What's in your bag? The BlogHer 2009 Edition

Several months ago I was rendered with an inability to read a calendar properly coupled with a sudden need to be everywhere at once and lo my July blew up like a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. There are conventions and one night affairs in cities 3,000 miles away and a move to somewhere...anywhere besides the home of one of my parents both for their benefit and mine. We'd all like to make it through the summer alive. So in a fit of panic I packed my bag for BlogHer. Because at some point several months ago I thought that I could go from a massive convention to BlogHer without stopping at home and it would be all awesome and wonderful (and excuse me while I have an anxiety attack and fan myself) but...it isn't awesome or wonderful. It sucks.

Hey! I'm almost packed for the BlogHer conference! Some might think this to be good planning. No stress come July 22nd where I'm standing over my suitcase in tears and staring at my butt in the mirror because it's huge and WHAT DO I HAVE TO MASK THE HUGENESS?!? I'm so prepared right now that it's disgusting. Because...dun dun duuuun (and as I said in this post) I'm bringing things that I'd normally wear anyway. Which is key ladies (and gentlemen) be yourself. It sounds so much easier on paper (or screen) and then in real life you're hyperventilating because the illusive "They" might not like your dress/shoes/pants but whatever. I'm here to say that this is what I will be wearing at BlogHer and I really don't care if you hate everything I own.

But maybe I care.

A little bit.

Ok I do.

First off dresses: Lots of dresses because I own one pair of black capri pants that I enjoy but I like to be easy and breezy and I'm most comfortable in dresses.

dresses

Then cardigans: Three different lengths because I'm all about being warm and comfortable while sitting in a freezing cold, air conditioned hotel room and trying to pay attention to a session on how marketing and social media are conjoined. I don't care if I'm the one discussing it, I'll need to be alert and WARM.

Cardigans

Shoes: They're good. They should be on your feet in most establishments. Those green flats? I own FOUR pairs of those shoes. Not saying where they're from but four pairs must means love...and never having to say your sorry. The black ones are from Hayden Harnett and my feet and I are very grateful to the lovelies in Brooklyn. We salute you.

Some Shoes

And The Bag: I bought this bag during Hayden Harnett's Big Bang Sale - which is still going on - but you can smell the leather from a mile away not to mention that it's just a super wonderful bag. It's big enough for the camera and an extra lens plus all the superfluous things that I'll never use but will want to carry with me anyway. It won't fit my laptop and I'm ok with that. It means less time with my nose in Politico.com and more time focused on how to brand my blog.

Bag

That's what I'm bringing. At least I'm 80% sure that is what I'm bringing barring any sort of freak accident that makes my butt like four times smaller. Hopefully this will give you some ideas. Sooo? What are YOU bringing?

HeatherB also writes about bags, clothes and shoes at No Pasa Nada.

Submitted by HeatherB (view blog

) on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 6:21pm

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So what are you wearing right now?

If the clothes you normally wear are in your suitcase, how are you getting dressed between now and BlogHer? Cuz if I packed right now, I'd have to go naked for the next two weeks or wear my jammies to work.

Just saying.

:-)

Beth Terry
www.fakeplasticfish.com
@fakeplasticfish
FaceBook

P.S. Maybe I misunderstood your post. Are your clothes actually in your suitcase or are they simply on your list of stuff you'll put in your suitcase when it's time to pack or are you already traveling and living out of your suitcase? Sorry. It's late and I should be in bed or at least taking my sleeping pill by now.

Submitted by Beth Terry on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 23:04

I'm fully clothed

Since you asked, I'm packing up everything I will NOT be wearing between now and mid-July so that when I return from BlogHer there is less for me to do.

The stuff above isn't packed but I know that I'm bringing it. It's just a general "Here's what I'm wearing, what are you wearing?" type post. So no, I am not packed but I most certainly know what I'm bringing. Which I suppose is easy since it's all dresses and they don't require much coordination.

Bonus: They're lightweight and so everything will be in a carry-on bag. Whoo!

Heather B.

No Pasa Nada: www.nopasanada.org

BlogHer: http://www.blogher.com/blog/heatherb

Submitted by HeatherB on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 03:41

Be yourself is excellent advice

Nice shoes! I don't understand the bag though, it's HUGE and would drive me insane (but ignore me since I carry a wallet in my back pocket and my phone in my hand and that's the extent of it.) :-)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Submitted by Denise on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 03:52

I need to start thinking about packing soon

Because I leave in like 12 days. We're going in early to play tourist so I need to pack for a week. Thankfully we're driving so I don't have to worry about that whole carry-on thing but I'll be bringing clothes that I wear pretty much every day.

Shoes are going to be harder though. I need shoes for lots of walking since I'll be playing tourist. Since it's rained so much this summer (since when does Ottawa have a monsoon season?) I haven't got any of my summer shoes properly broken in. I'm going to end up taking way too many pairs of shoes with me because I'm worried about blisters. Oh well.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 04:32

Oh golly.

Dude. This has been on my mind the last few days. Had a nightmare 2 nights ago I forgot to bring my "special" shoes. A NIGHTMARE about shoes??? Crazy much? Women ;)

Submitted by jennyonthespot on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 05:17

me too!

Except my nightmare was that I forgot my memory card in my camera and other essentials like the laptop cord....

CanCan

Mom Most Traveled

www.MomMostTraveled.com

Submitted by CanCan on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 18:16

I looooove that dress in the

I looooove that dress in the middle!

Great packing advice, I always end up just throwing clothes in my suitcase and never even wear half of them.

Submitted by kforkeely on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 08:42

Great reminder!

Adding cardigans to my packing list. Conference rooms are always ridiculously cold. Thank you for saving me from frostbite.

If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me

http://rhiinpink.com

Submitted by rhi-in-pink on Tue, 07/07/2009 - 20:31

Wearing? Pretty much what I on.

Like you, Heather, I'm wearing what I always wear. A couple pairs of light-weight cotton pull on pants and some sleeveless-and short-sleeve tops. I don't do cardigans - but I'm throwing in a long pashmina-type shawl. Two pairs of shoes.

For me, BlogHer is NOT ABOUT THE CLOTHES. So all I have to do is make sure the pants are clean, and I'm on my way.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Submitted by debra roby on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 15:08

Fantasizing about Tim Gunn

I love that you photographed your outfits, HeatherB. It's the true spirit of the event.

(I'm not all crazy about what to wear at BlogHer, but i would like
Tim to come over and force me to get rid of all my clothes that are too
big, out of style, or just worn out. If I post that on Twitter, will he read it and come?)

Whitney

http://www.rookiemoms.com

Submitted by whitneymoss on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 20:41

Shoot, I forgot to buy a cardigan!

I'm bringing capris in brown linen and black cotton, and tops that go with both so I can decide which to wear which day once I'm there. My biggest stress is this top I bought for one of the cocktail parties, it's...orange. It looked so great in the dressing room with the coordinating jewelry, but now I keep eyeing it trying to decide if I should take it back or not. I stress way too much about what to wear every year!

Elizabeth blogs at:

Submitted by Elizabeth@Table for Five on Fri, 07/10/2009 - 15:13