Category Archives: Blog Series

WW: Chicago Sights & One of My Favorite Things

For this edition of Wordless Wednesday, I thought I would share with you a few more photos from Chicago. Is it possible to fall in love with a city that you hardly got to explore? The buildings, the architecture, not to mention how Chicago was so clean (at least where we were)! I’m already looking for an excuse to go back… Wrigley Field – you’re on the top of my list!

031030PicMonkey CollageThen it happened… I spotted a watertower! I think we all know I love to photograph these them (as seen here and here).

032Then I got closer!

037And then I found more!077076080As much as I love water towers in the country landscape, there’s something about them sitting on the rooftops in the city that’s just as appealing. Hope you enjoy!

079 078Today I’m linking up with The Paper Mama, Jenni From the Blog, Seven Clown Circus, Photography Essentials and Communal Global for{Wordless Wednesday}.

BlogHer ’13 – The People, The Parties

BlogHer brings about many opportunities to network. Get out there and meet other bloggers who you’ve become friends with online, bloggers who you are meeting for the first time at the event and, as always, the sponsors. Parties are a huge deal. Not only the parties hosted by event sponsors but the private, invite only parties.

I only knew one other blogger that was attending the event, and I was rooming with her. I walked away with so much more. I met her friends, I made new friends and most of all, I made some travel blogging friends!

271Liz from Yes/No Films and I at the CheeseburgHer party in the Presidential Suite at the Sheraton Hotel.

Parties.

Cracker Barrel Cheese – Not only did we receive a demonstration on how to pair and present food, we also met Top Chef 2012’s Runner-up, Sarah Grueneberg and had a Food Network Challenge of our own! We each received a box and had to make it work. (I had Valentine’s Day)PicMonkey CollageYappem – hosted a party at the Navy Pier. Talk about a place for an event! Two people won $12,000.00 each… just saying.

PicMonkey Collage1Lazy Boy – We had our nails painted, make-up done and chair massages not to mention meet Kelly Edwards (host and co-host of HGTV’s Design on a Dime). Can’t complain about any of that!

241South Fort Walton Beach – If I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. Why? It has to do with travel of course and that’s my favorite! This is also where I met my first travel blogger of the event and I tried out their local beer, shrimp and grits and had some live music from the most popular local, South Ft. Walton Beach band! Like I said, right up my alley!

PicMonkey Collage2These are just a few of the events I was able to attend. Each were unique and a lot of fun!

BlogHer Swag

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Harry Potter Wand

As previously mentioned, BlogHer 2013 in Chicago was amazing. Something that everyone often hears or wants to hear about is the swag. I’m not going to lie, there’s a lot of it. Be prepared to bring an extra suitcase for all the stuff that you’ll bring back. Rule #1, be smart about what you pick up. If you are extra smart you will go through the items at the end of each night and get rid of the items you do not want. That’s if you have enough time / energy at the end of the day.

It’s not all about obtaining “free” items, at least not to me. I was exposed to companies that I’ve never heard of, products that have yet to be released and made contacts with companies that directly relate to my blog. More so, it’s opened me to new ideas to touch upon my blog that I’ve never even thought about. Win – win all around!

Now to the good stuff, here are some of my favorite items!

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Speck iPhone 5 camera case and some pretty fabulous nail polish. This case rocks my world. Thank you Speck and Best Buy!

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This is the most comfortable shirt and … well… how can you not like it?!

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Udi’s – the best gluten free cookie / cookie in general that I’ve tasted in a long time. This may be bad news!

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Books! From meeting Kelly Edwards (who also signed my book) to the St. Martin’s publishing books… who doesn’t love diving into a good book?!

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An array of children’s items that was mixed in with a few things that I picked up along the way. My niece / family will be very appreciative of these (as well as some good items for the family vacation road trip).

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South Fort Walton Beach hosted a party (quite possibly the best party I attended while at BlogHer) and provided each guest with a Mophie! How awesome is that?!

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A collection of items from the swag bags as well as the Walgreens bag I won (filled with a small pharmacy). I also won a bag from Universal Studios with a Minion (see previously posted Instagram photo), Spiderman, Transformer and the awesome Harry Potter Wand (at the top of the post). Heather and I were having fun practicing magic! haha

193Unpacking all of this was a different story! Cannot thank the sponsors enough for these products. Absolutely amazing!