See? I’m not the only one…

I swear, this is the last in my series of ohmygoshihavenoideawhattopacktothisconference posts.  I’m here.  I’ve worn jeans both days of the conference so far, and as Reem and I briefly discuss in this video (this was the 2nd take, my macbook ate the first one) – being comfortable enough to wear jeans?  Well, we kinda feel like we’re cool.  Oh, that and that we get to hang out in the special speaker lounge where we can do goofy things like make video.

Oh yeah, so I moderated this panel today on the Ethics of Mommyblogging with Colleen Padilla, Lindsay Lebresco, and Ted Murphy.  It was really cool, and tons of fun.  We didn’t have cupcakes like Shama – but let’s just say that we’ve learned our lesson for next year!  It went really well, so a huge thank you to all of them!

Speaking of cool – check out these two cool, yet exceedingly silly chicks. 

Wakin’ Up In Vegas {Video}

Don’t forget that you can win an iPod Shuffle for commenting on any posts during the month of October.  See the bottom of this post for details!

Yay!  Thanks to Collective Bias, I’ll be on a plane flying to Las Vegas for Blog World Expo in less than 10 hours!  Why am I not sleeping, you ask?  (By the way, that’s so sweet of you to be so concerned about me!)  Well, because I’m vlogging.  And also, because I’m a procrastinator.  Will I regret this in the morning?  Yes.

Ohh, but look!  I made you a video!

Now you can probably figure out why, after 6 days, I’m still not packed.

PS — Feel the urge to comment yet? How about some motivation? All comments left on my site for the month of October will be entered to win an iPod shuffle! To enter to win, just leave some sort of comment on any post from the month of October. You may enter as many times as there are posts, and get extra entries for tweeting. Comments that had a bit of thought put into them are greatly appreciated. Good luck, contest ends October 31st and 11:59 pm CST.

A Two Suitcase Kinda Trip

Don’t forget that you can win an iPod Shuffle for commenting on any posts during the month of October.  See the bottom of this post for details!

I’m so excited because I’m heading to Blog World Expo in Las Vegas this week – which sort of brings me back full circle to the beginning of my blogging days.  BWE was the first blogging conference I ever attended and is, to date, still my favorite of them all.  I’m excited to be returning, and even more excited to be moderating a panel on the Ethics of Mommyblogging on Friday.  If you’re going to be there, you should most certainly stop by, as I’m sure we’ll be discussing all sorts of hot-button issues (are you sick of hearing about the FTC guidelines yet?!).

Naturally, in order to do something like travel and attend a really cool conference, it is necessary for me to pack all of the vital items in my life into a little box to put under the plane.  Don’t worry, I’m flying Southwest, so it will be well taken care of.  The bigger issue is…UGH.  I have a closet full of nothing to wear.  And packing?  Well, packing ranks up there with sticking toothpicks in my own eyeballs.  Sorry to be so graphic, but it’s true.

I would totally pay someone to pack for me.  Know anyone who would and could handle it?  Make sure all of the outfits match?  Make sure I don’t forget anything?  Make sure it’s all washed and ironed, tucked away in neat little outfits as to avoid any confusion?  Is there a service for that?  There should be.  I’ll be their first customer.

You should see my bed.  It’s full of clothes, hangers, purses, etc.  I’m considering sleeping on the floor tonight, instead actually in the bed itself.  It would make things easier, don’t you think?

In the mood to giggle?  Watch me huff about hating to pack in the video below and feel free to poke fun at me in the comments.

PS — Feel the urge to comment yet? How about some motivation? All comments left on my site for the month of October will be entered to win an iPod shuffle! To enter to win, just leave some sort of comment on any post from the month of October. You may enter as many times as there are posts, and get extra entries for tweeting. Comments that had a bit of thought put into them are greatly appreciated. Good luck, contest ends October 31st and 11:59 pm CST.

Happy Blogiversary, Chic Shopper Chick!

Hey there CSC readers!

Wow, it’s seriously INSANE to think that one year ago today I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep, and had this crazy idea to start writing this blog thing.  I can still remember exactly where I was sitting when I wrote it, and you can even go back and read my very first post if you’re interested.  I was now the author of a blog.  About shopping.  Oh, and wouldn’t it be cool if people would like, READ it and stuff?  My friends were constantly bugging me to know where I found these awesome products, accessories, pieces of clothing – you name it – and I was even getting stopped in the grocery store on a regular basis so that people could inquire about my shirt/baby carrier/necklace/shoes.  So I just thought – maybe if I wrote it down in blog form (blog form?  Is there such a thing?) then I could just give my friends the URL and they could read about it for themselves.

You know what’s funny?  My friends didn’t read it.  Nope, not one of them.  And they STILL bugged me about where I got my cool stuff.  *Sigh* Is there no rest for the chic?

You know what else is funny?  Other people did read it.  Like, people I didn’t know.  Isn’t that crazy?  I was so excited just to get my first comment!  And no, it wasn’t from my mom.

Things took off.  I had my first custom design done on my Blogger blog and I found my now-signature Chic Chick up there at the top.  When I eventually moved to Wordpress and had another redesign done in October, I asked my designer, Emily to incorporate the Chic Chick into this design too – I’m sure she’ll always be around.

Oh, and people were still reading Chic Shopper Chick!  A little ole blog written by lil ole me.  Who woulda thunk it?

Since then…

I’ve run countless giveaways, written hundreds of posts, and responded to thousands of emails and comments.

I made the most amazing lifelong friends in the process, women I would have never met otherwise became close friends, partners in crime, and confidants.

I attended Blog World Expo in Las Vegas, and more recently SxSWi in Austin.  If I hadn’t started blogging, I would have never had that opportunity.

I kicked myself for creating a name like “Chic Shopper Chick” which so many people struggle to say, but is great to make a joke out of now!  You’d be surprised at how many people can’t pronounce “chic” (sheek), for the record.  I’m ALWAYS called the Chick Shopper Chick.  But hey, you can’t win them all.

I’ve received emails addressed to Ms. Chick — those always make me laugh.  Especially since my name is on my About page.

I was asked to be a Wal Mart Eleven Mom!  (More on that soon, I promise!)

I was asked to join Frito Lay in their “Only In A Woman’s World” campaign as part of the Fabulous 15.

I became addicted to Twitter.

I was featured on 100 interviews!  (Go check it out!)

I even recently started co-hosting a weekly radio show with my close friend Audrey called Feel Good Fashion!

….all of that, in just a year.  I can’t wait to see what exciting things this year holds.  A huge thank you to everyone who reads or has ever read Chic Shopper Chick for your love and support!  Keep reading, and I promise this year will rawk even more than our first year!

xoxo,

Gossip Girl

Erika