I’m kinda not freaking out this year. It’s less about my confidence level (…) and more about who I’m bringing with me.

I’m arriving on Wednesday morning with my be-mustached husband in tow. Last year, he gave me fake attitude when I got home from BlogHer ’10 in New York City. He gave me a pouty lip and pseudo-whined about being left behind. So I bought him a Party Pass and a plane ticket and, well, here we go! My parents and his mom are splitting the childcare duties for five days. It’s kind of our own personal last hurrah of life before the school system intervenes as BigBrother will start Kindergarten ten days after we arrive home. We’re throwing our life as we knew it a goodbye party. But, really, he’s my rock and grounds me when my anxiety busts through the glass ceiling.

So, yes, I have the lovely comfort of having my husband in tow. We have plans for ourselves. I have plans with friends. There’s a bunch of stuff to be done at BlogHer itself.

So do I have advice? Sure.

1. Don’t room with someone just to room with someone. Yes, it cuts down on cost to room with someone. But if you’re like me and you need some time to just occasionally breathe — and by time, I mean hours — don’t do it. I know this advice is likely too late as everyone has pretty much paired, tripled or quadrupled up. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please don’t forget about the Serenity Suite. Also? The beach. Hit it.

2. Get cell phone numbers of those you want to be sure to meet ahead of time (and make sure they can text). You can say you’ll rely on twitter, but then your push message will fail or we’ll crash the network and you won’t find anyone. If you feel weird about asking someone for their number, explain that you think they’re the bee’s knees. If they fail to respond, they’re probably not the bee’s knees. Right? (I just exchanged numbers with Jamie at Grumbles & Grunts. See? Easy.) But? Don’t feel bad if you miss your favorite bloggers. 3000 people makes for a bit of chaos.

Me, meeting my long-time bloggy friend, Elizabeth of This Full House, BlogHer ’10

3. Wear whatever you want. But don’t judge me for wearing dresses the whole time. Know why? I think I’ve worn one pair of shorts since May 3 of this year. The rest of the time? Dresses. (Except for that freakishly cold day when I wore jeans and a sweater.) My reason? I, uh, sweat a lot. Dresses give me, uh, a breeze. Unless you want me to positively melt, please let me wear my dresses. I’m not going to give two rips if you’re wearing jeans and a sweater. Promise. Oh, by the way, I may be wearing some killer Adidas sneakers with a skirt here or there. I got style. Plus? You look fabulous. And you should Own Your Beauty. Mmhmm.

4. Get out of the building. There are amazing restaurants, bars, and experiences in general all over San Diego. Check out San Diego Blog Conference for some great tips. Go experience something. Yes, BlogHer is awesome. But so is San Diego. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t do something. Friends of >mine are going kayaking. Tip there: Stalk San Diego Groupon for some good deals. My husband and I are going geocaching because how can you geek up a blogging conference just a bit more? Go geocaching! And again: The beach!

5. Don’t overextend yourself. Yes, there are some cool off-site parties going on. I’ve turned down a few invitations because I didn’t want to be go-go-going the whole time. I wanted to have some down time. Some time to do what I wanted. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to miss the Voices of the Year Community Keynote. (I said that over on Chronicles, but I maintain it. No swag party is worth missing the Community Keynote. It’s why we blog, people.) Take some time to just sit in the lobby and talk with friends. Take some time to meet someone new. If you see someone who looks like they might be overwhelmed or all alone at a table, stop and say hi. It might be me, just taking a breather, and I’d love to meet you!

6. Make sure your blog is updated and that everything works. This should be common sense. But, uh, I didn’t do that before my last conference. Fantastic!

7. Take pictures! That’s not surprising coming from me, I know. But don’t forget. If you leave your camera in your room (GASP!), use your phone. Or make your husband carry your camera. What? I bought his plane ticket! He can carry the camera, right? No? Okay, okay.

And that’s kinda it. I would offer you advice about schmoozing with brands or how to get the best swag, but that’s not what I’m good at — mainly because I get distracted by meeting my favorite bloggers. I can’t even tell you which sessions I am attending because I am blown away by The Complete Awesome that I have to choose from in each time slot. (Though, if you don’t like a session or feel that it’s not what you were looking for, feel free to quietly get up and go to another one that would be a better fit. The people up front are too busy to notice you sneaking out. And probably only two people will tweet that you left the room.) Oh, and don’t forget to hit up the free BlogHer parties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Apparently CheeseburgHer has fries this year. Save a mushy one for me, okay?

Now that I’ve said entirely too much, I need to make my official list: Are you going? If so, please leave a comment. I’ll contact you for your details so we can meet up. Feel free to link up your pre-BlogHer ’11 post too! Also, I’m very easily found in a hallway sitting on the floor. In a dress. Next to a be-mustached firefighter if it’s in the evening. And I’ll likely be wearing green, except for the Community Keynote. I changed it up and went blue. I’m living on the edge.

I was lovingly teased a few times over the weekend about loving my real life friends — two of whom I turned into bloggers and were in attendance with me — more than my online friends. The conference and time with so many of those that I genuinely considered friends taught me, or rather, reminded me that friends are friends. End of discussion.

When my grandfather died this past January, I called three real-life friends in tears. But I also posted my grief online. For weeks, I received phone calls and emails from both groups, checking on me to see how I was, if my family needed anything or to offer a kind word or story. When I am dealing with heavy adoption related topics, I actually turn to my online friends first, fully recognizing that the lack of face-to-face allows me to be more honest while simultaneously allowing them to kick me in the seat of the pants a little more directly than if we were sitting in the same room. My friends, no matter their location, rejoice with me in the good in my life and weep with me when it all comes crashing down.

The truth is that my heart is unable to recognize if I met you in Kindergarten or in college, at the hospital after one of my children was born or at the coffee shop a few weeks later, on one blog or website or another online medium. If you have offered a piece of yourself to me, if you have shared in my joys and my failures, if I have shared in yours, we are friends.

Over the weekend, I finally met a large number of friends face-to-face. I have known some of them for only months, others for close to a decade. I got to spend time with still others that I don’t get to see nearly enough. I had conversations that were just as deep as those I have with the friends who are able to show up at my house when I’m too sick or overwhelmed to get out of my pajamas. I met other firefighter wives that I didn’t yet know about yet. I met new people, new friends, most of whom I haven’t yet had a chance to read their words on their blogs, but a friendship was formed.

However brief the encounter — like the one I had in the elevator with someone I have quietly adored for years or walking back from a party with another and giggling in a drug store — they all mattered. Deeply. In fact, as we were heading to check out of the hotel, I said some final goodbyes. As I walked away, I had to fight back the tears. You don’t cry when you are leaving people who don’t qualify in your heart as a friend.

I learned a lot at BlogHer, I did. The sessions that I attended inspired me, made me cry and laugh in the same breath and challenged me to consider things differently. I learned that we are powerful. I learned not to wear cute flats, however comfortable, on a three mile photowalk because your hips will fall off the next day. I learned that I can run a 5K. I learned that’s it’s totally possible to drive in NYC. But what I’m taking away from this year’s BlogHer is more than brand interaction and private parties — though I enjoyed both. It’s more than tips to grow your blog or how to nurture your own voice — though I learned a lot. It’s more than new followers and new blogs to read — great stuff, too. For me, BlogHer ’10 was about friendships, new and old and even those yet to come.

In short, which I never am except in height, thank you for being my friend. (Cue song.)

[If you are not in this collage, please don't take it as a slight. Any more photos made them too small to see. All of my photos will be uploaded to my flickr set tonight.]

But it was so worth it.

Mainly because I had great company.

But also because it’s NYC. And things get random. And sparkly.

And Buzz was there to remind me of my boys.

I complained to Michelle as we walked and talked and talked and walked that the only time that I had seen a lights and sirens fire truck while walking, I didn’t have my camera in hand. As we continued on our way, every lights and sirens situation was an ambulance. I sighed.

And then we stumbled upon a fire house. One in which two of their trucks were just returning.

And I squealed with joy.

I’m sure the firefighters were thinking, “Who is this crazy short woman with the tall friend? Why is she squealing with delight and taking 498590409 pictures?” They didn’t know that I was part of their extended family, that my nightshirt while in NYC is one of my husband’s old work shirts. I considered stopping, especially when Michelle pointed out the tall firefighter who, like my husband, didn’t look old enough to drive the fire truck. But my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and we walked on.

But not before I snapped this with no flash in a low-light situation.

So worth the sore feet.

You don’t run in Central Park in a tutu? You’re doing it wrong. Read more here.

(And yes, I just posted a no-makeup-picture on my blog. EGADS.)

We’re having a great time. I have a wicked summer cold that I can’t seem to kick. Sometimes the boys get whiny because we’re all in close quarters. But, man, we’re having a great time. As usual, it’s one of the highlights of our year. This week will likely just be a quick picture or two when I escape to work via wifi at McDonald’s.

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[Also? I was lucky enough to be included with a list of amazing bloggers as a finalist in BlogHer's Voices of the Year. Honored. Humbled. Thank you.]

I wrote a revealing, literally, post at BlogHer today that I’d love for you to read. Especially if you’re a woman. Not because I think you want to see me in my skivvies but because I have a call to personal action at the end that I think many of us need to hear, repeatedly. In short, the post is about my experience with posing for boudoir photos (sexy, pin-up, lingerie style photos) and how it did, in fact, change my life.

No, I’m not full of it. It really did.

I share it with you for so many reasons. Plus, as I’m wearing firefighter turnout gear in the photos, it’s fire blog related, no? Go give it a read. And a peek.

(Comments closed here. Join in the discussion over at BlogHer!)

I can get behind that. Without further adieu, my post about books that influenced me.

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I was always a reader. I was reading by the time I was four, one of those annoying precocious children who would correct the person reading a story if they dared to make a mistake. I’m not sure how my parents dealt with me other than by continuing to hand me books, books and more books. I devoured anything I came across. I actually blame my love of reading for missing most movies in the 80′s and 90′s. My parents tell me that I was present for any number of movies I claim never to have seen; it is likely I was sitting on the couch with a book in hand, unaware of the movie of the night.

Certain books just hit me in that amazing way that books do if you let them. The Secret Garden is a book that sits in the nearest and dearest places in my book loving heart. I believe the copy I received, a gorgeous keepsake hardback, was given to me by a book-loving aunt for one of my birthdays. It transported me to somewhere I still escape to on occasion. I can still conjure up the smell of that particular book. I can still feel the pages, the binding such that the pages weren’t all neatly lined up. I loved that book.

Similarly, the entire Anne of Green Gables series transported me to another time and place. And Little Women. And my grandmothers’ copies of the Nancy Drew books. And also my grandma’s horse books, older than my parents, My Friend Flicka and Black Beauty. Also, in second grade I read an abridged version of Romeo and Juliet and promptly developed a rather embarrassing crush on my reading teacher, referring to him as Romeo. I might not have understood that they both died at the end. Ever the romantic that I am.

These are just a few, mind you. The ones that stick out immediately when I think of books that I loved, so dearly, as a child.

I look at my boys now and wonder if they will be readers. And not just because-they-have-to readers but book worms, lovers and other descriptive words for people who choose books over other forms of entertainment. I read to them, with them, and always have. I am always sure to take advantage of the Scholastic book order when it comes home. (In fact, I totally snagged myself a book from one recently. Ann M. Martin wrote a prequel to The Babysitter’s Club which is yet another series that ruled my early reading life.) I wonder what book will stick out in their memories, what will be their favorite, what will change their views. Their lives.

And they’re lucky, these boys. They have books. So many books. I buy books for no occasion. Any gift giving holiday certainly nets them new books in larger quantities. Books are just what we do around here. We take regular trips to the library. Recently, when we didn’t stop as was passed our local library, LittleBrother exclaimed, “Bye li-berry! See you tomorrow!” And he was right. It breaks my heart to know that there are children who don’t have access to books like we do. I remember watching a documentary in which a high school senior had never owned a book of his own. I can’t even fathom.

That’s why I took the time to write this post. So that BookRenter will donate a book to a child in need. So that maybe that child will become a book lover. So that they will know the power of a book. So that maybe someday, when they’re raising children of their own, they might pass on the importance of books and that love might get passed on for generations upon generations.

Will you go comment about your favorite book? Or write your own post and link up? That’s all it takes to help donate books to children who desperately need them. Take a moment today. And then go read with your kids.

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(As a side note, if you live in Ohio, you need to get your doopa to the polls today and vote. Some of you have very important levies that will decide how your library may or may not function. Go vote. Now.)

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Electrolux.

All the snow that has fallen this winter has made me crave something a bit more colorful. I know the white snow is beautiful but I need some bright, bold colors. So I decided to bake a cake. Not just any cake… a rainbow cake.

One of my friend’s teased me the first time I made my rainbow cake. She asked, “Why did you make one?” No reason. In fact, I find that no reason at all is the best reason to make a rainbow cake. It brings its own reasons packaged in its colorful layers. It brings smiles. It brings laughter. It brings togetherness while baking it. And it brings some color. Quite honestly, our family could use a little laughter and color during this bleak winter. The boys were excited to help yet again.

First we mixed up the two boxes of cake batter as per their instructions, licking the beaters as an additional “must do.”

Then we separated the batter into six different bowls. We colored each with icing color (not food coloring, read why here) and poured them into six different round cake pans. I have to buy foil cake pans because my family hasn’t caught on that I am on this baking spree and no one has bought me six different round cake pans. You’d think they’d catch on!

Then it bakes. While it bakes, we sing and dance in the kitchen our fancy new floor. After it bakes, it has to cool. In fact, I let it cool overnight. When I don’t, it falls apart and I cry. There should be no crying in baking, so I waited this time around. Then I slathered icing between the layers, pre-made, thankyouverymuch, and stuck them together.

Then I frosted the top, convinced my children to eat their vegetables and we had a Color Makes Me Happy Party.

I tell you all of this because BlogHer wants me to tell you about how Kelly Ripa has paired up with Electrolux to support the fight against ovarian cancer. Entitled “Cakery for a Cause,” they’re holding a virtual cake-bake off to help support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). All you do is visit the site, decorate a cake and e-mail it to a friend. For every cake sent, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF. And, it gets better: to help spread the word, everyone who sends a virtual cake will be automatically entered for a chance to win every baker’s dream: a stylish new Induction Range from Electrolux. (It’s swanky.) (Speaking of swanky, in case you want to use your tax refund to get swanky, Electrolux is also donating $100 to OCRF for every induction range sold this month. So, you know, you can buy me one, okay?)

In short, even if you aren’t scouring the market for a fancy new way to bake your cakes, you can simply visit Kelly Confidential, whip up a virtual cake (or twelve) and send them to your friends and family. It’s that simple to help the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Then, if each of the people you send a cake to takes the time to send it to one or two people, think of how your few minutes will continue to benefit others. It’s that easy. And I like things to be easy… like how easy it was to eat this cake. Mmm.

Please visit BlogHer.com special offers page for more information on the Cakery for a Cause.

If you like the meme, feel free to do one yourself and leave a link in the comments or tweet it with the #momspotting hashtag. Or don’t do it. No pressure, I promise.

1.       Which expensive electronic device do you most often let your older children abuse or your baby drool on?

Our family desktop. Now, to be fair, it was purchased (just recently) with the knowledge that it would be used by the kids. But sometimes I do cringe when I walk in the room and they’re actively touching the computer screen with their grubby little fingers. What? They’re my kids. I can call their fingers grubby if I want to! I researched pretty darn hard and well (we went with HP… again) and feel kind of secure that they won’t totally trash it to smithereens. We do have rules. Of course, we also have a rule that they should use their inside voices. That works well. Not.

But he looks cute, doesn’t he?

Also? I now have the smallest computer screen (on my laptop) in the whole family.

2.       How many take-out restaurant numbers do you have programmed into your phone?

Two. Both are local pizza joints. Why only pizza? That’s the only take-out in our area. Welcome to Small Town, Ohio. Do I get bonus points for also having the library programmed in? I do? Sweet.

3.       How many hours of television do you so totally not let your kids watch a week?

I really hate this question. I don’t really know a daily, in-and-out total. I pay attention to what they watch. I make sure we’re doing other things. I observe their cues and schedule No-TV Days when they are needed. But do they watch more than the recommended none for LittleBrother’s age and two hours for BigBrother’s age? Yes and mostly. Don’t judge me. The Bible says not to. (Name the comedian.)

4.       Do you think people who say “we don’t watch television” at playdates but really mean “we just watch DVDs” are lying liars from Liarville?

Maybe. We do prefer DVD’s to television simply because of my background in working for television news. Commercials are evil. They are. You can argue it with me but the truth is that they are made with your/my child in mind and they do, in fact, want our kids to say, “Oh-em-gee, Mommy! I haftahavethatRIGHTNOW!” That said, DVD’s do count in screen time so those who think they’re not letting their kids watch “television” by going that route are slightly delusional. Or Lying McLiarpants from McLiarville.

5.       How many miles have you driven with your child and not one device of electronic entertainment in a single car trip?

Seven. It should have been six but have you ever driven two small children, by yourself? A bathroom break takes eons. Also, if the radio counts, then I’m out. And? I won’t be doing that again. That was silly.

6.       What’s your record for calls to the pediatrician or Ask-a-Nurse in a single day?

Three. To be fair, the first and second were because I accidentally hung up on the nurse when I hit a button with my chin. The third was to inform her that, yes, he did puke again. All over me. And that we would be coming in. With my laundry.

7.       What’s the sexiest thing your husband/partner could text you after a hard day?

Your wine is waiting. Or, your wine is waiting and the kids are asleep. Or, your wine is waiting and the kids are asleep and I bought us a hot tub and installed it while you were out and, you know, you look really sexy in that bathing suit of yours; I’ll be waiting. That said, the last option doesn’t fit in a text message so I can safely say that’s never going to happen.

8.       What’s your favorite iPad joke?

The iPad is not a joke. It is beautiful. Gorgeous. And luxurious. But, no, advertising, even in the form of press releases, has no affect on us, does it?

9.       What’s the dumbest parenting tool, gear, gadget or device you ever bought?

A potty with a foam seat ring. You know what happens with a foam seat ring? IT SOAKS UP THE URINE. Do you know what that smells like after a week or two? Also, add in the stroller that came with the “travel system” that we purchased for our first son (BigBrother). Not only was it too big and poorly made but we almost never used the thing.

10.   How many years will it take for your child to become more tech-savvy than you?

Have you met BigBrother? He’s working on it. It may be his life goal. Or, wait. His life goal right now is to be a Space Ranger. If he accomplishes that, I would say he’s more tech-savvy than me/us by far. That said, I’m pretty on top of things. I don’t want to think about having to ask them to fix my computer/TV/hover-craft. I’m the Mommy, dang it.

I encourage my readers not only to follow the #momspotting hashtag and join in the conversation but to visit the Family Connections forum. We’ve been having great conversations on everything from Facebook to how we can possibly have time to blog/tweet/etc if we’re actively parenting to making our marriages better… online. I have really enjoyed the give and take of information, ideas and laughter. You should join in. (Also, if you’re touched by adoption, stop in the adoption forum where I’ve been spear-heading some discussion.)

I’m working on this project through the end of March. If you have anything you’d like me to broach either on twitter or the Family Connections forum regarding technology and parenting, drop me a comment, email or tweet.

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and V8.

As many of my readers know, my older son (BigBrother) has texture issues. These issues extend from things that he has to touch all the way to things he has to eat or drink. The latter problem has created some very difficult challenges in making sure he gets enough fruits and vegetables. I would like to state that in the last year he has started eating cooked carrots, cooked broccoli, one slice of apple per day and drinking juice. You would think that the juice thing wouldn’t be a big issue as it doesn’t seem to have texture. You’d be wrong. It does. Just ask BigBrother.

We went through a whole bunch of 100% juice options. It was time-consuming and frustrating. On our second flavor of V8 V-Fusion, however, we hit a winner. In fact, he drank more than a sip. He drank the whole glass. And asked for more. I’m serious. I almost fell down in my kitchen. Since that time, he’s decided that he likes the strawberry banana flavor, peach mango and one flavor of another brand of juice. (Only, ever, but still. It’s an improvement.)

I tell you this to set up this review! BlogHer contacted us recently to ask if we’d like to review some V8 V-Fusion. Knowing that we already like some of it, I said that we wouldn’t mind at all! We received the new Cranberry Blackberry flavor in the big bottle and slim cans of Strawberry Banana (!) and Pomegranate Blueberry each.

The juices arrived right before lunch time. I asked BigBrother if he wanted to try a new juice. I made a big deal about it. I said it was purple! And yummy! And way fun! And that I’d have a glass, too! With his texture issues, we have to make a big deal about things.

Apparently I made a big enough deal because he agreed to try a glass. Agreeing to try a glass and drinking it are two different stories so I held my breath as he took a sip.

“I like it!”

Win! Not only did he drink a glass with lunch that day, he’s been asking for it at lunch time almost every day. I’m okay with that as it is 100% juice with no added sugar. (On top of having texture issues, I prefer the kids to have healthy options. I’m sure he’d eat junk all day every day if I let him but that’s not what I’m going for here!) Since I know that he’s not getting the recommended daily servings of vegetables or fruit, I’m pleased that an 8-oz glass of V8 V-Fusion provides a full serving of both vegetables and fruit. I’d really, really like if he would eat cucumbers and carrots and apples and
strawberries and anything else that holds still like his younger brother but I’ll go about it in whatever way works right now.

I asked BigBrother what he thought about V8 V-Fusion and he gave me the following blurbs. We even get to hear a word from LittleBrother!

(As an aside, I don’t know why he sounds like a news anchor other than he is, in fact, my Mini-Me.)

I drank the Pomegranate Blueberry myself. It was delicious. I actually think BigBrother would have liked that flavor as well but I didn’t really give him a chance with that one. I didn’t feel bad about it either.

I’m pleased that we have yet another juice that my older son can benefit from drinking. It’s hard when the choices are limited and then it sells out in a store. And now I’d like to give our readers a chance at winning a $100 Visa gift card. Maybe you won’t buy V8 V-Fusion or other fruits and vegetables but even if you don’t, I have a feeling that $100 could help you get some stuff that you need or want this year!

To enter, leave me a comment below and tell me what’s your, or your kids, favorite variety of V8 V-Fusion. If you haven’t tried it yet, which one are you are most excited to try? The contest will begin at January 12, 2010 and will end February 9, 2010. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

* No duplicate comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US-Residents aged 18 and older
* Winners will be selected via random draw (random.org), and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
* Please see the official rules here: Official rules.

Please visit the official page over at BlogHer to learn about your eight chances at winning a $100 Visa gift card. Furthermore, you can learn more about V8 V-Fusion and get a $1 off coupon!