On processing my Blissdom Conference experience.

There is so much. So very much, and there is no way I can touch it all in one post. I’m going to break this up into posts on different days (non-consecutive, of course, wouldn’t want to ruin my lazy douche reputation by posting two whole days in a row with words and stuff) as I speak specifically, and share photos (mine and others’) and videos with you as I go along.

photo by Mishelle Lane

And even then, I won’t be able to get it all across to you. The excitement, the freedom, the friendship, the FLASHMOB (oh yeah!), the chance to speak and share, the Community, the panels, the musical performances, the food and drinks, the fun, the laughter. The LOVE.

photo by Mishelle Lane

I’m going to try very hard, but there just seems so much and some parts of it seem so deep, that I fear I have not the skill, the time, the energy… to really make you see, hear, and feel it the way you should, the way I wish for you to, the way I did.

I’m going to tell you now, before I start the posts by day, that I truly love this community of persons I’ve become connected to these last several years. Some of you I am only connected to by the wisp of a thread, and we float into and out of one another’s lives only occasionally. Others of you spend time with me every now and again, us keeping up in bouts and starts and stops, flowing here and there; you make my life your here sometimes and your there at other times. Still others of you are tied to me like a lifeline, and I think of or hear from you every day; we’ve been with one another through happy times and hard ones, and everything in between.

photo by Mishelle Lane & Lotus Carroll

All of you amaze me, inspire me, and collectively form a thing I am constantly in awe of and drawn to endlessly.

Each of you should attend this conference next year, or the first time you have the chance to do so. I’m rooted in the heritage of BD and have been a part of this Blissdom Community since it began in a crazy, cowhide-covered-walls hotel with a pink crayon brazier in the lobby (no really), and I’ll be a part of it for the rest of its fabulous ride down the road. I can tell you that with absolute surety, and I will also tell you now that what keeps me coming back is not just my ties to its past, or my deep and abiding love for the woman whose heart dreamed this dream so fiercely that she made it come true, but for the HUGE sense of love, friendship, and community I feel while I’m at this conference.

There isn’t any substantial amount of time that you will spend alone while at Blissdom (unless you really want to be alone, and I’m right there with you on that one, we all need to decompress, and for me that’s hiding in my hotel room every now and then in the dark because I will be a complete hag to someone in that moment if I don’t, and also because I get REALLY GASSY when I’m traveling/nervous and you gotta excuse yourself every little while and let that out, but I digress) and you won’t find one minute when there isn’t something amazing right at your fingertips.

My word for this conference is LOVE.

Call me cheesy (I really don’t mind, cheese is one of my favorite things in the world), but that is the truth. And Love, when it is truly felt and shared and spread around, is basically the most wonderful thing that exists. Some pretty popular and talented Liverpoolers once said that it’s all you need.  I think they were pretty much right.

I’m looking forward to sharing these next several posts with you. I hope you enjoy them.

Oh, and one more thing: All you women out there, the ones I know well and hold dearly in my heart, the ones who have been with me for the past few years, and those who only check in once in a great while, as well as any woman who just happens to stumble through here for whatever reason, and even those who never read these words themselves at all or know me in the least (can you tell them for me?)…

~You are beautiful.

Community. Beautiful. #reverb10

Two prompts rolled into one post today. It’s like the Reeses Cup of Reverb Posts. How can you resist?

Day 7 Prompt – Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Prompt Author: Cali Harris)

Day 8 Prompt – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Prompt Author: Karen Walrond)

Community.

I’ve found it in my neighborhood – for the first time in my life I have neighbors who I’d also call best friends.  They have enhanced my sanity in countless ways over the past many months, and, man, am I grateful for them. (They also ply me with wine, and man, do I love them for that.)

photo courtesy of Kristi Pryor

I’ve found it in my town.  Friends who see your flaws and issues and don’t care, but go the extra mile to help you get around them are pretty damn priceless. (Especially the ones who make thinly veiled crotch jokes with you.)

And I’ve found it where I’ve found it for the last several years: online. On blog, Twitter, and Facebook, and with Skype, I have found, forged, and maintained friendships that will last a lifetime. Many of these are with people I’d never have met, much less had lengthy emotional conversations and in-depth philosophical discussions with, if it hadn’t been for this Information Super Highway.

The Internet saves my life a little bit every day (laugh if you will, I am not joking even a little) by connecting me with people who form a support network that gives me advice, makes me laugh, sometimes makes me cry (jerks) and lifts me up when it seems impossible to be anywhere but down.

Different?

I’ve spent my whole life focusing on the ways I’m different. My parents taught me that it was okay to be different. The world argued.

As an adult I know the truth: we’re all different from someone (which is okay, fabulous even), but nobody is different from everyone. And that is one of the very reasons we can find community here.

Because the things that make us different and the things that make us the same are all beautiful, in their place. They keep us connected while at the same time interesting and valuable to one another. We are able to share different perspectives, experiences, and strengths, while simultaneously finding kindred souls who share our heartsong.

One of the greatest lessons of my life has been this: the most beauty blooms when we don’t focus on either the similarities or the differences, but on being there for one another, supporting, building and growing together. Dare I say it, Loving together. Then we truly thrive.

Community. Beautiful.

Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. Use the end of your year as an opportunity to reflect on what’s happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead.

Is it finally the end? Yes. It’s a Blogher 10 Photo Montage Video Post! Part 4

Saturday night was made for parties. Sparklecorn and Cheeseburgher did Saturday proud. Behold the Party People!

And if you’re lucky enough to have Mishelle near you often at an event, you get some nice photographic evidence of the good time you had. Which you can then force other people to view. *insert evil laugh of doom here*

The following photos are courtesy of Mishelle Lane.
View her Blogher 10 Set on flickr.

I think it’s pretty clear I had a great time. Also, I may have sexually assaulted Catherine. I’m not entirely sure… do you cross some sort of line when you actually try to stick your head inside someone’s tutu while they’re standing at the bar?

If you’d like to see all my Blogher 10 photographs in one place, they’re available on flickr. Enjoy!

I hope to see you all at Blogher 11! But bring a wet suit. It’s going to be in a whale’s vagina next year.

Yes, More! It’s a Blogher 10 Photo Montage Video! Part 3

Saturday, August 4th was an incredibly fun day for me at the conference. I was still riding the high of having presented at the Photography ROYO the day before. I got up and enjoyed the Photo Editing ROYO with Amy, Pauline, and Ryan, and then slipped away to chill out before a photo walk with Mishelle.

Mishelle is a very special person to me, and I was so happy that we had the chance to carve out a little time to walk together and take photographs. I forgot what it was like to walk around near Central Park in NYC – there is no shortage of dudes wanting to take you on carriage tours or bike rides.

DO YOU WANT TO TOUR THE CITY, HUH HUH DO YA DO YA?

Tour the city by carriage, the best way to see everything and not get tired!
No.
Come on, best tour available!
No.
Special rate, just for you!
Hahahaha. Blow me, dude, I said no, I meant no, and now, I’m walking away.
Special saunter, just for you.

After the walk we came back to the hotel and hit the keynote, cleaned up, and then (with the help of Twitter to choose a restaurant) Dawn, Mishelle, Rachel and I walked to (the fabulous) Pazza Notte for dinner.

This photo montage shows you my photos from the day, our photo walk, and dinner shots.

Oh, by the way… did you know that your Central Park experience is totally enhanced by doing pilates moves? Really.

photo by Mishelle Lane

Yup, you’re going to have to go back now.

Tomorrow? SPARKLECORN AND CHEESEBURGHER! Woot.

The fun continues… It’s a Blogher 10 Photo Montage Video! Part 2

Today, please enjoy viewing two more video montages. These are both from August 6th, the first full conference day.

This video gives you a glance at our Photography ROYO attendees (mad love!), and then goes straight into eventing affairs, with the Blogher Voices of the Year Gala. Please don’t miss the hotness that is Jenny (onthespot) kicking Karaoke’s ass with “Ice, Ice Baby” (the inspiration for the soundtrack here).

And please excuse the fact that ONCE AGAIN I felt the need to take a photo of myself in a bathroom mirror. I really should just have a category on my website called “Dorky Bathroom Photos of Loter”

You’ll also be treated to scenes from the Aiming Low EZPZ Party, and roaming the streets afterward with Leah and Jenny (missgrace). Weee!

(sorry about the skipping, apparently I suck.)

Did you notice how the hotel converted men’s bathrooms into women’s bathrooms, since there was so much estrogen up in that muthatrucka? Lemme tell ya, it’s quite enchanting to pull back a shimmery, royal blue curtain in the bathroom and discover mystical porcelain framed waterfalls! Oooooh. Ahhhhh.

On a related note, I want to formally apologize to Jenny (thebloggess) for getting urinal water on her right after this shot (of us with our favorite blogging friend, I. Holden Pee). I swear I don’t make a point of splashing water that flows from pee receptacles on people I like. Well, unless they say something totally assholish to me. While I’m near a pee receptacle. But she didn’t. So, I’m sorry.

photo by Mishelle Lane

The next video makes me so very happy when I watch it. Maria and her husband and friends arranged a crazy Karaoke party at this place called Duets. I had no idea places like this existed, but it was some kind of insane joint filled with rooms people can geek out in with their friends, Karaoke style.

Also, alcohol. So, you know, perfect storm.

Stay tuned for more! Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing shots from the second conference day, my photo walk with Mishelle, and dinner before the parties.

On Friday, I’ll be sharing the Big Kahuna – shots from The Sparklecorn and Cheeseburgher parties. Holy Slammin’ Party Shots, Batman!

**holy shit at all the Jennies in this post.

It’s a Blogher 10 Photo Montage Video! Part 1

I arrived in New York on Wednesday, August 4th, and was uber pleased to meet Dawn and Adam at the airport. The rest of the afternoon/evening/night was random hanging out with various people, such as Jenny and Jules. And fun times. Fueled, of course, by alcohol.

And here are photos from my first full day in New York – Thursday, August 5th. A lot of randomness, Dawn, Aiming Low Gals, way too many photos of me in the mirror (somebody stop me from taking photos in bathrooms, please?) and then the Social Luxe Lounge and Nikon Night Out Parties. Whew!

*Firemen courtesy of Nikon. Thank you Nikon. Lawdy.

(By the way, the videos don’t stutter or skip once locally on my computer. Thank YouTube for any craptastic viewing issues. Grrr. And Argh.)

Stay tuned! Tomorrow I’ll slap down photos from August 6th, the first full day of the conference, plus the Blogher Voices of the Year Gala, The Aiming Low EZPZ Party, and a badass Karaoke party at Duets! *insert drunken wooooo! sound here*

Blogher 10 Photography ROYO: How to Take Great Pictures, Whether You Have a DSLR or Point-and-Shoot

One of the things I was hugely excited about this year at the conference was being on a panel of photographers presenting a ROYO (“Room of Your Own” Session) about how to take great photos. Rachel and Mishelle are both amazing artists in their trade and I was so honored to be there with them. Beside the fact that they are both huge inspirations to me, I absolutely adore both of these women on a very personal level too. What a gift to connect with them for this event!

photo courtesy of Mishelle

We worked hard for weeks to get our presentation just right, hoping we could fit the best information into the time and medium allotted. I’ll leave it to you all to decide if we were truly successful, but I have to tell you that it felt right and I got a sense that it went very well. (Squee.)

Here you will find the slideshow we used during our presentation, as well as the audio from the actual session right below it. You can listen and go along with the presentation. You’re only missing seeing us sit behind a desk full of wires and cameras and laptops, with microphones pinned to our bewbie areas. (Also, if anyone tries to pass on a rumor that I picked my nose during the presentation, that is a lie. I repeat, a filthy lie.)

I hope you enjoy! And if you have any questions, feel free to hit me up.

photo courtesy of Mishelle

Support a fabulous woman; win some cool shiz.

During the time that I’ve been blogging and utilizing social media networking sites, I’ve virtually met quite a lot of people.  Many of them have impacted me in some profound way without even realizing it.  I’ve been hurt a few times, moved to laughter as well as tears, and been inspired and humbled.

I’ve made some wicked good friends. I’ve been reminded of how many amazing people exist out there, if only you look… kind, caring, generous people.  The sort of folks you love to see in the world.

If you’ve ever seen Piper, you’ll know that she shines like the sun and you can’t miss her.

And then you can’t stop yourself from doing a double-take and a triple-take.  And when you get to know her, you realize that her beauty starts from the inside and radiates outward.  She’s one of those people.

She’s had some rough freaking times lately.  Heartache of serious proportions.  A car on fire and ruined.  Hey, Universe? GIVE HER A BREAK, ALREADY.

A group of her friends online want to help her.  She needs funds for a new car, and to pick herself up and move on with her two sweet boys.  So a giveaway of sorts has been thrown together by several of us and Adam was awesome enough to get it organized and posted on his site.

Basically, you donate $10 to the pot to help Piper back to her feet, and you get a chance at winning a prize. The Grand Prize is an 8GB Ipod Touch, but there are several others.

I donated handmade paper as one of the items:

You can head over to Adam’s Post to see the specifics and the rest of the items you could win.  Please make your $10 donation and stay tuned! (And if you’d like to donate an item, he has instructions on how to do so there, as well.)

Help us get the word out by sharing this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, and wherever else you can.

Let’s pick her up, guys.  Let’s each be one more of those people we love to see in the world.