Fabulous Miss S.

Grace in Small Things, 19 of 365

1. Walks in the sun on an-almost Spring day.
2. The sense of accomplishment I get from realizing I did something moderately technical.
3. Soaring confidence upon the thought of applying for a new writing gig.
4. Slowing down long enough to breathe.
5. Dreams of an extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning when Marc takes Noah downstairs for breakfast.

My road to BlogHer, paved with resourceful, generous and innovative intentions

Ever since I missed the last BlogHer annual conference I was determined to attend the next one.  It was lucky for me that last year the folks at BlogHer (Hiya ladies!) decided to do a BlogHer Reach-Out Tour One-Day Conference dealie that happened to be hosted in DC, about 25 minutes from house.  I signed up, attended, met some people I had only read and some people who have become my close friends and support, cohorts.

After attending and having fun for a day I decided without a doubt in my mind that I would attend the next annual conference, especially since all signs were pointing toward it being on the East Coast -- hopefully nothing more than a three-hour-drive-to-Philly-away.  I am super bummed that the conference is being held in Chicago, but as an ex-event planner I understand space and cost constraints and you certainly can never successfully please the masses. 

I vowed to attend anyway!

BlogHer isn't cheap, ya'll.  For me, at this point, the conference will cost me $300. My airfare will be covered by about-to-expire American Airlines miles and the flights from DC to Chicago are frequent and aplenty.  The largest issue is the hotel cost.  At $199 a night for three nights that brings my total minimum cash output to $900.  NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  I don't work. Outside my home.  My son has yet to put anything in my diaper-change Tip Jar.And I just cannot rationalize spending that much family money on my hobby. 

I have decided to be uber-resourceful and earn at a minimum, fifty percent of my conference costs in order to offset the amount of family money that is used. 

I am selling things on Ebay, considering babysitting a few evenings or upcoming weekends this spring, and combining the ideas of Darryle at Cluttercast and Schmutzie's Free Books.

I will post a list (SOON!) of books, jewelery, and random clutter-turned-treasure items that I no longer need but am sure that someone will want.   All I ask is this, a one dollar ($1) donation to my trip to BlogHer and the cost of shipping (TBD).  

EDITED TO ADD:  This post was composed prior to BlogHer tickets selling out.  I am currently on the waiting list.  If you know anyone is forfeiting a ticket or has a change of plans, please contact me at thestacy @ gmail (dot) com

Thank Yous

Some great friends and bloggers graciously offered to post for me while I was away attempting relaxation and vacationing.  They succeeded in providing you readers with great material more so than I did at catching up on sleep, reading or zenning out. 

In case you missed anything, here is a list of the posts from the past few weeks.

SUPER THANKS to all of those who wrote for me, your content was great, it entertained me and hopefully one of my seven readers.  Just kidding! Ten, there are at least ten of you! 

-- 5 Billion Babies, Earlier, by Vicki Boykis
-- Why I Keep Blogging, by Jodifur
-- Summer of '92, by FishyGirl
-- 10 Reasons I Will Never Be Mother of the Year, by Aardvark
-- For Adrian, by SwopeFiles

Meanwhile

My latest sleepless rant is up over at DC Metro Moms. 

In other heart-palpitation-creating-news, my home Internet it BROKEN.  Something about the router cord breaking and no other power cord at any Best Buy or Radio Shack in a 100-mile radius of my house will fit the hole.  Whatever, I'm starting to get the shakes and other serious withdrawal symptoms, Verizon is sending us a new cord due to arrive on TUESDAY. That's 36 MORE hours without INTERNET. OMG! 
I have run out of TV to watch, things to discuss with my husband. I ever exercised today!
Next up for entertainment: BOOKS. What?!

Home for a week and it is damn time we caught up

I'm still here. 

GOSDHERKNFDSNWRASTHAHT.

Oops, that was me brushing the dust off the keyboard.

I feel like maybe, just maybe, this weekend I might be able to get back on track, hop back up on the wagon, conquer a small fraction of my to-do list. We spent a week fighting a nasty flu, then we went skiing in Colorado with my family, then we traipsed once more through an airport and up into the unfriendly skies to visit the in-laws in Florida.  In Colorago I had a birthday.  29. Woot!  In Florida, Marc had a birthday. Cake. Cards. The usual.

This was the first birthday I have ever, (in 29 whole years!) ever celebrated away from hom. It was nice actually. I did a little skiing, took a short nap, spent time with my Dad, my aunt, Marc and Noah, of course.  I watched the snow fall in the Rocky Mountains and ate some of this precious-calorie cake.  My family gave me some great little cards and a few nice gifts. 

I'm behind on my writing.  What else is new?  I have said this before and you are all just as tired of hearing it as I am of writing it.  I'm even more frustrated that I am still feeling this.  I need to take my own advice and practice what I'm preaching about balance and time management and all that jazz.

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On a totally other note:  I'm quite pleased that Hosea won Top Chef.  I was rooting for him and largely against Stephan, but Carla was my true favorite, I think the stress threw her off her game, because she really was the best chef, in my anti-foodie opinion. 

I've been catching up on all the missed television and that is not an easy task, ya'll.  It takes time and energy and wine and popcorn. 

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And because everything else I have to say  whine about is rather depressing I'll hold off for a day or so and give you some pictures.