For Sweet Dreams at BlogHer ‘09
At the start of 2009, I mentioned that I had a “resolution” this year, and that was to attend the BlogHer ‘09 conference.
For me, this was akin to dreaming the impossible dream. There are lots of hurdles to get over, and they have been more difficult to knock down than I anticipated in January.
*clearing throat* And NOW, a poem.
Ode to Protect-A-Bed’s Scholarship Contest
I never thought that I would see
A company interested in sponsoring me!I work long hours all day and night
Posting wit, and reviews on my mommy blog siteWhile my family is in the land of dreams
Mom emails, edits, tweets, and schemesI work and dream of blogging greatness!
As the clock ticks on toward latenessI love being the Mom Most Traveled
But so far sponsorships have unraveledThis here blog don’t make much money!
That wasn’t a joke; don’t laugh! Not funny!Protect-A-Bed is super! They want to help others
They also make breathable mattress coversIf they helped me to BlogHer, it would be so fantastic!
And would save me from doing anything drasticLike selling something illegal to pay my debt
And hiding my family in the mountains of Tibet.Poems are written by fools like me;
Protect-A-Bed, please hear my heartfelt plea!
It is hard for me to express just how integral a role blogging plays in my life.
A little over a year ago I was a mom, posting pictures of my kids on the internet and being excited over one blog comment.
My blog has grown by leaps and bounds and has opened the door to friendships with other bloggers, professional relationships with PR professionals, and has become a soapbox where this Mama feels she is being heard!
I can’t imagine not blogging now, and I am excited to see how my blog will continue to change and (hopefully) improve!
I have done over 200 product reviews and just as many giveaways; that sounds like a huge number, but rereading each one gives me nostalgic feelings of a proud mother hen.
I never said I was normal.
I actually have a B.S. in Mass Communications (which includes journalism, public relations, radio and TV production), so blogging makes me feel like I am genuinely using my education. That is gratifying.
You know what else blogging does for me? It makes me feel that a huge part of who I am, being a mom, has value to others.
When we in online community, isolated moms are no so isolated anymore, no matter the geography.
I started planning to attend BlogHer ‘09 when I heard what I was missing during BlogHer ‘08.
I have never been to a blogging conference of any kind; I might hold my breath the entire weekend, I will be so excited!
I knew it would be difficult financially, so I applied to work as a volunteer at the conference and was accepted, granting me a free conference pass in exchange for about 8 hours of work during the BlogHer ‘09 conference.
I then found two roommates to share a room with at the Sheraton. I have never met them before in person, but if they try to kill me, I will blog about it.
Finally I booked my plane ticket. I tried to contact various airlines for a discount or sponsorship but found none. I was expecting it to cost about $1,200 to fly from Asia to Chicago. It turned out to be about $1,500 for one adult ticket on NorthWest airlines, the cheapest option I could find.
My itinerary is quite insane, with over 24 hours of travel one way.
I have sent out many many prospectus/media kits to companies whom I have worked with in hopes of securing sponsorship. And? Out of the 200 products I have promoted, none of them were willing to offer me anything.
I have one sponsor, Go Natural Baby, and I met the sweet owner Justyn through a giveaway I won!
I could definitely use a couple more quality sponsors!
So with the dread of a hectic flight parenting two energetic little ones with no tag-team back up option and the ball of stress knotted tightly in the pit of my stomach over being a bit over my head with the price of the airplane ticket, I would embrace the pillowy soft $300 from generous potential sponsor Protect-A-Bed!
I’m glad to know Protect-A-Bed is a blogger-loving company! My boys are about to move into a new bed- bunk beds! And I hope to start over with new, clean mattresses with no pee or barf stains. I am definitely in the market for some mattress protection!
Submit Article: Digg | Google Bookmarks | Add to Technorati Favorites | kirtsy | Stumble It! | Del.icio.us
Comments
Search
Write a word and hit enter key.Subscribe
Friends
Link to Us
25 April 2009, 2:53 am
I hear you, sister… no one is ponying up the cash for me, either… But companies are starting new fiscal quarters, so maybe soon…
25 April 2009, 6:21 pm
GREAT poem! You’re so creative!! Congrats on snagging one sponsor so far… and good luck winning the Protect-A-Bed bloghership!
25 April 2009, 6:26 pm
I’m hoping to get at least one sponsor, but girl, you need lots! I’m so glad you’re going though.
02 May 2009, 12:29 am
I guess you did enter that contest (I asked you earlier today, but duh, I left a comment here last week!) I feel bad for having entered this now, since you really need the scholarship, and for not having paid attention that I had read this post.
02 May 2009, 2:57 pm
Wonderful entry! Thanks for being creative AND making me laugh. Good luck!
07 May 2009, 1:41 am
What a great post! Thank you so much for entering our contest. I loved your poem.
11 May 2009, 5:25 pm
[...] 04) Mom Most Traveled: For Sweet Dreams at BlogHer ‘09 [...]
11 May 2009, 8:37 pm
You are so funny. I hope you get your wish and get some sponsers. You have a gift for promoting products that you believe in.
13 May 2009, 9:34 pm
You’ve got my vote. I have never heard of BlogHer so I’m enthusiased to learn about it. Keep blogging!