It always takes me at least a month to recover from BlogHer sufficiently to post about BlogHer. This year it took two months, since I took a vacation to Portland, Oregon about two weeks before I flew off to BlogHer in New York City. I barely know what year it is.
So, which of these things did NOT happen to me at BlogHer 2010 in New York City?
a) A hot mommyblogger kissed me on the lips.
b) I won an iPad from Kraft Foods.
c) I blistered the top of my foot walking around midtown Manhattan.
d) I finally got the comics-related tattoo I’ve been thinking about.
If you guessed (d) did not happen, you are correct! I have a strict policy of not getting any tattoos unless I have been set on them for a year, and I have only been thinking about the comics-related tattoo for two months.
In case you need additional details about (a), let’s just say that doing tech support for a living can have its advantages. And (c) was due to an unfortunately placed sandal strap and a lot of walking with two fantastic blogger-photographers who happen to be people who give me interesting work to do and make sure I get paid for it.
Now let’s talk about (b).
Yes, I won an iPad. From Kraft Foods, courtesy of their promotional effort for their Big Fork, Little Fork app which is usable on the iPad, iPhone, and apparently even your regular computer via ITunes. It’s all about recipes that are kid-friendly to make.
That’s perfect for us because Boy Detective has been doing cooking projects for quite some time with his grandmother and occasionally one of his parents. (Yes, we are slackers, we admit it. But from us, he has learned valuable microwaving skills.) But he’s getting bored with the stuff he already knows how to make. I’m one of those people who really does need a source of ideas for even a sandwich more creative than peanut butter, so I was really intrigued by the app when they were showing it off at BlogHer.
[Disclosure: I am an independent contractor who does work for BlogHer. I am not an employee, and I was at the conference as an individual and not representing the company. As far as I know, my “bosses” did not conspire with Kraft to get me an iPad. I don’t know why they would, given it’s likely to distract me from working. Then again, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid, so maybe they are trying to save money?]
I’ve been behind with the whole “app” thing since I don’t have a phone nice enough for that to be a concern. It’s only been in the last couple of months that I’ve become aware that “app” can mean something with content in it, not just a tool like a map that gives you directions. So this will be my venture into the wide world of apps. After all, when is the last time you got even a slender cookbook for $1.99?
I already appreciated Kraft being at BlogHer, especially because they chose to specifically support the Geek Lab track that is all about women helping women learn to do more with technology. Now I appreciate it even more since there was a shiny, shiny prize for me out of the deal.
Plus, any vegetarian who has driven through Amarillo thanks their lucky stars that Boca Burgers have ended up on the menu at Denny’s, and Kraft makes Boca Burgers, so I am in their debt.
Also of note this year at BlogHer:
- I let a stranger paint words on my body and then went to a party hosted by The Pioneer Woman for about 3 minutes.
- I ate a bunch of tiny cakes because they were there.
- There was breakdancing. Not by me, obviously, but there was. It was awesome.
You can also check out the fabulousness that is Angelina photographing me and Grace over on Heroine Content, in case you missed it.
I’m really not sure if I’m going to be attending sessions at another BlogHer for a while. I feel like I get all the panel content I need at SXSW in March, so by the time I get to BlogHer, I’m paneled out. The keynotes and anything else held for all attendees are way too big now for my comfort. But the community at the conference is just so ass-kicking that I can’t imagine skipping it. Just hanging out in the chill spaces produces a few conversations that are annoyingly faux social – then three times as many that are genuinely awesome.
Maybe that’s what the party-only passes are for?