As 2013 was coming to a close, I took a look at my 2014 calendar and marveled at the fact it was wide open. Other than a very few things scheduled, my calendar was a blank slate. Ready for me to fill it up with great new opportunities and fun things to do. A week into the new year, I can easily say that calendar is looking much different. Much fuller. Literally and figuratively.
So, what am I up to this year?
I am really excited that I have been chosen to be a Music Center Ambassador. If you read my previous post on the downtown Los Angeles Music Center, you’ll get a feel for all the amazing things I’ll be experiencing this year. Up first for me, I’ll be attending a preview performance of Giselle at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the end of the month. I don’t think I’ve been to the ballet since I was a kid… and I’m so excited. And what does one wear to the ballet these days?
Another awesome thing that happened is I was selected to be on the inaugural McMom’s Advisory Panel for McDonald’s. My food philosophy is that I would never tell someone else what or how to eat, but I do realize that it’s important to eat healthy. I believe we make our own choices and a McDonald’s burger and fries can absolutely be a part of a healthy, regularly balanced eating plan if that is your choice. I’ve been excited about McDonald’s adding more options to their menu and I hope I can help educate everyone on what else they are doing to provide good options for eating out. And come on… those fries are damn good.
Last year, my blog network, SoCal Lady Bloggers, partnered with Ana Lydia Monaco from the Latina Lifestyle Bloggers to bring you the 3rd Annual Lifestyle Bloggers Conference. Putting together a conference is something I only dreamed about, but never thought would actually happen. It was an amazing experience. I met the most incredible people through the process and I found my passion: educating bloggers. I love it and this year’s conference is even bigger and better. Tickets are still available.
The first conference I’ll be attending this year will be in February for the Entertainment New Media Network. The first conference for this network will bring together travel and entertainment bloggers from all over the country. I’m really excited to have been asked to be part of a blogger’s panel where new bloggers can ask questions of veteran bloggers. Wow… I’m considered a veteran blogger. Does that mean I’m old? Tickets are still on sale, but are going fast.
My third time at Bloggy Boot Camp (now called Women Get Social) will be at the end of February in San Diego. This one day seminar has morphed into a 2-day conference and is geared towards the more professional blogger. BBC was the very first blog event I ever went to and it was invaluable for me as a new blogger. The best part about this conference is that it is held several times a year in different states. Chances are, there will be one near you.
In April, I’ll be speaking on a panel for the “Digital Influencer” seminar at the South Bay Business Leaders Summit in Manhattan Beach, California. I’m really excited about this one since there are still so many businesses who aren’t sure what their place is in the social media world.
Ahhh… what can I say about SoFabCon? Last year, Collective Bias put on their first conference. Why is this particularly notable? Because they are a huge social shopper insights company, and one that I actually work for. I was really fortunate to become a Campaign Leader for them last fall after working as a blogger with them for the past 2 years. They have done more for helping bloggers use their influence (and get paid for it) than any other company I know. Here’s hoping I can figure out how to get to the 2014 conference in Arkansas in May and hoping I might be able to expand my role with CB as well.
Everyone knows I run a blog network with my co-partner Melissa Dell, right? Well, we were hard at work redesigning the site and we launched on January 1. This is our new logo and other than the Lifestyle Bloggers Conference, we are planning more fun blog events, working with great brands and offering new opportunities. If you are a blogger and live in Southern California, we’d love to have you join us.
