Blogging not logging

Blogging not logging.  I guess a blogging conference is hard to explain to some people.  When I told someone that I was going to a blogging conference, they looked at me with a funny expression on their face and said, a "logging conference?"  Can't you just picture a row of those rotating logs (from the old movies) with people walking across the logs.


While I learned a lot about blogging, social media, and animals and received tons of great swag, I have to say that I didn't have to balance on any logs.  The big balancing act for me was having a chance to learn more about blogging and also check out Salt Lake City, Utah (seriously, after flying more than halfway across the country -- how could I not do some site seeing!). 


Although the conference subject matter featured animals, the information provided applied to any type of blogging and social media.  I learned so much and I can't wait to incorporate what I learned into HelitzerBlouseGirl.  


The highlight of the conference -- seeing my 18 year old daughter, Rachel Shubin who writes Sandpiper Cat Blog treated as a serious cat blogger.  Rachel met so many wonderful people at the last BlogPaws conference and had the chance to see them again and meet more people.


The second highlight of the conference -- meeting all those people Rachel knew (ok, so I knew a few of them already, but I can't believe how many great people I met or got to place a face with a blog!).  Ingrid King of the Conscious Cat, Pamela Haines with Moo Kitty Finds a Home, Crystal and Moki of The Wobbly Cat, Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey, Stephanie Harwin of Catsparella, Angie Bailey of Catladyland, Janea Kelley of Paws and Effect,Robin Olson of Covered in Cat Hair, Teri Thorsteinson of Curlz and Swirlz, Caroline Golon of the Happy Litter Box, Kate Benjamin of Modern Cat, Tamar Arslanian of I Have Cat, Amy Palmer of Seabass Cat, Peter Wolf of Vox Felina,  and Debbie Glovatsky of Glogirly and so many more.  


What could be better than the evening when Rachel and I spent about three hours outside chatting with Pam Haines, Crystal Fogg, and hanging with the awesome Moki the Wobbly Cat, realizing that it was 10:45 p.m. and we hadn't even had dinner yet!

Getting to hold Moki the Wobbly Cat

The third highlight -- exploring Salt Lake City -- from Temple Square and the Desert Book Company, to a great little coffee/tea/art gallery we happened upon, to the amazing farmers market around the corner of the hotel, to Retro Rose (http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/retrorose.htm), a beautiful antique store (store cat included and a lovely young college student who helped me check out all the vintage advertising pens and pencils) and to be lucky enough to be in Salt Lake City during the Utah Art Festival.  Of course, I must mention being able to walk out the hotel door and be surrounded by gorgeous mountains!  I love Salt Lake City!

Retro Rose antique store cat

sand sculpture at the Utah Art Festival

A look into the future of HeltizerBlouseGirl:  posts, pictures, and reflections about the Helitzer Blouse Company; more interviews in the day in the life series (featuring local Fairfax businesses, local Cape May companies, and interviews with the intesting people I met at BlogPaws.


Please let me know if you would like to participate in my day in the life series -- lostcatjulie@gmail.com