UPDATE!!! Veripur is Verigood

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO VERIPUR!!!  Mr. Fedex arrived at my back door Saturday with a box of Veripur Hand Sanitizer courtesy Lippe Taylor.  This box of Veripur will be forwarded with my guys to Belize and put to use by a small medical clinic serving an impoverished area. {More on that later}.  Once again, thank you for your wonderful public relations!

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Part of what makes blogging conferences great are the sponsors.   Sponsors help keep the cost of conferences low and they recognize the power of social media. Behind the fingers of 700 women bloggers lay vast opportunities for advertising; this ensures good swag.   I normally don't promote brands on my blog because I'm just not into that, but today I make an exception and I'm not even being compensated {although I would love to have some sample tubes to pass along...hint, hint}.

Hidden deep within the recesses of my swag bag was a magic tube of hand sanitizing lotion.   I rarely use hand sanitizers because most contain alcohol which tends to dry out my hands and makes my skin peel.   I want to kill the germs people, not the top layer of epidermis.  This tube was labeled Veripur.  Upon further investigation, Veripur is a new product exclusively available at Walgreens.  Oh how I wish I had known about this product prior to entering the plagued dome.  I would have slathered my hands down with this moisturizing, germ killing product every few hours and conquered Mr. Flu.   This tube of lightly scented gold makes me believe I'm pampering my hands instead of killing nasty little germs.  Reality is, I'm doing both and that is a lovely product bonus.  Please visit the Veripur Web-Site to learn more, watch their YouTube video below, then go purchase their fabulous product.  Worth. Every. Penny.

Beyond Veripur being an exceptional product, a representative behind Veripur was a pleasure to meet also.   He mingled with the bloggers outside of the work venue to build relationships.   Because of his extrovert personality, my girl friends and I had the privilege of dining late one evening with Mr. David Binkowski and a few other fabulous people.  A funny guy, a good sport, and a joy to be around, David is the real deal when it comes to digital marketing. Thanks, David, for making the Beverlies feel special and for entertaining us with your wit and charm.  You Rock!

(Photo by Jenny Lawrence Viars)

Portrait of Love

The doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

Pensively she peaked out the window. A smile curved her lips.

Opening the door she forced back the tears.

He tipped his derby hat. Always the gentleman.

“My dear, these are for you.”

Pink starlight lilies were her favorite. Not red roses. He remembered.

“I was thinking of you and thought these might brighten your day, my love.”

She invited him into their home and took the flowers from his wrinkled hand.

She admired their beauty and placed them in a vase.

She slipped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck.

After fifty-three years, his scent still brought her peace.

They clung to each other and cried only for a moment.

“I still miss him so much,” she said. “As do I, love. As do I,” he replied.

He stroked her gray hair.

Twenty years ago their son had died. Already twenty years.

His gesture of love was different every year.

Always tender. Always meaningful.

“I love you, my dear, even more than last year,” he whispered.

“I love you too and even more next year,” she whispered back.

 

What I Learned @#Blissdom 2011 and Other Odd Facts {All In Good Fun}

It is no secret that I recently spent four bliss-filled days in Nashville, TN, at Blissdom 2011, the premiere blogging conference of the Southeast. This event was truly an incredible experience and an amazing opportunity to learn about the blogging community.

I am a people observer by nature. I have never attended any event where the main attraction held my attention for a long period of time. My senses always drift to those around me. I am neither an extrovert nor an introvert. My personality lays somewhere between the two (I am an INFJ on the Myer-Briggs chart if that tells you anything) I am in the tiny one-percent. An oddball. Because of this, my observations at Blissdom and what I gained from the experience is probably a wide gulf from another’s perspective. This post is meant to neither inflate nor deflate any particular group. These are simply my observations. Maybe I should have studied Sociology in college rather than Computer Science.

Reading Rosie’s Blogger Personality Assessment

Diva bloggers are the obvious power group. They walk into a room and demand attention by their actions. They are the “everybody look at me and take in my awesomeness” women and just know the world is a better place because they exist and honestly it probably does. They are confident, classy, stars who deserve R E S P E C T for their work. This group can sometimes be annoying but they usually make me smile.

Wannabe Diva bloggers are a temperamental group. They wannbe divas badly, so they pout, stomp their feet and get angry if you do not recognize or acknowledge their “not quite there yet awesomeness.” Easily insulted, this group seems to be living in a high school cheerleading daze. It is fun to mess with them and pretend you have never heard of them.

Faith bloggers are lovely. They are usually dressed and groomed neatly and appear very organized. Easily spotted due to their pious aura, they travel in groups of the same species rarely speaking to anyone who may appear unholy due to their hair style or clothing choice. Do not turn your back on a faith bloggers lest you be crucified.

Edgy bloggers are easy to spot. They are hip, funny, colorful, opinionated, loud and adventuresome to be around. Fun group. {Note: Faith bloggers and Edgy bloggers do not mix well}.

Niche bloggers include coupon queens, green living, foodie, brand pushing, decorating, solely focused savvy business mommy bloggers. They talk fast, know their elevator pitch, and are extremely rehearsed sales people. If you are not a morning person, try not to get cornered by a niche blogger. You will find yourself skulking to a quiet corner to suck your thumb after the encounter.

No-Niche bloggers can relate to everyone. You will find them a funny and well read; sloppy and finely dressed; unorganized and skillful, home makers and highly educated group. There may actually be a Diva in the group, but she will appear incognito and you will instantly bond. No-Nichers are women of Faith but not self-righteous; Edgy but not uncouth.

Newbie bloggers are easy to spot. Look for the deer-in-the-headlight gaze. You will feel protective of these lambs and want to pull them away from the slaughter-house (Wannabe Divas) as quickly as possible. If a No-Niche blogger can rescue a Newbie early enough, they can have a great influence and possibly lead her away from Niche blogging. I mean, does the world really need another toilet paper blogger?

Under these definitions, I would be classified as a No-Niche Edgy Faith Blogger (NNEFB).

While the above is meant to be humorous, I can truthfully say that blogging is a common denominator and a great thing. The power of words can bring hundreds of women together, form solid friendships and gradually create a new community. It is the power of women-kind. Our ability to cry, curse, sing, dance, mourn, celebrate, hug, accept and scorn one another creates energy unlike any other. I feel loved, accepted and understood when I am in their midst.

All I Really Need To Know, I Learned @#Blissdom:

Share with a friend.

Smile until it hurts.

Don’t worry about your clothes.

Comfortable shoes are valuable.

Speak first.

Laugh at jokes. (Except your own)

Tweet when told.

Choose grace.

Listen more than you speak.

Give more than you take.

Hug a newbie.

Don’t jiggle another’s boobage. (Trust me)

Be salt and light.

Above all, be yourself.

All I Gained From Blissdom Was The Flu! {Hardly}

My intention was to write a recap post my first day home from Blissdom 2011. Unfortunately, on the drive home Saturday, I realized I was being attacked by the now infamous Blissdom Plague. Mr. Flu made a lovely appearance at the conference to shake everyone’s hand. He’s a gentleman that way, albeit sneaky. He knocked me off my feet, literally for the week, and I am just now able to put my thoughts together.

I wasn’t a conference newbie this year. This was a good thing because I was more oriented to the venue. Last year I traveled and stayed alone; this year, I traveled and stayed with three fabulous women bloggers. God knew I needed these ladies in my life and I am so thankful for each of them. I’m thirteen years their senior - a mother-hen figure {yeah right}! I love these ladies. Hey soul sisters…hugs and kisses from Beverly!

{I made my dress for this event and the hats belonged to Jenny's Grandmother)

The team at Blissfully Domestic coordinates an awesome conference. They are superb at their bliss and Gaylord Opryland Hotel pulled out their very best linens and silverware {that’s important in the South}. Bloggers are treated like royalty during this four day event. I cannot begin to tell you the details that went into this affair but it is safe to say it was fine-tuned in such a way, they had me believing I could wish it and it would appear. Awesomeness wrapped in awesome and topped with a layer of awesome and few awesome sprinkles. Really!

It was worth every cough, sniffle, chill and body ache and if I had to catch the flu, this was “the” place.

If you’re a blogger, put Blissdom 2012 on your bucket list!!!!!

Opening keynote Brene’ Brown was truly an inspiration and touched on a subject that all could relate: SHAME. Sounds slightly depressing doesn’t it? Not in the least! Everyone, at some point “wants to hide their struggles and protect themselves from shame, judgment, criticism and blame by seeking safety in pretending and perfection.” We all do! In her book “I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)”, Brene’ writes, “It’s time to reclaim the gifts of imperfection - Courage to be real, the Compassion we need to love ourselves and others, and the Connection that gives true purpose and meaning to life. These are the gifts that bring love, laughter, gratitude, empathy and joy into our lives.” I bought the book, because Lord knows I need to learn the 3Cs.

 Closing keynote was the master of Twitter himself, Scott Stratten, better known as @UnMarketing. “Stop Marketing, Start Engaging,” is his mantra. Scott’s a nice guy (we’re on a first name basis). Seriously, he’s a down-to-earth, never met a stranger, super-talented man. Funny too! I bought his book just because. It’s autographed. Did I mention he is handsome, even in pink, and can bust-a-move on the dance floor? Yep, that would be him. 

Chock-full between these two fabulous folks, were Melissa Peterman, Michelle Branch, Mat Kearney, Chris Mann and Crystal Bowersox. Talented, beautiful people there to entertain a wee little blogger like moi.

And the sponsors: ConAgra Foods, Freschetta, Quaker, Jockey, Johnson&Johnson, Gain, Intel, Blue Bunny, GE, Veripur, Tide, Kellogg’s, Hallmark, Red Lobster, Bounce...on and on and on…the swag alone was worth the flu!

But what did I really learn about my blogging bliss?

"All I Really Need To Know, I Learned At Blissdom"  ~ Coming Soon!