Find Your Bliss, Part Dos: Firework

I promised to be back in a few days when I wrote my first Blissdom 2011 post, but umm yea, I got a little distracted with life.  I wish I could travel from conference to conference, but I have that family to think about, and well, the full-time job that pays the bills.

Day 2 of Blissdom for me, was the main conference.  It started off with a quick breakfast and a meeting for me. I was the Newbie Tribe Leader and I met with the other Tribe Leaders before the Opening Keynote started.

Since I was also an official photographer, I captured this great photo of Lisa, Tsh, and Arianne before our tribe leader meeting. We were each given table numbers, and guided to where our groups would be.  We had a quick meeting and then it was time to get seated for the keynote. I was already obsessed with the song “Firework” from Katy Perry but after the beginning of the Opening Keynote at Blissdom, and this video, well I’m hooked.

I was amazed and awed at the Opening Keynote from Brene Brown. She is an amazing woman and spoke on shame, and also on vulnerability.  I constantly find myself clenched up, because I don’t want to be vulnerable.  I’ve had too many people take advantage of my vulnerability.

Listening to Brene speak was amazing, and she helped understand some of the thoughts that I have been having lately.  I have a ton of self doubt, and sometimes I’m afraid to make that step forward.  I really need to take more chances, and focus on goals.

My most favorite part of her keynote was talking about “finding people who will be there to move a body.”  She talked about trust and the relationships in your life.  It makes me think about “who would I call, to move a body if I needed to?”  Ironically, a few days later, I had a situation in real life, where I had to think about this.  The situation wasn’t really part of my life, but I did giggle a little and think of Brene.

After the keynote, we broke into our tribes and groups.  I was the newbie leader, and I helped place my “newbies” into other groups mostly.  I asked some of the women, what they blog about, or what they want to blog about more.  I was able to find them the right person to connect with for more mentoring.  I know many bloggers in many different niches, so if anyone is ever looking for networking, I’m pretty good about finding them the right people to work with.  I really need to mentor myself better…

After tribe break-outs, and lunch, the sessions began.  I started off with So You Say You Want a Revolution?: Peek Behind the Curtain of PR-Blogger Relations, and moved into Innovative Writing Techniques: How To Keep Your Audience Breathless. I appreciated the great speakers from both sessions.  The PR-Blogger Relations sessions was soo needed.  I wish more PR people would speak like they did.  I’m constantly getting hit with awful PR pitches that make my eyes roll.  And the Innovative Writing Techniques, well, bacon and ninjas plus video, what more could you ask for?

In between the sessions and taking photographs, I took an ice cream break.  I fell in love with Blue Bunny Ice Cream at last year’s Blissdom.  I had to spread the news about Blue Bunny at this year’s event too.  It is simply amazing and everyone must try it. I may have had at least five of these birthday party cones during the conference, because they were THAT good. I wish we had Blue Bunny in Southern California. Do you here that Blue Bunny? We WANT YOU in Southern California, Orange County if you want to narrow it down a little.

We then had another break, and it was time to head to more sessions. My time was focuses on the “Ignorance is Not Bliss: Decoding Legal and Tax Implications of Your Success” panel, which was also called the “LAWsome” panel. I’m in that in-between place right now with my blog, whether it is a hobby or a business.  I am also a photo blogger so it was great to hear about using photos in blogs, and copyright issues.  Last week, I talked to my accountant, about my blog and photography as a business.  I gave him my receipts and he was shocked.  He didn’t realize that you could make MONEY doing things like blogging.  I told him a few stories of how much money so of my friends were making.  We set a plan for 2011 and my blog, so now I’m paying more attention to the accounting and finances portion of blogging.

After a quick dinner, I got dressed and headed out for the Total Bliss at the District, Red Carpet Event with Michelle Branch and Mat Kearney singing. I walked the Red Carpet with Kelly before we made our grand entrance.

Photo by Hannah Braboy

When we arrived, Michelle Branch was already singing.  Everyone had their cameras, video cameras, and cellphones out recording the event.  It was pretty funny, because you had to watch out where you walk, so that you wouldn’t get in the way. After Michelle Branch was done with her set, Mat Kearney came on stage and performed. The concert was excellent and perfect for this smaller venue.

After the concert was over, the DJ starting playing some music and the dancing began. My best memories from Blissdom 10′ were from dancing.
I had to include a great big photo of me in the collage, right?  I handed off the camera to someone else to take some pictures for a bit.  That is the problem when you are a photographer, you are never in photos! Plus, I love to dance!

Angie Arthur is one of my most favorite photographers, and she always gets the best pictures of people dancing.  I love to look at all of her photos.  She got some great ones, but this is one of my favorites. Kelly is quite the dancer, and she was showing off her moves!

Photo by Angie Arthur

After all of this dancing, and conferencing, you would think we would be tired? Nope, Kelly and I headed over to the (in)courage Suite to take a break and say “Hi” to everyone. It was nice and relaxing, plus they had cupcakes! Janice dropped to one knee while we were there, and somewhat proposed to Kelly.  I can’t even remember the entire conversation, but it was late, and we laughed a lot.

But of course, we didn’t go to bed after this. Kelly and I made our way back to the dance floor for a bit, and danced some more.  We were on the hunt for our roommate, Laurie, and got lost along the way. We finally became exhausted and headed back towards our hotel room.  And we should have known, Laurie was already in the room, waiting for us.

My last Blissdom11′ recap post will be sometime next week! Stay tuned for Find Your Bliss, Part Tres!