I want to start by saying that if you really wanted to go to Blissdom & couldn’t, I am truly sorry-I sincerely hope that you get to come next year!! I am writing this post to chronicle my experience at my first Blissdom & my first blogging conference.
“Each moment in time we have it all, even when we think we don’t.” -Melody Beattie
I loved it. Honestly and truly- overall I loved it!
I will go back. (Blissdom 2012 or BUST!)
I cried. a few times actually.
I ugly cried on a strangers shoulder (best part of the whole conference & I’ll tell you about it someday, right now it’s to raw)
I danced.
I laughed.
Alli & I chatting at the pj party
I ran around like a chicken with it’s head cut-off. I did NOT care about my hair or how much weight I still ‘have’ to lose. I just let loose and enjoyed myself & I’m posting some not so flattering pictures of myself because I love the people I’m in them with!
I tweeted, facebooked, took notes, pictures, business cards….
Oh the business cards!
I walked the red carpet-twice.
Erin,Sandra, me & Brittany Photo Credit:Pretty Handy Girl
I got out of my pjs/yoga pants & into actual clothes & makeup and I blow-dried AND straightened my hair 4 days in a ROW. wait- stop the presses- I SHOWERED everyday! (Seriously us moms know what a feat this is!)
I ate ice cream, lobster rolls, popcorn, coffee-lots of coffee, and all kinds of yummy food.
I lost 2 pounds. How? The hotel is 50 acres. inside.
view from my room
I saw what can happen when you organize people online- you can have a true Nashville Party!
I went to meet the people I talk with all the time online and I ended up hanging out with people I had never imagined. I made my 5 friendships that I was aiming for. I met the 5 bloggers (with the exception of Emily who couldn’t go this year!) I told you I wanted to meet. But I made something else too- I made me. More accurately- I found me. People knew of my blog. seriously. I didn’t think anyone but those I was tweeting with would. But they did. It was validating. It was liberating. Someone called me so fun.
I teared up when this opening video montage aired and this song played.
“C’mon show ‘em how you work…make ‘em go ah ah ah” The air in the room was electric. Women. Bloggers. Women Bloggers. As my new friend Kari said in her piece at the Huffington Post: We RULE.
I teared up because I felt validated. I don’t just ‘kill time’ on the computer and chat with my ‘online friends’
I AM A BLOGGER.
I HAVE A MESSAGE.
I WILL CHANGE SOMEONE’S LIFE (MINE).
I AM WORTH IT.
that realization is worth the money, time and energy spent to get me there. I am telling my Shame where to go and how exactly to get there. I will un-market with the best of them. I will drop a love bomb & know that it starts with us. (I will be writing more about all 4 of these people/organizations soon!-truly inspirational!)
And I will do it with a smile and the hope that someday when I tell someone I blog they won’t give me that ‘oh thats niiiice.’ look.
Until then I KNOW. deep down in me I KNOW that these women get me. I saw it. I felt it. I lived it.
It was worth it.
I was worth it to go.
These 5 women had the biggest impact on me while I was there PLEASE go visit them and give them some love!
Good Enough Is The New Perfect!
And now I’ll leave you with some pictures:
People (top right to left: Miss Mustard Seed, Kristen, Sandra, Kim, Layla, Erin, Ashley:
Next row: Brittany & Me:
3rd row: Me, Maggie, Emily, Lisa)
This was taken the very first night I got there-one of my favorite moments from the whole conference! Photo Credit:Rhoda
People: Rhoda, Shaunna, Layla, Erin, Ashley & Me
Erin & I at the kick-off party
Sandra & Lisa
People: Sandra & Lisa
Still did not get a picture of Jo-Lynne & I together but I did see her there! 
Have a Happy Day,
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You know I JUST got that Katy Perry song out of my head, and now it’s right back in
love it
Such a great event! I love reading about people’s experiences.
Go get em firework
I too, love Blissdom- it’s fun but more than that it’s different because of all the talent that is there and truly wants to collaborate and help each other. Your keynote was eye-opening because it is common sense (relationships) but we are so beaten with the whole “SEO/RT/do this/don’t do that” part of blogging we forget that we are just people who like to share & talk. Thank you.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristi and Kristi, Kristi. Kristi said: Baby You're a Firework! #blissdom re-cap http://bit.ly/evlhDb w/video/pics & these lovely ppl: @pureandlovely @jolynnemusings @sandandsisal [...]
This post is so full of awesome.
So proud of you!
xoxo
Alli recently posted..Jockey Lights the Fuse at BlissDom’11
Thank you! I’m so proud of you for creating a space where women can come together not in competition but truly together. It was so helpful & yes, I felt a little loved on so mission accomplished
Wow…it looks like you had a great time and the conference really affected you in a positive way. This was a lovely post and I’m happy I read it. Obviously, being older, it didn’t have the same impact to me but I loved reading from your perspective. Have a lovely day up there in the cold nether regions.
Lynn MacDonald (All Fooked Up) recently posted..In which i learned stuff at Blissdom- part one!
Lynn,
I think that there are some people (being older) who did have the same eye-opening experience. I believe it just depends on what you expected to get out of it. I loved reading about the twitter followers in the bathroom (so funny!) and look forward to reading more from you. I do hope that your experience (though different from mine) was just as good!
Talk soon.
Kristi, this was AWESOME. You are AWESOME and Blissdom was…well, you know! I am so glad I went because I came away with a few REAL LIFE friendships too and I had no expectation of that happening. Actually, I had no expectations at all as I was consumed up to the morning I left with getting this darn house on the market. I guess no expectations are the best way to go because then there’s no way to be disappointed. Loved hanging out so much!
Sandra, you are one of the best things that I got out of Blissdom. I didn’t go there with many expectations (other than to have fun & push myself out of my comfort zone) but to meet you and Brittany who accepted me and didn’t care that I’m not as ‘big’ as you was a wonderful surprise. Thanks for being goofy & fun & beautiful
What a great post Kristi! I was so happy to meet you IRL. I’m terribly bummed we didn’t get our pic taken together! How that didn’t happen I have no clue since we were together so much! The Blissdom time was so impactful on validating our purpose and your post speaks volumes to that! Hugs to you girlfriend!
Kim @ Sand & Sisal recently posted..Painting Stripes Made Easy
You calling me so fun was a great moment for me (most people think I’m quiet/shy)! I loved meeting you IRL and yes- how the heck did we NOT get a picture together??? Thanks for the comment (and the follow on Twitter-haha!)
Love this! I was so happy to meet you! Confession – I don’t think anyone has ever used my button before! I was so excited to see it! Woohoo!
What I learned was to own my blog which I definitely didn’t do before I went. Oh, and I need to learn some networking skills from you! You are awesome, girl!
Erin, I am honored that I was the first to use your button
And yes, you and I need to learn to own our blogs. Big or small they are OURS! I have no networking skills- I’m just me 
You were so sweet & it was so lovely to meet you!
Kristi, it was so wonderful to meet you at Blissdom!
You are so sweet and I’m so proud that you just enjoyed every minute!
xo
Myra @ My Blessed Life recently posted..Blissdom Lovelies my memories
If we are talking about who is sweet then you win the prize girl! I just adore you and I can’t tell you how fun this whole thing has been for me! Meeting you & everyone else, choosing to take in everything even if I felt like I was ‘missing out’ by not going somewhere else with other people, choosing to find new people each day to meet. It was just amazing and I’ll be back every year there is a Blissdom because I loved it so much!
Oh my gosh! I just burst into tears, Kristi! Your post was already moving me to tears, and then I saw my button listed; wow! I thought you rocked so hard, and it is just the best feeling to know that you liked me, too!
I’m keeping this post in my reader to remind me of the awesomeness that was Blissdom, and to read some of these affirmations to myself over the coming weeks when I start to get shaky and have doubts. *Mwah!*
Tiffany- you are an amazing person and I enjoyed hanging with you at Blissdom! I can’t wait to start winning some stuff from your site *wink wink* lol I look forward to watching you grow as a person & a blogger!
Hi Kristi, So glad to have met you this morning on Twitter and to find this amazing post! So inspiring.
Thanks for sharing this, makes me feel like I was there, at least a litte
Look forward to getting to know you!
Jessica @ Decor Adventures recently posted..My New Craft Corner
Likewise! Thanks for your lovely comment!
Great post!!! It was such a wonderful time and I enjoyed meeting you so much! I teared up during that opening presentation too! (And several other times!)
Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish recently posted..Blissdom …
It was kind of hard to not tear up! So much love, knowledge, acceptance…*sigh* I just loved it all! It was wonderful meeting you! Can’t wait to maybe work together on a project or something!
You captured the experience beautifully!
Polly recently posted..Blissdom 2011
I also was very moved by the opening speaker Brene. She was awesome and I’ll forever think of the conference when I hear that song.
She was life changing for sure. I just bought her digital book (and Scott’s too!) Both of them were amazing speakers and really made you think. That song *is* Blissdom for me.
So glad we met & so happy to count you as a new bloggy friend! 
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
It was so nice to meet you! I am glad to know that you made it all the way back home.
You are adorable and so much fun. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better! Lisa~
Awwww….that first night really was so fun!!!!
I’m so glad we finally got to meet in person, and hope to see you again next year!
XOXO
Layla recently posted..The Kids Room – A Guest Post By Holly Mathis
I will be going next year! It was so much fun & I really learned a lot- not to mention met some really lovely people!
[...] it all started when I went to BlissDom last year and met a few people from GE. I left my business card and didn’t expect to hear [...]