Last Sunday, I was invited to a trunk show of clothing from Pears + Bears.  The show was hosted by Kate from Nautical by Nature.  I’ve chatted back and forth with Kate via our blogs for quite some time.  I would say at least a year.  Kate was living in D.C. when we first started chatting, and now she is back in her hometown, Los Angeles.

Well, lucky me…I had the day off.  I drove a tiny 45-minute drive up to LA.  It’s a rare occassion that I go out of the “Orange Curtain” aka Orange County. I was one of the first people whom arrived at Kate’s house, and I was pleasantly greeted by Kate and Angela from Sweet Tea Diaries.

I was immediately mesmerized by the cute clothing from Pears + Bears. Everything was soo soft.  I immediately recognized that the designer was Southern, you could just tell from the cuteness! This event was perfect timing for me, since I have a friend who is pregnant now, and I bought something for her sweet baby girl.

After browsing the goods, we had some time to sit down and chit chat.  Even though I’ve attending many blogging events, conferences, etc., it is still strange to meet someone for the first time.  Especially since you’ve been conversing with them for quite some time.

Amanda @flyorpretend, Angela @sweetteadiaries, and Kate from @nautical_kate

Everyone knows that I’m a huge fan of cupcakes, right? Well Angela made some awesome nautical themed cupcakes.  I had to have one, ok maybe I had two.

It was so great meeting everyone.  While I was there, I finally got to meet One Fabulous Mom, and her kiddos.  We’ve also been chatting for quite some time.  It was a busy day for her, so she had to rush in for a short time, and rush out.  Her kids were adorable, of course.

I also got to meet LeeAnn from Join the Gossip. She is originally from Orange County, and I loved her immediately. You know why? Cause she was rockin’ an awesome headband! She blogs about fashion, style, and well anything else that is in the limelight!

After some people had to leave, Danielle made her arrival. Danielle is one of my late night Twitter pals.  She is a HUGE fan of TV. We watch almost all of the same shows.  She is also a blog designer.  Danielle inspired me to come straight home that day to watch the Season Finale of Gossip Girl.  She is a smart woman, because that episode was awesome.

While I had some fun times, spent some money, and awesome cupcakes, it was time to leave.  I had to return back to the Land of Orange County.  My carriage was turning back into a pumpkin soon, and I had to leave my glass slipper behind.

I was able to get in a group photo! I know, shocking, Julie getting into some pictures.  I’m not afraid to show off my fabulous headband of the day.  It seems that I’m always wearing a headband lately.  It is my go-to accessory. This picture was taken with Danielle’s camera.

Angela, Angry Julie, Danielle, and Kate

I hope to see everyone sometime this early summer for another meet-up.  Danielle is moving to the Windy City of Chicago in the early Fall.

It was so great to meet everyone, and I hope that I didn’t leave anyone out!

Here are FIVE of my favorite posts from the past week. Each week I will be highlighting some of my favorites. I have many blogs in my reader, as I have many friends with all different types of “niches” or “non-niches”. I will post serious stories, fun stories, pictures, recipes, etc. They will most likely be in a random order.

1.  Mama’s Losin’ It-How To Grow Your Blog

Some great tips there.  Her tip “titles” are pretty hilarious too. Who wouldn’t laugh at, “And Most Importantly…Write Gooder.”

2. Mommy Niri-5 Reasons Big Bloggers Need to be Nice to Small Bloggers

The blogging world can sometimes be like high school with cliques and mean girls.  She outlines why everyone should just be nice to each other.

3. Life with my 3 Boybarians-Sweet Shot Tuesday

Darcy hosted a photo carnival every Tuesday. She always has great prizes too. You do not have to be a professional photographer.  It is a great blog/post if you want to show off some great photos that you took.  I’m always up late Monday nights trying to get my photo post done.

4.  Let’s have a cocktail-Homeade Peanut Butter Cups

One word: YUM! Don’t these sound delicious.

5.  Momfluential Media-Fashion Haul Friday, Share Your Shopping

Ciaran talks about a new trend-Fashion Hauling. She does a vlog (video blog) showing some of the things that she recently bought.  This is a great way to get into vlogging, as you have a topic to easily vlog about. And really, who doesn’t like vlogging?

On Monday, I posted some pictures from Bloggy Boot Camp. They were from the first night.  They were just a preview of what an amazing weekend it was about to become.

I started off Saturday morning, with a delicious breakfast. I didn’t sleep well the night before the “big” event.  I was sharing a room with Tiffany, and I actually had anxiety, because I was afraid she wouldn’t get up.  Yep, I’m a freak like that. Yes, the waffles were quite delightful.

I then proceeded to run around like a crazy woman, the rest of the day.  You will understand if you were there. Because I as trying to get as many photos as possible.  I was going on the instinct of “missed photos”.  I always think about this after events.  I wish I would have gotten a photo with so-and-so, etc.  So since I’m crazy like that, I made sure that I got some great group photos.

What I loved about Bloggy Boot Camp was that I met new people. I made new friends.  I’m not shy at all and could probably talk to almost anyone and everyone.  That is one of my faults. I’m that annoying chick talking to you in the grocery store line about random stuff.

It was amazing to talk about things that I’m passionate about my blog, connecting to the community, photography, my awesome camera, headbands, and Utah (long story, but Utah came up a lot). I was able to grasp some one on one time with these amazing people (I say people because there were some men there too), and be able to show my experience, and also discuss my opinions.  I mean really, when was the last time that someone asked your opinion, and actually wanted it?

After hearing the speakers, (yes I did listen in between being the conference paparazzi,) I realized I was doing this blogging thing right.  I’m on WordPress, after two major crashes with Blogger last year.  Just talking about my blog going down before BlogHer gives me anxiety.  I utilize SEO; by tagging, naming my photos, linking back.  I comment. I participate in memes. I realized it is mostly about making the connections.  You HAVE to find your tribe, your people.  I hope that I have found my people, or have they found me? I always say that I’m an open door, come on in.  I appreciate the comments and e-mails.  I try to respond back in a timely manner, but work, parenting, life sometimes get in the way.  I DO NOT want to be a blog snob. Because really, I may have thousands of readers a month (really I don’t), but in the end, I’m “just a chick with a blog”.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of blogs out there.  I’m really happy that you landed on mine.  I appreciate it. I really do.  I think many people in this whole blogging thing need to realize that.

What I really came away with though, was to really find your passion. May your passion being photography, crafting, couponing, or even vlogging, use it, because that it where your best blogging will come from. Really, I tried to vlog this post, but I’m a freak, and couldn’t do it.

After spending some late nights with my Bloggy Boot Camp roommates, I realized that one of my BIG passions has been neglected lately.  I’ve always been a huge reader.  I think that’s why I love blogs, because I love to read.  I was always that little girl in the corner, just reading a book. Seriously, I’m pretty mellow and quite, usually.  I love to get immersed in a good book.  After these late night chats this past weekend with Tiffany, Heather, Lula, Jen, Angie, Fran, and Kathy, I want to read more. I NEED to read more. So if you see me blogging about books more, you will know why.

I’ve held off buying some kind of e-reader for a VERY long time. For at least two years, Angry Husband has wanted to buy me one.  I said, “No, I like old school books.” Then, I looked at our office and saw all of the books piling up.  I decided to take the plunge and I will be getting a new e-reader for Mother’s Day. Before I use it though, I need to finish all four of the books that I’ve currently in the midst of.

But really, enough of my rambling about passions, awesome people, and Bloggy Boot Camp.  I know you want to see more pictures.  People come to my blog for the pictures, I know.

Kim from TomKat Studio and I. She is an amazing and talented party planner.

The skyline outside our hotel. It was quite beautiful.

Loralee and Sugar Jones. I think this is my favorite picture from this past weekend.

Everyone at dinner Saturday night.

Tiffany, Jyl and Kelly who decided to jump in the pool, in their clothes.

Diapers that were collected for Help A Mother Out. A great charity.

Oh, and if you are debating about going to a Bloggy Boot Camp, well hit that submit button and sign up.  You WILL NOT regret it. It is the right price, they are localized, and well, the organized, Tiffany, she is so PRETTY!

Here are the rest of the photos that I took at Bloggy Boot Camp.

This is the group pool for adding YOUR photos to Bloggy Boot Camp. Be sure to credit the original photographer.