by Dian 7 Comments

I told you I had never been to California, and now I will tell you how much I actually enjoyed it!  I am still on the road back home.  The trip is 3 days there and 3 days back for me – but, we have enjoyed seeing this part of the country. 

However, after all of the traveling my husband and I have done this year (to Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and now California) we have come up with a plan for the future:  Fly west – Drive east!  lol The west is pretty dry and desolate for driving, and in driving east I do have more access to internet along the way than this trip!

We went to California for Blogher11 a blogging conference – pretty much the biggest of the year.  We had a great time and cannot wait to go next year – it will be in NYC – again, I have never been there either – so yay!

I roomed in the Marriot on the bay in San Diego with

Kansas City Mamas – Kelly:

Savings & Stewardship – Alecia:

and How To Have It All – Renae:

These are some of my favorite people on earth and we don’t get to see each other but 1 –2 times a year!

I also told you we were hosting a party the night before it all began – A Social Soiree.  It was a wonderful success!

The venue was The New Children’s Museum and it was beautiful and the staff was awesome!  They did an awesome chalk drawing of all our names and websites!

I love each and everyone of these girls – they are the best!  We had an awesome week together!

The crowd gathered outside as we put the finishing touches on inside.

The sponsors for the party provided us great items to put in all those beautiful pink and white bags you see in the picture!

The Step & Repeat had the sponsors listed!  Did you know that was called a Step & Repeat?  You learn something new every day, because I didn’t before this!

The party was wonderful, as I have said!  Lol and everyone had a wonderful time.

So, what is the point of all this blogging conference and party stuff?  YOU!  We go across country to conferences like these to make contacts with companies and other bloggers to be able to bring you more deals and information!  The companies are asking us what you like, what you want, who you are!  That’s why once a year I have a survey for y’all so I can give them that type of info so they can give me the deals and offers specifically designed for you!

There are classes on how to write better, and how to take better pictures, how to reach out to companies and ask them for giveaways, all designed to make our sites better for you!

I will post more about the huge expo hall where we met many, many company representatives and show you all the coupons and stuff they gave us to share with y’all!