Swag and More Swag

I've got two more Blogher08 posts to write. One has been sitting draft mode ferrever, waiting for me to finish all the links for the awesome people I met, cards I collected and cool new businesses. Before I publish that, I wanted to give a shout out to some of the most swagalicious goodies I got there. Part of my "real" job is buying swag and customer gifts, but it's a little different than what you find in the consumer world. Nobody is going to buy one of our multi-million dollar tools because of the light-up ball or green laser pointer we gave them, but it's nice to do and they are fun to buy, but not nearly as fun as the type of swag you can get at a consumer conference. We has a serious number of sponsors.

There was lots and lots of little ittle cute baby stuff, which I immediately passed on to Lia to donate to a worthy cause. Oh, but I so wanted to keep the mod mum sling, it was so sweet. I just hope if I ever do have another baby (highly doubtful) I hope someone will pass on one of those slings. I gave my Wati dresses and cute hair clips to Carmen of Mom to the Screaming Masses, who has like a boatload of girls while I have, roughly, none. I'm teaching my boys to braid my hair.

This was my absolute favorite thing, the Lands End canvas beach bag. I bring it to the pool, to the park, camping, and unfortunately to a conference so now I must retrieve it as I had to leave it full of goodies. It is awesome, stands up with not problem, holds towels and has pockets for change and goggles and cell phones.

I also really liked the soft cosmetic bag from Saks. It was full of goodies which I've hardly touched. We did get a laugh out of the fact that my roommie, 10 years younger, got the cooling cream (Deep Cooling Body Lotion). But turns out I got it too, and I've used it. No hot flashes yet, but the heat wave in Northern CA is killing me.

I really plan to use the password organizer and busy body book, but seems I'm too busy to get myself organized so that I'm less busy. I've used the BBB before, but hoping the new password organizer will prevent the calls from husband - can you take care of this? I don't know the password.

Really, a big thank you to all the sponsors, and all the folks behind the scenes who helped us get all this wonderful stuff.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

Here's me on Sesame Street, one of the most awesome parts of BlogHer. Even made one a better mom. Selfishmom has a great post about the whole experience.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And then here's my kids watching me. Keegan so wanted to join me there. And he kept asking me if she was real or was there a person, I had to tell the truth. Admitedly it's about the 5th they've watched it.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Week in Libations... and some food

I swear it took me until Monday evening to finally rid myself of feeling tired all the time. Much like my husband - snap. Anyway, perhaps it was the 16 hour days leading up to my actual working conference, or the back-to-back conferences. But I suspect it was actually the heavy drinking that somehow entered my life last week, more than my usual swigs of vodka from the freezer glass or two of wine a few times of week. I tried to limit myself to wine or vodka, but I think that just prevents puking.

• Tuesday night - champagne, followed by a shared expensive bottle of red wine, mmm, excellent with soft shelled crabs and quail.


• Wednesday night - two kamikaze's - totally not my fault, how can you not order a drink from a bar made of ice, seriously. Probably should not have combined that with sushi, dim sum, fries, mini cheeseburgers, chocolate fondue and chai - ugh.


• Thursday night - two lemon drops, plus there was that weird gin drink, although I barely tasted that. Mushroom tarts and beef on a stick to die for.


• Friday night - hmm, white wine, then a cosmo, followed by two melontinis, and that was it, I swear, but more food and not enough water obviously.


• Saturday night - combinations of tiny drinks that should never have occurred: jasmine drink, champagne, red wine, Starbucks banana chocolate smoothie (ick), vodka/white chocolate, and then a rose since they weren't allowing red wine on the furniture level. Yes, it was a progressive party at Macy's, oddly enough. One of my favorite places to shop, but not necessarily party, plus my buds were leaving that night or already gone.

Sadly enough, I slept so well those nights, and could not sleep at all last night, back in my own cozy bed with my snugly little boy beside me. I feel like I'm in withdrawal, so I had a glass of wine tonight and slept right through the book reading, even with same boy crawling all over me.

BlogHer 08 Ass Backwards

Edited to add - A few links, okay 2.

Starting with the last night of BlogHer08, once again my roommie deserted me, claiming they missed their kids - those first time mommies (hi Robyn, give that kid a kiss for me). So what does that mean to me? Well, I'm not shacking up with no elevator guy, that's for sure. Although it was a bit tempting what with the 56 bags of McDonald's he was carrying up (okay, fess up, which blogher after party was that for? Never mind, here it is).

So what does one do when one has a hotel room all to herself - well, I leave all my crap on the other bed, take a bath, and prove I am indeed a bit of an idiot when I go to turn the air conditioner off. The whole weekend, I'm thinking why on earth is the air conditioner on? But my hotel-mate was warm so I just snuggled up under the loverly comforter. Turns out that cold whooshing sound was an open window - doh! Eight stories up, no screen, I shut that thing toot sweet lest I tumble out.

Before lounging around watching Space Cowboys, I went to the Closing Reception, where I didn't win a purse, but got my new book signed by a ton of superstar bloggers. danced with a fun chickie and listened to some political talk by some savvier bloggers than moi (will have to add links once I go through my 400 business cards.)

I had a lot of fun this weekend, getting to meet some new people, chatting with old buddies and eating and drinking my way to several hangovers. I have to say the most fun was the Sesame Street room, which contained these yummy cupcakes a lot more snacks. Maybe it's because I felt closer to my kids in this friendly environment, and less like I was failing at getting to know people, wanting just to go up to my room and read. Working on getting my personalized video up here, but suffice it to say my kids had so much fun watching me chat with Abby Cadabby, waving to her, wondering whether she was real and why I didn't talk to Bert.

Another highlight was the two makeovers, one at Saks courtesy of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and then BareMinerals at BlogHer itself, which totally ruined my plan to spend no money (and I think I could have gotten a better deal online).

Stay tuned as I go backward, and discuss my Slide wound in lurid detail.