Dizzy. Nauseated. Exhausted.
Even after 11 hours sleep last night, that is how I woke up feeling today. Totally hungover but in the best possible way.
BlogHer ’11 was one of the most intense experiences of my life. It was wonderful and amazing and stressful and overwhelming and enlightening and draining and empowering.
I met incredible women of all ages and backgrounds. I laughed and I cried. I handed out tons of blog business cards and collected even more.
I partied on a rooftop with Mario Lopez. I nibbled on bacon-wrapped grilled shrimp, fresh caprese skewers and succulent beef & blue cheese toasts while taking in the San Diego skyline.
I jetted around the Gaslamp Quarter in pedicabs, noshed on Pinkberry© yogurt and toasted glasses of Pino Noir with new friends.
I loaded up on awesome swag and then gave some away to combat my inner hoarder.
I attended inspiring sessions lead by panels of successful bloggers who were even more amazing women.
I ate delicious lunches with other sisters who, like me, find happiness in plucking laptop keys to unleash the stories in their souls.
I met 3 of my most favorite bloggers (Kelle, Beth Anne and Diana)!
I roomed with 3 of the sweetest girls out there (Erika, Kathleen and Renee) who went from strangers to friends in under 72 hours.
I narrowed in on my goals and discovered what success in blogging means to me.
My definition of blogging success couldn’t be further from what I thought it would be.
The sessions about monetizing my blog and increasing my SEO and Alexa stats made me want to slam my laptop shut and run screaming all the way back to Michigan.
The sessions about sharing my story to connect with others and being imperfect and vulnerable in my posts were the one that got my heart racing and my fingers itching for a keyboard.
I left discouraged about the things I thought I wanted to achieve, but I left encouraged about the places I can go if I follow my heart.
I still feel hungover from the tornado that was BlogHer11. But I’ve pulled back the corner of possibility and now I feel drunk with excitement about what is to come!
Oh, and I posed drunk with a Harry Potter cutout while Edward from Twilight gazed jealously from a distance. Couldn’t leave that part out!
Not sure what the light and dark stripes are all about, but that’s me on the rooftop with good ole AC Slater :)
Me with Kelle. OMG! (photo credit: Suz)

I'm so happy that we were able to meet & really hang out at BlogHer. I loved that we were dress twins! Hope you're over your BlogHer hangover ~ I'm finally getting through all my photos but must admit that my laundry is still piled up!
How fun and exciting! I can't wait to hear more about it. So glad you had awesome time.
That Anonymous was me Rebecca…Aunt Becky. I was so excited I hit Enter before signing off. Sorry =(
You are definitely doing what God intends you to do Rebecca because you express yourself so well, and draw all who read your words into your world as a young mother, wife and working girl. I LOVE reading your blogs!!! Keep up the outstanding writing dear niece! I love you….
Naturally you articulated your time away beautifully!!! Fortunately, because I am your mother, I got to hear all about it!!! I couldn't be more excited for you my sweet Rebecca!!! Blog your heart away….