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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Blog Elevated Recap {Why I Did Not Rock It}


I attended the Blog Elevated Conference last weekend.  While it was an AMAZING conference (especially being the inaugural year), I did not get out of it what I could have.  Throughout the entire conference I just didn't feel like myself.  Let me explain.  This was my first blogging conference (or any conference) to attend since having a baby who is now almost 5 months old.  Add that to the fact that I'm nursing and live in the conference city therefore commuting from home, I was not as engaged with the conference as I could have been.  This bums me out since it really was an inspiring conference with outstanding speakers and attendees.   

I skipped all of the evening activities and Saturday afternoon sessions.  Since I work full-time outside of the home, I feel guilty leaving Jack on evenings and weekends.  When I was in attendance I was worried and preoccupied....where to pump, how the schedule changes and weather would affect traffic and relieving the nanny.  Should I have brought Jack with me like the other moms who had babies in tow?  Why couldn't I just enjoy myself like all of the other moms?  Is that spit-up on my shirt?

To prove I didn't feel much like myself, I did not take one single picture of me with anyone!!!  All I have to show for my time at the conference is a couple of speaker action shots and some food pictures.



Back to the conference itself, WOW!  I learned a lot and left feeling so inspired.  I loved hearing from Jenny Ingram about vlogging, Rae Hoffman about SEO, Katie Laird about being a brand ambassador and Eric T. Tung about social media.  To say I have a long to-do list for my blog is an understatement. 

Lunch on Friday at Flora & Muse was perfect.  The conference location was amazing.   City Centre has everything you would want from a conference space all in walking distance.  Bummed I didn't make it over to Kendra Scott. 




Everything was organized and well put together.  The best part was the top notch speakers. 

It's the sign of a good conference when it is next to impossible to choose what sessions to attend because you want to be at all of them!

I loved seeing bloggy friends from Houston Moms Blog, getting to meet bloggers that I already follow like Lauren, Darby, Lauren and Whitney and meeting new bloggers like Rachelle, Miranda and Bree!

So to sum things up, if I met you at the conference and you were underwhelmed, give me and this little blog another chance.  If I didn't have the pleasure of meeting you, I hope to in the future.  I will definitely attend Blog Elevated next year ready to rock (and will likely check into the conference hotel so I can get the most out of my time). 

Jack and I watched the #BlogElevated Twitter feed for the Saturday afternoon sessions

19 comments:

  1. Oh Chelsea don't be so hard on yourself! You got more out of it than people that didn't go at all, right? You and your baby are just beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Pamela. This is very true! Aren't we always our own worst critics?

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  2. I agree with what Pamela said. Trying is the first part to succeeding. :) Next year you'll rock it like a pro.

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    1. Thanks Bobbie! Can't wait until next year already!

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  3. Awww you totally should have brought Jack! But I am sure that comes with a whole 'nother host of worries! It was great meeting you and you seemed totally cool and relaxed at lunch. Hopefully we can make it to the same event again soon!

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    1. Yes! Keep me posted on other blogger meetups that you hear of.

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  4. I completely agree with the above commenters. This was my first conference experience too and I had no idea what to expect. I think you probably got more out of it than you think. Your baby is adorable, BTW!!

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    1. Thanks Joanie! First ones are always the hardest.

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  5. Chelsea, it was so nice to meet you! I agree that the conference was fantastic for being in it's first year! It was definitely a bit of a whirlwind and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around everything I learned.

    I will say that I agree that it would've been better to stay at the hotel. Friday night I was so concerned about having to drive home in that awful weather that it was hard to just relax and enjoy the night!

    Hope to see you again soon at some of the meetups!

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    1. It was great to meet you! Love your blog so much. Hope to see you soon!

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  6. Chelsea I can relate directly to your story! I felt the same way this time last year... my little man turned 2 this past May and I'm still struggling to get it together over here lol. I did the pumping, the crazy scheduling, the whole nine. and almost lost my mind in the process. I agree with Pamela.. we are so critical of ourselves. Being a mom is TOUGH and it takes a toll on us physically and mentally. Nothing you can't handle though. Keep taking it one day at a time! I wish you all the best girl.

    le

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  7. Oh girl, I would have totally been the same way if I had a 5 month old! I am pretty sure I didn't do any conferences until Kennedy was at least 9 months, and that was the Symposium last year that was only 4 hours long. So Blissdom was really my first away-from-home conference and Kennedy was about 14 months at that point and I had just weaned her. It's hard to get away on the weekend, to figure out pumping, etc. I think you did awesome!! Way better than I could have done!! Glad we got to see each other at the conference!

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  8. I had a similar feeling at my first blog conference recently. I live in the same town and didn't want to leave my husband home with the baby all weekend so I didn't stay the night. Felt like I missed out on some of the bonding and the learning. Oh, well. Maybe we will both get the full experience the next time. :)
    Amy @ http://www.thegiftedgabber.com/

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    1. So happy you understand Amy. It's nice to know that others have experienced these feelings too.

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  9. Bummer that you felt like you didn't rock the conference...but I can totally relate. It's hard to feel like yourself when you are worrying about pumping and your little one at home. Maybe next year you can rock it!

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    1. Absolutely! Thanks Julie. Hope you had a great weekend.

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  10. "Rocking out" is highly subjective - you made it, learned from it and made it back in time to take care of your (super cute) little guy - I'd say that qualifies :) Give yourself some credit girl!!!

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    1. Thanks Katie! You are right. Why are we always our own worst critics?

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  11. Hey Chelsea! I met you at the conference and I am just now getting around to going to everyone's blogs! I am sure it is not easy to be attending a conference while nursing a newborn and working full time! I was dead exhausted for most of the conference too, and by Saturday, everyone was beat. The speakers were amazing of course but I think everyone was done, does that make sense? I couldn't get home fast enough :D

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