4 Reasons Why BlogHer 2013 Rocked

Over a week ago, BlogHer rolled into Chicago for their annual conference and I had to be there. Not only was it on my home turf but it’s one of the conferences I try not to miss every year. This was my 4th time at a BlogHer Conference in the last 5 years, and the first one I ever attended was 2009 (in Chicago). The only one I’ve missed is the 2011 one in San Diego, so me and this conference go way back!

It’s a great space to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones who are in this space. Plus, there’s always some epic people speaking. Last year, President Barack Obama welcomed attendees over video feed and Martha Stewart gave an awesome lunch keynote. This year, Sheryl Sandberg, Guy Kawasaki and Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Women) were on the main stage.

But for me, the highlights came in other ways. Here are 4 reasons why my 4th BlogHer Conference rocked!

1. Hosting the fashion show with Afrobella

The BlogHer Fashion Show is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of women of all colors, shapes and sizes, and I was asked to co-host it with my ace, Patrice Yursik of Afrobella.

We had more fun than we could imagine because anytime me and Patrice work together, we have a blast. And our adventures are typically tale-worthy (remember our not-so-cross country Amtrak trip that failed?).

Three years ago, she and I crashed the BlogHer parties in New York, and I woke up the day after with a cheeseburger in my purse. Don’t ask. So to be on the stage this year together was a full circle moment of awesome. And to get a chance to work with all the amazing ladies involved was priceless.

Plus, I got to do this (because I seem to not know how to act on or off).

And that is an official BlogHer photo. HA! I love it though.

Shoutout to Ashley Nicole Catherine, Cristi Comes (Motherhood Unadorned), Elaine Griffin, Grace Hwang Lynch(Hapa Mama), Kailynn (Ginger Sass), Isra Hashmi (The Frugalette), Jillee One Good Thing, Kareisha Questel, Katherine Stone (Postpartum Progress), Lianne Farbes (The Makeup Girl), Lizz Porter (Am I a Funny Girl), Meseidy River (The Noshery), Natasha Nicholes (Houseful of Nicholes), Vikki Reich (Up Popped a Fox).

You ladies ROCK! And shoutout to Darlene Gillard Jones and her awesome team for having us look so good. Also, to ULTA for the hair and makeup and GiftBar!

2. My WordPress plugins workshop

I’ve spoken at BlogHer three times but I’m usually on a panel (the Humor Writing Lab one I was on in 2010 with Lizz Winstead and. And last year, I spoke on a panel with Issa Rae, Chescaleigh and Dr. Goddess). This year, I presented the “WordPress Plugin Essentials” workshop. Well, two of them – one on Friday and another on Saturday. I put this in my highlights because they went even better than I expected. Both times I did it, the room was packed! I certainly didn’t expect that. And the feedback I got was awesomesauce! Multiple people said it was the best session they attended. And someone gave me THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER!

Yup. Made my week! Excuse me as I go find a white hat to rock.

3. Getting my custom Samsung case

The folks of Samsung have been SLAYING the conference and marketing game lately. They keep winning at stuff by being so smart to connect with their consumers beyond commercials. They had a booth at BlogHer where you could get stuff customized, and one of those things were cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and the Note.

We got to pick from their different colors and then find an image online we’d like to have engraved on it. Naturally, I wanted mine to have a pair of fierce pumps on it (red preferably). The didn’t have red cases, so I settled for a coral pink one and got my name on it too. It came out BEAUTIFULLY!

Afrobella and Tori of Glasses and Glitter got custom cases too. And I love how we all got different colors.

4. Hanging with my peoples

A lot of my friends who are bloggers are super busy being amazing and the only time we’re ever together at the same time is at these conferences where we’re all speakers. Which means we only get to see each other like once or twice a year. BlogHer is usually that time.

We party-hopped, acted up in the Expo Hall, ate lunch together and just kicked it. We packed about 2 weeks worth of hanging out into 3 days.

Saw Adria Richards, Cece (The Big Girl Blog), Erika (A Black Girl’s Guide to Weight Loss), Trena (The Baby Shopaholic), Danielle (Style N Beauty Doc), GabiFresh, Christina (Love Brown Sugar), Kelly (MochaMomma), Nicole (Ms. Mary Mack) and so much more!

But yes. Good times were had. And I look forward to the next one! Kudos to the BlogHer team for another successful conference.

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Check out my past BlogHer Conference recap posts:

• I Had a Blast at BlogHer 2012
• Sh*t One White Girl Said to Luvvie, Chescaleigh, Nicole and Tina at BlogHer
• BlogHer 2010 Was Awesome!