Kim from Prairie Mama and Lolli from Better in Bulk will be heading to BlogHer10 in New York City! Mabel’s Labels will be providing transportation, conference pass and three nights at the conference hotel. We cannot wait to see you again Kim, and are looking forward to meeting you Lolli!
Thanks again to all the amazing entries to Mabel’s Labels “Wish You Were Here” Contest. I hope everyone had as much fun as we did!
Mabel’s Labels is pleased to announce the ten finalists of our “Wish You Were Here” Contest. We came up with the idea for this contest after reading and hearing so many stories about bloggers who were unable to attend the BlogHer ’09 conference last week in Chicago.
We asked BlogHer ’09 attendees who they wished could have been there with them at the event. The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to for BlogHer ’10 in New York City and so will the blogger they wished was there.
Thank you to everyone who recorded a video and shared it with us. It was a blast meeting everyone and watching your fantastic entries. Here are the top ten finalists!
I was in Chicago last weekend, attending the BlogHer conference for the first time. In the world of mama blogging, this is the biggie. I was in the company of 1,500 amazing women bloggers — attending great seminars and fabulous parties. It was great fun to see online relationships transform into real life friendships. Really, it was like one big reunion of people who have never actually met before.
In the build up to BlogHer, all the talk was about fashion. This fashion chatter started early on and only got worse. In the final week before BlogHer, the topics flying around Facebook and Twitter focused on what we were wearing, or whether there was time for a French manicure or to lose that last pre-conference10 lbs. It felt like I was getting ready for a really long first date, but one with 1,500 women What was I getting myself into?
I got to thinking about all this fashion fuss. As it turns out, all the fashion hype was in good fun and no one seemed to take themselves too seriously. I did, however, consider a few theories as to why physical appearance was getting so much attention from a bunch of people who spend most of their time getting excited about words and the latest iphone applications.
1) Bloggers spend a lot of their time hiding behind computer screens. The conference provided an opportunity to come out of hiding and show our faces in the light of day. Breaking free from behind-the-screen justifiably warrants some highlights and a mani/pedi.
2) Many bloggers there were mamas. Any opportunity to shed the mama uniform should not be missed. All of our overworked yoga pants deserved a three-day holiday. What a great excuse to go shopping.
3) Our gorgeous profile pictures. No one puts a crappy picture of herself on her profile. That profile picture can be a tough standard to live up to, inspiring all of us to go for that last minute eyebrow wax and other grooming procedures before our in-real-life debuts.
I had the added complication of having to glam up my 12-week-old son. His baby uniform consists entirely of sleepers at this point, so I was hard pressed to turn him into a fashion statement. My solution was to put him in sleepers that had only gone through one or two of his five siblings and if they didn’t have stains on them, I considered it a decent enough effort.
A highlight for me was meeting some other “Mamas of Many”. Mom of quadruplet boys, Jen Murray, was there. I was chatting with Christine Young and Tara Kuczykowski. and discovered that between the three of us we have 17 children.
I returned on Sunday, excited and head spinning from the non-stop conference action. Although overwhelmed and exhausted I’m already counting the days to BlogHer in NYC next year — which leaves me about 12 months to figure out what I’m going to wear.
**Looking glam at one of the parties with my Mabel’s business partner, Mumby.
Yes! It’s true! We are so in love with our BlogHer’09 experience that within 10 minutes of the NYC announcement we bought tickets! And we have one for you and one for your friend.
If you are at BlogHer’09 right now, think about which blogging buddy you wish was here. If you are wishing you were here, contact an pal that is here!
If you do not have access to a webcam or vidcam, find me! I am shooting videos on the Ballroom Level this afternoon (Saturday). I’d love to meet you!
Rules:
The “submitter” = a registered participant of BlogHer’09
The “wish-ee” = a non-registered participant of BlogHer’09
- Both parties must reside in the continental US or Canada.
- Prize includes: Full conference sponsorship, transportation (up to $800 each), one shared room at the Hilton (BlogHer location) for 3 nights.
- Videos should be 1minute or less.
- Videos can be hosted wherever you like, simply provide the link to @mabelhood
- Once submitted, you will be directed to a form to provide further details about your submission.
- Mabel’s Labels has the right to republish the submissions for purposes related to the contest.
- The winners will participate in the contest as Mabel’s Labels representatives (you know, hand out swag & stuff).
- Videos will be accepted through @mabelhood (twitter) until Tuesday July 28th, 2009 at 12am est.
- Mabel’s Labels will choose 10 finalists. They will be notified on Friday July 31.
- The final winner (and wish-ee) will be chosen at random at the Mabel’s Labels Headquarters in Hamilton ON. The announcement will take place on Tuesday August 4th, 2009.
We have been incredibly inspired by our BlogHer experience and look forward to next year!
The Grand Prize winner will receive The grand prize winner will receive a trip to BlogHer’s Annual Conference in Chicago, July 24-25, and will be featured as the event’s chief correspondent on Mabel’s Labels’ blog. The grand prize includes flight, two day conference pass and two nights paid at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.
Please take some time to check out the entries then head over to www.mabel.ca/poll to cast your vote!
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