Dear Bloggers,

I hate to say it but this year is almost over. I seriously want to cry. I have done several things this year. From winning a free Florida vacation to going to Blogher 12. I remember when I first started blogging. I started because I want to share all the freebies, deals, coupons and many more thing with family, friends and my classes. I never in my life thought that I would stop going to school and have blogging as my life income.  My Mom thought I was crazy when I told her this.  I told her right before I was leaving to on to Florida. I told her that blogging was a dream come true. I would be able to travel and meet new people as I always dreamed of. Below in my Steps through this year:

In the beginning of this year, I made a pack that I would have one of the best years in my life. In February,  I decided that I was going to be in a contest for a vacation to Florida. I hadn’t been to Florida in a few years, since 2005, for a cruise with my family.  I sign up for the contest and started inviting all of my friends, family and fans to PrizeNote. (PrizeNote was the company holding the contest and held several daily contest. They are no longer a company as far as I know.)  In order to be in the contest I had to invite 300 people. I hosted a contest to help me win. I gave away so many freebies and different things. As the month passed on, I wanted for the day they announced the winner. It was between this other blogger and myself. The day they announced it was a Wednesday, I go to a youth group and teach on that day. I remember checking my email in the middle of the class and screaming I WON, I WON!  I had never won something like this before and the only thing coming close to it was my iPad. I was so excited I called my BBF (Best Blogging Friend), Gina from Mommy’s Crazy 4 Coupons. I had told her they had sent me an email saying I won and I will be coming to Florida. She was really excited. She had been helping me promote it and she also lived there.  I had never met Gina before but we talk everyday, so it felt like I knew her for years. I got my Flight and stay a week down there. It was a lot of fun! Above is a picture of the view from the Free Hotel I won. It was beautiful!

Above: We were pretending to Blog! LOL

April is here and that meets Bloggy Boot Camp. This was a Big Deal. I would so many bloggers that I had talk to before and that I chat with online.  Plus this would be my first blogging conference. I knew when I when there that I would be meeting Kristy from Adventures of a Couponista, Enza from Enza’s Bargains,Tasha from Super Coupon Lady  and one of my favorite all around bloggers Sadie from Slap Dash Mom. I had an AMAZING time and learn SO much. This is where I met to of my favorite Bloggers Lisa from Sweeties Freebies and  JonnaBeth aka JB from Centless Deals. The conference was over for the weekend and we decided to stay up and chat.  We talk about all kinds of things from what’s the crazy thing you have drank to who your role model in blogging is.  That night, I felt a touch to my heart.  We seriously all laughed and cried that night. That was the begging of my friendship with 2 amazing bloggers.

L to R: Enza, Mary, Myrah, Mary, Minnie, Kristy, and Me

May 23, I get a phone call from Gina. She calls me and says we are going to Shecon. In my mind I thinking WHAT? Are you joking? SheCon is in 2 days, I had no plane ticket or anything. SheCon was in Orlando and Gina lives in Ft. Lauderdale. I decide at the last minute to go. I when on that night got my plane ticket to Ft. Lauderdale. Gina was going to pick me up at the airport and we were going to drive. It was so exciting because She Con was a Disney World. I hadn’t been to Disney since I was like 4 years old.  It was one of the best conference I had been to yet.  Check out Gina and I Video on our way to SheCon. Don’t Tell her, she is going to Kill me!  We Jamming out to Walking On Sun Shine. PLUS We were really excited!

 

August 1: I flew to Newark then took a Shuttle into New York City! Blogher was in New York City this year. Blogher is one of the Biggest Conferences around. I was VERY excited to be part of it. This would be the conference were over 4,000 bloggers would be at. WOW! This is were I would get to see JB, Kristy, Enza, and many more friends that I knew before.

I flew in days early to travel and site see and everything else. It was amazing. We took a tour one day and it was the Best tour that I have ever taken. We went to 10 different places and try 10 different things. The tour was about $40 but well well worth it. It would do it again! I got to see time square and even a Naked Cowboy. Whoop Whoop! LOL (It wasn’t really naked he had whites on, He was still cute tho)

As Blogher came I had a FULL schedule a head of me. I had a red carpet appearance, going to the TRL Show room and going to many parties. The Red Carpet appearance was on Friday and of course the girls and I had to go get our Hair DID before the red carpet.

We went to Salon Ziba and they did an AMAZING Job. I HIGHLY Suggest going there. I would take a flight to NYC just to get my hair done. Oliver, the owner, was the best. He treat his customer like they are royalty. We all got jackets to put on and wash our hair. We told them what we wanted and we got it.

 

The Finish Look! Before we went to the Red Carpet appearance
L to R: Holly, JB, Des, Me and Marianne 

 

August 4th, Saturday was the Retail Me Not Party and Social Soiree! The Best 2 Parties at Blogher! First, I went to Social Soiree. It was amazing. They had SCOUT bag and full of SWAG! We got our photo taken and talk to sponsors of course. It was totally a great time.

Retail Me Not Party was the Best of the Best! It was very laid back but amazingly FUN! It was an underground bar. It was OPEN Bar, yeah I did say that! Of Course I got my Pineapple Fusion. (Secret Recipe, Can’t tell ya. Ask me sometime to make it for ya and you will get it) Retail Me Not is where I got to meet Holly from Spend With Pennies and my good old Friend JB!!

Above: At the Retail Me Not Party Drinking my Pineapple Fusion!

 

That Same Night  JB, some others that I don’t remember and I decide to go to the Food Cart outside the Hotel. Oh was that the best choice to get. Let me remind you that it was like 2am (at blogher, you never going to bed) Below is a group of us hanging out.

 

L to R: 2 girls we met at the Food Cart, JB and Lauren

 

November: My next trip to finish off the year is my own conference Bloggers At Sea. Bloggers At Sea is a Cruise Conference. This year is 7 days to Key West, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I can’t wait,  Im very excited. For more information check out www.bloggersatsea.net

 

Notes to my Friends:

Enza- You are my person I go to when I need some Honest opinion and you always make me laugh. Thanks for everything. Your the only and will be the Only Enza I know.

Gina- First, I love you! You will always be my BBFF. We have had so many great time together. I love your whole family. Be sure to keep in touch, as i know you have alot of stuff going on.

Tasha- As i have always told you, You have the cutest family EVER!! You have my idea family. You will always be my Super Coupon Lady. We need to talk more. Maybe I’ll get to see you when you come up for a weekend??

Sadie- Sadie, Sadie, Sadie! LOL You are so freaking smart! I’m so proud of you with all your hard work to weight loss. I really need to get do  doing that. I’m really excited that we are getting to see each other more. It was great seeing you at Ringling Bros. I’m also glad to hear that your speaking at Show me the Blog when amazing! P.S. Sweet Tomatoes Date, I think YES!

Lisa- I’m really excited to see those twins. Thank for everything I always ask you to do. Your a great and amazing Momma!

JB aka JB TV – My Drinking Buddy, The person I want to be, My Role Model. Ever since we pee outside, it has never been the same. LOL From Bloggy Boot Camp to Blogher and coming up Bloggers At Sea. I have cried so many time with you. I always Feel like its We laugh and till me Cry! We have had so many talks and chats. You are the best, sweetest person someone could ever ask for. I really can’t wait to see you again. We must talk more often!  I’m also really excited that you could speak at Bloggers At Sea. I can’t wait for the Ice Breaker and speech. We are going to have AMAZING time. Only 2 more weeks girly!

Marianne-What a great friend you are? You have so much ahead of you. With your Iphone app coming out and your plugins going out like crazy. I’m really glad I got to spend a lot of time with you at Blogher. I had an amazing time. We must do it again next year.

Rachael C.- Rachael I’m really glad we got to meet a little bit at Blogher. I know it wasn’t much but I still had a fab time. You are always willing to trade post. Thanks so much for doing that.  Keep in touch and hopefully will see each other at the Next Blogher.

Billie H- Words can explain how much I can thank you. You have been a great help with Bloggers At Sea. You are an awesome SEO person and everything you do. I’m really glad to have you on my team this year with Bloggers At Sea and with out you I’m not sure what I would have done. I can’t wait to meet you next month and have amazing memories.

Renee Lynn: My Side Kick and the person that says Bring on the Drinks!  Blogher has been so much fun with you. I’m not sure what I would have done with out you at Blogher. You have an amazing Hubby and great kids. I’m really sad that you will not be coming to Bloggers At Sea with me. Hopefully Next year you can come and hope to see you at Blogher too.

Chrissy and Lacey- Thanks so much for the talk and Blogher. You girls are to AMAZING women. Chrissy thanks for the necklace, it was really sweet of you. Lacey thanks so much for coming back to the hotel with me when you found out that I couldn’t get in to the Club in NYC.

Kristy S.- You def host some kick butt parties. I can’t wait to see that baby. Bloggy Boot Camp was def one of my favorite! Can’t wait to see you again!

Holly- Mrs. Holly! Your so Freaking Cute! Your the best Canada Chick that I know (the only one LOL)! Ever since I met you at Blogher you have been a sweetheart. Always willing to help and everything. I must Thank JB for letting me talk to you! Like I always say, Let me know if you need anything. I’m always willing to help you out! Hope to see you at Blogher next year! PS you have one of my Favorite site!

Lauren- The Best Midget that I know! LOL You are so fun! I don’t know you to well but that DEF need to change! Late nights at Blogher was very very fun! You must come next year and even think about coming to Bloggers At Sea. It would be a great Vacation for the Family. Hit me up sometime to chat!

 

If I forgot you I’m super sorry! This post was done in like 5 hours LOL.

All in all my Year has been the Best year of my Life! I have went to several conference and done several things. And did my dream thing, Host my Own Conference.  If there is anything I could have done better is nothing. I like everything how it is. I’m really sad this year is ending but you know what that means. We will be a little bit older and we will just have to start it all over again!

Love you all,

Lea, TKCQ