CBC10: Live, Laugh, Blog

Phew. It has been a roller coaster of a long weekend, but I am home, finally rested, and fully inspired. 

I spent the long weekend at the Casual Blogger Conference.

It was a lot of things.Ryley I think said it best when she said she was "emotionally crashing" after the event. Sunday afternoon/evening did feel a bit like an emotional hangover, but it could also be lack of sleep. This was my first conference and I think the best word to describe the experience is intense. 

After a rather rocky ride which included delayed flights, turbulence, the little white bags stored in the back of plane seats and some tweet-hiking I finally go tot he hotel at 10:30ish on Thursday to meet these two AWESOME women:

I finally got to meet Heather, in her PJ's, which in all honesty made the whole ordeal worth it. Kristen, was awesome. I mean she would have to be to say "Hi! Nice to meet you, we'll be sleeping together tonight!"

The whole conference was filled with moments like this. Meeting someone for the very first time and just falling into easy conversation and understanding of each other. That alone makes conference attendance totally worth it. (Edit: Heather put this to words so much better in her recap)

Oh there was learning too. Rustin from Blog Frog  gave a really great opening about business and how they started Blog Frog. There was information sessions on SEO and all that other business stuff. Friday night was a social which was crazy fun 

and ended like this:

So 12 Mormons, 3 Christians and a non-practicing Jew walk into a bar . . .#CBC1011:40 PM May 28th via web

kristenhowerton

Kristen Howerton

And not just any bar, a kind of seedy karaoke bar, in Utah. It was an experience for sure!

The breakout sessions on Saturday were really what I was looking forward to. The focus at Casual blogger was on those things we love, writing, photography, being authentic. I went to a great session on manging your online time that I will definitely start using some of their advice. Jessica killed the session on finding your voice, it was a great time. I am going to refrain right now from voicing an opinion on the blogging your faith panel, Allison did a really great recap of it and I pretty much feel the same way. For me the last panel I went to had the most impact and confirmed my belief that everything happens for a reason. 

Blogging through pain, otherwise known as the grief panel. 

It was a draining session. I was crying before it even started and several times Jessica asked if I was sure I wanted to stay, "let me take you out "she would say. But I stayed, and it was good. While my eyes were red and my contacts were stuck, and my nose was as big and red as a clown it was good. For many reasons, it allowed me some freedom to be able to say what had happened out loud, which is healing. It also solidified something for me. I was meant to be here, for this. To meet these people. May, many random (and awesome!) things fell into place and I think meeting those people that held me up and inspired me are why. 

This is not the best recap of the event. Maybe I will say more later. Maybe I won't. The thing I learned about conferences is that they are overwhelming to your brain. You learn so much you meet so many people, have so nay heartfelt or interesting conversations. At least for me, it's a little hard to un-jumble all that.

If you are debating, considering, wondering if a conference is for you because you are not a "serious" blogger. Ask yourself this. Do you take joy in what you do and reading other peoples blogs? If you do you should go to a conference. The joy and inspiration from blogging come to life is worth all the trouble you may have to go through to get there. 

Besides, there just so much darn fun!

Allison and Ryley, without who I would not have experienced so much while in  Utah!

All photos from ShelleBlok