When I registered for Blissdom I was so-o excited!  A week later I went, “What have I done!?!  So it went until the morning of February 5th.  Excited.  Nervous.  Over the moon.  Scared.  Happy.  Anxious.  You get the idea.

My husband and munchkins dropped me off outside the hotel.  ”This is it,” I thought.  ”Sink or swim.”  I’d even settle for just keeping my head out of water.  I went through the revolving door and around the corner.  ”There’s no signs.  Where should I go?”  Then, walking towards me came Sarah from Real Life Blog - looking just like her videos.  We briefly chatted and I could feel some of the tension melting away.

I followed Sarah’s directions to the registration table where Melissa from The Inspired Room checked me in and handed me a large Land’s End bag full of swag.  [Swag = freebies, samples, coupons, magazines, fun stuff!]  Then I started swapping business cards.  Some ladies I recognized and politely asked for their cards.  Others I bumped into and just said, “Hi, do you have a card?  Can we trade?”  Then it would be some popular blogger like Beth from I Should Be Folding Laundry!  I’d bite my tongue as I’d think “Good grief, Jendi.  Way to be smooth.  Just almost knock over her baby stroller then ask for her card.”

I was worn out after the first evening even though I had 2 Little Debbie snacks.  I’ll tell you all about the sessions in another post.  The first evening the best things for me happened around the sessions.  So many bloggers; so little time.

After eating and crashing for a bit at the condo I went back to the hotel for the Pajama Party.  I was lucky enough to get invited by Lisa Boyd to her room to hang out with Lisa, Melanie, and Dawn.  It was great!  I still feel like doing a happy dance whenever I think about it.  It was so-o fun!  Lisa even helped me fix a feed problem.  She’s the WordPress and Feedburner queen!

The next morning I took my bloodshot eyes – along with the rest of me – back to the hotel.  My girls really wanted to meet baby Ivy from Adventures in Babywearing so all 3 munchkins followed me in just as Stephanie was coming out of the elevator.  Ivy was sleeping, but they got to see her.  Prayerfully, Ivy is getting over her cold.

There was an enormous platter of fresh fruit and another of pastries & muffins for breakfast.  Saturday sessions are a whole ‘nother story coming soon to a blog near you.  They ran late, as expected, and the pasta and salad buffet was just in time to keep us from fainting.  I left the conference around 4:30 pm [after the last session, but before the keynote and parties] so my family and I could head to Pigeon Forge for a short vacation.

Looking back it’s hard to believe that it really happened and that I met all those incredible ladies; but I have a stack of business cards to prove that it did.

At least I hope they’re friends.

Posted my announcement on my Sponsors page.

My excitement and my nervousness take turns being in control.

My husband thinks knows I’m crazy, but he loves me anyways.

He will watch the kids at the condo in Nashville for a day and a half while I’m at the conference.  Now that’s love!