A note: This post contains a lot of links. I hope you’ll follow them. I included links to really, really great stuff and amazingly beautiful people and I hope you’ll find some inspiration in them the way I did at Mom 2.0. 
Every post should start with cute babies. This one belongs to my friend Krystyn who won a Prada bag among other goodies. I think it’s because I held her baby and my good luck rubbed off. Krsytyn you can let me pet that bag anytime.
One of my favorite people ever. Leticia Barr from Tech Savvy Mama. I love this lady.
Erin Lane brought me coffee. I already loved her, but this made us BFFs FOR LIFE.
I attended Mom 2.0 conference, a social media and blogging conference focused on women who blog, over the past weekend. It started on Thursday and I returned Sunday evening to mountains of puppy fuzz, laundry piled up high, and a gaggle of children who need hugs, souvenirs, and help the second I walk in the door. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
While I normally come home from conferences exhausted, needing a day or two to refocus; somehow I came home from Mom 2.0 inspired and ready to kick things up a notch.
Good thing too since Monday was my official 1st day working with the great folks at Food For Sleep. It’s a food-based beverage that helps promote sleep. Nothing scary or chemical and it worked amazing for me the first night I tried it. More on that soon…
The conference itself kicked off with a taxi ride with 4 amazing and beautiful blogging friends and a new one, a blowout at DryBar, a great conversation with Jessica, and a Garden Party at a gorgeous estate.
While the party was lovely and I got to see and chat with so many friends and meet new ones I also learned that my roomie, Roo, was in the ER with a stomach bug. I changed clothes at the hotel and then hopped in a cab to go sit with her despite her protests. I’m glad I did because not only was she completely hilarious the whole time but especially so on morphine. (She’s fine by the way.)
Friday started early with yoga where I awkwardly hit the wall with my feet and nearly touched other people’s feet while awkwardly trying to yoga for the first time in forever. Next up was a busy day of meals, meetings, making new friends, and listening to some amazing folks share their stories. Go read Kelly’s post where she called on the blogging community to speak up about race, watch Jessica’s book trailer, and read more about the Global Soap Project.
Delicious food.
Friday night ended with an epic dinner with Kelby, Erin, Melissa, Melanie, and Susan at Southern Art. If you ever eat out with Kelby let her do the ordering—trust me. We had an epic meal and hilarious conversation.
Saturday was content day-with three sessions to choose from and a fancy Ritz Carlton tea in the middle of the day for lunch. It turned out to be a very emotional (and later transformative) day.
Gluten-free tea at the Ritz. I had a serious discussion with Amy over this delicious and fancy meal.
For Saturday’s content I chose three panel sessions instead of workshops. I love getting hands-on but I like panels because you get a lot more info since you have people with a variety of perspectives and experiences.
Content Strategy Panel: Way more fun than it sounds.
The first was about the evolution of blogging, the second was about content strategy, and the last was ‘Hot Topics’ but turned into a session on just about anything and everything you’d want to discuss about blogging and social media. I have so much more to say about each of these sessions. Notes on my laptop and thoughts in my head, but everyone that spoke shared something that moved me in one way or another, plus Charlie and Kristen made us all laugh.
Iris Awards
Saturday evening started with the parent blogging version of the Oscars-the Iris Awards. (Finance bloggers have our own ceremony called the Plutus Awards.) We had champagne, a red carpet, fancy dresses (suits for the guys), and some of the most amazingly entertaining and moving speeches ever. Jessica made us all cry with her acceptance speeches, and Jenny made us all crack up. Post-ceremony she even let me hold her award for a minute and I tried not to die on the spot.
More of my favorite people.
After all the awards had been handed out and the love had been shared it was time to party. Since I was starving I snuck off with Titania for some food at Whole Foods around the corner. I wish I had thought to take a photo of her in her ball gown looking perfect and stunning walking through the grocery store. We headed back after eating super healthy things to dance the rest of the night away. (well until they kicked us out around 10:30pm)
Boogie down, y’all.
There were some late night waiting for hotel food and a hilariously amusing trip out at 2am but it was a suitably weirdly wonderful ending to a great conference.
Sunday morning I had time to say goodbyes to some of the amazingly talented and lovely people I know and some I had just met. I sat by myself in the Ritz bar working (with a cocktail-not too shabby), and later hopped in a cab with two fellow attendees to head to the airport. I got to have a post-conference session in the cab with them. Thanks Lizzie and Melissa! The perfect ending to a weekend of learning.
Throughout the weekend I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. Meeting people for the first time I would end up having amazing conversations with them about blogging, social media, and life. And the people I already know and love? Man, I have some serious crushes right now on their gorgeous, big brains. (They clean up nicely too.) Let me tell you the folks that attending the conference were brilliant and beautiful. (yes, even the guys)
Could these two be any more gorgeous or brilliant? With Isabel and Roo.
It was also an emotionally and mentally transformative experience in ways I’m not 100% sure I can put into words.
I’m at a place in life where things are settling in. There are challenges I never thought I’d face, love I never thought I’d experience, and an amazing and challenging life ahead still. I’m finally learning that the routine and ‘normalcy’ I usually crave doesn’t exist-and I should just learn to accept the ups and downs as what they are-a part of life.
I grapple with my self worth and the contributions I make to the world all the time. I’m a sensitive person and I take every criticism (but especially my own) to heart.
I debate walking away from what I’m doing-wondering whether I bring any value to anyone’s life. This weekend reminded me why I do it though. In Miley’s words I can’t stop, and I won’t stop.
Through those few times where I felt inadequate there’s one thing that this weird wide world of blogging has taught me that got me through—it is that there is value and beauty in everyone. (#Dove) This weekend I pushed through those feelings and found that it didn’t really matter what my perceptions were, how I felt in the moment, or how I valued myself. Others could see my value and it wasn’t just in a cute necklace or a nice pair of shoes-it was in ME. In my soul, in my heart, and what makes me who I am. (Dammit, now I’m crying again.)
I need to feed my soul. I need to create. I need to take care of myself. I need to give back. I need to speak up.
So expect some changes here in this space while I sort through that, and see you in Scottsdale in 2015, Mom 2.0. This time I’ll be sure to pack some tissues for everyone.
Kelly
