Loter’s Blissdom 2011 – Part 2
Jockey & Tide sponsored Thursday night festivities at Blissdom and it was seriously a blast. My roomies (Mishelle, Dawn, Leslie, Victoria) and I all got dressed up and headed to “the red carpet” to kick off the night. This was basically just a chance to act silly and be photographed (Malia joined us on the carpet).
photo by Heather Durdil
Mishelle captured a great shot of the red carpet photographers, Casey, Hannah, Elan, and Heather.
We ate from a variety of foods provided to us – my favorite thing was pulled pork sandwiches with a vinegar-based barbecue sauce. What can I say, I’m still a NC girl at heart when it comes to BBQ!
I was also witness to a momentous occasion: Mishelle had her very first Guinness.
We all enjoyed the food and drinks, chatted, and laughed together.
last four photos by Mishelle Lane
After hanging out for a little while, we headed into the nightclub, Fuse, to watch performances by Michelle Branch and Mat Kearney.
What a treat – both musicians put on a fabulous show. I was particularly excited to see Michelle Branch, as I’ve utterly adored her music for so many years.
last two photos by Mishelle Lane
I generally don’t go all “fangirl” and have photos taken/do meet and greets, but I didn’t pass up the opportunity this time.
photo by Jana Warnke
Once the performances were over, there was dancing…
…and then people wandered off here and there throughout the hotel to eat, hang out, and just have a great time, late into the night.
photo by Mishelle Lane
These are memorable portions of the night – the times you spent laughing with various groups of friends, catching up, sharing hugs, smiles, and silly moments.
At some point later on, Mishelle, Jim, Diane, Amy and I ended up in the Garden Conservatory. As you can see, we spent a little time being goofballs.
Mishelle and her camera… she had me model for her throughout the hotel. I didn’t argue… even when she asked me to climb onto a piano. What can I say? I’m easy.
last two photos by Mishelle Lane
And of course, Diane gave me her now traditional, on-camera, one-finger salute.
It’s this kind of silliness that makes time with best friends so fun!
Still to come – Friday, Flashmob!, Girl’s Night In, and Saturday’s Photo Walk.
to be continued…
Loter’s Blissdom 2011 – Part 1
As I’ve said previously, Blissdom is a conference that completely has my heart, and my word for it is Love. While there from January 25 – 30, both my days and nights were filled with wonderful and interesting experiences.
Tuesday was a day of traveling, arriving, settling…
…random water show magic…
…meeting, greeting, hanging…
…and relaxing.
last four photos by Mishelle Lane
The highlight of Wednesday was the Photography Wisdom Workshop I helped teach. This was so much fun to be a part of – a large room full of women who wanted to get more intimate about photography with a hands on workshop. We all split up at different tables and gave mini lessons at each table about different aspects of photography.
Mishelle & Dawn – Camera Basics/Overview/Settings/Controls (Her notes are here.)
Deanna & Casey – ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed
Angie – Finding the Light
Amy & I – Creativity & Detail
We shared our knowledge and our hearts about this thing we truly love: Photography. Afterwards a small group of us headed out to put our photography knowledge to practice. We walked and shot, asking and answering questions, and had a generally good time wrapping up the workshop.
photo by Mishelle Lane
Wednesday night was the kickoff party sponsored by ConAgra and it was so fun. Food and drinks were shared by a large group of excited attendees, buzzing around one another. The area was full of laughter and happiness that was palpable. I was so happy to see David and Kammie from The Social Path and Luckie, and Anissa Mayhew, at the party.
Later, Leslie and I cartwheeled through the hotel as everyone was on their way to have wine, cupcakes, and watch the premier of Working Class with special guest, Melissa Peterman. What, don’t you always cartwheel through hotels? Best way to travel.
When that was done, several of us picked up Jim in the lobby and hung out at Fuse, drinking and laughing.
At one point, Jim, Diane, Mishelle, and I realized we were standing in a circle, drinking, laughing… and Tweeting at a bar.
That’s how fun-lovin’ social media/tech-geeks roll, eh? Regardless, it was so good to spend that time with them, just laughing and soaking in the rarity of close proximity to people I adore online from great distances on a regular basis.
After many drinks, we retired. I think I got about 3 hours of sleep. Oh, boy.
Thursday was the first full day of the official conference. Let me just say that I never make it to all the sessions I want to go to at a conference, and I’m finally learning to be okay with that. On this day, I attended the two things that were most important to me (personally).
My advice to you for conferences is to find the sessions that are the VERY MOST important to you personally and make sure you attend those. If you can get to others, great; if you can carve other time to truly enjoy other facets of the experience (visiting with sponsors, spending time with good friends, networking with new business contacts, exploring the town you’re in) – fabulous!
I’ve mentioned this already, but the Opening Keynote speaker was Brené Brown. Her talk blew me away, made me cry, affirmed things for me, made me laugh deeply, had me nodding, and was basically time well spent. Her message is powerful, and I highly recommend you seek her out – watch her talks, read her book. When I got home I had the renewed confidence I needed to go back and pull up a 4-month old draft and publish it.
photo by Schmutzie
After the opening, there was a roundtable meet and greet time, a fun way for each of us to connect with our “tribe” and get to know one another.
Each tribe is headed by one or many “Tribe Leaders.” (I was one of the Photography Tribe Leaders.) This is an interesting new way to make sure nobody feels alone during the conference – no matter what, you will have a tribe to check in with! There’s even a “No Niche” Tribe. *wink*
After a superb ConAgra lunch, I wandered out into the expo hall, talked to the Purex Rep (who was totally awesome) and as I was wandering on, I suddenly realized that HOLY CRAP IF YOU ONLY SLEEP FOR 3 HOURS AFTER YOU ARE RAGINGLY DRUNK BY MIDDAY THE NEXT DAY YOU ARE SOOOOO DONE SOCIALIZING. Like that, I hit a wall, and I knew it was time to go to my room for a little bit.
Also, someone made me spill tea all over myself and I almost went back and decapitated him later just out of spite. This was totally a sign that I needed a nap, as I am generally a “punch them in the neck” kind of person rather than an “off with their heads!” chick. So I went to the room and slept like a goddess on soft fluffy pillows, fully dressed, for an hour. Then it was up and to the next session!
photo by Mishelle Lane
The Innovative Writing Session with Leslie, Jim, and Amy was fantastic – creative, informative, and hilarious. I really wish you all could have been there. You can see the presentation in this post at Jim’s site.
I think the most important thing they shared was an amazing piece put together by Shawn Burns for presentation during the session, something that he’s worked hard to get across to the community for some time, and Jim, Leslie, and Amy realized this was the perfect opportunity to help it spread. Even if you didn’t get to attend, I really think you should benefit from Shawn’s message. Now go to Jim’s site and pay close attention as you watch. You will thank me.
It’s like you were there, right? You can thank me in the comments. (Heh.)
to be continued…
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Click to play audio:
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