It’s hard to believe that I’ve been blogging for 6 years, but I still love it as much now as when I started! Blogging has given me the opportunity to share my thoughts, experiences and voices with family and friends online and in social media. It’s also given me the chance to travel and make new friends – friends I’ve had for a long time and a long time to come! Recently, I had the opportunity to go to BlogHer ’14 in San Jose, California. It was great because I could save money by driving to the conference. I saved even more money by rooming with 4 other bloggers! It was awesome!
The night before leaving to drive up to San Jose, one of my long-time, blogging friends (Chelsea) drove up and stayed the night. We left the next morning in a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander. The car was comfortable and definitely did the job with the long trip! Plus, there was plenty of room for our suitcases and stuff.
We arrived just in time to head down and register. After we registered, we headed over to the BlogHer Baby Shower, where we snacked, mingled and even won some prizes (perfect for my sisters who just had babies)!! Then it was time to head into the expo hall and meet some of the vendors who would be there during the conference. We met up with our other roommates (Emily, Jessica and Dawn). The first booth we visited was the Bridgestone booth. It was great! They had yummy cake pops, back massages and mini manicures!!
After the Bridgestone booth, we headed over to the Tiggly Kids booth. We had fun dressing up in some crazy wigs, glasses and other fun props for our pictures. It was funny!
Next up, we headed over to the Sonic booth. We enjoyed some yummy slushies. Mine was a Cotton Candy Slushy. I couldn’t brave adding Nerds Candy to it, but did consider it! Later that night, we all headed to Denny’s for some breakfast for dinner and great conversations!
The next morning, I woke up early and headed to the Lactaid Breakfast. They had a really yummy quiche and smoothy for breakfast. I had a bout of dairy sensitivity due to a medicine I was taking, so the conversation was really helpful.
After breakfast, I headed back to the Expo Hall, where I spent most of the conference. I wanted to connect with the brand reps and build my blogging friendships. After my breakfast, I figured why not have some Oreo ‘n Chocolate Ice Cream for Baskin Robbins? It was so good!!!
Some of my favorite stops in the Expo Hall were on the second day. The biggest thing was that I got to meet David Tutera!!! He was so sweet in real life. I wish I could have chatted more with him, but he was a busy guy.
My favorite activity of the conference was with Bridgestone Tires. Oh my gosh, it was so fun! We got to test-drive some cars (and go really face around their driving course). Check out the video below (Jessica and I were totally cracking up when Emily was driving)!!! We even learned how to check a tire and jump a car. I had no idea how to do that before this event!
Can you tell we had a blast in the car? You can see how fast we were going around the turns as our hair flies to the left side of the screen. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was fun and made us laugh a lot (I think part of it was because we were so nervous with Emily’s driving – ha ha)!!!
Some of my other favorite booths at the conference included the PediaCare booth and the Bright Starts booth. I had a blast playing with these toys! I even won one of the giveaways and will be giving my baby nieces one of these toys for Christmas. I also really loved the Chuck E Cheese booth (no pictures dangit) and the Angel Soft booth (where Emily and I did an interview on the toilet – not even kidding – but I should say the lid was closed – ha ha)!!!
I had a great time at BlogHer ’14 and feel like I built some great relationships with both blogging friends and brands! I would say we ended up leaving with a lot of goodies. I shared a lot of them with my family and friends when I got back. It was a great trip!
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It looks like you had a lot of fun 🙂 I am hoping to get to at least one conference next year!
The past two times I’ve gone to BlogHer I LOVED it! I was lucky enough to go last year when it came to Chicago and hopefully I’ll be able to go again sometime in the future 🙂
I’m glad you guys had such a fantastic time! It really looks like you got to do a lot of fun things.
Looks like it was a lot of fun with great blogging friends. Denny’s is one of my fave restaurants to eat. In fact, I went there with a couple friends just last weekend. Someday, oh someday, I’ll be able to attend a BlogHer event.
What an awesome time you had. I have never been to Blogher, but one of these days I’ll get there.
Sounds like an awesome time! I have actually never been to a Blogher in all the years I have been blogging.
It looks like it was a great conference. Seems like there was a lot for you to do!
Looks like you had a really fun time. I would like to attend BlogHer – each year sounds like a fun time.
Looks like you had a lot of fun! I made it the last three years but had a different trip at the same time so it’s fun to see this stuff!
Looks like so much fun. What an awesome time.
It looks like you all had a great time at BlogHer! I would love to be able to go one year!
I guess I totally missed David Tutera being in the expo hall! It looks like you had a great time at the convention!
Looks like you had a blast! I went last year, but couldn’t do a west coast trip this year!
I hope to make it to a BlogHer someday. It looks like you had an amazing time.
looks like so much fun! and i see my friend emily a lot in your photos!
Looks like you guys were really pampered! I would love to go to BlogHer some day too! What a great time it looks like you had!
It looks like you all had an amazing time! I would have loved to have done that driving experience.
You totally had a great time. I keep hearing about how much fun it was this year. I’ll have to make sure to plan to go next year.
You girls sure know how to party! That looked like so much fun
Looks like you had a great time. What a fantastic conference to get to attend.
It looks like you had a blast. I love a good blog convention, and Blogher is the best.
BlogHer was really fun. That quiche was really really good! If ever there’s a good quiche that was good! What a fun post!
Thanks for sharing the fun you had. It’s great to go to workshops, seminars, and get-togethers. I feel like I was there with your terrific descriptions and pictures.
Looks like so, so much fun! I want to attend BlogHer so badly. Maybe next year I’ll see ya there.
One of these days I will make it to a BlogHer events. Heck, I need to make it to some blog conferences in general!
Hoping to go to BlogHer one day! Looks like you had a great trip!
Looks like you had a great time! I really wanted to attend BlogHer.
It looks like you had a lot of fun. I hope to attend next year!
There were so many awesome events at BlogHer. I have been living through everyone’s photos and I wish I could have gone. There’s always next year. 😉
So many people I know go to BlogHer and have for a few years now, I’m very envious. It looks so fun, and I really hope to go in the coming years!
It looks like you enjoyed yourself. I did not go this year, but attended in 2012 & 2013. I was so sad to miss it this year.
I’e been to BlogHer once and it was fun. I’d like to go again
I went to Blogher14 as well. It was a fantastic time and I can not wait to go to Blogher15. I loved your photos.
Looks like you ALL had a blast!!!I would love to attend Blogger someday!
Looks like a lot of fun. Maybe I can go some year!!
Great recap – love your pics! I always say I’m going to go one year and have yet to make it. 🙁
I am getting ready to go to my first blogging conference! Just looking at your pictures makes me even more excited!
OMGosh I love all the pictures! What a great time. I should have gone last year when it was in Chicago.
Looks like you had a great time. It would be fun to drive with friends to events.
I did the bridgestone drive too that was an unbelievable blast… but I did get to race at the very end. Can’t beat having permission to drive fast while testing out some tires. It must have been fun to travel with friends.