This week is going to be a busy, run here and there week, between canning and taking care of my boys, one of whom is still sick, and getting ready to leave Thursday for Blogher ’10.  With all of the research and fun of planning out my Blogher agenda, I decided to share some links related to that.  It’s pretty overwhelming, especially for a Blogher newbie, but it’s so exciting!  So, if you’re packing too and getting ready to leave, take a few moments, prop up your feet, and read some great Blogher posts/forums.  Oh, and of course, list those giveaways!

One forum that I’ve been religiously viewing and even sometimes posting on is the Mom Spark Forum.  This forum is full of great information for Blogher ’10, from all the parties and events to what to pack and even wear.

Another great forum is the Consumer Queen Forum, which also has a lot of great Blogher ’10 info.

She Posts is a very resourceful site, and you can find full party and event listings on this site, as well as some other great articles and posts.

Table for Five has some pretty great advice on Ten Tips for Getting Through Blogher ’10.

Mom-101 will give you a humorous side to Blogher ’10 in 2010 Blogher Conference FAQ: NYC Edition.

Finally, Suzanne Reisman has some great tips for Getting Off the Beaten Track in NYC While at Blogher ’10.

List those giveaways!

In the last 3-4 weeks, so much has happened.  We decided to plan a camping trip to Colorado to Rocky Mountain National Park, for which I’m so excited!  It’s been a while since we’ve just been able to get away by ourselves and have a complete break.  I am so ready!  We all are!  Then last week, I found out that I was going to Blogher ’10 in New York City in 2 weeks!  I’m super excited, and it’s thanks to Blogger Black Book.  From what I’ve read and heard all over, this is one of the most awesome networking opportunities there is for bloggers/online entrepreneurs. Plus, I’ll get to meet some of you!:)  Yea!

Anyway, then I found out that some of my family thought I was pregnant….because apparently, there was a mixup with something Jacob said.  Oy!  That and the fact that I’ve been having this nagging thought in the back of my head spurred me to action.  For the last month or so, as my clothes have gotten tighter and tighter (I’ve already gone up 2-3 sizes in the last year), I’ve known that I was on a downward spiral, but I just kept ignoring it.  It’s not that I just completely pig out, but I like to snack late at night, and I absolutely abhor working out, especially with the same exact routine every single day.  The whole pregnancy farce:) (I love you guys) and the fact that we’re going to Colorado spurred me into action and gave me the motivation that I needed, not to mention the persistent belly fat that just won’t go away….that belly fat that I constantly try to suck in, but it’s getting harder and harder to hide (I love me some Spanx). (The picture here was taken about a month and a half ago, but I’m about the same now; I wanted to do the whole “Biggest Loser” theme with my pic, but I didn’t have the guts to do the tank and shorts, for now….but I’ll do a pic update every couple of weeks, so who knows?):)I’m ready to lose this weight.  In order to be at my healthy goal weight, I need to lose about 30-35 pounds.  Ok, this is doable.  It’s not that I’m morbidly obese either, but I just feel unhealthy, and the belly fat has got to go, especially since I know that persistent and growing belly fat is the first downslide into diabetes; it puts me more at risk.  My first goal right now is to lose 10 pounds by the time we leave in August.  I just want to have my old energy back and feel good when we go hiking and exploring, maybe even geocaching.  I want to be able to outrun my kids.:)

My first success came today….I started working out last week.  I’ve lost 3 pounds!  Yippee!  7 more pounds to go before Colorado.  I’ve settled on a walking/run routine (I’m working my way up to running now because I quickly figured out I’ve got to ease into it), and I’m alternating that with Wii Fit and a Lindsay Brin Shed 5 Fast DVD.  I love walking, so that’s my main routine, only it’s power walking.  We did another 2 miles tonight.  I’m feeling good, and I’m feeling like this is possible.

Eating right is another thing.  My cravings say, “Give me some brainkill in a bottle (soda), or give me chocolate!”  Personally, I think it’s ok to eat some of these things, but just in moderation.  I’ve got to limit myself.  I can’t sit down and scarf a king-sized Hershey bar in one sitting.  I can’t eat 6 tacos anymore (hey, ours are small).  I’ve gotta take it easy, and I’ve got to fill my body with the right nutrients and foods that I need to keep me running, which means lots of fruits and veggies. Then yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Sears, author/founder of The Zone Diet, and our conversation and the materials I studied beforehand really opened up my eyes to the rewards of a healthier lifestyle. (I’ll be sharing this interview on MamaBuzz soon.)  To be honest, I’m scared for my family, for Dan, for my kids.  I don’t want to cause them to have health issues later on in life, and I don’t want something to happen to either Dan or myself that could have been prevented, such as diabetes, cancer, or even a heart attack.  I don’t want my kids to end up obese.

I’m excited about this endeavor.  I’ll be posting pics to keep you updated on my journey.  Do you have a weight loss journey you’re on?  Maybe we could keep each other accountable.  Leave me some comment love….I’ll be sure to visit you and hopefully encourage you to keep going.

• Cost of Conference Registration/Tickets: $202.95-$302.95, depending on how early I get registered.
• Hotel Cost: Approximately $400 for 2 nights
• Possible fuel cost, since we will most likely drive.  My husband’s family is in PA, so we’ll probably make a family trip out of the initial part anyway.
• Meal Costs: I’m aiming high, approximately $150-$200.
• Cost of Swag bags: $150-200.

• The conference will include over 1500 other women, so I will pass out your business cards, flyers, and product samples, which I can also include in Swag bags that I will take to the conference to hand out (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
• If you have clothing, accessories, handbags, or other items with your logo on it, I’ll be happy to wear these while attending the conference.
• Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship.  Up until the conference, I will tweet weekly, and during the conference, I will tweet and Facebook each day, giving links to your company.
• Ad space on Real Heart Prints until after Blogher ’10.
• I will be posting about Blogher during and after the conference, and I will be sure to include a link to your company in each post.

• Marketing of your business cards, flyers, and product samples, also via Swag bags (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
• Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship.  I’ll tweet weekly, up until the conference, and during the conference, I’ll tweet and Facebook each day, giving links to your company.
• Ad space on Real Heart Prints until after Blogher ’10.
• When I post about Blogher during and after the conference, I will mention your company, with a link, in each post.

• I’ll pass out your business cards, flyers, and a product sample, also via my Swag bags (Swag bags will only be passed out in my hotel room or if asked specifically).
• Blog, Tweet, and Facebook about your company, thanking you for sponsorship.
• When I post about Blogher during and after the conference, I will mention your company, with a link, in each post.

This post is based on two posts: Pretty Pink Chandelier and MomStart; their posts gave me a basis to work from for setting this up, used with their permission!  Thank you, ladies!