PBS. If you, like me, are tired of pimp requests being pitched by clueless companies and firms as a blogger, you will stand next to me as I applaud David Wescott as he writes his open-letter apology to bloggers – and I have to say that the companies that were there are really starting to “get it”.
Overall, I have to say that despite some posts claiming otherwise, I think this was a must-attend conference, and every professional woman blogger should be there next year. The networking, exposure and fun was unparalleled by any other event you could go to.
Well, ok, SOBCon is up there, too… and Elite Retreat rocked… I’ll shut up now…
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Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow). 
Easton Ellsworth is owner of 
I wanted to go, but I had a board meeting deep in the Colorado Rockies –next year I hope to make it there!
Wow Wendy – thanks so much for your very kind words! BlogHer was a great experience and I think we all learned a great deal. I’m really looking forward to reading more from bloggers like you as you lead the discussion.
Again, thanks!
I’m sorry you didn’t say hi either! I did keep seeing you around (including on my panel, of course) but with 800 other women around – well, it does get tough to meet absolutely everyone.
I thought it was a great weekend as well. Glad you enjoyed it.
It was so cool meeting you Wendy, in the flesh!
Happy Day,
Paula
Sounds like you had a good time, im happy for you
Hi Wendy! You are indeed a kindred spirit, and it was an incredible pleasure to meet you in person. I definitely look forward to crossing paths again soon.
I wish I could have gone this year!
And I understand the not moving on Sunday, I have had many Sundays like that! LOL
I am so glad we got to meet and hang out! You are hilarious and so much fun. We need more weekends like this…after I recover.
I really did enjoy our talks.
Great Wendy…Sounds like you had fun…I am now off to check out the websites of all the people you met at the conference…Thanks for the links
Sandy
I’m sure sorry I missed you too, Wendy. I have a feeling there will be another opportunity or two along the line. I’ll be sure and make a point to introduce myself then. And if it’s any consolation, my bags are still sitting here, unpacked, and I have had to take a nap every day. I’m getting old.
Thanks for the report Wendy and all the links to get distracted by:)
Think I will have to visualize being there in 2008
Hi Wendy, thanks for the “shout-out” on your blog. I truly enjoyed meeting you and being on our panel. I must say that I’m still riding a bit high on the positive female energy from last week — and that comes from a true NY’r!
Look forward to connecting again soon.
Best, Colette
Wendy:
Great meeting you at BlogHer!
Enjoyed hearing you present on the coaching/mentoring panel. An online mentoring site, http://www.realsmartwomen.com, picked up the post: http://tinyurl.com/yqm2kv
Congrats on the Technorati ranking – you certainly deserve top billing. Lots of useful and relevant information here.
Barbara Rozgonyi
Thanks Wendy for the shout-out. It was such a pleasure to meet you, too!
It sounds like everyone had a great time, from all the different blogs I’ve been to visit today. Since I’m just getting started with a blog, maybe I can make it next year.
It sounds like a great event. Sorry I missed it.
I accosted you and made you look at my friend’s product (toy diaper bags) and you could not have been more gracious or kind. Thank you.
It seemed like it was so much fun! Da Hustler isn’t a woman but sounds like it would have been neat to be there.
And you owe Paula a drink now, lol.
It is at the top of my goal list to attend blog conferences next year. At least one of them anyhow… who knew there were so many!
I hope you believe in the old adage, better late than never! I went on vacation and I missed this great post. Now I’m trying to catch up with all the posts I missed. Anyway, I really enjoyed meeting you and look forward to talking again!