Sunday, February 7, 2010

Blissdom, part 1: Gaylord, Harry Connick Jr. and a mashed potato confession



If there was one thing I was psyched about for Blissdom, it was this: Not having to pick up towels off the bathroom floor. The conference totally lived up to my expectations as I did not pick up one towel off the floor, and Katy from Bird On The Street was cool enough to not say a peep about that. Katy's fun, smart, nice. I told her I liked her enough to share a bar of shower soap with her, but I am not sure how she took that.


Here we are at The Potato Tastemaker party on Friday night. A party centered around mashed potatoes is a good thing to attend after you have had several cocktails, although it is a good thing to attend anytime. I accidentally double-dipped my spoon in the sour cream, which is all the fault of the cocktails, but did not get thrown out of the conference. NOTE: I do not have cooties, I got my H1N1 shot, and I'm pretty sure that covers cooties.

In general, Blissdom rocked. I learned lots, met people in person I've only known online, met new peeps, got incredibly inspired, left more towels on the bathroom floor. Also, three words: Harry Connick Jr. The conference, organized by web goddesses Alli Worthington and Barbara Jones, had 500 attendees but still felt intimate and friendly, even though it was at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which should maybe be called Opry Universe as it is humongous, I think it was 6 acres or 16 acres or approximately the size of Australia.


Here's the area where they have kangaroos hopping around. OK, not really, but isn't it so pretty? I was tempted to sleep there, but I hadn't packed a tent and really, it would have been rude to leave towels smack in the middle of the Garden Conservatory.

I have actual good info to share with you, but I have to leave you now as those cocktails are still working their way through my system (man, they make some potent drinks in Nashville) and when I came home I had to pick up lots of towels off the floor. Meanwhile, here's Angela England's recap of an excellent session, Content is Queen.

Tomorrow: More about Blissdom and Valentines giveaways (none of which involve towels).

19 comments:

  1. Totally loved meeting you, so drawn to your charming vibe!! Crazy and good, wasn't it?

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  2. I like to live vicariously through you...thanks for sharing Ellen, I'm excited to hear more. :)

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  3. I'm with Lisa, I like to live vicariously through you, too! What fun! I never go anywhere, except on the computer!

    What a hoot--a potato party! Hell, we have one of those at home pretty much every night of the week--who knew we were so trendy?

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  4. You = doll ;-)

    LOVE that pic of y'all at the party. I am still on my Blissdom high ;-) :-)

    Seriously, that "hotel" is a small country

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  5. Sounds fun and I look forward to hearing more about it, too! I stayed once at a Gaylord Hotel in Texas and it was outrageously HUGE, so I know what you mean!

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  6. Again, stupid frickin health care job! cant believe you ladies were with a few hours drive & i didnt get to meet your wonderfulness! glad you had a good time!

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  7. So glad you had a great time. You deserved a vacation. I love Harry too!!

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  8. Blissdom sounds like the perfect place for a potato party.

    Glad you had such a good time. (Leaving towels on the floor sounds pretty enticing...)

    Will you be at BlogHer this year?

    :)

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  9. How fun! I loved the #Tastemaker party too. Even if I did wind up with a tee-shirt on after taking up suitcase space to pack a nicer maternity shirt. :-)

    Isn't it amazing how relieving it feels to find others who "get it". I don't have to explain "what's a Twitter?" or why I like checking my email after posting a new blog post so I can read what others are saying.

    A tribe. I like it.

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  10. Loved meeting you and can't wait for Blissdom 2011! After I recover from this one, of course...

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  11. Love Harry Connick Jr! Looks like you had a great time. I have been to that hotel and it is amazing! It really does feel like you are in a different world in there!

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  12. That Katy is a GEM! I would have shared soap with her too.... but we can keep that our little secret!

    Oh, Ellen.... all the work that now must be accomplished. I'll keep rewinding my days of Bliss... and I'll send fun "Material girl" pics your way soon.

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  13. Kate, yes, going to BlogHer, it's in my neck of the woods. COME! All of you, COME!

    Megan, that is nice of you to send me photos of us doing karaoke to Material Girl, although I am not sure how I feel about that moment being captured on film. :)

    Deb, Hillary, Ang, it was great meeting you too!

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  14. Haha! About the soap. Actually, I think there's really no good response to that comment as almost anything you say would be creepy: "I love sharing soap with you too!" Hmmm. . .

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  15. Sounds like you had fun! The potato cocktails sound amazing!

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  16. Looks like a great time! I am so glad that you had fun! I love your blog & so glad to see that you are really enjoying all of the fun things that go along with it!

    By the way, are the kiddos reciting iCarley yet? I was watching tv while I was on the treadmill & I saw the teacher that dated Spencer in a yogurt commercial. I was pretty disappointed in myself that I could place her :)

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  17. It was an awesome conference (and the hotel was a 9 acre blister provoking maze)

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  18. Sounds fabulous and so hope I can attend next time.....You have a wonderful blog

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  19. I've decided we all just need to have our OWN conference.


    I'll bring the vodka.

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Thanks for sharing!