Disclosure: I was hired by Minute Clinic for BlogHer13. All thoughts, opinions, and sweet dance moves are my own.
BlogHer 2013 in Chicago is over and all the recaps are in. It’s taken me a while to reflect on my experience and to get my feet back into regular shoes, so thanks for reading what I’m sure must be the four-millionth recap.
First of all, I was very lucky to be sponsored to the BlogHer conference by Minute Clinic. It was a pleasure to work with such a great team made up of their PR, corporate personnel, and fellow blogger, Victoria Mason of The Mummy Chronicles.
I think we had the best booth—a swag bag of full-sized beauty products, Essie nail polish, and helpful information about Minute Clinic’s health services.
I went to Minute Clinic for my daughter’s camp physical, and had a positive experience. Minute Clinic is in many CVS locations and they also do immunizations required for back to school, sports physicals, and weight loss counseling.
My friend Megan Broutian is blogging about the Minute Clinic weight loss services right now. You can check out her progress at MeganBlogs.
Stay tuned for more info about Minute Clinic’s back to school services. This is information I think is helpful to parents.
Working at the Minute Clinic booth was fun. I really enjoyed talking with other bloggers. If you’re going to Type A Parent conference in Atlanta next month, make a point to meet the Minute Clinic team. I hope they bring some more of the awesome swag because I didn’t take a bag for myself at BlogHer because I was working.
Working for Minute Clinic didn’t take up all my time at BlogHer. My business partners at Generation Fabulous and I were speakers on the Interest and Identity track. Our topic was Creating Community in Midlife.
It was thrilling to see a room full of so many women I respect there to hear us speak. We had great feedback about our session and heard it was the most-attended and most-tweeted session at BlogHer13. Also, there was standing and clapping, which I will take as a good sign. We are pretty excited about what is next for our tribe of women over forty.
I’ve got to say, I was terrified about speaking. It was cold sweat, churning stomach time before I went on stage. Luckily, I’m told I went into total business mode. My partner Sharon said my voice even sounded different. I was just worried I would burp into the microphone.
This year I did make a sophomore mistake of accepting too many party invitations. It’s just really flattering, you know. “What? They want me? Have they met me?”
I ran myself ragged and couldn’t fully enjoy the events that really mattered to me. Next year I’m really going to pare down, and choose a few that are important to me, even if they aren’t “important” parties. Still, there wasn’t one event that wasn’t really good. I met great people and had fabulous experiences that a housewife rising young entrepreneur doesn’t often get to have.
While I love to dance at the big parties (I’m truly bad. Like from the Elaine Benes Full-Body-Dry-Heave School of Dance bad), I value conversations in a small group the most. I felt so untethered and distracted at crowded events. I had to really work at focusing on the person I’m with, and it shouldn’t be so difficult.
Also, if you met me the first night, I was about to have an all night event of something-I-ate-itis. I blame myself for breaking my strict “Never eat seafood in a state with no seaside” rule, but I just can’t resist tiny crab cakes! I think that size is called an amuse bouche, but my bouche turned out to be not so amoosed.
I hate to leave anyone out, but I will mention:
- dinner with Tracy Beckerman and friends,
- dinner with Lizz Porter and the Life360 team (I sat between Robyn and Jean, two of my favorite bloggers),
- and the B(L)oomer party were particular favorites.
- I also enjoyed the Awesome Party hosted by Yappem. Any party where they give away Louboutins is a good party!
This year’s BlogHer in Chicago was better for me than last year’s in New York City. There were still logistic problems, but for a conference serving thousands of women, I think it went pretty well. Compared to last year, I’m left looking forward to BlogHer ‘14.
If you have a question or want to share something about your BlogHer experience, please leave me a comment!
Nice recap. I enjoyed the Awesome Party as well 🙂 though I wanted that iPad Mini and did not win!
I knew I didn’t finish the form for the $12,000 giveaways, but when they called Anne Hogan’s name my heart did stop for a second. Lesson learned about being in it to win it.
You were amazing at your session, just like the seasoned professional that you are! Incredibly well done.
I really appreciate it. I had faith in Sharon and Chloe, but I was concerned I would blow it. I’ve never had a problem speaking in public before, so the dread was new for me.
Great recap. Even greater, was meeting you in person!
You too! I think you are one of the people I both didn’t get to spend enough time with (always happens at BlogHer) and also met for the first time while trying not to be very ill.
I did not get to attend the conference this year. So I enjoyed your recap as I enjoyed all the others I have read. I hope to see everyone next year.
Last year was kind of a crowded, loud mess for me. I had a good enough experience this year to recommend going next year.
Just prepare yourself for drinking from a firehose. It’s a jam-packed weekend!
Love it Anne, and thanks for introducing me to The Minute Clinic. I’ve loved who they are before I became a blogger. Their services are greatly needed in my disabled community.
You rock, and I love this post. But, gee, why did you write about me? Just joshing.
You really are awesome, my dear.
I could do a whole post dedicated to your smile alone! Did you get a good picture of us together? I looked through my phone, but couldn’t find one.
Standing and clapping is always a good sign. Love that you’re working with the awesome MinuteClinic folks, too! See you in Atlanta 🙂
They may have just been fanning themselves. It was hot in the room. But I’m going with the clapping story.
Have to comment on behalf of the MinuteClinic team…because you were simply wonderful to work with! (Victoria & Megan too!)
This means a lot to me, Madeline. Thank you so much!
I’m really dying to go to BlogHer and I’m hoping to go in 2014. Thank you for this writeup!
I had very mixed emotions after last year’s BlogHer, but I had a good experience this year.
Hi, Anne! It was a fun time, wasn’t it? I can’t wait to see you again at Type-A.