#BlogHerFood15: I Can’t Wait!

I have been CRAZED this week.
Last week too.
The week before as well.

Wait…maybe I’m always crazed?

Okay…I am, but the crazy factor goes up and down. Recently it’s been off the charts because not only have I been working behind the scenes with my fellow national teammates to get ready to launch the 2016 season of LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER (41 cities in the U.S. AND CANADA!), but I’ve been working like crazy behind the scenes of the BlogHer Food conference, which happens to be in Chicago this weekend.

The Events and Social Teams work so very hard on every BlogHer event, and while the intensity increases as a conference draws near (as you would expect!), it is so worth it. For me, the sweet reward is getting to work onsite with my co-workers for three or four days. Bringing together a bunch of people who work on opposite ends of the country (and in the Middle, of course!) is part of the magic of our events, for attendees AND those of us who make it all happen.

While the Annual BlogHer conference (the big one! Next year in Los Angeles!) in the summer will always be my favorite because of how many of my friends I get to see all in one crazy weekend each year, I absolutely love working at BlogHer Food. It’s a much more intimate conference at a fraction of the size. With it being in my own town, it’s extra exciting because many of my local friends are attending and volunteering.

While I’ll be hard at work on the social media team, there will be lots of time to check everything out and even have some fun.

BlogHer Food 2013 was the first conference I found myself behind the scenes for, as I was hired in the fall of 2012. That event was in Austin, Texas, and it was a blast.

One of the sponsored breaks between sessions was Circus snack-themed. There was popcorn and cotton candy and other things I can’t even remember because it was a one-track mind situation that day: Momo and I were all over the cotton candy. You would’ve been, too.

The traditional Saturday lunch excursion took everyone to a lot where a bunch of food trucks were parked. I have an intense fascination with food trucks so this was perfect for me.

The closing party was at the famous Stubb’s, where the BBQ was amazing and the music was fabulous.

Momo and I actually closed the place down—for real, like they were locking the gate—with Mr. Lady and BusyDad, who I miss very much.

Last year, BlogHer Food was in Miami. That was an incredibly intense conference to work, probably because by then I was completely integrated into the team and could help out with so much more. That must be why I have so few pictures.

I did, however, get to spend pretty much 24/7 with Liz and Momo, because we were all working.

I was obsessed with dragging both of them to South Beach because they had never been, and just when it looked like we weren’t going to be able to go, we found ourselves with about 90 minutes of free time before the closing party. Okay, maybe it was more like 75 minutes. And it was rush hour. Oy.

But we made it!

As it turned out, we had exactly enough time to go look at the ocean, “National Lampoon’s Vacation Goes To The Grand Canyon” style, and exactly enough time after that to, uh, do what one does when in South Beach.

The closing party was very Miami: we were entertained by Flamenco dancers and then there was a DJ so we could do some dancing of our own.

Even though I’ve been in on the planning process all along, I’m sure I can’t even predict some of the fun that we’re bound to experience this weekend. I’m ready for my hometown to show this year’s attendees an unforgettable time. In fact, I can’t wait!