Blogalicious 2012 Recap

I have returned from Las Vegas a changed blogger.  It has taken me a while to share my experience as I needed time to let it all sink in. Not to mention having to unpack, get settled at home, return to work (playing catch-up), and simply find time to rest!  I never did find that time to rest, but that is another blog post altogether!

I made it personal by being myself.  I learned that I need to improve on my way of "being myself". I must venture past my comfort zone.  Online you wouldn't guess that I tend to be shy!  In person, I am a little awkward when introducing myself and my blog. My greatest takeaway from the conference is to get over being shy. I should be, and will be, as social in person as I am online!  I did make a few new friends but really didn't "put myself out there" - lesson learned. Second lesson: take more pictures!


I have read many blogger recap posts from those in attendance and completely agree with how inspiring the whole weekend was! It felt like summer camp.  No matter how much you may have been nervous in the beginning:  You learn so much, make new friends, have so much FUN,  and leave thinking of NEXT year! The memories you keep with you forever!

It is the greatest feeling being surrounded by so many wonderful people.  The energy is inexplicable!  Being around such talented and genuinely caring people was so enriching. My sincerest thanks goes to those who have shared their knowledge so generously! Successful people sharing their success "secrets" so that we can ALL SUCCEED: Priceless!

There is still so much that I'd like to share detailing my experiences but I'm still processing it all! AND still trying to squeeze in what little bits of time I have to sit down and write a post! More to come!  For now, I'll share a few photos of some of the great people that I have met and that have inspired me!

Xenia: Raised by Culture & Melanie: Happiness Delivered

Jana Pauldin, Blogalicious Volunteer Coordinator & Stacey Ferguson, Chief Curator

Working with PR, Brands, and Blog Networks Stefania Pomponi Butler, Barbara Jones, AJ Feuerman & Angela Sustaita-Ruiz

My co-volunteers & friends: Kaye & Melanie (Photo Credit: Melanie)

Blogalicious 2012

Hi, I'm Cynthia and I'm going to Blogalicous 2012!

By this time next week I will be in Las Vegas attending my 2nd conference. I was lucky enough to attend BlogHer11 in San Diego (my hometown) and since then I have caught the bug for attending conferences. Admittedly, I am no where near where I would like to be in regards to my blog.  It has required an investment of time and heart to nurture a blog... Time that I simply haven't had. I am a wife and first time mom to a now 2 year old while holding down a full time job outside of the home. I have faced challenges.  The biggest of which is the challenge of TIME.  In the end, I always (ALWAYS) put family first, which left my blogging last on the list of priorities. I hope to find balance. This conference may help me find ways to do just that! I'm looking to learn and to improve!

I do see the value in learning from those who are already established.  It is WONDERFUL how much helpful advice you can get by just asking a fellow blogger!  I think that it is just the very nature of any blogger: to share. To share knowledge, encouragement, stories, a recipe, helpful tips, or to simply rant.

I am very excited to be surrounded by those willing and able to share their wealth of knowledge!  Not to mention that I'll finally get to meet some of my online friends & heros IRL!

I would love to hear about your experiences are with blogging conferences.  If you are researching conferences to attend, I would recommend checking out Someday I'll Learn for an informative post on blog conferences.

If you are like I was and feel that conference cost are keeping you from going... there are ways around that!  If you feel that you are not ready, or haven't found direction for you blog (like me) - I think that you should STILL go.  There is so much that you can learn.  I'm unsure of where I am going to take my blog.  But conferences can help you get there, even if you haven't decided where that is!

I have never sought out sponsorship as a means to attend conferences, but in no way am I opposed to it.  I just haven't mastered the ways to go about it. I have dabbled in sponsored blog posts in an effort to raise funds  for conference costs and to my surprise have earned enough to go! Even without sponsorship, I still have found ways of attending that hasn't hurt the family funds!  For BlogHer11, and now for Blogalicious, I did not pay a registration fee.  I volunteered my way in for both. Usually a call for volunteers is put out - spots fill quickly so be on the lookout for them, or contact the organizers directly.  For me, it is a great way to be involved and get my feet wet with conferences.

I'll confess that I am on the shy side but I'm overcoming that little by little!  I'd love to say hello and meet with you in Vegas if you too are attending! I hope that we recognize each other in person!

On a side note:  I've learned than a couple of my friends on Twitter didn't realize that I have a blog. Perhaps the same is true for the other way 'round.  On twitter I am @lifebycynthia let's connect!

See you in Vegas!

Blogher 2009 is history...

and I'm pooped!

But as is par for the course, life's roller coaster keeps chugging up that hill.

I was lucky enough to get a small number of Ms. magazine copies to pass out at Blogher and I've already gotten word that some stores are selling it despite an August 4th news stand date. This means that I need to brace myself for a small uptick in traffic.

I have to laugh at this because I spoke this morning at the National Council for La Raza (ya know, Sotomayor's racist organization!) on social media and one of the last questions was about rankings. I told the man (damn, what was his blog again? This is what happens when I'm on stage without a pen!) that I gave up on my stats and rankings a long time ago. I gave up because I know I'm listed on some pretty big blogs exclusive blogrolls. I know that I go to places like La Raza & Blogher and get "I love your blog!" comments from people who I have no idea who they are. Thus, stats can suck it. Feedburner, Google stats, Google rank and especially Technorati seem to be unable to explain why I seem to be fairly popular. I'm not A-list, but I'm not totally D-list anymore. But that's not why I missed the D-List lunch - I swear I thought we were having breakfast! haha...

But I'll be back at the La Raza conference for a short event on Monday and part of Tuesday burning up my press pass.

And if you read my blog on my blog instead of a RSS reader (it's ok, that's how I read your blog too.) you might notice that my Blogher button has been replaced by a Blogalicious button! Oh yes, I'll be traveling to Atlanta to hang with fellow women of color bloggers & some of our super kewl white girlfriends.

BUT...that will be after I get back from Tampa for the Florida Consortium for Women's Studies. I submitted a proposal to look at how the increase in women in general on campuses might be helping the increase of women in STEM. A total, total preliminary study, but I'm hoping that it will give me some direction for some research projects.

Whew!

Like I said, the roller coaster keeps chugging along. Some days I feel like I'm being run over or dragged, but more often than not, I'm enjoying the ride.

And to all my coworkers who read Ms and now have found my blog, Hi!