I wanna go to BlogHer bad!!!

This blog started out as small potatoes and has made great strides in the several years it has been active. I started out with writers ambition and bit of SEO and web marketing knowledge. I wasn’t sure what I had to offer the internetz but I knew I wanted to give blogging a try so I dove right in.

Now here I am with more readers, subscribers and more confidence to share what is relevant to me. Sure I’ll still blog about domestic craziness or about poo when the mood strikes me but I’ve also written informative posts that have gained much clout on the search engines. It took several years to get here and I’ve still got some growing to do as a blogger which is why I am itching to attend the ’09 BlogHer Convention in Chicago so badly!

Obviously with a new baby on the way and a $10,000 cross country move behind us we don’t exactly have the extra cash to drop on travel and registration expenses for the lovely BlogHer conference. Even though little Tater Tot will be weeks old and we’ll be newly adjusting to parenthood N says I should do it if it’s that important to me and it is. I wanna attend BlogHer ’09!!

I found out that Mabel’s Lables is holding an ’09 BlogHer Contest to send one lucky blogger to the convention free. This is the perfect opportunity for me to find my way to the conference, yay! I’ll even bring N and little newborn Tater Tot along if you promise to not throw shoes at me for breastfeeding while I attend…

Now Mabel’s Lables wants to know what the rewards and benefits have been for me while participating in the blogging community.

Truthfully, I am having a hard time narrowing it down actually. Being a blogger is great because you get to contribute information and help others via your blogging, you can monetize your blog and make money writing, you can create a community of friends and partners via blog networking, you can share your opinion, learn the opinions of others… Gosh! There are way too many benefits to discuss in this one little post.

To me the most important thing I’ve gained as a blogger is also the simplest and mushiest thing… It’s the companionship and friendship that is created through networking, writing and following blogs. That is the most rewarding and beneficial thing in my eyes as a member of the blogging community.

I have a solid connection with about 60+ people who are regular readers or subscribers thanks to blogging. People from all over the world are touching my life and allowing me to touch theirs, it is such a powerful thing when you think about it. Not only does blogging fulfill the basic need for human connection but it is a fantastic way to learn and grow as a person too.

I mean I’ve been able to share in some really powerful journeys and life experiences thanks to my blogging buddies that I might not have been exposed to otherwise. We are talking breast cancer survivors, people with fertility issues, those who have just delivered a child, those who just lost a child, those who are psychic, those who are going through the same things as me, those leading lives I could never imagine and so much more.

Blogging has not only been a great benefit to me it has allowed me to give back to others by sharing my journey. I’ve also had the pleasure of sharing info and perspective on topics that not only are important to me but are also educational or beneficial to others.

My readers have allowed me to be honest and truthful during the good and bad times. This in turn has allowed my writing to reach others and comfort them in their times of need showing them they are not alone. I’ve also had the chance to contribute many honest product reviews and other resources to my readers though my blogging efforts.

Ive taken so much and I’ve also been able to give quite a bit though my involvement in blogging. It is the give and take of blog friendship and networking that has meant the most to me during my time in the blogging community which is another perfect reason to attend BlogHer ’09.

I wanna see all your lovely faces and meet you all instead of just chatting back and fourth via the internetz! So heres hoping I am choosen as a winner for this contest and that I’ll see you at BlogHer ’09.