Well Well. It’s a new day and a new controversy I might add. As you may or may not recall I had the amazing opportunity to go meet with a company I have used and loved all my life for the Nestle Family Gathering. When myself along with other bloggers from all over the web went to Nestle to say we got flack for it would be an understatement. We were informed of reasons we should not work in any way with Nestle.

I came across this post by my friend Amy which was followed up by an Accountability Post from one of the major boycotters. Imagine my surprise to find out this blogger is not only attending a conference sponsored by a company she is very adamantly against but she is in fact speaking at it. I seem to think that is a bit hypocritical after all the flack we were given, now it’s okay for one of the major players who called Nestle out to speak at a conference they are sponsoring.

Before I continue because this could get long let me try to sum up my thoughts in a vlog:

Okay now, let’s get back to it. She is going to donate money to charity which I think is great but is this blogger doing it to appease her guilty conscience? To attend let alone speak at a conference sponsored by a company you claim to despise their practices seems a bit on the hypocritical side to me. This issue that was so very black and white to this blogger along with the other boycotters is now gray it seems. Changing the rules to fit the situation is what the outside sees.

If I had spoken out against a company as much as some of these people have and boycotted and pushed others to boycott, would I attend or speak at an event they were sponsoring part of? ABSOLUTELY NOT. It’s not worth my integrity and going back on saying I would never support anything they do. By buying a ticket and going to a conference they are sponsoring in some way you are indirectly supporting that company in my opinion, even if you give to charities after. I would either sell my ticket or be out the money if I had already paid for an event and a company I do not support at all were part of it. And for my family with our financial situation that would be like a punch to the gut but I couldn’t go if I felt as strongly as some of these people claimed.  I guess that’s just me though.

I just can’t wrap my head around they way some of them are “okaying” their decision when in my eyes after everything they did and said, I would think it would be an easy decision. Stand behind what you believe fully or admit you bend the rules to fit your situation. I respect the ones (yes even the ones who attacked me while at Nestle) who have pulled out, those are the ones I see as standing behind the cause 150%. They don’t waver and are true to the cause they are advocating or the movement they stand behind. I tip my hat to them and give those people a standing ovation.

To the ones who are not sure what to do, well it seems like a simple answer to me. Either admit that your black and white issue has a gray area or back out and stand up for the cause you believe in with all your mind, heart and soul. It’s not a hard decision or shouldn’t be in my opinion. If you want to make the way you feel on something have a gray area then do that, just don’t be surprised when some of the credibility you have with me and so many others drops. Ultimately it’s your decision and you have to live with it.

And now I shall get off my soapbox but I want to hear your thoughts.  When does making a black and white issue gray become okay? What would you do in this situation? If you had spoken out as strong as some of these people did would you attend an event the company you spoke out against sponsored?  Please share any other thoughts as well.

All comments welcome on this post but any comments that are attacking another person will be deleted, no hurtful personal attacks will be tolerated.  Debate away but be mature about it.

Otherwise known as the Fantabulous 4!!! I love Jen, Sara and Miranda they are so wonderful. I am so glad they were a part of my wonderful BlogHer experience!

* This was at the Hanes Comfort Social, thank goodness it was small and intimate! I love every single one of these women!

The sessions I attended were wonderful, especially the one with Avitable, Childs Play X 2, and Busy Dad. By far the best session of the whole conference. Vaginally Challenged had to be one of the funniest and best sessions that I learned from. It was absolutely amazing to get a male bloggers POV not to mention they were pretty hot, err not that I noticed.

The people were absolutely amazing and friendly. I loved Melissa from Consumer Queen, she is absolutely the sweetest person ever! I thought I may pass out when I met Katja from Skimbaco Lifestyle. Luckily I was able to hold it together and even have a conversation with her, loving her accent the whole time!

The parties were amazing and my favorite was Bowlher, I finally got to meet John Andrews from Collective Bias. You know he and I live in the same town and it took us going all the way to Chicago to finally meet up…hmmm that must be worked on. Everyone danced, bowled (I sucked by the way), walked the red carpet, played some pool and had just a great time.

Lost of swag over the weekend, and I had to UPS it all back to myself LOL. However my kids will be thrilled when the package arrives. I attended 3 private parties, Nikon, Hanes Comfort and the Tide Luncheon. I loved both the Hanes and Tide, they were pretty intimate and small and just a good time. I learned quite a bit of science at Tide and at Hanes I just got to chat with fellow bloggers and of course Hanes themselves. Nikon was amazing as well with food, massages, and makeovers.

Oh and did I mention I met Carson Kressley! He was doing a thing where they take your picture then look at it and tell you what to improve to make your pictures look better. My awesome buddy Jen and I took our photo together and when we took it, well there were no improvements he said we needed and I took that as a huge compliment, though even getting some pointers from him would be a compliment as well.

* A little side note, even the photographers were like “Wow y’all are all posing like supermodels” I got a chuckle out of it but let it stroke my ego anyways LOL.

So we took our second awesome shot and started to walk off, because well when you look good you bee bop yourself off with some pride. Then he was like “Would you like to take a picture with me?” We almost forgot we were so proud of not having anything that needed to be changed LOL. So we took our photo with Carson and walked off beaming. Ahh yes I can see the spotlights and paparazzi now, oh yes I can!!! I expect a call from his agent sometime in the near future, LOL.

I had, overall, an absolutely wonderful time at BlogHer this year. Although I do think with 1500 women and it being so big, this is not the place for a newbie with conferences. It was my very first conference EVER and it was a bit overwhelming. Heck, it may not even be the place for non newbies with some of the drama that was absolutely unnecessary but people still felt the need to create. I guess those bloggers that “hate mean girls” let their jealousy get the best of them and go on the attack even when unprovoked. It’s only a matter of time and a few more conferences before these girls have absolutely no one left (bloggers, pr, etc) to turn to and have only really hurt themselves. And for what reason? To feel more powerful, well I can just say mean does not equal power it equals YOU ARE A JERK plain and simple

*Sorry no names you nosey people, they shall remain anonymous but I am sure they know who they are*

So my tip for BlogHer or any other conference for that matter, go have a blast and be yourself, in the end EVERYONE see YOU for who you TRULY are! And that is AWESOME (for me anyways, not so much for some). I hope everyone else had a great time at BlogHer and I look forward to doing it again. Next stop SITScation!

Now if you have a BlogHer post I want to read it and I am sure my readers will to, so link the post url up in Mister Linky below:

Sorry I am just now getting this up, I was bad and forgot to schedule it. However it still is Sunday and you know what that means even if late….share your quotes.

I figured since I am in the middle of my travels home from BlogHer, I would post some quotes from the Movie Airplane since I will be on Airplanes all day long

Striker, listen, and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.

There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can’t be serious.
Rumack: I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.

Do you know what it’s like to fall in the mud and get kicked… in the head… with an iron boot? Of course you don’t, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Ted, that’s a dumb question… skip that.

Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9′er, you are cleared for take-off.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9′er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9′er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower’s radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That’s Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?

LOL those quotes crack me up. Can’t wait to get home and off these planes and see my babies. While BlogHer was an absolutely amazing experience aside from some idiotic people, I had an absolutely wonderful time. No raining on my parade even when some tried to ruin my time I kept on going and had a blast. But I am ready to see my babies and honey, I missed them dearly.

Now it’s your turn to share!

So my final flight (the one that landed into Chicago) landed about 1:30 and after I got off the plane I headed to baggage claim to meet up with Scott and Sara and get my bag. Oh and on a side note, I absolutely will be doing a rolling carry on next year, my shoulders were ready to murder me by the second flight.

Okay back to the story, my flights for the most part were okay and I had just enough time in each connecting airport to not have to rush but not have to sit forever either. The flight from Dallas to Louisville and Louisville to Chicago were a bit rough on my tummy because they were on those smaller planes and it there was a bit of turbulence. So I sat, white knuckling the arm rests but I made it safe and sound.

My final leg of my trip was on a United Airline Plane and when I finally made it down to the baggage claim area I was ready for my bag, as were Scott and Sara, and were ready to eat. So we wait and watch for my bag which never comes. Finally I talked to one of the employees who looked into it and he said it was scanned in. Um, okay so where is my luggage then. After about an hour or so he goes down to look for it and at this point yours truly is a bit on the freaking out side. I was going to have to spend all weekend in the same outfit, I just knew it. So what do I do?? I call for reinforcements “Mom, pray that they find my luggage, it’s lost” So she does and low and behold about 5 minutes later it arrives…whew.

We leave the airport to wait for the limo who is “pulling up” as we are waiting. We wait, we wait and we wait some more and no limo. So we find out that one is full and they are sending another to pick us up. Okay whatever, just hurry we are hungry and tired and have parties to attend to. Finally after waiting an hour we have a limo arrive, which is packed down with luggage already. We managed to get all loaded and met a few peeps in the limo and were on on way to the hotel. About 30 minutes into the ride we notice surroundings are familiar and realize we are circling back to the front of the airport!!! As if being tired, missing luggage and starving weren’t enough now we were missing the Social Luxe party, which made me really sad.

Finally about 5:30 we arrive at the hotel, hurry and change and head to dinner at Portillo’s. Absolutely amazing food let me tell you! I had a chili cheese hot dog topped with onions and it was divine. I highly suggest going to this place when you are in Chicago. We then return and head to the highly anticipated People’s Party which was a bit crowded to be honest but hey what’s better than a mass hysteria of women racing for swag and free drinks. Then it was off to eat a deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s. The pizza was delish.

Amidst the hysteria we got our third little roomie, Miranda who is one of my closest bloggy friends and it was like little girls in high school. We squealed, we hugged and we giggled. Finally after dinner and the Room 704 party (where I met Miss Blondie and Kadi for a minute) we headed up to our room to crash. Well crash we did but not before ordering room service for chocolate cake at midnight. We gabbed and giggled and finally went to sleep about 1:30 (okay so I dozed off before the other girls).

Today is day one of sessions and the party schedule tonight is even more fierce. I am a bit worried about my sanity after this evening. I am however super excited to meet Consumer Queen, who was gracious enough to ask me to some events with her. By the way I am such a schmuck, I saw her at the elevator last night and because I wasn’t sure (in a sea of 1200 bloggers you aren’t sure people are who you think they are) so I didn’t say anything, I did find out by text later that it was her.

So my lessons learned on BlogHer day 1 are:

~ Go ahead and talk to someone assuming you know who it is, if all else fails look at their name tag or ask for their card and then you will be sure.

~ It’s probably best to take some 5 hour energy shots or some equivalent with you, the energy you need is much much more than you actually have (or for me anyways).

~ Bring comfortable shoes (I did) because you will eventually want to change into them, even if they don’t match your outfit.

~ Be prepared to be overwhelmed, with so many women and wanting to meet the ones you “know” it’s easy to get a bit flustered in the sea of women.

~ Last but not least, have a BLAST!!!!!!

Blogher 2009 made possible for me by:

I have officially departed (as of a daunting 4:30 this morning to be precise) for BlogHer! I am tired and excited all at the same time. I have landed safely in Dallas and now am on the path to Louisville.

I think I may be dead tonight during the parties but oh well at least I will be there right and looking super cute I might add. I have my hugs ready to be given out and my phone is charging at each stop. I am, however, not looking forward to this flight because to my dismay it’s one of the small her planes and that just gives me heebie jeebies right off. Oh well to deal with it I shall turn on Eclipse and listen to the story of Edward. It’s sure to ease any tension I may have LOL.

I have yet to eat and did try eating a bagel but it was not working for me so after 2 bites I chunked the thing. I am slamming white chocolate mocha’s from Starbucks though. No stomach on food, top with a white chocolate mocha…that’s sure to make the jitters come in full force. Okay now I shall sign off and return (maybe, if they have T-mobile hotspot) when I land in Louisville.

Oh and on a quick side note I boo hooed like a little baby this morning when I left my babies. I sure do miss those little munchkins and I haven’t even been gone 4 hours yet. How in the world am I going to survive 4 days total. Sigh…

THank you to my Blogher 2009 Sponsors:

Yes, it’s up late today, so what?? It’s here right

2 Days!!! Can’t wait to hug all you crazies! Who is ready to Poken and Bump!!!

If you need to know how to bump, check out Avitable’s Bump Tutorial.

Now it’s your turn to participate:

If you have a Poken or iPhone w/ bump installed let me know that you will be there and I will stalk find you and we can have fun. Also let me know what party are you looking forward to the most??

Label Daddy Luggage Labels are wonderful. Keep your bag, yours! Head over and grab your luggage labels today for your next trip.

First and foremost I will be the one in the beautiful Christian Louboutin shoes just like these:

My little feet shall be adorned with these beautiful red soled heels…wait I am dreaming again.

Okay so I won’t be donning any Louboutin this time BUT I will have super cute shoes. But this post isn’t about my style, though with Carson Kressley at the Nikon party perhaps it should be. Yes I will be bringing out the big guns for that party. Can you imagine how terrible it would be to see him quoted in a magazine or on a tv show and saying something like “I attended BlogHer 09 this year and there was a fashion disaster from (insert blog name here, it will not be mine) someone really needs to work with this poor sould” Shame of all shame that would be! However if this man wants to give me the tips on how to look good naked then bring them on LOL.

*New Thought: I wonder what he will say when I start telling everyone he is my personal stylist. I have decided that is the job for him, I pay in compliments and fruit tarts! I think I shall become his new best friend while I am there.

Okay back to the original topic of this post, a bit about ME. Some things you may or may not know (or care to know for that matter, but I am sharing anyway!)

~ I am pretty sure the kids will still be alive when I get home, however I will be a bit neurotic about it I am sure the entire time. This is the first time I have left the kids with dad for this long alone! He has had them before but went down to his moms so he could hunt so in all reality his mom had them. I can’t wait to hear the stories when I return, if I don’t get 1,096 calls while I am at Blogher from them

~ I will have my bodygaurds, um I mean my really good friends and fellow Label Daddy bloggers by my side the whole time (pretty much). We are roomies and I know we will be having a blast. We like to call ourselves TGGT (figure that one out and you get some brownie points).

~ I dance, I dance, oh and did I mention I dance. While you won’t find me embarrassing myself by attempting not to butcher a song while singing Karaoke you will find me shaking my groove thing if party atmosphere permits. I am not shy about dancing, it’s my vice (along with shoes and purses).

~ I am a hugger but I am not sure how many other people are. I hope I don’t freak anyone out and them feel the need to call security, I promise I am harmless I just am friendly. Better to be friendly than a not so nice person right

~ Don’t be fooled if I come across as a bit shy, I promise I am not, usually I am just feeling the vibe and adjusting to it . After all you don’t want me talking all loud and acting crazy in a professional enviroment and to argue that you don’t want me all timid and acting like a scared mouse at the parties. I warm up it may just take me a minute but I still hug

~ I am a bit nervous about riding in cabs. I mean have you ever watched Home Alone: Lost in New York or Taxi Cab confessions there are some freaky drivers and crazy people that get into these cabs and I am supposed to just get in their trustingly and hope that the likes of Drew & Scott Peterson won’t be the one driving the cab. Can you tell I am not liking the cab idea but you have to save money somehow.

~ I will overpack, it’s a problem I have you see. I can’t function unless I have at least 2 to 3 different outfits to choose from. Now knowing good and well I pretty much know what I want to wear Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night. I have what I am wearing home down and am 99% sure on what I am wearing to Friday’s conference and Saturday is easy as it’s provided for me, yet somehow I will still manage to get there with more than 6 outfits (enough for parties, sessions and home) probably more like 12 or 15. It’s a problem I have.

Hi my name is Toni and I am an over packer.

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at Blogher. This will be such a fun time and learning experience and I can’t wait. I know I will just love everyone there and hope they love me too and if they don’t then they can just SUCK IT!

WHO’S READY FOR BLOGHER!!!! *Raising Hand*

Have I mentioned lately how excited I am to head to Chicago! Now it’s your turn, be honest, do you own a pair of spanx? And make me feel better, what is your problem area?