Posts Tagged: storytelling
I’ve Forgotten How to Blog
It’s been so long. So long. And, I think I may have even broken my blogging bone. I’ll give it a whirl, though….
Life. It’s been extremely busy. It’s also changed so much this past year. And, it’s changed for the better. No, dare I say, changed for the best.
My job is going super well. I love what I do and I’m pretty damn good at it. My co-workers are all astounding women, and I am proud to call them my friends.
The gym, even though it’s been hit or miss the past month with all the sickies floating around, has been an amazing influence in my life. I’ve not only improved my body, my strength, and my stamina, I’ve made more friends; it’s been a wonderful blessing.
My online, social media, life has shifted, too. These days I’m all over Instagram (@secretagentmama – find me!), and my true socmed love is Facebook. I love that there are so many different people from my life congregated in one place. My family (parents, kids, aunts, uncles, cousins), my childhood friends, people I’ve known all my life, old high school chums, social media friends, co-workers, and so many more are all there for me to interact with and share the stories of our lives. I also love the new time-line, but that’s just me, I’m a sucker for a nice cover photo!
The biggest thing that happened in the past month is we now have (not one, but) TWO teenagers in the house. Mikey turned 14 and Livey turned 13. Mikey had a buddy spend the weekend with us, and it culminated in a Minecraft cake extravaganza. Olivia had a special couple days out with me. She got a feather in her hair, we went out to lunch a couple times, and we went girl-time shopping. In a couple weeks she’ll be having all of her closest girlfriends over for a Just Dance Wii Party, complete with pizza and pop and chips and dips! Invitations are going out tomorrow.
There are a few things I’ve been meaning to blog about, and I have vowed to come back and start telling stories again. It’s important, and I really do miss it. I’ve actually been scared to open up this blog again. I think that silence can do that to a blogger. We grow silent and it perpetuates, and after a while it’s just not important anymore. That doesn’t sit well with me, though, because I love to share. I’m a self-proclaimed over-sharer. I need it. I crave it. I must do it.
So, starting tonight I am going to take the plunge. I’m going to over-share and I’m going to like it. *You might, too.
*Three out of four of my biggest blog fans are pictured above. Someday it’ll be four out of four, but the littlest of my fans is only just learning how to read.
The Story of BlogHer {Part III}
Swimming In The Sea
Last year after BlogHer in Chicago I was moved to write about those that touched me. Those people that I had connected with through blogging that finally materialized into living, breathing creatures before me. People that could hug me. People that could laugh at my silliness. People that would share real life moments in a real live city, and not just via email, twitter, or the blogosphere. I wrote about them, introducing them [to you], because it was a new level of love and admiration that had sprung forth from the conference.
This year I came to find that the conference morphed into being more about me and who I am in the grand scheme of the matrix of bloggers and personalities. There were familiar faces everywhere. There were quickly passing minutes on a cushy bench; perfect for a quick gab session. There were hugs and kisses in the elevator, as well as accidental encounters. There were waves from across the estrogen filled room. There were commitments, and parties, and very little downtime—until it was solidly scheduled in. There was so much, so many, and so little time that—at times—it kinda felt a little bit like drowning.
Around every corner, though, was instant resuscitation; whether it was the quiet of a hotel room in the early morning hours, the seclusion of an unused panel room where tears were shared along with smiles and words of wisdom, or the arms of a group of besties enveloping you. It didn’t matter, it was there and accessible. The best part being that you didn’t have to look hard to find it, you just had to keep swimming.
The Story of BlogHer {Part II}
Dress: Dress Barn
In this dress, walking eleven blocks to the first event that I photographed, I got hit on.
A man noticed my beauty, through all my sweat.
I’d like to say it was the red lipstick and patent leather heels.
I won’t lie, it felt good. I ate it up.
And, it set my mood for the whole night.
I don’t care who you are, I think you should hear that you’re beautiful.
I don’t care who you are, I think you should tell others that they are beautiful.
Outfit: Gap
Photographers came together to outline a discussion.
Friends walked out the other side of the panel even before it started.
The blessing of our Photography Panel at BlogHer.
I venture to say that this was one of my favorite things from the conference.
{That was After, This is Before}
Dress: IGIGI
Jewelery: Sorrelli
My feet were shot due to that eleven block walk.
I would only be able to wear embellished flip-flops the rest of the weekend.
But, this dress was made for me.
Flip-flops or not.
If there was one dress that ever fit like a glove, it IS this one!
This was the point where I realized my obligations were over.
This was the point that my conference started.
You can see the relief in my face.
{The Magic of HP’s Photobooth at Aiming Low’s EZPZ in NYC Party}
{The Magic of Flip Flops on Your Feet in Time Square}
Outfit: Lane Bryant
Lotus and I stole time away for a photo-walk.
It wasn’t long, but it was full of quality time.
The streets filled with cute rickshaw dudes.
The park filled with people of all types.
Flowers, horses, architecture—the perfect place?
She and I took similar shots, I’m sure.
Because we have a similar eye.
Her friendship has been one of the great gifts.
Dress: Eliza Parker
Jewelery: Lia Sophia
Finally, I did it; I stumbled into a Jenny party!
Stumbled, for real, because I was DRUNK.
{How Photogs Rock} {Hot Photogs Roll}
{How You Bring Sexy Back}
Outfit: Lane Bryant
*I gave away some coupons for Lane Bryant at BlogHer,
and I have more to give. If you are interested, let me know!
Sunday in the City with Aiming Low friends.
Frozen hot chocolate, a burger with steak fries.
A candy shop and a baby infinity times sweeter.
{Brittany Thinks I’m Sweet, Too!}
Skirts: Alight
Monday and Tuesday were spent mostly alone.
At one point I met one of my friends from Flickr at 30 Rock.
I ate more street meat and even walked around with only my phone in hand.
Later, I met another friend in her office.
I ran into some stragglers from the conference, too.
I finally ate at an Indian restaurant.
I had my first subway ride.
I went to Queens.
I drank an Appletini with an old friend.
I slept lightly, dreaming of home.
See More Stories at Posterous and Twitpic
Disclosure: All outfits were provided by Alight, Dress Barn, Gap, IGIGI, Lane Bryant. Sorrelli jewelery also provided me with a necklace and earrings to wear to BlogHer.
