*updated pic below*
So, my stalking skills aren’t what they used to be. Having a little pirate in a sling, a stroller in your hands and a sweet new pink Lands End bag on your shoulder doesn’t do much for casually walking up to a rock-star blogger. And you certainly can’t pose one of those I’m-pretending-to-take-a-picture-of-this-tree-but-really-it’s-0f-a-famous-person shots.
For some reason I expected to walk into a room and recognize everyone immediately. But since everyone basically has a .5″ avatar (at least on twitter) that just wasn’t the case. I did find Jo-Lynne immediately. Along with Sarah and Robin. Then Stephanie appeared from around the magic curtain (separating the speakers from the common folk). Asa and Ivy hit it off right away, of course.
Jo-Lynne, Stephanie & Ivy, Asa and Me. photo by Jo-Lynne.
After finding our room and getting slightly organized, I headed back down for the first session. And let me say that having a baby with you is a grrreat way to network. You are immediately drawn to other mamas and others are immediately drawn to you. So, right away I met Sarah and her sweet baby Asher. Then joy of joys, JESSIE and LIBBIE! She’s one of my bbb and I was so happy to see her! We spent lots of quality time out in the Blissdom Nursery (aka…the couch on the end of the hall) along with the rest of the blissdom babies.
Jessie & Libbie and Asa & me
That night Asa and I did hit up the cocktail party. Not sure if I’ve ever been to an actual cocktail party. So, I wore red heels. Because any social faux pas can be forgiven if you’re wearing red heels. Anyway, Asa wasn’t having the sling, so we went with the stroller.
And guess what? I was apparently so hot entertaining that someone actually took one of those i’m-pretending-to-take-a-picture-of-this-tree shots OF ME! I happened to stumble on BabyBloomr‘s blissdom post and look what I found…
I told everyone I felt like the girl on Sweet Home Alabama: “You have a baby! In a bar…”
And that night I did meet one of my bloggy heroes, Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer. She was chatting with Moriah and Sara so I moseyed on up like I was one of the crowd. She introduced herself and when I said, “I’m from ohAmanda.” She said, “Oh! Oh Amanda!” LIKE SHE KNEW WHO I WAS! (I’m totally not going to link to her so she doesn’t read this…)
Oh, here’s a pic of Asa and me while I contemplate how to stalk Shannon…
another great photo by secret-agent-mama
I met so many other great bloggers. I just wished I’d snagged more of their bloggy business cards. I personally had some pretty cute ones–my brother designed them and my friend Cory printed them.
Cute, right?
The only problem?
I have 1000 of them! Maybe I should have a Business Card Giveaway Round Up because I’m going to have these for the rest of my life.I loved collecting everyone’s cards, too. Here’s a few I snagged…
Well, I think that’s enough stalking for today. Oh, except this pic of Asa and Heather from Domestic Extraordinaire. She was literally the Baby Whisperer and had Asa laughing hysterically for about 15 minutes!
(I’ve got some more blissdom posts up my proverbial sleeve. But to borrow a page from Stephanie, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll answer them asap!)
Yep, those red heels were WORKIN’ for ya, girl!
Actually that shot was a happy accident– I was trying to figure out whether or not my camera’s flash was going to work in that room, and as I was focusing… there you were, striding with great determination, major hawtness AND a baby stroller right into my frame! I love that picture. And next conference? I am totally stalking you– on purpose!
WOW, you were working that dress and heels. I didn’t see you in that outfit, was that Friday or Saturday night?
Did you nurse Asa in the bar? That would have been the ultimate in hot redneck momma. LOL!
It was so great meeting you! Oh, so chic in the black and white dress and red heels!
You are absolutely darling and I can’t believe I didn’t get one of your cards!! They are darling!!
Your red shoes were so hawt! Love your recap and isn’t Shannon the sweetest thing ever!!!
The “apologies” to me in that one photo made me seriously laugh-out-loud.
I don’t know about anyone else but the picture of you in the bar with the stroller.. HAWT!
Amanda,
I was amazed at all the mommies and babies at the conference. I’m in the middle and high school phase of life with my kids, so I didn’t have a cute conversation-starter with me. Maybe I’ll have to borrow one next year!
I miss my little man. His giggles almost made my uterus groan for another……then I remembered the teenagers I had at home.
So glad I got to meet you!
Sorry I didn’t get to meet you! (At least I don’t think I did!) I was pretty dazed by day #2. I felt the same way about the super star bloggers! 🙂 I really didn’t want to be a huge stalker and be known as that person!
I loved that the babies were there. Afterall, it is a women’s conference! 🙂
Gosh, it looks like so much fun! Wish I had gone.
Okay, that is quite possibly the most unattractive photo of me EVER. Moving on.
DARLING heels. Love them.
And I heard Shannon say “OH! OH AMANDA!” Yes, I did.
How did I not get one of your cards?! They are gorgeous!! Next time, definitely.
Great pictures!!! Maybe next year for me…
Girl- from one mommy of a 4 month old to another, you look rockin!
Fun post! Love the one of you and Asa in the bar. Too funny!
Amanda,
Girl, You sure kow how to rock the girl- with-a-cool-haircut,cool-shoes,and-a-baby look!
Nice meeting you…wish we had spent more time together…
Michelle
I love the “It’s a baby. In a BAR!” line. 🙂
And I LOVE the photos you add captions to. 🙂
And I love smiley faces. Clearly.
I seriously wish I could have gone. However, I definitely know I would have been quite intimidated by all the talent surrounding me and my usual outgoing nature would have been very much reined in. Meaning: I’d be a very definite wallflower. But at least I could have taken in all the awesomeness.
Hey sexy legs and hot shoes wearing Momma! Love that candid shot. I love candid shots. I need my own set of paparazzi.
And it looks like Steph has a MetroMama Bling Wrap on. Love those!
I hope to meet up with you and everyone else next year!
Nell
That dress/shoe combo was tight!
I’m so glad we met, Amanda! And you were rocking those red heels. You and that boy are fabulous!
This post is too fun, Amanda!
Steph
Okay, I’m totally cracking up about Shannon from RIMD. I can’t believe you really didn’t link it!
And I wish I’d seen your red heels in person. I wanted red heels and my mom and sister basically told me I couldn’t pull them off! :O
The dress, the shoes, the waistline… oh.my.stars!
Excuse me, I’ll be doing some crunches now.
Oh, it looks like so much fun!
LOVE the picture of you in your sassy dress and heels pushing the stroller! 🙂 -Christine
Wow, I’m not even sure if I’m worthy to comment on your blog now!
I am LOLing about your baby in a bar references!
Looks like so much fun. Maybe one day I’ll go to a blog conference, sigh….
I have had the pleasure of siharng a room with her (and her SEVEN bags, I am not even joking) at Blissdom. Hillary, Jessie and I bonded and laughed our way through the whole weekend, and I can’t wait for
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
Yes well said.. it happens in this modern age. like surevey bypasser
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
I tend not to leave many remarks, however i did a few searching and wound up here Blissdom: The Blogger Stalking | ohamanda.com. And I do have a few questions for you if you usually do not mind. Could it be simply me or does it look like some of the remarks appear as if they are left by brain dead folks? 😛 And, if you are writing on other online social sites, I would like to follow everything fresh you have to post. Could you make a list of the complete urls of all your public sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
Always glad to read amazing articles.. Will be back for more for sure! Thank you for sharing