]]>
Check out these exciting offers here! This link provides a list of available hotels with their respective room rates, and even includes a map so you know exactly how far from the Conference each option is.
Thanks, Kimpton!
]]>
If you're not sure what the Swap Meet is all about, read Jen's fabulous Call for Artists here. Then get the details below...
When: Saturday, July 19
]]>If you're not sure what the Swap Meet is all about, read Jen's fabulous Call for Artists here. Then get the details below...
When: Saturday, July 19
During lunch, from 12:15 - 1:45 PM (following the Crafts/DIY meet-up)
Where: Olympic Room
Westin St. Francis, Second Floor
Who: Open to all BlogHer attendees who would like to sell or buy items.
How to Sign Up:
If you are interested in selling items at BlogHer's Swap Meet, just leave a comment below. We are setting up a room with TEN spaces (each space is a 6x3' table, draped with white linen). If you wish to share a table with someone, please indicate so in your comment -- the table can accommodate up to three chairs.
Space is limited to ten tables, which will be given on a first-come, first-served basis!
Each seller will be responsible for working out payment with buyers. While good old-fashioned cash-boxes are probably easiest, there will be wifi in the room, so if you accept online payment and have a laptop, options such as PayPal could work for you as well.
Each seller will be responsible for getting her wares to the Swap Meet, setting up, and closing up. The room will be open for set-up at 11:45 a.m.
Note: The Westin St. Francis cannot store your items! If you are staying at the hotel, you may ship your items to your room, but they must arrive within one day of your arrival. (And please track your packages!) The hotel does not have a warehouse for keeping shipments and can't be responsible for boxes that arrive without a specific guest room to send them to.
You must be a registered attendee to sign up to be a Swap Meet seller.
So...who's in?!?!
]]>]]>
Check out these exciting offers here! This link provides a list of available hotels with their respective room rates, and even includes a map so you know exactly how far from the Conference each option is.
Thanks, Kimpton!
]]>
Thanks to your great questions and feedback (See Advice You Shared), this downloadable guide features: frequently asked questions, tips for how to prepare, what to expect, and advice from former BlogHer attendees.
]]>Thanks to your great questions and feedback (See Advice You Shared), this downloadable guide features: frequently asked questions, tips for how to prepare, what to expect, and advice from former BlogHer attendees.
This guide also will let you know how you can help GREEN the BlogHer '08 Conference. In the spirit of greening the conference we sincerely urge you to download, not print, this brochure. If you must print, print only those pages with the specific information you need.
So get your green pre-conferenc guide here: http://www.blogher.com/files/BH08-PreConferenceGuide.pdf
]]>Friday, July 18th
11:45AM -12:15PM (Lunch) Anna Post, Emily Post's Wedding Parties and Shari MacDonald Strong and Mona Gable, The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood and Social Change
12:15PM -12:45PM (Lunch) Claire Mysko, Girls Inc. Presents: You're Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self
2:00PM - 2:30PM (Break) Suzanne Reisman, Off the Beaten (Subway) Track: New York's Best Unusual Attractions
3:45PM-430PM (Break) Diane MacEachern, Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World and Lisa Witter, The She Spot : Why Women Are the Market for Changing the World -- And How to Reach Them
Saturday, July 19th
12:00PM -12:45PM (Lunch) Stephanie Wilder-Taylor, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom and Stephanie Klein, Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp
12:45PM -1:30PM (Lunch) Vicki Forman, Love You to Pieces : Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs and Jennifer Graf-Groneberg, Road Map to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years With Down Syndrome
4:30PM - 5:15PM (Break) Jennette Fulda, Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir and Devra Renner & Aviva Pflock, Mommy Guilt
For those of you who will be attending the conference, the BlogHer Bookstore & Internet Cafe will be located across from Registration, in the Westin's Georgian Room. Books will be provided and sold by Barnes & Noble. We look forward to seeing you there!
]]>BlogHer is pleased to announce that, following a comprehensive search, we have agreed to partner with KiddieCorp to provide on-site childcare on both Friday and Saturday of the event (July 18 and July 19).
KiddieCorp comes highly recommended, and we're confident that they will offer attendees' children a safe and fun experience.
]]>BlogHer is pleased to announce that, following a comprehensive search, we have agreed to partner with KiddieCorp to provide on-site childcare on both Friday and Saturday of the event (July 18 and July 19).
KiddieCorp comes highly recommended, and we're confident that they will offer attendees' children a safe and fun experience.
Thanks to this year's childcare sponsors -- Care.com, LeapFrog, and PBS Parents -- we will again be able to offer childcare at the highly subsidized rate of $50/day per child. Childcare is available from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. both days, and your fee includes meals, snacks and beverages. KiddieCorp's program is open to children aged 3 months to 10 years. And while KiddieCorp cannot be responsible for babies under 3 months, you are welcome to bring your infants to all BlogHer sessions, activities, etc.
To learn more about KiddieCorp and to sign up, please click here: https://www.kiddiecorp.com/blogherkids.htm
]]>With BlogHer '08 less than a month away, we can't help but be a little All-BH08-All-The-Time! around here. (Can you blame us?) There's just so much on the itinerary, we want to be sure you know what's going on.
]]>With BlogHer '08 less than a month away, we can't help but be a little All-BH08-All-The-Time! around here. (Can you blame us?) There's just so much on the itinerary, we want to be sure you know what's going on.
In fact, if you've registered for the event, next week you'll be receiving our "official" Pre-Conference Guide -- tips for how to prepare, what to expect, and how to help us green the BlogHer '08 Conference. See below for a preview, which includes oh-so-sage advice direct from our community members.
Hopefully you've already checked out the Conference Agenda, so you have some idea of what to expect. But read on to get some hints about the exciting add-ons we'll be featuring as well. Did someone say spa?
Childcare at BlogHer '08 is officially open...but space is limited! We've moved our deadline to accommodate as many requests as possible, but please sign-up soon. Meet our provider and get the registration link below.
You may have also noticed that there've been some huge changes at BlogHer.com, what with the site being totally redesigned and all? Didja notice the images on the banner? We'd love to include yours among them. Check out how to submit yours below.
*************************************
Pre-Conference Guide: Advice to Conference Goers
Last week we asked community members to provide some advice to those who've never attended a BlogHer Conference before. Perhaps not surprisingly, you had a LOT to say. Many of these gems will be included in our Guide (which comes out next week), but in the meantime, take heed of these handy tidbits:
Shannon writes: Have your personal "pitch" ready. What do you do? What's your blog about? When someone asks you why you're there, what will you say? And remember: Your personal blog is not "just" a personal blog. I heard that too many times last year. Your personal blog is your stage, baby, and there's no "just" about it!
TW writes: Do keep your pain reliever and/or migraine meds on you even if you are not usually prone to aches/pains/etc. Band-aids too.
MooshInIndy writes: It can be overwhelming to meet so many new people. Gather all your cards, take notes on them if you can and keep them all in one place. It will make it much easier to keep track of everyone in the post blogher haze.
*************************************
Agenda Add-Ons
Next week we'll be launching our first-ever Special Events page, which will be chock full of details and pre-event sign-ups. But did you know? This year at BlogHer there will be...
..Makeovers galore, of both the girly AND the geeky kind
...A Spa and Suite Retreat, featuring free mini-massages
...A "Recycling Room" where you can leave any swag you don't want to take home with you (it will then be recycled or donated)
...A Saturday morning yoga class
...Lunch with a celebrity chef
...The BlogHer Bookstore & Internet Cafe, featuring book-signings, charging stations, and free espresso drinks
...Visits from puppets, Muppets, and even the Michelin Man
...A "lactation lounge"
Not to mention the standard awesome BlogHer cocktail parties, interactive exhibitor hall, freebies, contests, Birds of a Feather meet-ups, and endless photo-ops. Woohoo!
*************************************
BlogHer '08: Register Now for Childcare!
In case you missed our announcement, we have agreed to partner with KiddieCorp to provide on-site childcare on both Friday and Saturday of the event (July 18 and July 19).
Thanks to this year's childcare sponsors -- Care.com, LeapFrog, and PBS Parents -- we will again be able to offer childcare at the highly subsidized rate of $50/day per child.
To get learn more about KiddieCorp and to register your children, please click here: https://www.kiddiecorp.com/blogherkids.htm
Please note that space is limited, and sign-ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
*************************************
Add Your Photo to the BlogHer Masthead
See all those lovely photos on the new BlogHer.com site? Right there up top? Of COURSE they've come from you...and we want MORE!
Especially if you have some shots from previous BlogHer conferences, we'd love to feature them. The images rotate regularly, and we want to showcase the true diversity of our BlogHer community, both at our events and just out in the world.
To have your photo or photos considered, all you have to do is join the BlogHer Header group on Flickr, and begin sharing your photos. So easy!
Further instructions and specs can be found here.
Even more reason to be sure you bring you camera with you to the next BlogHer Conference!
*************************************
This is a copy of the BlogHer Conference Newsletter. Sign up here to receive this newsletter via email.
]]>**********************************
BlogHer Business '08
April 3-4, 2008
New York, NY
Click here for the BlogHer Business '08 Blog.
]]>**********************************
BlogHer Business '08
April 3-4, 2008
New York, NY
Click here for the BlogHer Business '08 Blog.
About BlogHer Business
BlogHer Business puts you in a room with the world's leading social media practitioners, bloggers and other businesses in an intimate setting to strip away the hype and hyperbole and get to the heart of what will make social media work for your organization. We know you understand that your customers are where the action is, and our event is designed to help you Reach! them.
Check out live-blogging of the conference sessions here.
Click here for podcasts of the sessions, or you can click here to get the podcasts on iTunes (you must have iTunes installed on your computer for this link to work).
Session videos and interviews are also available here.
Or follow any of the quick links below to find out more about the BlogHer Business '08:
Agenda
Speakers
Sponsors
Logistics
Buttons
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BlogHer '07: A World Of Difference
July 27-29, 2007
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Here's all the basic conference information at a glance.
Check out live-blogging of the conference sessions here.
Check out press coverage from the conference here.
Or follow any of the quick links below to find out more about...
Day One
Day Two
Speakers
Venue, hotels
Childcare
Sponsors
FAQ
BlogHer '07 buttons
BlogHer store
BlogHer in Second Life!
Second Life Schedule
**********************************
BlogHer Business '07: BlogHer's First Annual Business Event
March 22-23, 2007
Affinia Manhattan Hotel, New York, NY
Check out BlogHer Business' live-blogs
Or get all the event details here.
**********************************
So, what's BlogHer's next event?
We are always hard at work on the next BlogHer conference.
For up-to-date information on our conferences, please check our Conference Site, or sign up to receive our Conference Newsletter.
You are always welcome to participate! Here are some way in which you can join us:
]]>-Open calls for speakers, session ideas and recommendations on same. (In other words, even if you don't want to speak, please forward us the people you would love to hear speak.)
-Room of Your Own sessions:
It's inevitable that the official BlogHer schedule will not include every topic of interest to BlogHer attendees. If you want to fill a hole, then propose a Room of Your Own session. These are sessions proposed and planned by BlogHer attendees. We provide the room, the A/V, the coffee...and the promotion. You provide the content. In 2006 we had so many Room of Your Own session proposals we put it to a community vote. The top 6 were added to the schedule. More on the Room of Your Own concept is here.-Birds of a Feather (BOF) sessions: We set aside open time and blank clipboards and let people self-organize into groups. This post describes how we did it at BlogHer '06. Previous popular topics have ranged from "Mommies who use profanity in their blogs" to "Single bloggers" to "The Ethnorati" to "Flickr users" to "Food and Drink bloggers." Anything literally goes...you can form a group of 2 or 22 around your topic. It's a great way to break the ice and find like-minded individuals in the crowd.
-BlogHerships and volunteerism: For each conference we provide blogherships (free conference registrations) in exchange for being an official conference live-blogger. This is a great option for bloggers who could not otherwise afford to attend. Other volunteer opportunities have included graphic design, IT consulting, audio production, sponsor, speaker or volunteer "wrangling" and so on. Some people were able to add their efforts to their CV; some people were able to learn or improve their skills; some people were able to meet a posse of people they would not have connected to on their own. Everyone was able to feel like they were a part of making BlogHer happen.
-Feedback, feedback, feedback:
Here at BlogHer we throw a lot of ideas out there and see what sticks. We typically publish posts describing every single session or activity and ask what would entice you to attend it. You have the chance to share your thoughts on everything from what you would like to learn about digital photography to whether or not you're interested in a Conference Swap Meet.If you have an opinion, we want to hear it.
The clock is ticking.
I know there are plenty of you who, for whatever reasons, end up waiting till the last minute to do things. So take it from the one sending out this week's newsletter on a Friday afternoon, now is the time to get on your BlogHer '08 plans!
The conference is not sold out, but it's heading in that direction. See below to find out just how much time is left.
]]>The clock is ticking.
I know there are plenty of you who, for whatever reasons, end up waiting till the last minute to do things. So take it from the one sending out this week's newsletter on a Friday afternoon, now is the time to get on your BlogHer '08 plans!
The conference is not sold out, but it's heading in that direction. See below to find out just how much time is left.
Thinking about printing business cards? Now is the time to order them! Check out our recommendations below.
It is the LAST DAY to vote on your favorite Conference tagline for our official conference tote bag, and the entries are fantastic! Read on to review the finalists and cast your vote.
Childcare at BlogHer '08 is officially open...but space is limited and the deadline is June 27! Meet our provider and get the registration link below.
*************************************
When Will BlogHer '08 Sell Out?
Following a pleasantly surprising rush on tickets early this month, it looks like BlogHer '08 will sell out...soon. We can't say when exactly, but we suspect before July.
And no, we're not just saying this to scare you -- the truth is, our lovely and hospitable venue will simply max out at 1,000. Which means that once we're closed, we're closed.
So if any of you or your friends or family are still waiting to pull the trigger, now is definitely the time.
*************************************
Business Cards For Your Blog
Even if you're not planning to attend the BlogHer '08 Conference, it's still nice to have business cards with your blog URL printed on them. It's simply a great way to promote yourself and your fabulous blog.
If you ARE planning to attend the conference, exchanging business cards helps you keep track of who you've met (and who you should be adding to your blogroll).
Check out the business-card advice given by these conference-going vets here. While I personally love all the options that CafePress.com and Zazzle.com offer, there's been quite a bit of buzz (and discount codes) around Moo.com.
*************************************
BlogHer '08 Tagline Contest Ends Today
Hurry up! Today is the last day to vote for your favorite tagline, the one that will be featured on the official BlogHer swag bag along with the Reach! logo. We had a few hundred funny, clever, and poignant entries, but the finalists came down to these seven:
"I'm totally blogging this!" by Carmen S
"What she said" by kmiller
"We are your mainstream media" by Jenn Satterwhite
"Blogging : it's my bag" by dennehypr
"I think, therefore I blog" by Kristen McLane
"To Reach Her Own" by ovaries
"Girls Gone World Wide" by Candeelady
At this hour, only a couple votes separate the contenders, so go vote for your favorite right now!
*************************************
BlogHer '08: Register Now for Childcare!
In case you missed our announcement, we have agreed to partner with KiddieCorp to provide on-site childcare on both Friday and Saturday of the event (July 18 and July 19).
Thanks to this year's childcare sponsors -- Care.com, LeapFrog, and PBS Parents -- we will again be able to offer childcare at the highly subsidized rate of $50/day per child.
To get learn more about KiddieCorp and to register your children, please click here: https://www.kiddiecorp.com/blogherkids.htm
Please note that space is limited, and -- yep! -- the deadline to register is June 27.
This is a copy of the BlogHer Conference Newsletter. Sign up here to receive this newsletter via email.
]]>But we thought -- hey, why not ask YOU what YOU think?
What advice do you have for the newbies? What advice do you have for the veterans? What do you wish someone had told you before you showed up for your first BlogHer Conference?
And if this is your first time attending, what is it you wish you could know ahead of time?
]]>But we thought -- hey, why not ask YOU what YOU think?
What advice do you have for the newbies? What advice do you have for the veterans? What do you wish someone had told you before you showed up for your first BlogHer Conference?
And if this is your first time attending, what is it you wish you could know ahead of time?
Please leave your comment below (along with your blog URL), and we may well feature your suggestion in our guide.
Deadline for getting into the guide is June 23, but you are welcome to leave your suggestions right up to and through the conference.
]]>But do YOU know how many opportunities you'll have this year to rock on wichyo bad selves?
Let us count the ways...
]]>But do YOU know how many opportunities you'll have this year to rock on wichyo bad selves?
Let us count the ways...
Thursday, July 17
The Newbie Mixer
8-10 p.m. @ The Rooftop of the Westin
As the BlogHer Conference continues to grow, it grows ever more intimidating for the uninitiated. And while we have always welcomed blogging newbies (and introverts), this year we thought -- why not break the ice for all the new-comers right off the bat?
BlogHer is therefore hosting a little mixer event open to all who have never attended a BlogHer Conference before. Those who choose to attend can feel comfortable looking around the room and realizing Hey, no one else knows anyone, either! And if you're new to BlogHer AND San Francisco, the room offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
It's also a good opportunity to meet the BlogHer co-founders and staff. (Just sayin'.)
Light fare and no-host bar.
Thursday, July 17
The "People's Party"
8-10 p.m. @ The Westin
Not an "official BlogHer event," but we are just so tickled that these fabulous ladies got together of their own volition to host an on-site event and invite everyone! It's do-ocracy, cocktail style.
So if you're looking to party pre-event but can't join us for the Newbie Mixer, this is a super alternative. Get the skinny on the People's Party here.
And thanks to those hostesses with the mostesses: motherbumper, One Plus Two, The Bloggess, Oh, the Joys!, IzzyMom and Velveteen Mind.
Friday, July 18
Welcome Cocktail Reception
6-9 p.m. @ Ruby Skye
BlogHer's gettin' flossy.
Ruby Skye is a hot-hot-hot club in the middle of Union Square. It also happens to be located directly behind the Westin, so it's barely a block away from the hotel. (AKA "stumbling distance". Ahem.)
Ruby Skye is a beautiful and funky venue, created from a converted theatre. Its lush colors and architectural details give the space a great ambiance even without 1,000 lovely bloggers chilling and milling about.
Not only will there be a signature cocktail and cool pro-green demos, but also a few television celebrities. (Details on who's coming later!)
Check out the club's photo tour here.
Heavy appetizers will be served. Each guest will receive two drink tickets at the door for cocktails. Non-alcoholic beverages will be free. No one under 21 permitted without guardians. BADGES REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.
Saturday, July 19
Closing Cocktail Reception
6:30-9:30 p.m. @ Macy's
Destined to be one of the most interesting cocktail events we've ever hosted, all BlogHer attendees will be given exclusive entry to special areas of the Macy's store. (Note: Macy's is located across the street from the hotel.)
Upon entering the building, BlogHers will be ushered into a cordoned off area of ladies handbags to enjoy a "bubbling" reception. After a few more special stops -- each with drinks and snacks -- the party will conclude at Macy's seventh floor, overlooking Union Square.
As a point of reference, the seventh floor is furniture. And Macy's is roping it off for BlogHers, allowing us the most comfortable lounge experience ever. (Since we'll have free reign to sit on sofas, chairs, and yeah -- even beds. And yeah -- even with cocktails.)
We are looking forward to the photos.
Heavy appetizers will be served. All beverages will be free. Absolutely no shopping required whatsoever. BADGES NEEDED FOR ENTRY.
So that's what we've got planned! If you know of any additional event that is open to all BlogHer attendees, please let us know. Just leave a comment below and we'll add it to this post.
]]>Thank you to all who have registered for the upcoming BlogHer '08 Conference. Your response has been tremendous and we're looking forward to seeing you all soon.
]]>Thank you to all who have registered for the upcoming BlogHer '08 Conference. Your response has been tremendous and we're looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Please note: this does not mean we have sold out of regular two-day passes yet. The OpenSpace is smaller and more intimate than Friday/Saturday's general sessions.
However, we are nearing capacity on our two-day passes, so if you haven't registered yet, now is the time to do so. We anticipate selling out by next week!
]]>Of course, registering is often the easy part. The other logistics -- where to stay, how to get there -- can be a little more challenging to figure out. But we'd like to help! Have you checked out the BlogHer forums? There's all kinds of interesting discussions going on there, but I wanted to direct you to two in particular:
1. The BlogHer '08 Room-Share forum: seeking a roommate? Here's where to post and respond to those in need.
2. The BlogHer '08 Ride-Share forum: helpful for those looking to get from the airport to the hotel. (Please note that we will be including lots of directions and options for this as well in your pre-conference packet and on the site.)
And if you're looking for a way to get to the conference itself, don't forget that GM is sponsoring the BlogHer carpool, offering hybrid vehicles -- free of charge -- for those who want to drive to San Francisco. Find out more here.
Happy planning!
]]>
It's located less than a block from the Westin St. Francis (seriously -- see the map here), where the conference is taking place. It's right in the heart of downtown, in a well trafficked, safe area, one block from Union Square itself, and super affordable:
You can reserve a "dorm" bed for $29/night, or your own private room for $90/night.
It's located less than a block from the Westin St. Francis (seriously -- see the map here), where the conference is taking place. It's right in the heart of downtown, in a well trafficked, safe area, one block from Union Square itself, and super affordable:
You can reserve a "dorm" bed for $29/night, or your own private room for $90/night.
The room rate includes tax, continental breakfast, linens and towels.
All reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited in number. Each "dorm" room comes with four beds, and we have secured only four rooms (16 beds total). We have only been able to secure three private rooms in addition, so these will fill up right away!
To make your reservation, please call the front desk of HI-SF Downtown at 415-788-5604 and be sure to tell them you are with the BlogHer group.
]]>Is it still "holiday weight" if it's May?
Hi, and welcome to our Good Health-a-thon's fourth month, where we continue to insist that good health does not have to equate to weighing less, even though some of us might possibly maybe think that losing weight would really be swell. (Ha! Did I just say "weight" and "swell" in the same sentence? Freud's a funny, funny dude.) But as much as I'd really like to drop an extra ten (or seventy) pounds, I long ago gave up setting goals that had anything to do with numbers on a scale. I want simply to feel better. I want to be in better shape. So let's talk about getting "fit." And while we're at it, let's talk about when getting "fit" has resulted in some of our most embarrassing moments ever.
]]>Is it still "holiday weight" if it's May?
Hi, and welcome to our Good Health-a-thon's fourth month, where we continue to insist that good health does not have to equate to weighing less, even though some of us might possibly maybe think that losing weight would really be swell. (Ha! Did I just say "weight" and "swell" in the same sentence? Freud's a funny, funny dude.) But as much as I'd really like to drop an extra ten (or seventy) pounds, I long ago gave up setting goals that had anything to do with numbers on a scale. I want simply to feel better. I want to be in better shape. So let's talk about getting "fit." And while we're at it, let's talk about when getting "fit" has resulted in some of our most embarrassing moments ever.
Yes, with drawings.
Unless you've been hiding under some social media rock, you have no doubt seen alllllll kinds of buzz about Nintendo's new Wii Fit*.
And let me tell you, this invention -- which I do not yet even own -- is revelatory. For years I have been joining gyms and starting workout programs galore, only to abandon them after a few months. But thanks to the Wii Fit, I realized something amazing: I no longer have to confine my workout failures to the real world! No! Now I can bring my workout failures to a virtual world, too! Now I can feel out of shape and hopeless in real life and as a cartoon!
Hmph. This is maybe not the best attitude to have. Let's try again.
Getting in shape, getting fit, working out, being active -- these are all things we know we should do. I know I should do. But I have a tough time sticking to any routine because I don't generally like them. I have tried joining fancy high-pressure gyms, cheap and no-frills gyms, hiring personal trainers, yoga, the "Y", finding activity partners, the works. And nothing has really ever been interesting/fun/compelling enough for me to stick with. So the truth is that the Wii Fit sounds pretty good to me, because it combines a whole lot of things I DO like: privacy, convenience, personalization, fun, and uh, TV. I guess we'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, I posit the following:
1) If you're not enjoying your workout routine, you probably won't stick to it. Try, try again.
2) Alternately, if you're really not enjoying your workout routine, you should just blog it.
In the last few weeks, there have been various Wii-related giveaways all over the BlogHersphere. Some were very straightforward about wanting to know what their readers do to have fun while getting fit.
Jenny from Three Kid Circus asks:
So now - it's your turn! Tell me what you do for the kid in you?"
And gets charming replies, including:
...being a complete nut all the time
...wearing bizarre earrings, like the frogs wearing inner tubes around their bellies to work
...being an elephant for my son's "safari"
Personally, I love the notion of frog earrings being relating to overall well being. Rock on.
But Stefania urged her readers to share their most embarrassing workout, getting-fit tales. And they are hilarious. (Check out the cringe-worthy winner here. Let's just say it involves 1982, high school, a cute boy and a less-than-coordinated girl...)
Getting (staying) fit is hard, in real life AND cartoon form, and we can all benefit from knowing we're not alone in our struggles.
Mine is below. I hope you enjoy.
From the original blog post I called, "Why Yes, Cute Fireman, That *IS* My Ass"
curves for women is a great place to work out if you are like me. and by that i mean overweight and out of shape and really not okay with the idea of getting on the treadmill next to some 19 year old who weighs 14 pounds and is wearing a sports bra and running shorts and talking on a cell phone that is way cooler than yours.
right. so the way curves works is that they have a circuit, and you go around alternating between cardio stations and hydraulic machines in a set pattern.
sort of like this:
(picture erm, "courtesy" of their website...)
except the excessive smiling seen here is total BS.
anyway. not featured in the picture is this machine thing that you are going to have to try and envision. you stand on it, and lean forward while some thing supports your chest, and then you lift one foot, and push your foot backwards against a different thing. sort of like... um...this:
okay. now imagine that while you're happily (but not as happily as the BS women in the picture) working out, you are suddenly surrounded by three very loud firetrucks.
[if you do not live in a city, you might find this cause to stop what you're doing and find out what the firetruck activity is about. but when you do live in a city, you assume that loud noises -- even those being emitted from firetrucks 15 feet from you -- are not cause for concern unless you are directly instructed that yes, your building is actually on fire and yes, you should probably leave.]
however, despite the fact that not one of the women working out stopped what they were doing to find out if our building was on fire, every one of us was straining to look through the big windows and glass doors to see the firemen. because this is how city-dwelling women are.
and anyway, the woman running the place did eventually saunter outside (muttering, i should add, "he's a cute one") to ask a fireman what was going on, only to discover that some suspicious "cooking fumes" caused the alarm and there was nothing to be concerned about (see?).
but here is the point. the cooking fumes were extinguished and all the firemen left, just in time for me to reach the kick machine illustrated above. and so i did my reps. and then when i was finished, i looked up, and i realized that a SECRET and SILENT truck had pulled up DIRECTLY outside the window that was DIRECTLY behind the machine and so about a half-dozen firemen were parked in such a way as to be DIRECTLY FACING MY ASS.
sort of like this:
i am so proud.
i mean, i sure showed those cute firemen that i, in the face of grave danger and cooking fumes, can still slowly kick backwards 21 times. go me.
(*Note: I am not representing Nintendo. I have never been contacted by Nintendo. In fact, if this were high school, I'd be the dorky kid with a huge crush on Nintendo, and Nintendo wouldn't know I existed.)
]]>If you have written (or contributed) to a book that you would like for us to offer for sale at the BlogHer Bookstore, please let us know!
]]>If you have written (or contributed) to a book that you would like for us to offer for sale at the BlogHer Bookstore, please let us know!
This year's iRobot Cafe & Bookstore will be located in an easy-to-access space, and will be featuring a free espresso bar, cafe tables, and wifi -- not to mention a few scooting robots -- along with our "mini-store." The store will be managed by Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and we'll be working very closely with them to ensure that we offer titles that are not only relevant to women bloggers, but also written by them.
If you'd like for us to include your book and potentially schedule a time for you to do a book signing, here's what we need from you:
We will again be stocking the bookstore and assigning book-signing times on a first-come, first-available basis. We would love to include everyone, but our store size and hours are limited given the constraints of the conference.
BlogHer is excited to have this opportunity to promote our community's authors, and look forward to seeing you at the Cafe. Thanks to Barnes & Noble for helping make this possible, and especially to our gracious host, iRobot, for their support of all our BlogHers.
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