Getting Ready for Blissdom

Lisa's Blog
25 Comments

I’ve been like a busy little bee around here.  I got the Valentine decorations up and school finished for the week and am now working on my big trip.

Yes, I am leaving.  By myself.  With no children to ask me a million questions and a have desperate need for a Sprite.  No husband to say things like, “No, we are not stopping at that yard sale.”  I can stop for a potty break whenever my own bladder needs it and not one second before.  Motherhood has seriously lowered my standards of what constitutes a good time.

In just over a week I will drive myself to Nashville, Tennessee.  Home of the Grand Ole’ Opry.  I’m going to the Blissdom 2011 conference.

I was planning to spend this Saturday figuring out what to wear so I look my absolute cutest for the 499 bloggers that I’ve never met and will probably never see again.  But I just noticed that “Three Men and a Baby” is on TV tomorrow, which means I will be glued to that for at least a couple of hours.  I think we can all agree that it is one of the greatest movies of all time.  I can’t resist three womanizing bachelors trying to figure out how to change a diaper.  It makes me happy.

I am beginning to get a bit nervous about this conference.  I don’t do well with large groups.  I max out at about 4….after that I shut down and don’t know what to say.  This is going to take me waaayyy out of my comfort zone.  I don’t know what they will think of me.  I am kind of an acquired taste.

The reality is they probably won’t even notice me at all.  There will be a lot going on and plus it’s Nashville.  When I think of the Grand Ole’ Opry I think of Minnie Pearl, which I might not want to mention to my 499 new friends.  I don’t think Minnie Pearl is the hip thing these days.  I got the new Rascall Flatts album to listen to on the road.  I need to be up on the latest tunes if I’m going to the home of country music.

So tomorrow, after watching Tom Selleck carry a baby around for a while, I start laying out clothes and deciding if I need any new shoes.  In my opinion, a girl always needs new shoes, but James doesn’t agree.  He thinks I should be able to make do with what I have.  Men just don’t get it.  Really, make do?  How is that supposed to work?  Am I to wear my brown boots with my black skirt?  I.don’t.think.so.

This cold, drizzly weather makes us all want to bundle up on the couch and do nothing.  Which for my family this weekend means they get to watch me parade in and out of the living room in different outfits and have this conversation….

Me: How does this look?

James: Looks great Hon!

Me: No it doesn’t.  You don’t know anything.

Then I go back into my closet and come out again and again until I feel satisfied that I have made the perfect selections and James is convinced that I need new black shoes. See?  Good times.

25 Comments

  1. I feel like I’m the only one *not* going to Blissdom! I love love love Blissdom…but I’m fairly certain my OB wouldn’t let me go right now.

    You’re going to have a blast. There’s such a diverse crowd, and you’ll easily find a crowd to hang out with. And the Opryland Hotel is one of the most gorgeous hotels around. Just try not to get lost!

    And it’s not all just about fun…the sessions are top-notch, too!
    Have a great time and learn lots!

  2. Blissdom?! SO jealous. Hope it’s a WONDERFUL time and your alone time is just spectacular. Can’t wait to hear all about it!

  4. dear Bliss for Lisa,

    HooooHeee! You are going to get what most mothers dream of: a QUIET road trip! Have a great time, and we will be anxiously awaiting your impressions about it when you return to blog-land.

    love,
    Never heard of Blissdom, but the Bliss part sounds lovely
    in
    NE

  5. Well, I’m not going to be able to help you hold up the wall afterall. I won’t be able to take off work for 2 days to go 🙁 Just put a big smile on your face and force yourself to interact. Sometimes you just gotta do it scared. (Easy for me to say, I know). I hope you have a wonderful, kid-free time! Maybe you’ll find some great yard sales along the way!!

  6. well, i happen to love minnie pearl & rachall flatts so it’s a perfect match!

    i can’t wait to hug you. i can’t wait to hear you talk in person. i can’t wait to discover this whole bliss together. it’s going to be a blast. cannot wait. stepping out of our comfort zones is a good thing every now & then. 🙂

    have fun tomorrow trying on everything!

  7. Aw, you are going to have a great time. And I don’t believe the bit about the new shoes…not at all. James is soooo devoted to you, I just KNOW he’s already prepared to say “of COURSE you need new shoes!” I’m certain of it. ::smile::

    I’ll be interested to see if you come back sounding like Nashville. Y’know….Minnie Pearl twang, and all. Texas drawl and Tennessee twang. Should be fun!

  8. Bridget, I guess being 38 weeks pregnant is a good enough excuse to miss. But if you change your mind, I’ve been at lots of deliveries and I can help if I’m needed. 🙂

    Cara, that’s how I felt LAST year. I’ve been planning to go ever since.

    Jamie & gkey, it’s a blog conference. I hope to learn a lot about blogging. As of now I’m pretty much an idiot about it.

    Molly, I’m going to remember you when I get scared. But yes, it’s very easy to tell me to be brave when you’re staying home. 😉

    Blessed Nest and future Blissdom roommate, I’m counting on you to push me out of my comfort zone and to tell me if my outfits look OK.

    Lisa, yes. You know I am spoiled rotten and proud of it. LOL!

  9. You are coming to ME and that is all that matters. I promise to wear a tag on my hat if it will make you feel better. I am a nervous nilly and so want to bak out, if it were not for getting to spend time with you and Kellie I would so not go. We will force each other to make new friends. Sometime I can be good at it and I have told Kellie it is her job to bring out the fun me, so there! We are going to do this and we are going to be good at it. Just know I can be very silly when I am nervous,eekkk.

    Just a few days now sweet friend,
    Cha Cha

    Tell your hubby I said you need new shoes, that hotel is huge and you can not be walking around in worn out shoes.

  10. I totally wish I was going!!! You will be amazing and will probably meet your new BFF 😉

    I understand about the whole shoes topic…I just went through all of my shoes and I’m trying to figure out a way to break it to my hubby that I ‘need’ some new ones!

    Good luck and safe travels!

    Hugs 😉

  13. If I was going, which I’m not, I would totally want to have lunch with you and get to know you. Being one of your followers, I find it very special to “know” you in blogland. I would probably want some “older women discipling the younger” woman kind of advice on how I can be a better Mom and see what you have done and are doing {not that you are much older than I, just more kids and more years being a Mom}. Have a wonderful time. I look forward to my Ladies’ Retreat with church every year – my chance to get away and chat with ladies and hear great speaking on the Lord and talk all about Him. I envy your special time alone, but I’m sure it’s much needed!

    Becky B.

  14. I have never even thought of going to one of theses conferences…hmmm. I just assumed they were for those bloggers who have thousands of followers and sponsors like Dayspring, Mrs. Meyer’s who send them free stuff.

    So bring back lots of photos, and tell us what you loved or didn’t love about the whole thing. Maybe me and few blogging friends will plan to go next year. Wow, a trip without my family? Shocking!

  15. Well I think you deserve a vacation (new shoes included)! It’s always good for moms to get a little time for ourselves – its good to recharge and improve our focus.

    And yes, I agree that it’s nerve-racking being in a group with more than 3 people – for me too. However I happen to know that you are loved and appreciated by all of us every day, and I know that you are a very friendly person an very easy to talk to, so you will surely enjoy meeting lots of people – remembering names is not required – that’s what they invented name tags for!

    I’m sure that Blissdom is going to be a great experience for you! Just think of all the new things you can learn and bring back to show us! I’m so excited for you!

    Blessings for a safe trip!
    Sheri O.

  16. A gal always needs new shoes and a new purse! A new purse can cover a multitude of fashion mishaps. But I know you will look great!

    And you will be so close to me! We can send Bloggy vibes to each other.

  17. You all are so encouraging. Thanks for the boost! I completely forgot about name tags. That does relieve the pressure a little bit.

    Mama Hen, don’t even get me started on purses. LOL!

    Lisa~

  18. I don’t believe you passed this by my schedule… I remember hearing you talk about it, but only half listened because I was jealous ;0)

    Bring me something… even if it’s just the hotel freebie shower cap.

  19. Oh man Oh man, I wish I was coming with you!! I hope you have the most wonderful time ever and come back to tell me all about it. I know your outfits will look great, new shoes or not and I also know you’re going to shine in that sea of fabulous ladies. Have some fun for me and tell your roomie I said Hi!!

  20. Nashville is fabulous – clearly I’m a bit biased. You know, since I live here. Are you staying at opryland? It’s AMAZING. You’ll have a great time!

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  24. You will be fabulous!!! I can sometimes talk enough for both of us. 🙂 Plus, the Opryland has all kinds of cool nooks and crannies for you to sneak away to when you’re on overload. 😉 SO excited to see you, -shaunna 🙂

  25. HAVE FUN!
    May I recommend sleeping in and coming back to the room early?
    You get time to yourself that way, LOL, it’s what I did at Relevant.
    Trust me, no one really cares what you are wearing.
    Ask me who, any who, wore what at Relevant, and all I can remember is that everyone was dressed.
    If they care what you are wearing, they aren’t your friend, anyway.
    That’s what my momma always told me when I was a kid, while we shopped in KMart in the clearance section.
    You need to do this to your blog/site, cuz I can’t respond to your comments. WAH!
    http://goodbyehousehellohome.blogspot.com/2011/01/return-to-sender-address-unknown.html

    I love you 😉
    ~me

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