Blissdom in Video

This past weekend, I went to the Blissdom Conference, a blogging conference at the Opryland Hotel.

I was part of a flash mob:

I sang Baby Got Back with Bookieboo and BusyDad:

I got a tour of the Opryland Hotel from Amanda from ohamanda.com, Mandi from itscome2this.com and Staci from simplystaci.net.

I found out where the glass sculpture in the lobby came from...with a twist!

and lastly, I got to play all the games in the Can-o-Bliss that Staci created for our sisterchick roadtrip, including The 12 Days of Christmas mad libs as shown here by Amanda!

I hope you've enjoyed my video recap of Blissdom '11!

Top Ten Tuesday - ready for Blissdom

I leave for Blissdom in less than 36 hours and I am so excited!  I honestly am most excited about spending time with old friends and new friends. I packed last night, but am not quite finished, so I decided to write my Top Ten Tuesday about the to ten things I need to pack for Blissdom 'll.

1. My laptop and it's cord- going to a blogging conference without a laptop is a sin- it's just not done.  During breaks, there are piles of laptops charging- it is hilarious, but that makes it important to label your laptop somehow.  I have a violet skin (get it?  The Violet Fig?) with a little Sisterchick bling that Amanda gave me last year.
2. My camera and it's charger- the second thing you MUST bring to a blogging conference is a camera.  I took so many pictures last year- especially fun is taking pics of celebrities. 
3. Business Cards- business cards are how people can remember to find your blog. You exchange A.LOT of these at blogging conferences.  I went cheap again this year, but next year plan to get some nice ones.
4. Roommate Gift- I can't say what I got, but I done good.  I can't wait to give Amanda, Mandi and Staci their gifts! While you're at it, check out Staci's Top Ten Tuesday from last week- it was all about Roomie Swag!
5. Medicine- it's always a good idea to bring some "just in case" medicines in addition to the ones you need.  I will be bringing my antibiotics that I'm on for some residual sinus problems after my surgery  and some tums because it gives me heartburn!  I also need carsick medicine for the long ride from the ATL to Nashville. Ibuprophen and Nyquil will also be brought- just in case!
6. My humidifier- see above- my nasal passages must stay moist so I will be the crazy person lugging around a humidifier! I literally am bringing a second suitcase just so I can bring it- lol!
7. My NeilMed Sinus Rinse- again with the sinus surgery...I'm a little concerned about this one. I have to use it at least 4x a day...with distilled water that I have to heat up in a microwave...will I have access? I really don't want to use warm sink water, but may need to...ew.
8. Smart Phone- oh yeah, that's right...I'm not up for renewal until January 29th...just days after Blissdom ends...next year I will bring my iphone and I will be able to tweet/browse the net even when my laptop is charging!
9. Cute clothes- this year I borrowed two dresses from a co-worker- I needed to feel good in some new clothes, but lack the money right now, so borrowing was the next best thing.  Thanks, Allison!
10. Last minute trip to the store- for me that is to try to find some leggings for under my dress- I was going to go with tights, but it's just not the look I want- so off to Kohl's it is- lucky for me there is one almost next to my ENT office and I have a visit tomorrow afternoon!

So, those are the things that I have to remember to pack for Blissdom 2011! See more Top Ten Tuesday links at www.ohamanda.com.

Top Ten Tuesday

Blissdom '11 is right around the corner...just days away! For this weeks' Top Ten Tuesday, I am going to share my top ten favorite pictures from last year's Blissdom.  

1. I don't love this one 'cause I look great, but because we are standing in line to meet the legendary....

 

2. Harry Connick Jr.......just glorious!

3. Meeting random strangers and taking pictures with them because you dressed alike.  Where else can you do that, but at a blog conference? lol

4. Finding the LOST "hatch".  Where else can you do that, but at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel?  Well, and Hawaii...

 5. Hanging with my IRL sisterchicks Mandi, Staci and Amanda and meeting people who become bloggy sisterchicks- like Tricia from Once a Month Mom!

 6. Eating delicious things, like these yummy Santa Fe cornmeal pancakes from The Pancake Pantry!

 7. I'm a huge liberal trapped in the south, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity to pose with a poster of the ridiculousness that is Sarah Palin.  She was speaking at the hotel, so there were lots of...um...interesting people there.

 8. Did I mention that I love my Sisterchicks? Here are IRL sisters- Staci & Mandi.

 9. Love my roomies: Here I am with Amanda.

 10. Meeting famous people is always a bonus- even if I didn't know who he was at the time- George Duran will be at Blissdom again!

I can't wait to make more memories at this year's Blissdom! For more Top Ten Tuesday, head over to www.ohamanda.com

Menu Plan Monday

orIt's a snow day here in the ATL and we actually may be snowed in for days.  This rarely happens here- we are used to snow that melts by 10 am, so it's quite enjoyable for us!  We got 5 inches plus 1/2 inch of ice on top of that.

We knew it was coming, so starting on Friday, the grocery stores were packed and depleted of key items such as milk, bread and in my store's case...onions.  What????  I decided to play it safe and go on Sunday morning while everyone was at church.  It was a great idea- not packed! The Publix meat guy told me that a typical Saturday, they sell $11,000 worth of meat, but this Saturday they sold $28,000- wow!  I spent $250, making sure we wouldn't be missing anything.

Monday:
Today we are having chili- I kind of made a cross between chili and taco soup and it tastes great.
Dump the following ingredients in a crockpot and cook all day.  Serve over fritos with cheese on top.
-2 lbs browned ground beef, 1 can of corn, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can chili beans, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can chili tomatoes, 1 can tomatoes with green chile, 1 cup water, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder.

Tuesday: Stuffed Cabbage. This is my mom's recipe. Maybe I'll take photos and post it tomorrow- it's super easy and super good.

Wednesday: Poppy Seed Chicken by Dinah's Dishes. Dinah is a friend from high school's wife.  She's a caterer and her dishes never disappoint.

Thursday: Chicken fingers.  I slice chicken breasts into strips, pound them flat, bread them in panko and serve them with a dip made of BBQ sauce mixed with Buffalo sauce.  Yummy

Friday: Jenny's Smoky Beef Tacos.  I've posted these here before and I mentioned them when guest posting over at Once a Month Mom.  It is my sister-in-law's recipe and absolutely divine. I'm talking insanely good and SO easy- I make them in the crockpot if I have to work.

I didn't plan for the weekend because I figured that we would be ready to get out of the house by then!

To see more Menu Plan Mondays, head over to Org Junkie!