When you get 500 women bloggers together, it can be quite intimidating, but I think for me the best part about a conference like Blissdom is bringing together women who have a passion for what they are doing and sharing and all of that just naturally spills out. Mommy blogging is really where this whole blog phenomenon started and now there are niches all across the blogosphere. We all know those in our own niche, but don’t know that much about even the bigger blogs out there who may be really well-known in the mommy blog world. And vice versa. They don’t know much about our home decor niche either.
I can’t say I learned a ton of new things this year, but it was fun even so. Last year, we learned more about the business side of blogging and our heads were spinning from all of it. My blog has grown in the last year and I’m grateful for that and I think that most that attend Blissdom are looking to grow their blogs to a professional level. I sure didn’t have a clue that it would be that way when I started blogging, so it’s nice to have a conference like this that addresses all aspects of blogging. And sharing ideas with the other girls in this niche was really a plus too. It’s nice to be able to bounce things off each other and I’ve found that asking questions of other bloggers is how I’ve learned more than anything.
This is Alli, who is well-known as a mommy blogger, as well as a pioneer in social media and she is the brilliant brains behind this conference. She and many other women put it together and did a seamless job with it all. The Gaylord Opryland was a great place to have this conference and wow, did we feel pampered and special. I’ll introduce you to some of the women I met and hung out with and then we’ll get to the topics of the conference and I’ll give a recap of what I took home with me. 
Darcy and Edie. Darcy is a fantastic graphic designer, blogger and photographer. You might remember last year that Edie is the one I featured with the gorgeous turquoise kitchen redo.
Emily, Emily, Lindsay, Kimba – All great ladies to hang out with.
A blurry pic of Melissa and Nester, both of whom I met last year. It was great to see them again, even though we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together.
Kimba and Layla, both of whom I adore.
Melissa, Kimba, me, and Layla
Edie, Pink & Polka Dot (who doesn’t like to share her name) and me.
Beckie, Kimm, and Julia. I had met Julia last year and it was fun to reconnect and to meet all the newbies who came this time.
Kim, me, and Kate, who is just a bubbly and effervescent little sprite and I had a blast with her.
Me, Julia, Kimba, Kristen, Kate, Jessica
Traci, me and Layla. Traci, it was SO great to meet you. She’s so genuinely nice and sweet.
Me, Kate, Edie, Layla
And these 2 fun gals were my roomies, both from Alabama. We had the best time. Christy has a wonderful food blog called Southern Plate and her blog has shot up there. She is just about to publish her own cookbook of good down-home cooking. Shannon is my friend from Southern Beauty and she has a beautiful blog also.
Someone had the brilliant idea that we should pose like Charlie’s Angels. OK, so we are all blondes, we went for it anyway.
Shannon, Christy, and me waiting for Harry to come out and sing for all of us. That was so much fun getting to hear him in person. We all got to have our pics taken with him after the concert and if I find it, I’ll share it with you too. What a treat that was!
Julia, me and Kate
Sarah (Thrifty Decor Chick), Beckie, Julia and me. Really, the best part was putting names and faces together and getting to all be in the same place at the same time. Yes, pure bliss!
The group from InCourage had a nice suite set up for a big party and we stopped by for a few minutes and had a cupcake.
Our last lunch on Saturday was really fun, when the home bloggers sat at tables next to each other and we all got to catch up a bit and visit. Such a special time together.
They totally fed us well while we were there. 
Kate, Emily and JJ from Blah Blah Blahger Blog.
My friend, Layla, did a hilarious video over at her blog, so check it out too. That girl should be on TV all the time. 🙂
So, what did I learn? I’ll give you a recap of the sessions that were offered. There were 2 going on each time, so we could choose the one that fit our needs the best:
Personal Branding – Defining You online
Connecting with Your Community of Readers
Community Chest – Community Powerhouse Sites
Striking a Balance – online and offline
Leveraging Social Media to Build your Business
Blogging with the Stars
Evolving into a Professional Blogger
Getting Published
Niche Blogging
Content is Queen
You can see that there were quite an array of topics covered and there were many successful bloggers on the panels sharing their ideas and insights.
Some of the things that I’ve learned for myself are this, not necessarily from the conference, but some things I need to do for me:
- Whether or not my blog continues to grow, I’m happy with the success I’ve had. It takes a lot of work to be a success at blogging and as I mentioned in this post a couple weeks ago, balancing it all is the hardest part and the thing that I need to work on the most. I want to continue to make my blog the very best it can be, but that also means keeping it all in balance.
- I set myself up about a year ago and began posting almost every day and I’m going to have to step back from that schedule and give myself some breathing room. So, instead of posting 6 or 7 times a week, you’ll most likely see me posting about 4 to 5 times a week. It’s just too hard to keep up the pressure of putting a fabulous post out there. Visiting and commenting on other blogs will have to take a backseat as well.
- I’ve got my own priorities here at my home that I need to put first. My husband (after God) has to be a the top of the list and blogging somewhere down the line. I have closets to clean and some projects to complete and I’ll share those as I can, but I can’t put pressure on myself to keep up with the frantic output of projects across the blogosphere and taking care of my own home is top priority.
So, the big word on my plate right now is this: BALANCE
Not always easy to do, but something that I must get a handle on. I love blogging and love all the connections I’ve made, but we all have to live our lives in a balanced fashion and stepping back from the computer when needed is what I’ll be doing.
Many of you are blogging for fun and if you never plan to take it to the next level, you may not even consider going to a blogging conference. The relationships are great and to me, that’s the best part of Blissdom. Friendships and cameraderie are the best! I hope this gave you a glimpse of what Blissdom was like and you can decide for yourself if it’s something you’d like to try next year. I hope to go back in 2011 for another fun time with all these girls!
Thanks so much for this post, Rhoda!
I enjoyed seeing the photos and I saw Layla’s video, yesterday. What a hoot! Lots of fun!
Blogging is a hobby, for me, as you know. It’s at a manageable size, at the moment. I still have time for J and family and home, without feeling pressure and would love to keep it that way, although the Back Porch has grown more than I ever expected it to. I hope to keep going with the variety of posts, I’ve settled into. I enjoyed hearing about the conference and will look at some of the blogs you mentioned.
We’re in the midst of planning a trip to middle Tennessee, hopefully during the time the azalea’s bloom, this year. A night at the Gaylord Opryland is definitely in the works and I’ve already had some e-mail exchange with the hotel. With more snowfall, yesterday, I’m ready for Spring and gardens!
Rhoda,
Thank you for sharing more of your weekend. I understand why so many rush for those tickets! Hopefully, next year we will be able to sit across from each other and I can thank you personally for all the inspiration you’ve given me.
I posted about the blogging conference I attended this weekend in NJ.
Deborah
As you said, it’s so nice to put the face with the name (or the blog). Sounds like a wonderful time!
Rhoda,
What a great wrap up of BlissDom. It was just so much fun, wasn’t it? The very best part was meeting all of my favorite bloggers. And I can never express how much your kindness meant to me. You are a precious person!
Can’t wait til next year! 🙂
Traci
It sounds like you had a fabulous time, Rhoda. It amazes me at the direction that blogging has taken in the last year or so. Who would’ve ever thought? I loved seeing all of your pictures. When you read other blogs, you often don’t see who the blogger is because they have the camera! It’s fun to see faces.
I do hope you find the balance that you desire. It is difficult to find it daily with a family as it is, so the pressure of blogging has got to be hard at times. I guess that is why I’ve never stepped out of my blogging box…..I am afraid to loose balance.
Hopefully you will get a little downtime this week to absorb the full weekend.
Cheers, Jennifer
It looks like you all had such a great time getting to know each other. So special to meet new friends and connect. Hugs, Marty
Rhoda, Oh the B word that is a hard one whether you blog or not. I so appreciate you giving us the information you have given and I also appreciate your willingness to reach out to other bloggers. I know you have been a big help to me personally and I hope to someday meet you. I feel as if we already know eachother. That is because of your open and down to earth personality. You keep balance and we will all be here waiting in the wings for the next bit of information you are ready to share, xoxo Kathysue
Rhoda,
Thanks for sharing Blissdom with those of us that could not attend. It sounds like a fabulous time. Good luck to the balancing act, it can be hard, but you can do it and all of us will still continue to read your blog no matter how many times you are able to post…remember that.
Thanks for sharing so much, Rhoda. BlissDom sounds like a lot of fun… with some education and inspiration thrown in. I’ll keep it on my radar and if I’m still doing this next year, I’d love to attend. If only to meet all the great women!
I’m working on “balance” myself right now. Not only do I have a husband and a home (and a nomadic nineteen year old), I also have a full-time job! Why I thought I had time to blog is anyone’s guess…!
Thanks for the honest assessment of BlissDom, Rhoda. It’s really interesting to hear what different attendees have to say.
I think my favorite part would be getting to know people like you in person. I’ve gotten to meet a few bloggers in real life, and that makes me appreciate their blogs all the more.
I applaud you as you seek after balance in your life. I’ve only been blogging for nine months or so now, but I’m amazed how many more blogs there are now than when I started. The blog universe is getting to be huge. Makes me wonder what things were like before there were blogs. . . and what’s next. Funny to think that there will be SOMETHING next, isn’t it?
Take care!
Thanks for the wonderful recap…..and BALANCE is my new word….
Hi Rhoda,
This was so much fun to read about! I have met several bloggers and I have enjoyed it so much. A lot of the women in your pics seem to fit the age of mommy bloggers. I was wondering if that was the main focus or not. It looked like a great place to stay! Cindy
Rhoda this was such a fun and interesting post! It’s really nice to put faces with blog names. Everyone looks beautiful!
I’m not sure I really understand the whole *professional* aspect of blogging at all. To me it’s just fun and inspiring to see gorgeous decorating projects. The online friendsips are an added and wonderful bonus.
Have a blessed week. ~Melissa 🙂
I have enjoyed looking at all the pictures from blissdom that everyone has shared. What a fun trip! I completely agree that there needs to be a balance with blogging and life. In the short time I have done this, I have realized how easy it is to get caught up in the blog world. Finding a balance is hard, but so important.
Have a great week!
Hey Rhoda,
Cute site with some fun pictures. Looks like a great conference. I’m new to the blogging world, and I found your site through our mutual friend at Smelling Coffee.
Thanks for sharing your site and your life…
Melanie
I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet at Blissdom. I saw you a few times and wanted to introduce myself, but always got distracted. The amount of beauty and talent in the ballroom was overwhelming!
I struggle with balance, too. I love hearing how other bloggers handle it because it inspires me to shift the parts of my routine that aren’t working.
Great recap post!
So so glad I got to meet you, Rhoda. Was very much looking forward to it!
My only gripe about conferences is there never seems to be enough time to catch up with everyone, and I always end up wishing for a bit more time.
You had one of the best seats in the house for Harry!
Wonderful post Rhoda….so nice to see all the faces…and yipee some new ones for me to check out 🙂
I feel like you about the friendships…well look if Ihadn’t came to this little peice of the net I never would have met you….and so many other nice gals 🙂
Balance is key in life….very hard to find it though….
I seriously don’t know how you keep up !!! But i must admit that when I am busy I tend to get more things done….when I have lots of time on my hands, I end up chasing my tail….
HARRY OMG I just love him…..love his voice but I so enjoyed him on Will & Grace…that show was too funny !!!
All the best,
Kathy 🙂
Great recap Rhoda! I love your pictures, you got some really great ones. It was truly my pleasure to meet you, one of my IDOLS in this blogging world. You are doing a fabulous job, whether you choose to post every day or a few times per week. We’ll all be here every time!! 🙂
Hope to see you again next year, thanks so much for including us newbies in the “home group”!
Will it be in the same city next year? Is it invite only or open to all bloggers?
Great pics!!!!