BlogHer just ended. As I sit at the airport waiting for my flight to board, I have a huge smile on my face as I think back to the last few days. It was – plain and simple – an incredible, incredible weekend.

What made it so incredible?

Easy.

The people. Our blogging community.

I’ve always been a people lover. I love to talk and laugh and get lost in conversations for hours. I’m not saying I’m an over-talker, but I love conversation, I love hearing stories, I love the connection one gets from being face-to-face. To me, there’s nothing better.

This was my 4th BlogHer. And – every year – I can honestly say, it gets better and better and better.

I arrived in San Diego on Wednesday morning. This was the first time I have ever stepped foot on San Diego soil, so I wanted to arrive early and enjoy a full day before all the events kicked off. As soon as I arrived, I met up with Vera Sweeney and we both went out to lunch with one of my college friend’s (a San Diego girl!). She drove us through San Diego and pointed out various interesting things and I just completely took in the beauty and the awe of this incredible destination. And I scratched my head wondering why I don’t live here. 🙂 This is my kind of place.

As the conference kicked off on Thursday morning with some pre-events, my heart started to skip a beat! This is why I love BlogHer… it’s the seeing of friends, it’s the connecting with the brands and it’s the togetherness that is so incredible. There’s just not enough words to describe the importance and the beauty of relationships in the blogging community. P&G kicked off BlogHer with a fabulous Life Well Lived event that was amazing! I soaked up listening to the ever inspiring Gretchen Rubin and got to hug Jory and Lisa, 2 of the dynamos behind BlogHer. I also had the amazing opportunity to speak at Lindsay Maines event – Women Create Media about spreading the message of a book through social media. She assembled a group of authors to chat and discuss the benefits of social media in the publishing world.

Friday brought The Digital Mom Handbook Milk Mustache Breakfast! Colleen and I were just thrilled with the turnout and the dedication from the Milk Mustache team! Their new Latte Love campaign just fit so beautifully with what we did (I personally drank a lot of lattes to write this book!) and we were so excited with the partnership!

And then we got a segment on the San Diego news for the book! So thrilled about it!

I finally got a chance to kick off my shoes at the Cheap Sally Party! I got to hang out with some of my fashionista friends who I love and adore…

But it was Saturday afternoon that was the most powerful for me.  I got to attend an intimate roundtable discussion with PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi.

She was also giving the keynote speech on Saturday afternoon, but right before she went out to address the bloggers, she sat and chatted for 45 minutes with a few of us bloggers.  I was simply blown away by being with everyone and sharing out stories and our inspirations.  I left with such a sense of togetherness and strength from everyone, it was wonderful.

Indra said something during our conversation that impacted me immensely.  As a working mom, I always battle the mom guilt – the never enough time to get everything done and everything in.  With blogging, this is all new ground and new territory, so it’s interesting to hear people’s perspective’s on blogging.  I feel torn many times in trying to balance it all because sometimes, it’s just not easy.

Indra’s words about being a woman and making it all work hit home to me… “When you’re a pioneer trail blazing, sometimes there’s consequences.”  The consequences may take many different forms and it’s different for everyone… but this spoke to me.  I loved hearing this because I understand it.  I was just so honored to be with her and listen to her and soak in her strength and grace.

For me… BlogHer was a fabulous and beneficial weekend.

The togetherness and the conversations were the most powerful part of it for me.

I got to be with some people that mean the most to me in this world… and you can’t put a price on that.

I want to give a HUGE thanks to CVS for sponsoring my trip to BlogHer. And I want to give a HUGE thanks to Got Milk, Sears and Motorola for giving me the chance to do some pretty amazing and fun things at BlogHer! I got to room with Vera Sweeney… and you know, for me… that was pretty cool.

At the end of the day, I have always believed that we reach our goals by helping each other.  It was amazing to see other bloggers feeling the same way and coming up with ways (together) to make it happen.

Till New York City BlogHer, till New York City… !