I Went To BlogHer And All I Got Were Items Less Than $40

Posted By on August 9, 2010

You guys, I’m bloghausted. It is currently 7 PM and I really want to just go to bed now. Even though there are dishes in the sink, a stinky cat box that needs to be cleaned and a pile of dirty laundry that needs to be washed. But all I want to do is sleep.

So if you aren’t aware, I was in New York City this past weekend for BlogHer. This was my third one and I had an effing blast. Not only was it in a great city, I was surrounded by 2,500 bloggers, people who don’t get offended when you get on your phone to check Twitter at the lunch table (well except for the one lady who didn’t appreciate it when we were Twittering from the elevator).

I went into this BlogHer with no expectations. I had been to NYC one time before, so I had done a lot of the touristy things. Plus, this time it wasn’t on my stomping grounds so I didn’t have the pressure to think of restaurants and bars in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

I learned early on that one of the only ways to enjoy BlogHer is to really have no plans, no expectations. There are so! Many! People! that it is hard to see everyone, let alone talk to everyone. You just have to play everything by ear. It’s how you end up finding cute little cafes with awesome mac and cheese or sitting outside a hotel getting weird looks for wearing a McDonald’s hat on your head.

This year’s BlogHer was different. Not a bad different, just a lot different than past years. I first went in 2008, when there was a then-record 1,000 people at the conference. Compared with the 2,500 people from this year (not including the people who came to NYC but didn’t have passes), that San Francisco conference in 2008 felt like an intimate dinner party.

The problem I had with it being so big was that there are so many people there that I wanted to see. And there were so many people I didn’t get to see or meet. And that’s a bummer. But thankfully I did get to see a lot of old friends and meet some new ones.

And now I’ll attempt to recap my awesome time in NYC in bullet form:

  • On Thursday night, I went to dinner with Regan and Slynnro at Colicchio & Sons. It was one of, if not THE best meals I’ve had in my life. We had 2 bottles of prosecco, my first taste of sweet, sweet hooch in three weeks. And it went right to my head, just like you’d imagine.

  • I had the heirloom tomato salad, which was so tasty, but I didn’t eat all of because I knew that would probably give me off the chart heartburn. My entree was the skirt steak and short rib with edamame. It was so delicious! The short rib was so tender, it reminded me of my Grandma’s pot roast. For dessert we shared the funnel cake and chocolate-filled donuts. That Tom Colicchio, he fries a mean hunk of dough!

  • I had the awesome pleasure of meeting Jenbshaw and Shauna Glenn at lunch our first day there. Ali has told me all about the fabulous Aiming Low ladies and of course they are just as awesome as she’s always said! Shauna Glenn and I are kindred spirits and I have now dubbed her my new BFF, whether she likes it or not. (We killed it on the dance floor at the Sparklecorn party Saturday night, which was one of the weekend’s highlights!)
  • I finally made it to Ground Zero. It’s sad that almost nine years later they are still working on it. And also sad that it looks nothing like it did and it could just be another construction site in New York.
  • Finally got to meet Isabel, who invited us to her FABULOUS TERRACE to just sit and chat and enjoy the lovely NYC weather and city living. Isabel is one of the nicest people in the entire world and I was so lucky to spend time with her at her house! Plus, we went to Dylan’s Candy on the way to her house and I love candy and three floors of candy is like my heaven.
  • The Expo hall this year was insane! Insanely good! I got so many great things, so much so I had to ship it home!
  • Spent time with some of my favorite people

  • And there were so many others! I’m afraid to link to them all, lest I forget anyone. But let me just say, if I saw/met you this weekend, it was so much fun and I’m so glad we got to hang out. I enjoyed this weekend immensely. You are all AWESOME!

Can’t wait for San Diego in 2011!

About the author

Kristabella, who also answers to “Hey! Drunk Girl!”, is a reformed band geek with an amazing ability to drink most people under the table. You can read her inane ramblings here, where she talks about her exciting life as a spinster with two cats and a fascination for Bacon.

Comments

19 Responses to “I Went To BlogHer And All I Got Were Items Less Than $40”

  1. Kathy says:

    I feel so unbloggy! I want to go to one sometime.I need to build up some bloggy friends in the meantime, though!

    Looks like you had an a-mazing time!!!

    Rest up!

    Kathy
    Kathy´s last blog post ..Teenager Alert

  2. Rhi says:

    There will be short ribs at my wedding. There will be no Tom Collichio, though.

  3. Is there room at your table next year for little ol’ moi??
    Camels & Chocolate´s last blog post ..Borneo- Chasing Paradise

  4. Kerri Anne says:

    Was the HP Hit Print thing like a photo booth? Because all of the pictures I’ve seen with that label have been awesome.

    NEXT YEAR. I’m psyched!

    But lest I get too far ahead of myself, SEE YOU LATER THIS MONTH.

    Dear August: I want to kiss you.
    Kerri Anne´s last blog post ..“I once saw him beat a guy up with a starfish” “That’s ridiculous”

  5. Lys says:

    That’s it – I’m going next year!!!! Glad you had a blast!
    Lys´s last blog post ..Fab Friday – Cooking In Stilettos Edition

  6. agirlandaboy says:

    Yay! So good to see you! Your bangs were perfection.
    agirlandaboy´s last blog post ..Apres Vous

  7. I WILL be there next year and we WILL hang out!
    Sensibly Sassy´s last blog post ..Things That I Cannot Do Well-

  8. I’ve already added the HP party pic to my photo wall.

  9. regan says:

    I love that HP pic. Yay for BlogHer!
    regan´s last blog post ..top heavy

  10. My comfort zone has been tested and it’s ready for its diploma!
    SO. MANY. THINGS.
    But it was really all worth it. I was a total 3rd grader and pointed at people all “There’s Slynrro!” and giggled. Everyone was either taller, shorter, nicer, funnier, etc. than I expected and it was great first-timer experience.

    San Diego is my stomping ground and if you need a guide to show you the bar with THE hottest gay men, wine bar with the best flights, and restaurant with the best hangover breakfast; I’m your gal. (and if the Padres are playing the Dodgers, even better)
    thecoconutdiaries´s last blog post ..Taking New Jork From Dee Balls

  11. alimartell says:

    I did not take enough photos in that photobooth. BOOOOOOOO!
    Like, why did WE not take one?
    alimartell´s last blog post ..Well- If I Learned one thing from BlogHer ’10- it’s that I am not pregnant

  12. jodifur says:

    I still cannot believe the only place I saw you was Starbucks. But, at least I saw you.

  13. gorillabuns says:

    man, you HAVE to hold me to next year.

    I will now begin to save my quarters and give plasma because i just know we would get along famously! besides, I’m rarely sober.

  14. Mplotke says:

    Looks like GREAT fun! 🙂

  15. Raven says:

    Did we get a pic together? I’m bummed we didn’t get more time to hang out but it was great to see you the little time I did.
    Raven´s last blog post ..whirlwind traveler

  16. Again with the not enough time.

    hmph.
    Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah´s last blog post ..Non Sequitur

  17. we met, it was quick but lovely. You might not remember. We need more time next time. Oh yes, there will be a next time.

  18. Scarlet says:

    Your bangs looks awesome in those pics.
    Scarlet´s last blog post ..Fakey Fake

  19. tracey says:

    I already bought the ticket for the San Diego conference. I just couldn’t handle hearing about NY after not being able to go. My jealousy levels are on MAX HIGH.

    Glad you had fun!
    tracey´s last blog post ..Have I got a deal for you