Weather Anchor Mama: Blogher 12 (Part One)

It took months of planning, and my very first day of #Blogher12 went off without a hitch. It's easy to over think such a grand conference. With over 5,000 bloggers in attendance, who wouldn't? It's so easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with everything. I was able to avoid all that by keeping things simple (which meant not trying to get to everything, and everyone).

Before booking my spot I asked myself, "What do I want accomplish from this blog conference?" The answer was pretty easy. My goal was to build connections with other bloggers and companies. However, I did more than that. I walked away feeling so empowered.

We began the day with breakfast for 'newbies,' where we pretty much got the lay of the land. It was so much fun getting to know other first time attendees, and share blogging experiences.

Then it was off to speed dating! It was a great way to break the ice and get our feet wet by chatting with other writers. But, I couldn't wait to get to the main event. Some would probably say the Martha Stewart interview was the highlight of the day. But for me, it was the sessions!

I attended the Brand Blogger Connection panel where we met writers of various publications, including Denene Millner of My Brown Baby. She shared some insightful messages like, "Stay true to your voice and values." Believe it or not, it's easy for some people to get caught up in all the blogger hype. The panel talked about people compromising their integrity in order to work for a particular brand. As a blogger, it's important to know your voice and stay consistent.

Denene Millner My Brown Baby

I later caught up with Quiana Agbai from Harlem Love Birds! She invited me as her plus one to the Room Key's Roof Top party. After following her blog over the last year, it was great to meet her in person.