BLISSDOM-My First Conference Experience

I just returned home from a Social Media Conference called BLISSDOM.
It was My First Conference Experience!

It was in the beautiful warm Dallas..

I love the pretty snow outside my window right now...

but I was teased with warmth down there and I want it back. right now.

hear that mother nature? It's time to get hot in PA...

I've decided this and I know you read my blog, so c'mon.

Row one: Nancy from Haus to Home  Tonya from Love of Family and Home  Caroline from Chocolate and Carrots
Row two: Nancy, Tonya, Robin from Robin's Chicks, Jenn from Blissfully Ever After, Mandy from House of Rose
Row three: Mandy

When I arrived I was officially a nervous excited ball of hormones. Luckily I had a cute baby in tow with me to keep me grounded. Something about changing baby diapers and getting drooled on that makes you feel at home no matter where you are..... ;)

Ok... First BLISSDOM Take-Aways:

WOW. It felt soo amazing to see all of these women in one space that have a similar passion as me. Even if I didn't talk to all 750 of them..I felt a connection.

I would have flown down just to hear Jon Acuff speak.

His session and keynote were amazing..They left me feeling inspired as a blogger but even more so just convicted and stronger as a woman! I was in the back during all the talks doing leg squats with my 20 pound baby.... but I remember texting my husband(a youth minister) everything he was saying because I was like ahh he is speaking right to my heart!

He shared how we as woman struggle so much with the word ENOUGH. We..are..enough. And how we so easily compare ourselves to others. "Do not compare your beginning to someone else's middle" I loved that. I am going to make a real effort to not compare myself to other bloggers but focus on the inspiration they give me!

I felt like it was an undercover retreat talk. We are WOW people and sometimes we're surrounded by HOW people. (we have all these big ideas and sometimes they can get shot down or questioned by the how people.) He talked about how it's important to have times like this when you're surrounded by people who share big dreams like you!

 He talked about, how when we are at home, if you don't share your dreams with your spouse than you will end up sharing it with someone else. Really hitting on how we need to protect our marriages and made me appreciate my husband even more! He has always been my biggest fan and I realized that I need to listen to his dreams and not be his "how" person.. but encourage him with his ideas! I loved how he spoke about his family throughout his talk. We spoke briefly before his talk and I had mentioned my husband was pulling the "fun parent" card and took the girls to chuck e cheese.. he made me feel better by letting me know that he and his wife call that place Chuck E Disease. Awesome. It's where you go to get the flu. Luckily..daddy informed me the girls are still overall 'frightened' of the place.

The opening keynote was by Scott Stratten and I was seriously in the back doing the baby sway with Micah in the k'tan and laughing out loud. He is HILARIOUS. And everything he said I was like YES... that is so right!!! He hit so many points that make you think about your blogging strategy, your marketing and branding and how you use social media. He is seriously so smart and witty. "every time a QR Code doesn't work a kitten dies!!!" - It's sad that's the one quote I remember..but I laughed so hard and I was juggling a baby so no notes were happening. ;) I can't wait to watch his talk again online and to follow him on social media.

CONNECTING- TAKES EFFORT- SO WORTH IT

It was a fun weekend but...exhausting! You know that exhaustion you get when you have to really exert yourself and socialize CONSTANTLY. I went into this conference only knowing ONE person in real life. and we weren't even going together!  I love people and am usually very outgoing and social. but It was a little overwhelming..especially because (sadly) there are little clicks of bloggers that can be intimidating. I literally had to go back to my room thursday and regroup...making a conscience decision that I was going to dive into this conference and make the most of it. My husband is a youth minister and he always tells his teens on retreat "You get in what you put out!" You can stay closed up and then wonder why you didn't have an amazing experience..or totally be open and make some EFFORT! :) This blog conference TOOK WORK. All friendships take work. I wish it would have been a little easier at times to connect..but I know people like to feel comfortable and not get out of their comfort zone.. but taking those risks pay off. Overall people were friendly and wanting to connect..but connecting is two sided.. I had to put myself out there and be the first to strike up some conversations. and I'm glad I did because there were some amazing women to meet and connect with.

I was really lucky to end up finding girls that I was able to always end the night with and we had that connection and became close.. but I also found that during those moments when I was walking around by myself was when I struck up conversations with people that I never would have otherwise!! You can't be afraid to be alone...or to go up to a new person and introduce yourself. I am thankful I took those risks. I was lucky to have a little baby side kick with me who brought people to me because of his cuteness! I only wish that I had more time to connect with more people...but there were times I think traveling with a baby slowed me down a bit. Which is expected.. and totally fine.

I felt like the weekend was one big pep talk! It made me feel convicted in where I am going with my blog... how I'm branding myself... And It motivated me to promote myself and take my blog to the next level. I was really inspired by  Danielle Smith (of Extraordinary Mommy) in this area. She led a great session on using Media to give a voice to your message. I decided to utilize you tube more and to connect with my local news stations. Kacia and I are gonna pitch them on our awesomeness. ;)


THE TRIP THROUGH PHOTOS
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I had butterflies in my stomach as Micah and I made the trip from Pittsburgh to Dallas!
Luckily He was an awesome little guy on the plane... and I was surrounded by baby lovers.

Micah was a fan of the king size bed at the Gaylord Texan. Beautiful place!

isn't he cute? best roommie ever. ;)

The lovely Neely from A Complete Waste of Makeup Stephanie from The Vintage Modern Wife and Heather from Cookies for Breakfast picked me up at the airport!

And their roomie Ashley from Ashley Lately arrived soon after.

 I connected with so many amazing bloggers that listing them isn't even an option here!

I linked them all below by their photos.

I really feel like I created some real-life friendships with a handful of them..

Some of these girls I followed and knew of before Blissdom..and some I didn't know of until now and I have been stalking their blogs ever since. ;)

They are all linked up in these photos so be sure to check them out.

I was so encouraged, motivated and inspired by these women I was surrounded by. Just knowing that we all have big dreams and a voice we are wanting to share....it made me feel so motivated! That I wasn't the only one who dreams big or wants to make a difference in our community by sharing our projects/life/thoughts and ideas! 

row one: Nicole from The Style Hatch Nancy  Jenn  Jill from Baby Rabies

row two: Mandy  Caroline

row three: raechel from Raechel Myers.com lindsey from The Pleated Poppy  Mandy from A Sorta Fairy Tale

Caroline's liam was best buddies with micah all weekend ;)

She has a delicioussss food mommy blog.

Don't go to her site hungry. or Do.

Loved the floor chats with new friends and bonding with bloggers.

row one: mandy  nicole and ashley

row two: stephanie and heather

below left.. jon acuff!

bottom right: I won a j crew sweater from ebates. yay I never win anything!

row one: Jon Acuff and Jenn 

row two: Nancy  Tonya  Mandy  Nancy and Caroline

row one: Stephanie from Froggy and the Mouse  Allison from House of Hepworths  Jamie from C.R.A.F.T  Taylor from Taylor Made  and  Heather from Saving Money Living Life (eMealz friend)

row two: Kacia from Coconut Robot  Raechel  Diana from Hormonal Imbalances

row three: Meredith from Meredith Tichenor and Megan from In this Wonderful Life

 A BABY AT BLISSDOM:

Traveling with Baby- Stressful at times.. but I just went with it!
Overall he was an amazing baby all weekend long making thunder thighs look GUUD.

He hogged the bed and drooled all over my cute outfits.
But his sweet snuggles and giggles made up for that. ;)
I wore him in the K'Tan ALL WEEKEND. I don't know what I would have done without it.
He fell asleep in it and then I could put him down..or snuggle him. :)

My husband was following along the IG Feed and would see Micah's face pop up by random bloggers... He was blog conference famous ;) "Busy Budgeting Who?? I want to squeeze this baby's thighs!" ok..no one really said that but that 'general situation' happened more than once. And I was totally fine with it. ;) He is pretty squeezy cute.

The amazing Courtney of Pizzazzerie and Stephanie

of The Vintage Modern Wife were both fans of Micah ;)

It was funny, whenever micah would fall asleep at the table during a session, I would look over and see all the girls snapping photos! haha.

WHAT I WORE:

I actually wore something othan than yoga pants for 5 days straight...

and it was awesome. Most of my wardrobe came from
American Eagle, Kohls, Old Navy, H&M or Target!

My sister of BLANQI Fedexed me their newest product and it made me feel BEAUTIFUL!

It's an under the bust cami that is a Postpartum miracle worker!!

She and her beautiful business partner Sabina (real life bff's) are launching a new line for Target! They have their BLANQI that is great maternity shape wear...but now this target line has a postpartum option as well!

I tried it on..and it felt like I was wearing nothing but it smoothed me out and made me feel put together. The straps are so light it doesn't dig into you like some of my other cami's do. And the material is like what athletes wear and it wicks away sweat. perfect for mamas who are juggling a 4 month old and 2 yr old usually at the same time.

Seriously in love with it. Glad is my sister so she could send it to me before it's out..

I was also able to meet some great pregnant and nursing mamas at Blissdom who Val is going to send one too! Val made me their Brand Ambassador and Community Manager..so I get the fun job of connecting bloggers to the brand and making mamas feel beautiful!

Message me if you want more info on it! (I'll be doing a post soon with a sister skype session all about the new line! ;)

OUTFIT 1- green top: kohls, jeans: ae, shoes: target, necklace: caroline g., earings: stella & dot

OUTFIT 2- black top: kohls, pants: kohls, shoes: target, bracelet: stella & dot, necklaces: forever21

OUTFIT 3- top: H&M, pants: Kohls, necklace: caroline g., shoes: target

OUTFIT 4- top: Kohls, pants: ae, shoes: old navy, earings: stella & dot

HOME SWEET HOME:

Excited to dive into these two books!

And soak up time with my sweet girls. :)

Ohh....and pack up our entire house to move by friday!

(same state. new house. new job. super excited!)

If you want to read a long with me you can get Jon's Book HERE

and Scott's Book HERE.

 During this conference they encouraged you to figure out who you really are as a blogger... what you want others to see you as. (Danielle Smith's Business Session) And I realized my desire for this site....... I want my blog to be YOUR source for encouragement and inspiration as a woman and mother. I want to be your best friend down the street sharing her ideas and adventures/trials with you.

 I've always wanted this in a way..but I feel like my blog has evolved and through e-mails from my readers I've been affirmed in this!

I've had fellow mamas write me to thank me for sharing my ideas and projects with them because it helps them during their day to day life at home with the kids! Or in the e-mail from a reader who finally felt the courage to leave her abusive relationship after reading about my best friend's domestic violence murder and how I'm healing from her loss. It's in the e-mails from readers who have decided to teach themselves photoshop like I did and start a business after seeing how I do it WHILE raising little humans! All of these e-mails confirmed my thoughts on what I wanted this blog to be for people. And now after this conference I'm excited to take it to the next level.. give more to my readers in my writing and content that I share!

 I share with people about my blog all the time..

but it wasn't until an event like this that I had to say it over and

over and over again OUT LOUD. haha.

So I honed in on what I really am....

 I am a lifestyle mom blogger who writes about home and hostess ideas,

DIY's, recipes and more, all in an approachable-budget-friendly way!

I celebrate motherhood!

I want to be that positive + authentic source on the web for mothers who

want to live a family-centered, faith filled and creative life!

BOOM. ;)

And now please excuse me while I go make sure my

children aren't getting boxed up in our moving boxes.....

Thanks for following a long!

Four Favorites Series: My Personal Posts

While I am away at BLISSDOM I wanted to

share a fun series of favorite posts from these fun years of blogging!

Maybe some of these posts are your favorites too...

or maybe you'll discover a new post to check out!

Thanks for stopping by. ;)

My blog is all about celebrating motherhood

and being a place you can find encouragement and inspiration!

A major part is sharing our family life...

 The fun days, the exciting life changing moments, the crosses and the hardships.

Here's some posts that share all of that...

Thank you for being a part of our family.

I love the e-mails I get from readers who consider us "their family"... and have watched us grow and share in our fun by doing our same DIY's or making the same thing for dinner!

Many of you have messaged me with support and prayers when we lost shannon...and it was in those moments, when I heard how some of you found strength to leave a domestic violence situation, that I felt so affirmed in blogging! 

1. Hospital Bag for Baby #3

2. Harlem Shake hits our House

3. Losing My Best Friend - Domestic Violence Awareness

4. Christmas Morning 2012

While I'm away, follow my Blissdom fun via

twitter, instagram and facebook!

Can't wait to share all the fun I'm having with

blog friends and the wisdom from amazing blog mentors!

Four Favorites Series: Recipe Posts

While I am away at BLISSDOM I wanted to

share a fun series of favorite posts from these fun years of blogging!

Maybe some of these posts are your favorites too...

or maybe you'll discover a new post to check out!

Thanks for stopping by. ;)

I am no food blogger... I am seriously in awe of food bloggers.

I am lucky enough to get an instragram shot of the food before my little children come and sneak bites! My kitchen is also too messy to be photographed by the time I'm done cooking! haha. Seriously.. impressed food bloggers. ;)

But here are some of the recipes that are tried and true favorites.

We make them a lot. and love them. You should really pin and try some of these!

1. Mac N' Cheese

2. Pumpkin Spice Bars

3. Rocky Road Peanut Butter Candy Cups (o ya.)

4. Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Stop by all week/weekend long to see more of my favorites.

(PERSONAL POSTS to come! woohoo.)

While I'm away, follow my Blissdom fun via

twitter, instagram and facebook!

Can't wait to share all the fun I'm having with

blog friends and the wisdom from amazing blog mentors!

Four Favorites Series: My DIY Posts

While I am away at BLISSDOM I wanted to

share a fun series of favorite posts from these fun years of blogging!

Maybe some of these posts are your favorites too...

or maybe you'll discover a new post to check out!

Thanks for stopping by. ;)

The first post is on all things DIY.

DIY Projects  are my hobby. they help me relax.

I love being creative!

Even when it means juggling giant cement tubes from home depot to take home and make faux birch tree cake stands for a dessert table.

Some people would think that would be a pain... I love it!

So hard to choose just 4.. but here ya go. ;)

1. Felt Board

2. Cardboard Castle

3. Tulle Tutus

4. Animal Lid Jars

Stop by all week/weekend long to see more of my favorites.

(PERSONAL POSTS, AND RECIPES to come! woohoo.)

While I'm away, follow my Blissdom fun via

twitter, instagram and facebook!

Can't wait to share all the fun I'm having with

blog friends and the wisdom from amazing blog mentors!

Four Favorites Series: My Party Posts

While I am away at BLISSDOM I wanted to

share a fun series of favorite posts from these fun years of blogging!

Maybe some of these posts are your favorites too...

or maybe you'll discover a new post to check out!

Thanks for stopping by. ;)

The first post is on all things PARTIES!

Here are four of my favorite parties we've thrown here!

I love a celebration.. making memories with my family and friends...

Using DIY Details to make it extra special!

1. Cookie Exchange Party 2011

2. Pirate Play Date

3. Monster Bash

4. Storybook Princess Party

Stop by all week/weekend long to see more of my favorites.

(DIY'S, PERSONAL POSTS, AND RECIPES! woohoo.)

While I'm away, follow my Blissdom fun via

twitter, instagram and facebook!

Can't wait to share all the fun I'm having with

blog friends and the wisdom from amazing blog mentors!

Our St. Patrick's Day! - Toddler Fun

Sophie's new year resolution was to "celebrate more".....

So to be a good mama I kicked it up a notch this year for St. Patrick's Day!

We had fun being festive with little special touches throughout the day.

Glad I had our fun "party plates" as sophie calls them... Solo Cup has these cute green plastic plates and cups this time of year.. and we loved them!

1. less dishes 2. festive and fun!

Have a look at our day!

ps. Pinterest made me do it.

It all started with Green muffins!

( pack of blueberry muffins and some green food coloring. boom. cool mom.)

Lunch is served!

I had fun making little leprechaun and rainbow lunches!

The face is a tortilla quesadilla cut out with a cookie cutter and marked with my edible marker (got a kit from Michael's a while back.)

The hat is a green apple.. with a white sprinkle.

Shredded Cheese for the hair and beard.

Skittles for the rainbow and bananas for the clouds.

Officially awesome. (or so I'm told by a 4 and 2 yr old. I trust their opinions.)

CRAFT TIME! We filled up our Solo Cups with

fruit loops and grabbed some scrap yarn to make up some

cute rainbow accessories for the day!

Sophie was rockin her look for a while. Sienna decided it was snack time.

Dinner with Friends!

We had some friends over for dinner. I love fruit. Love love it.

I washed up a bunch of fresh fruit and my friend kate was my 'food stylist'

and helped me make a rainbow for the girls!

We devoured it while we waited for dinner to be ready. ;)

DINNER- I made beer bread and dip with carrots to snack on while we hung out.

I'm not really a beer fan but love beer bread! I tried this Beer Bread Recipe.

I usually use the tastefully simple box but this was pretty good!

I attempted for the first time to make Corned Beef and Cabbage. I found a great site that showed how to bake or boil. I decided to bake! It was delish! Will be making again for sure. 

DESSERT- Like I said before... I tried to make the brownies healthier by

adding some mint oreos.. peppermint frosting..and chocolate.

Kinda messy..but worth it.

(put oreos in the brownie batter before baking.)

Adapted this Peppermint Brownie Recipe

O yes....Pinterest adorableness.

Made some cute rainbow cupcakes. My girls LOVED them.

Grabbed up the rainbow sour gummie things from the grocery store aisle

(NOT..in the candy aisle where I looked for forever... just fyi ;)

Just some yummy cupcakes with a puff of a little cloud of icing on them.

We talked about St Patrick and it pretty much got summed up to "You know how daddy teaches kids about Jesus (he's a youth minister).. well..St. Patrick taught all of Ireland about Jesus!" And something about snakes might have been mentioned.

Hope you had a lovely St. Patrick's Day! 

St. Patrick's Day Fun

Yesterday we had fun with St. Patrick's Day!

I took a bunch of photos of our day at home being festive...I'll share tomorrow!

But if you follow me on instagram.. you might have seen some of our fun already.

We decided to add mint oreos to the brownies to make them a little healthier.

Lunch was extra special with their little leprechaun guy on our fun party plates from Solo Cup!

Love the green plastic plates.

Less dishes makes me happy.

The green made the girls happy.

I could make fun lunches all day if it meant I could avoid the dishes ;)

(I'll share what I used for what as requested via instagram!)

More St. Patrick's Day cuteness tomorrow!

I want to share our Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe we tried too...

first time making it and I LOVED it.

Toddler Logic-Where Babies Come From.

This time last year.... we found out we were pregnant with Micah!

We were at my cousin's wedding. I was a bridesmaid.

Big Irish wedding on St. Patrick's Day!

It was a FUN weekend.

I remember the night of the rehearsal dinner putting my dress on and just being confused.

Even with going to the gym almost daily to run...my tummy was popping out!

I had thought I was pregnant for a week or so but 2 tests were negative.

I finally was like...no way...something is up! haha.

So the morning of the wedding ben walked from our

hotel, in the city, to a drug store and picked up a test.

It was POSITIVE!

And here we are...

in a hotel room(it was a double room) with my sister and her family..

everyone is coming soon to do hair and makeup.

We couldn't hold it in and waste the chance to tell our family in person!

My plan was to only tell our immediate family and wait to tell my cousin, the bride, and everyone else another day... but my sister val spilled the beans. ;)

We first told sophie...and her reaction was priceless.

sienna...not so interested. my purse was more fun.

Love how Sophie's first response, besides excitement, was

trying to figure out how the baby got in my tummy.

I know a lot of mamas loveeee being pregnant.

I am not one of those mamas.

I get sick. have contractions for months

(even going time-able for weeks before baby!)

BUT... the one part I love and miss from being pregnant is the baby movements.

It seriously is incredible. Especially when you look back and watch... 

I am looking down in my lap at Micah's sweet face and am still

in shock that he fit in my belly! haha. He tried to escape a lot.

All of the pain and uncomfortableness of being pregnant is so worth it.

especially when you look back at moments like this....