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Blissdom 09: A Bloggy Conference

February 10, 2009 By Rhoda 80 Comments

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Hello! I’m back from a whirlwind weekend.

What happens when you get 250 women together in one place for a blogging conference? Pandemonium, excitement, LOTS of talking and not a whole lot of sleep, that’s what. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to meet some of my favorite bloggers in real life. Those ladies that I’ve admired and enjoyed over the last year or so came alive in person as we met up, hugged, talked and shared about our lives and blogging experiences together. You can just imagine how much fun it was and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I think that blogging has changed all our lives in some pretty big ways, bringing people together who would normally never meet or interact. What miles separate, blogging brings together and that’s what we all had in common. A love of blogging! These girls all ‘get’ the blog world, unlike many of our real life friends.

After arriving on Friday morning, I immediately began spotting those familiar faces that I’ve met online through blogging and those kindred spirits that have drawn me into friendship. Two of the first ladies that I met were Melissa from The Inspired Room and Sandy from 4 Reluctant Entertainers. Both of these ladies have been a huge inspiration to me since I started blogging and it was so much fun to meet them both in person. Wonderful, friendly and exactly as I thought they would be, it’s a joy to now consider them real life friends.

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Another special friend that I’ve met this past year is Susie, from Bienvenue. She’s such a petite little thing, so sweet and we had so much fun chatting and getting to know each other. She brought her sister along too.

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Two more wonderful friends that I’ve wanted to meet, Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and the infamous Nester. I’m sure most of your have been to see The Nester and she is just as delightful in person and we enjoyed talking decorating and blogging. Jen was one of my roommates and such a positive and joyful person. It’s amazing when you read someone’s blog that you get a mental picture of how that person will be and I have to say, everyone of these ladies was exactly as I imagined them to be. In all the years that I’ve been meeting online friends, it’s such a surreal feeling of all being in the same room together and not just looking at a computer screen. That camaraderie really bridges the gap.

 

 

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Me, Kimba, and The Nester. Another one of my 2 roomies, Kimba of A Soft Place to Land. Kimba is just a super sweet soul and I just adore her perkiness.

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We were set up in a conference room in Nashville, so didn’t have to leave the hotel if we didn’t want to. There were panels, discussions, questions and answers…all about blogging. Blogging, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, is VERY hot and very big business these days. I think most of us who attended are serious about our blogs and were looking for tips on improving our blogs, as well as growing them to their full potential. There were lots of panel discussions about being true to ourselves when blogging, how to monetize blogs for profit, making blogs pretty, and much more. So much to take in and absorb, but it truly was a fun and creative experience and I’m so glad I went. If you want to read more about this conference, go here and take a look at the Schedule of panel discussions. If you’re serious about blogging, you may want to consider going next year. It was small enough not to get lost in the crowd and some valuable information from seasoned bloggers was shared.

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Julia, from Hooked on Houses and me. Julia was a lot of fun, very friendly and I enjoyed catching up with her. I only wish I’d had more time with all of them.

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Julia and Susie. IMG_4079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susie’s sister, Missy (Southern Queen Bee), Julia, Susie, and me.

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Me and Melissa, a friend from Atlanta, I met while shopping with Eddie Ross. She’s a sweetheart and I loved getting to know her better too.

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New mom, Meredith, from Like Merchant Ships. She was one of the panelists and I love her frugal blog. Been following her for awhile now.

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Me, Kimba, and The Nester. What fun to just hang out with these ladies. The decorating girls all have a lot in common.

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Angie and Amy just started a new blog, called I Heart Faces, a photography website. Check out their cute PJ’s!

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Kimba, me and another sweetie that I loved meeting, Pink and Polka Dot. Love her! And she gave us the cutest little personalized key chains, mine was zebra with my name on it.

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We had a special DVD screening of a new Yanni album produced by Disney that is coming out soon and it was really fun to watch. These 2 guys were the lead vocalists on the DVD and after we saw them on the screen, they appeared right in front of our eyes. I didn’t catch their names, but WOW, could they sing!

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Another new friend right here in Decatur, AL, that I’ve visited before but now will visit regularly, this is Christy from Southern Plate. She has a beautiful food blog and she and I are going to get some bloggy things cookin’ together!

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A big group of us went out to dinner on Saturday night to The Aquarium, a seafood restaurant right in the local mall. It was quite the sight, a huge aquarium built right into the middle of the restaurant, so fish were swimming by as we ate. How funny is seeing a real life scuba diver from your table!

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And fish swimming by.

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A large stingray, anyone?

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Or a shark, oh yeah!

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The three roomies, Kimba, Jen, and me. What fun we had. Not much sleep, but a whole bunch of fun.

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And the whole dinner group, Emily (Nester’s sister) Chatting at the Sky, me, Jen, Sandy, Melissa, Kimba and The Nester.

Also, check out Edie’s blog, Life on Grace, for a great recap of the conference!

Bye for now, ladies…I count all of you as my real life friends now. We’ll have to do it all again next year!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized 80 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelia says

    February 9, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Hi Rhoda! Oh, it looks like you had a fabulous time! It’s so great you got to meet up with some of our friends! I would have loved to have been there too!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia;)

    Reply
  2. SarahWhite says

    February 9, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Looks like a wonderful time was had by all! You’ve had so many changes in your life the past 5-6 years and I’ve enjoyed sharing in them all. It’s nice to see people doing something they love.

    Thanks for the tip on The Commissary…my sil went yesterday and brought me by a card…I told her I’d already been clued in by you. I can’t wait to check it out.

    Reply
  3. justabeachkat says

    February 9, 2009 at 11:32 pm

    Rhoda

    Looks like you had a blast! I’ve never been to any of the blog conferences, but I know I would enjoy them. Great photos.

    Hugs!
    Kat

    Reply
  4. tommiejo says

    February 9, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    Sounds like a great time was had by all!

    Reply
  5. sarah abeachcottage says

    February 10, 2009 at 12:51 am

    hi rhoda

    what a great report, only wish I coulda been there to meet you and all the other lovely gals, sounds like just soooo much fun but not just that to be among people who get blogging and could offer help would be nice…

    Sarah

    Reply
  6. Jyl @ MommyGossip says

    February 10, 2009 at 1:46 am

    Such a fun picture summary. And, I have to say that you have got to be one of the most photogenic people evah! You look simply amazing in all of these pics.

    Thanks for sharing your recap. Hope to get to know you better through your blog and twitter!

    Reply
  7. Amber says

    February 10, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Thanks for the recap!! That conference looks just as fun as I imagined it was going to be!!!

    Next year……definitely next year.

    🙂

    Reply
  8. Bonita says

    February 10, 2009 at 9:52 am

    Okay this is way too many of my favorite bloggy people in one place. I didn’t go. What was I thinking?

    I’m so glad ya’ll had a grand time!

    Reply
  9. Rue says

    February 10, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Good morning Rhoda 🙂

    It looks like everyone had a great time! I’m too shy to go to that kind of thing, but it was wonderful to see everyone 🙂

    I love Grandma Eleanor’s house! I feel so badly for her, because I can understand loving a house like that. I can’t imagine leaving a 90 year old woman by herself though. I loved that picture of Peter with her. He looks like a big kid 🙂

    Your house is so beautiful and I always enjoy seeing pictures of it. Oh and congratulations on 2 years of blogging!

    hugs,
    rue

    Reply
  10. cindy says

    February 10, 2009 at 10:34 am

    I am so inspired by you. When I grew up my mom never, ever decorated. Anything!
    We have been climbing a huge personel mountain for 5 years now and your blog has given me inpsiration to try new things to our home.
    Thanks

    Reply
  11. Katie says

    February 10, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    All the famous bloggers I like. Looks like lots of fun. You look great Rhonda!

    Reply
  12. DebraK from ~the Bunnies Bungalow~ says

    February 10, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve been reading all the posts about the conference and it looks like you guys had a great time! Thanks for all the pix and I hope to go next year.
    Hugs, Debrak

    Reply
  13. Ms. Tee says

    February 10, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Hi Rhoda~ How much fun to see pictures of you and everyone else together. Hope you have a great week!

    Reply
  14. Liz says

    February 10, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    So exciting! Glad to see so many familiar faces having such a good time!

    Reply
  15. Tara says

    February 11, 2009 at 4:02 am

    R

    What a great time you had at the conference! I am a reader of Melissa’s…how nice for you to meet everyone in person! Thanks for taking me along, I enjoyed the ride!

    Reply
  16. Lauren says

    February 11, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Hey Rhody,

    Nana said you had fun at the blog thing. It looks like you did!
    love you,
    lauren

    Reply
  17. Cindy ~ My Romantic Home says

    February 11, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    It looks like so much fun! How tall are you! You are the tallest in all the photos so either you’re tall or they are all short???

    I’m 5’7″ in case anyone cares. haha!

    Reply
  18. Cote de Texas says

    February 12, 2009 at 12:57 am

    This looks like so much fun! Gosh – you are so tall and skinny – like a model!!! You are too drop dead gorgeous – seriously!

    Reply
  19. Laura @ the shorehouse. says

    February 16, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    I. Am. So. Jealous.

    🙂

    Looks like you had an amazing time!

    Reply
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  1. balance in blogging says:
    January 23, 2010 at 5:04 am

    […] getting ready to go to the Blissdom conference in Nashville in just a few short days.  I went last year and had a blast and this year it’s going to be twice as big.  I wish I could meet up with […]

    Reply

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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