It's always nice when I get to arrive to a blog conference in a non tow truck! ;)
But frankly, I should have known this weekend was going to be awesome when I scored free street parking in West Hollywood on Friday night.
No, really, this never happens.
I even took a photo to mark the ocassion.
After a brief dance of joy (you're welcome for that link), there was sangria, sliders and charcuterie in a bar predominantly filled with gay men. All the makings of a lovely evening.
Saturday night, I saw this little up and coming band at a club (they're going places!) and Sunday night I spent the night with Michael Buble (yeah I phrased it that way on purpose - I'll keep dreaming).
But the BEST part of my weekend was participating in the Lifestyle Blogger Conference in Downtown Los Angeles. I spoke on a panel offering advice to a diverse audience of 100 bloggers on how to best work with brands and reps. It's a topic I am rather passionate about -- especially since I come at it from two angles.
I get terribly nervous whenever I have to speak in front of a group. I do. Despite my outgoing nature, I worry about how I'll look or what I might say by accident. I know that when I get up in front of a room, I tend to rant and when I'm sharing the stage, as I was on Saturday, I panic that I'll inadvertently hog the mic. I know how I am -- when a thought pops into my head, I need to get it out of my mouth immediately and often times it forces people to perceive me as bitchy or as a know-it-all. It's not that - just nerves.
But in any case, it all seemed to go well. I cannot believe how kind everyone was before, during and afterward. I met some truly amazing ladies and already have drink dates scheduled with some of them (I did sort of mention on the panel that I can be bought with cash or vodka). My co-panelists, Jose Resendez of Fleishman Hillard and Lisa Rocha of Ilaments, could not have been nicer or more knowledgable. And what an absolute honor for our panel to be moderated by one of my blogging idols, Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista (hopefully she's not sick of hearing me tell everyone how amazing and fabulous she is).
Thank you so much to my fellow panelists and fellow attendees. Hugs to each and every person that came up to meet me afterward - it means so much to me. And thank you to Ana of Latina Lifetstyle Bloggers and Carolyn of the beloved SoCal Lady Bloggers for their tenacity and patience; for inviting me to participate in this great event. A thousand million thank yous!
Click for additional photos courtesy of Allen Taylor Photography
