Posts Tagged ‘Blissdom’
Blissdom – My Blogging Adventure
Posted on: February 3, 2011
- In: Life
- 20 Comments
I’m hosting this week’s Try New Adventures for Alicia. I’m pretty excited because I’ve had so many new adventures in the last week I feel like I could easily spend the next two months sharing them with all of you. But since they all pertain to one big adventure, I thought it best to keep it to a single post.
In the last week I’ve:
1. Shared a hotel room with strangers.
{Me, Christine, Alicia}
Ok, Alicia and Christine aren’t complete strangers. I feel like we’ve formed this really special relationship over the last year. But it was pretty surreal meeting them for the first time ever last week. And I will say this: They are even sweeter in person than they are online. They are wonderful ladies and I just love them!
2. Met my blog crushes: Amanda, Mary, Jill and Ashleigh.
{Me, Mary}
{Me, Amanda}
I was so nervous meeting these ladies. In fact, when I met Jill I completely started stammering {and I only do that when I’m super nervous}. But they calmed my fears completely by being the nicest ladies ever. Seriously incredible.
3. Met Melissa Peterman {A.K.A Barbara Jean}
After Julia was born, I started watching Reba every afternoon. While I can’t vouch for all it’s content, I do love that show. And Barbara Jean {B.J.} is perhaps one of my favorite characters. I suppose I should add, that when I’m super excited to meet someone, if I don’t stammer, I make ridiculous faces. Neither make for a good first impression.
4. Spent four days at a blogging conference.
At Blissdom I learned more than my head could hold. Got pampered with manicures and chair massages. Ate delicious foods. Met amazingly awesome women. Enjoyed time in prayer with fellow Christian bloggers. And had a great time. It was such an amazing adventure and I cherish every moment of it. But once it was over I was grateful to come back to the best adventure I could hope for: being a wife and mother.
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What new adventure did you try this week? We’d love to hear all about it! Link up your blog post below, and link back to Loved Like the Church. Then visit around, see what everyone else has been up to, and leave them some comment love. You can learn more about the idea behind Try New Adventures Thursday here. You can also tweet about your TNAT post on Twitter using the hashtag #TryNewAdventures.
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- In: Life
- 14 Comments
I’m leaving today for Blissdom. And much like when I left for New York last fall, I have taken some steps to help Jonathan out while I’m away. Because, while some days I’d like to think my full time job is my blog, it isn’t. My full time job is taking care of my family. I take a lot of delight in my work and want to make sure that I can still fulfill my wife/mother roles while away. So here are some ways I’m helping Jonathan cope with me being away:
1. Organize the girls clothes –
Each day is bundled together, with the girl’s name on it. Unwrap, dress and you’re ready to go! {I did provide layers, in case the weather goes all crazy on me.}
2. Organize meals –
I have the freezer stocked with dinners and the pantry loaded with quick and easy snacks. I’ve also made a list of side options to go with each meal.
3. Organize activities – While Jonathan is super active in the girls’ lives, he doesn’t quite know what activities there are to do around town like I do. So I made a list for each day to let him choose.
4. Sticky notes –
I did this when I traveled to New York. Jonathan said it was helpful {for other things – like coffee}, but the dog never did get fed…
5. Movies – While I tend not to want the girls to watch much television during the week, I know it’s an easy pass time. I’ve made sure there are several episodes of their favorite show recorded so they can watch a set amount as needed.
6. Diapers/Wipes/Pull ups – Jonathan isn’t as into cloth diapering as I am {read Jonathan doesn’t cloth diaper}. To prepare for the week, I stocked up on disposables. Because there is nothing worse than having to run to the store just for diapers.
7. Back up help – We were very blessed to live right by three close families while in Iowa. At the drop of the hat we could ask for help and they could be there in no time. Now, as we are still meeting people, I’ve had to do a little more planning. Still, we’ve been really blessed with people willing to help Jonathan {even if it is just inviting him to playdates} so that he doesn’t feel alone in the process.
8. Answering my phone – I’m notorious for not answering my phone. And it drives Jonathan bonkers. Because of that, for the next few days, my phone will be attached to my hip {not literally – not a big fan of those hip holders}.
9. Sweet loving – I’m making sure Jonathan gets some sweet loving before I leave. And… It’s not what you think. I made him a batch of cookies {as bribery for girls} and am currently baking some blueberry muffins – which are his favorite.
10. Grace – Taking care of the girls and being a homemaker isn’t Jonathan’s full time job, it’s mine. I need to loosen up any expectations I might have for how things should go – or honestly, how the house should look when I get back. I need to be overwhelmed by the fact that my husband is showing me this grand gesture of love and respond in kind, with grace and love.
What do you do to help your husband prepare for you being away?
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
Bookmark Me Baby
Posted on: January 24, 2011
- In: Life
- 9 Comments
In early December, Jonathan and I started talking about business cards – specifically me getting business cards. We knew with Blissdom approaching, it would be nice for me to have cards to pass out to the other attendees. I started doing some research, but never fell in love with anything. I wanted something practical, but expressed me at the same time {a lot of pressure for a little card, huh?}.
Then Jonathan mentioned the idea of a bookmark business card. Immediately I loved the idea. A bookmark {because I love to read} that has all my information on it. Perfect. Now to find a design/designer. After going through Etsy a few times, I came across DesignsByThoughts. As soon as I saw Tiffany’s work, I knew it was a match for me. So I contacted her, discussed some ideas and this is what she made:
Isn’t adorable? I just love the red roof on the church. And the adorable flowers. And the stain glass. And the…. okay, I just love the whole thing. Seriously.
My Blissdom Top Ten
Posted on: January 18, 2011
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
In one week {ONE WEEK!} I leave for the Blissdom Conference in Nashville. I am beyond excited. Thrilled, actually. I don’t fully know what to expect {it’s my first time going}, but I do hope to get a lot out of the conference. There are so many great seminars lined up, that it’s kind of hard to narrow down just want I want to participate in. But, I’m sure what ever I go to will be great.
1. Knowledge – From search engine optimization to editing your posts, the seminar descriptions look packed with information. And while I want to go to every single one, I’m sure I’ll be on overload before I know it.
2. Community – I’ve “met” some amazing women over the last year. Grown to really know them as they share their lives through their blogs. It’s provided me with a since of community that has been really incredible. I can’t wait to meet them in real life next week!
3. Networking – Along with the women I have “met” there are still so many great blogging women out there I haven’t. Having the chance to meet new women and expand my network is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.
4. Creativity – I’ll be honest, I’ve been creatively dry for the last several weeks. Almost as though I’m on auto-pilot. I keep telling myself “Make it to Blissdom” because I’m convinced I’ll walk away full of wonderful creative ideas. Or at least I really hope so!
5. Seeing my family – Blissdom is held each year in Nashville – my childhood city. So going this year means I get to spend a little time with my family. Which is really awesome, because I miss them, even if it’s only been a month since I last saw them.
6. Staying at Opryland – Ok, this might be kind of a silly reason to be excited about Blissom, but the conference is held at Opryland Hotel. In all my years, I’ve never spent the night at Opryland. It’s like a daydreamy place – I had my senior prom there, I’ve walked through it’s halls dozens of times with my family – but I’ve never been lucky enough to spend the night. Until now. And as if it couldn’t get better, I get to stay with Alicia from Alicia’s Homemaking. Squeal!! So excited!!
7. Mama vacation – I’ll be gone for five whole days next week. Five. The longest I’ve ever been away from either of my girls. And while that’s a little sad, I’m taking Alicia’s point of view when she emailed me “I’m going to go SIX days without having to wipe down a high chair!” Woot!
8. Having fun – While Blissdom is sure to teach me a lot, I know it’s not just going to be a boring classroom – in fact, it’s going to be a blast. Between the kick-off party and the pj party, I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of giggling women all around.
9. Being myself – Writing brings out a part of me that nothing else seems to and I love it. So having the chance to spend time tapping that resource is such a great thing.
10. Fashion – Ok, since I made 2010 my year to bring out my fashionista, I’m pretty excited about some of the finds I came across between now and then. In particular, a gold necklace. Which might not seem like a big deal, but to me it’s huge. I don’t wear gold, so to do a gold necklace is a big step. I’ll be wearing it at Blissdom so let me know what you think!
If you’re going to Blissdom, what are somethings you’re looking forward to?
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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