Special Event Announcement: The Pine-Sol Lady!

Stop by Pine-Sol Table 108 during the 3:30 PM conference break for a chance to meet “The Pine-Sol Lady” and famed comedian Diane Amos.

Diane has served as the spokesperson for the national Pine-Sol® advertising campaign since 1993, and you might recognize her from the many commercials she’s done over the years or the latest Pine-Sol advertising campaign. Since 2007, she has contributed to the company’s Powerful Difference campaign, which aims to celebrate African-American women making an impact on their communities. Be sure to swing by our sponsor Pine-Sol’s table for a chance to meet her and get some fun swag.

You can also follow @PowerfulDiff on Twitter during the conference for live updates as to her arrival.

Heather's in the spotlight today

Our featured speaker today (and the countdown is on by the way) is Ms. Heather Barmore. Heather will be one of the fabulous women on the panel for the Town Hall & Plenary Session - Marketing to Women of Color: The Real Deal. I'm looking forward to Heather's remarks because she is witty and bright and honest. In the meanwhile here's a little more about Heather in her own words:

Tell us something about you that you would never tell your mom? Six months shy of my 21st birthday I got caught - by the police - purchasing a handle of gin. Also I'm getting another tattoo.

In your spare ten minutes each day, what would you wish you could be doing? What are you actually doing? In my spare ten minutes I wish I could be at Anthropologie. I'm actually reluctantly returning messages via the phone. Which begs the question of why people don't use email. Email is great and doesn't require me to hem and haw on the phone I can do my work without having to speak to anyone. I like that.

If money was no object, what item of clothing or accessory would you like to have? A simple yet ornate Tiffany right hand ring. Inscribed would be 'SINKing and loving it!'

You're five minutes away from work and realized that you forgot something. What would be that one thing that would make you turn around and go back home? KLONOPIN!

Describe yourself in 5 adjectives? Indolent. Mercurial. Wino. Fun. Loyal.

If you were granted three wishes from an angel or genie what would you want? 1) A book deal that left me enough freedom to write but still do what I do 2) Someone to unpack my apartment/decorate/clean 3) To be three sizes smaller (oh, vanity!)

When you were growing up what did you want to become when you grew up? A Senator who was picked to be a Presidential nominee's running mate and we end up winning (duh) so I become Vice President.

Which is the trait you love the most and least about yourself? I love to write and yet I spend so much time surrounded by words and thinking of words and then I get upset when people don't like the particular words I've chosen. Because they're buttheads (I picked that word out just for them).

Do you have a tattoo, where is it located and what does it stand for? I have a tattoo of a butterfly on the inside of my right ankle. It stands for "I just moved to DC, I'm 17 years old, I have a fake ID and so what ridiculously stupid thing can I do with my fake ID? I know! Get a tattoo of a stupid, ubiquitous, BUTTERFLY" Clearly there's a lot of meaning to it.

What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Pretend I'm being interviewed on Meet the Press or The Daily Show. I'm usually in the car. But I'm laughing my ass off and talking a lot and wildly gesticulating. I'd make an awesome interviewee.

For more from Heather check her out at http://nopasanada.org; @TheHeatherB on Twitter

Hotel Room Block Closes Today!

We wanted to give everyone a heads up that the Blogalicious discounted guest room block at the W Atlanta Midtown closes today. Don't miss out on our great rate and reserve your room ASAP.

See you in 2 weeks!!!

Latoicha will put the spotlight on IP issues for you

As you may know, the three founding partners of Blogalicious are all attorneys. But, just as you would not go to the podiatrist for advice about your eyes, you will need to consult an intellectual property attorney for advice on the "Possibilities and Pitfalls of Having YOU on Net". And that's exactly what we've done. We are thrilled that Latoicha Givens will be sharing her expertise on the myriad of legal issues that we face in the blogasphere. Here's a little more about Latoicha in her own words:

"Latoicha is the founding partner of the firm, Phillips Givens LLC. Her practice includes representation of start-ups, small, and mid-sized businesses in intellectual property matters. Specifically, she provides legal services in the following areas: trademarks, copyrights, legal issues in new media, and licensing issues. She also writes a law blog entitled http://www.iplaw101.com/. There she provides practical tips for individuals and small businesses in solving basic intellectual property issues. Latoicha is a frequent speaker on intellectual property issues and has been featured in the Atlanta Tribune Magazine and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is also a contributing writer for Black Web 2.0, the Brand Protection Council, and the United Kingdom Management Forum. She is also writes a beauty blog entitled Luxetips at http://www.luxetips.com/ There Latoicha shares how every woman can live the luxe life regardless of occupation or budget. Follow her on Twitter @IPLAW101 and @Luxetips."


AND

• Tell us something about you that you would never tell your mom? No comment. LOL!

• In your spare ten minutes each day, what would you wish you could be doing? What are you actually doing? Lounging in the Sun. I am actually checking email or my social media accounts.

• If money was no object, what item of clothing or accessory would you like to have? Louis Vuitton Train Case.

• You're five minutes away from work and realized that you forgot something. What would be that one thing that would make you turn around and go back home? My cell phone.

• Describe yourself in 5 adjectives? Outgoing, Emotional, Sociable, Funny, Optimistic

• If you were granted three wishes from an angel or genie what would you want? To be absolutely happy....always!

• When you were growing up what did you want to become when you grew up? Actually a Doctor and then a Lawyer, and Business Owner. I am doing 2 out of the 3.

• Which is the trait you love the most and least about yourself? I am so emotional. I love it because I am always feeling an emotion. I don't like it because sometimes it makes me crazy!

• Do you have a tattoo, where is it located and what does it stand for? NO.

• What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Dance and sing wherever I am.

A keynote from Karen

My fellow Trini is in the spotlight today and I'm so excited that she will be giving our Afternoon Keynote "The Beauty of Different". Karen Walrond is a veteran in the blog world and has launched her love for photography into a beautifully successful brand. My words are few when it comes to talking about Karen because she truly inspires me in so many ways that I'm pretty much speechless. Here a little more about her:

Karen Walrond is a former lawyer, former engineer, and a current writer and photographer. Her fine art pieces and projects have been included in exhibits around the country. She was one of the founding contributors to the collaborative website, Shutter Sisters, a photoblog aimed at inspiring and creating community among avid women photographers. She is the author of Through the Gadling Lens, a weekly column on the travel site Gadling.com, with tips and other information on how to take amazing travel shots. She has appeared on both local and national television shows, including an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. And she's the creative mind behind the blog Chookooloonks, a website that helps readers see that their ordinary lives are, in fact, extraordinary; and the author of the upcoming book, "The Beauty of Different," a book that helps readers see that their differences are, in fact, their superpowers.

Please add Karen to your list of favs (if you haven't already)
http://www.chookooloonks.com/

Special Event Announcement: Blogalicious Movie Screening!

You heard it here first! We'll be screening the newly-released Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Blogalicious. Power couple Lamar and Ronnie Tyler, present their first inspirational documentary dedicated to promoting marriage and parenting in the black community.

Bonus: Our very own speaker, Denene Millner, is featured in the movie!

Whether you're married, single, or dating, and no matter what the shade of your skin, everyone will appreciate and enjoy this film centered around the importance of community and family.


Movie Description:
From the creators of the award winning website Black and Married With Kids comes a ground breaking documentary set to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding marriage and parenting in the black community. Couples and experts discuss topics such as the image and portrayal of black marriages and families, the effect the Obamas will have on marriage in the black community and the importance of parenting.



Stay tuned for more exciting special event announcements coming soon...

Ghennipher's in the spotlight

Social Media and the Woman of Color is the panel on which today's speaker, Ghennipher Weeks, will be participating. Ghennipher has a lot of insight on all things social media. Her blog gives great insight to the power and possibilities of social media and we are looking forward to her discussion. Here's a little more about Ghennipher in her own words:

@Ghennipher is a veteran of the search marketing industry. Her first taste of the ever-changing world of search marketing began in 1999 as a web designer and internet marketing consultant for small local clients. Over the years, she expanded her clientele and has gained recognized expertise as an independent consultant to ecommerce, lead generation and content companies, providing them with strategy assessments and development, search engine optimization, conversion rate marketing, PPC advertising strategies, and in recent years, corporate social media training.

During 2008, she researched and helped create the book "SocialCorp: Social Media Goes Corporate". She is currently the Director of Product Marketing at The Women's Information Network Online (http://TheWINonline.com).

With over ten years of business experience in the trenches, Ghennipher is a perennial all-star in the world of internet marketing, Ghennipher has been a noted speaker at conferences and industry events such as Webmasterworld PubCon, Blissdom, Touchpoint and Search Engine Strategies.

Outside of working, Ghennipher is an IKEA junkie and determined foodie, insisting on the freshest ingredients, double cream in her coffee and an absolute refusal of microwave ovens. She has an occasional weakness for giant chocolate-chip cookies. She would like to live on a rocky coast in a temperate climate, the west coast of France being one future candidate. All that notwithstanding, Ghennipher is a die-hard overworking techno-nerd-entrepreneur.

Read her blog about social media topics at http://www.ghennipher.net/

Another Fabulous Sponsor Update!

With only three weeks until Blogalicious, we're excited that so many wonderful brands are still signing on as sponsors. Here's a snapshot of some of the great names that are helping to make our inaugral year a memorable one:

Rise and shine! Our Welcome Breakfast will be brought to us by the Glade Holiday Candles Collection.

Did someone say FREE CHILDCARE? Bring along your kiddies to take part in the Childcare Suite sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, makers of the Huggies brand. Make sure to sign up for this fabulously free service at registration (or send us an email).

Party with the Clever Girls. Join us in the SweetSuite sponsored in part by The Clever Girls Collective. With all the surprises up their sleeves, you don't want to miss this one...

For all you Ladies Who Brunch, Suave Skin is making sure that our Sunday Brunch is specatcular.

Believe it or not, we'll have another fabulous sponsor update for you next week!

Spotlighting Michelle

"Community, advice and resources for working moms" is the by-line on this blog and it rightfully describes what our speaker is about. Michele Dortch will be a panelist on Mom 2.0 and after visiting her blog you'll agree that she is a perfect fit for this session. Michelle, a mom of 3, offers her personal stories of balancing work and life, while sharing tips for other similarly-situated moms. Here are Michelle's responses to our 10 fun questions:

In your spare ten minutes each day, what would you wish you could be doing?
Running or sleeping. These are the two activities that in short bursts give me incredible energy.

What are you actually doing?
Tidying my house! It's a process that never seems to cease with three kids, a husband and a dog. Sadly, this doesn't give me any energy and instead exhausts me.

You're five minutes away from work and realized that you forgot something. What would be that one thing that would make you turn around and go back home?
My iPhone. Aside from air and water, my iPhone is an absolute necessity.

Describe yourself in 5 adjectives?
Honest (to a fault sometimes). Spiritual. Passionate. Focused. Helpful.

If you were granted three wishes from an angel or genie what would you want?
Wish #1 - To be 100% debt-free.
Wish #2 - To run a successful non-profit foundation that serves women & children in some way.
Wish #3 - To make a real living as a writer; I imagine working from my home located off the Southern California coastline - writing and loving every minute of it!

When you were growing up what did you want to become when you grew up?
I've always aspired to be a published writer, though my parents tried desperately to steer me in a different direction. They succeeded for a very long time. It's not until recently (like the last 12 months) that I made a conscious decision to pursue writing as a career. Terrifying and exhilarating all at once!

Which is the trait you love the most and least about yourself?
What I love most: my loyalty to people and causes. If I believe in you or your cause, I will stand alongside you/it, be your advocate, and cheer you across the finish line. What I love least: I am so focused that I can be resistant to change. I'm quickly growing out of this the longer I'm a mom and married. Change is a mainstay in my life no matter what I do to prevent it!

What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
Ask her when you meet her*

General Info:Blogs: http://www.integratedmother.com/ and http://www.writerunpray.com/
Web: http://www.micheledortch.com/
Twitter: @integratedmom

Xochitl's up today

If you're anything like me, you find yourself irresistibly drawn to anything wedding-related. I honestly don't care that it's not my wedding, I just want to see and "decide" (in my crazy head I feel like I have a say) on all the details. Our spotlighted speaker has the privilege of being able to put her passion for weddings and event planning into her everyday job - Xochitl (So-Cheel) Gonzales is one of the co-founders of "Always a Bridesmaid" a New York based wedding consulting firm. Xochitl is a panelist on "The Art of Small Business Blogging" and we are excited to hear her insight on this issue. Here's a little more about Xochitl in her own words:

"Xochitl (So-Cheel) Gonzalez is one of the co-founders of Always a Bridesmaid, the New York based wedding consulting firm founded in 2003. While growing up in Brooklyn, she dreamed of being a talk show host, never knowing that life would lead her to wedding planning and, of course blogging. While her career goals have changed, her high-speed personality has stayed pretty much the same. Her impatience is both her best and worst trait and she describes herself as positive, outgoing, anal, polite and humorous. She started blogging in '05 as she chronicled her time as a wedding planner AND at the time, an engaged bride to be. The project didn't go over so well with her in-laws or her then fiance, but did prove her to be addicted to blogging, and so in 2007 she launched Always a Blogsmaid. The blog not only showcases her company's work, but it tackles problems that readers send in, and offers up insight into life as they work on the business and their clients weddings. If money were no object, Xochitl would probably have a closet filled with expensive handbags. If she ran into a genie into a dark alley, she'd probably ask for health, true love, and tons of fabulous bridal clients!"

You can find Xochitl at:

Company: Always a Bridesmaid (http://www.alwaysabridesmaid.us/)
Blog: http://www.alwaysablogsmaid.com/
twitter: www.twitter.com/theblogsmaid

Blogalicious on The Chatterbox Show

The Mamalaw ladies (the founders of Blogalicious) will be live on The Chatterbox Show tomorrow, Monday 9/14 at 10am EST. If you have questions or comments about the conference, or just want to call-in and let us know how excited you are, we'd love to talk with you.

The show, hosted by Chatterbox Christie, is called:

Blogalicious 09: Everything You Wanted to Know (but were afraid to ask)

And while we hope that you do call-in with questions for us, we want you to know that we are always accessible to you. We created this conference for you and we've tried our best to listen to your ideas and concerns and incorporate them into our conference planning.

So, we look forward to chatting with you tomorrow. But if you want to reach out to us off-air, please feel free to Tweet or Email us anytime.

On Twitter:
@blogalicious09
@justicefergie
@justicejonesie
@justiceny

Email:
info@blogaliciousweekend.com
contactus@blogaliciousweekend.com

Sincerely,
Justice Fergie, Justice Jonesie & Justice Ny

We've added rooms to our hotel room block

Phew! You were in an uproar about the room block being sold out so we've worked it out with the W Hotel and we've added rooms to our block. You've got to call hotel reservations directly to book a room: (404) 892-6000.

Remember to connect with other attendees on the discussion board if you're interested in sharing a room. http://blogalicious2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/announcing-blogalicious-message-board.html

Facebook privacy

Here is a helpful article for all you (us) social networking gurus out there, especially if you use Facebook. http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/02/facebook-privacy/

One Month Until Blogalicious!

With only one month until the conference, we are counting down the days until we are all in Atlanta, and we want to make sure that all of our Blogalicious ladies are all set to have a great time.

Register!
First things first, you've got to register! If you haven't already, please take a moment to register for the event. We've got some special promotions going on that we want you to take advantage of, like the Buddy Pass (bring a friend and get a discount!), a Skip Pass (attend on Saturday only and save!), and the Student rate (get your network on for a fraction of the price!)

Already registered? Fantastic! Pass the news along to everyone that you know that might be interested in coming. If they register, have them fill in your name in the "How did your hear about Blogalicious?" line, and you'll receive a special gift at the conference.

We've extended registration until September 25 so that no one misses out.

Blog & Drive!
Once you've registered, make sure to apply for the Chevrolet and OnStar Carpool. Our Exclusive Automotive Sponsors have been so thoughtful and generous in providing a brand-new 5-passenger Chevrolet to any group of 3 Blogalicious registrants that apply! Please visit their application for details and apply now to ride to Blogalicious in style.

Free Childcare!
Yup, you heard us correctly. We're pleased to be offering free childcare for your little ones so that you can attend sessions, network and enjoy the company of fellow bloggers, all while knowing your children are in good hands. The kids will enjoy complimentary meals and a slew of fun activities to keep them entertained.

We ask that you pre-register your child(ren) first. To do so, simply click here and fill out the information. Registration Form

*Note: Nursing Moms - you're more than welcome to bring your babies along too!

Hotel Guest Rooms!
Rooms our going quickly!! We sold out but have since added more rooms to our hotel block. Last to get the discounted rate is 9/25 or until all rooms are sold.

That's it for now. We hope you're getting as excited as we are!

Spotlighting Jessica

You know you have an impact in social media; we know we make an impact in social media; now hear more from an expert on women of color and social media. Jessica Faye Carter will be one of our panelists on "Social Media and the Woman of Color" and we are looking forward to learning a lot from her.

Here's a little more about Jessica:

Jessica is the founder and CEO of Nĕtte Media, is a social media company for women, which provides opportunities for women to connect online across various aspects of their identity, including culture, profession/career, philanthropic efforts, and religion. Jessica was previously a corporate lawyer on Wall Street and is a member of the New York Bar.
She is a nationally-recognized expert on cultural and gender diversity and an award-winning business author.

In your spare ten minutes each day, what would you wish you could be doing? What are you actually doing? I wish I could be in dance class (ballet, salsa, etc.), but I’m usually working—even in my spare time.

You're five minutes away from work and realized that you forgot something. What would be that one thing that would make you turn around and go back home? Probably my laptop or maybe my makeup bag, especially if I had something to do later.

When you were growing up what did you want to become when you grew up? A fashion designer. That didn’t go over too well with my parents, who immediately said no.

What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? I love singing and believe me, no one is looking (or listening) but me!

You can read more at http://nettemedia.com/ or follow @nettemedia

Carrie's in the spotlight

Our speaker spotlight today is on Carrie Ferguson Weir who will be on our "Possibilities and Pitfalls of Having YOU on the Net" panel and blogs at "Bilingual in the Boonies". Carrie is "a former newspaper reporter who now hangs with her bilingual-in-the-making chiquitica" and lives in Tennessee, "far from the Cuban-American homeland that is Miami, so for Spanish comfort I stalk Latina moms at the park, grocery store and gym."

The first thing that I loved about our Carrie's blog was its name "Bilingual in the Boonies" - being a city gal who always wonders whether I could ever survive a small town, her blog name alone captures my interest because I wonder what it would be like to not only be in "the boonies" but to be different in boonies.

Here's a little more about Carrie:

Tell us something about you that you would never tell your mom? That I do the same stuff I tell her not to do. (like skipping breakfast and eating too much ice cream...)

In your spare ten minutes each day, what would you wish you could be doing? Getting a massage. What are youactually doing? Twittering.

If money was no object, what item of clothing or accessory would you like to have? Italian shoes purchased during a Roman holiday.

You're five minutes away from work and realized that you forgot something. What would be that one thing that would make you turn around and go back home? If said item was for someone else.

Describe yourself in 5 adjectives? Talkative, creative, connector, opinionated, head-strong.

If you were granted three wishes from an angel or genie what would you want? An island, health and a never-ending mojito glass.

When you were growing up what did you want to become when you grew up? A writer.

Which is the trait you love the most and least about yourself? Grateful for my creativity and not so grateful about my bull-in-china-shop ways.

Do you have a tattoo, where is it located and what does it stand for? No tatt. Can't imagine what I would want to keep that long.

What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Pluck my brows in the car.

You can find Carrie at http://www.bilingualintheboonies.com/

Headline NEWS!!!!

Announcing new admission specials. These are for a limited time and a limited quantity, so take advantage of them before they are gone.

Student Pass - A special discounted price of $75 per ticket is now available for students. A Student Pass admission gives you access to all conference activities BUT you'll have to present current college or university student identification at conference check in and you'll have to be at least 21 years of age to party.

2 for 1 Pass - A special discount of $350 for admission for 2 will be offered to you and a friend if you register together. Admission includes all the perks of a regular admission - just at a discount.

Party Pass - For those of you who want to network a little and party a lot, this pass will give you admission as a conference attendee to the exclusive Blogalicious events on Friday and Saturday nights and will give you access to the Exhibitor Marketplace during the day on Saturday.

Skip Pass - If you only want to attend the general sessions, then this pass is for you! For a special price of $100, you'll get admission to the Saturday Morning Keynote Session; Keynote Luncheon (includes lunch); Town Hall Session; Coffee & Snack Breaks; and the Exhibitor Marketplace.

Don't sleep because these offers are for a limited time only! http://blogalicious2009.eventbrite.com/

Denene Millner is shining bright

Today's speaker spotlight is on the incomparable Denene Millner who will be making a couple appearances at the conference. She will be a panelist on the "Mom 2.0" session, as well as gracing us with a book reading/author insight during Sunday brinch.

I must disclose that I love Denene! She's smart, funny, gracious, humble, beautifual and she keeps it real. She's an accomplished writer and parenting expert and most of all she's a devoted mom and wife. Here's a little more about Denene in her own words:

"I’m a parenting and relationship expert who’s written or co-written 18 books exploring love—between men and women, parents and children, siblings, and friends. I’m also a member of Parenting magazine’s Mom Squad of experts, who help women negotiate the ins and outs of motherhood. In my spare time, I write entertainment, relationship, and travel features for magazines like Essence, Health, and Heart & Soul, and run MyBrownBaby (www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com), a blog where I give thought-provoking, insightful, wickedly funny commentary on motherhood, pregnancy, childrearing, sex, work and relationships—all filtered through the lens of the African American experience. I’m also obsessed with African American art and children’s books, and, in my next life, I’ll have the astonishing ability to whip up drapes and fancy pillows. I live near Atlanta, Georgia with my husband, three children, and goldendoodle, Teddy.

Here are some extra tidbits about me:

I would never tell my Dad this, but he was right to make me go to the prom with my brother’s best friend, Mike. Had I gone with the guy I really wanted to go with, I definitely would have broken curfew (11:30) and I definitely wouldn’t have come home a virgin.

If I had a spare ten minutes every day, I would troll the internet looking at art by and featuring African Americans. I’m obsessed. Romare Bearden is my favorite; to me, his work—especially his collages—is absolutely magical. And these days, I’m really digging Tamara Natalie Madden, Franks Deceus, and April Harrison. Alas, I’m too broke to buy their art, and can NEVER find that spare 10 minutes because I’m too busy writing.

If money was no object, I’d buy an original Romare Bearden (as explained in the entry above this one).

I work from home these days—no getting dressed up, no traffic, no wasting money on expensive lunches, no annoying co-workers (my dog Teddy is the perrrfect officemate!). But if I sit down to my MacBook and I don’t have gummy bears, double bubble bubble gum and a Hersey’s chocolate bar with almonds? Oh, it’s a situation. Everything must stop until I get my fix. There’s magic in that sugar!

If I had my way when I was little, I would have grown up to be an architect and interior designer. Alas, my Physics grades sucked, so I ended up using my left brain in other ways (writing) and, for kicks, rearranging the furniture and drooling over Ethan Allen, zgallerie and Williams Sonoma furniture.

I am talented, sweet, no-nonsense, thoughtful, and a bit of a procrastinator —#workingonthat. And while I love my face and round hips, this baby weight is k-i-l-l-i-n-g me. (Yeah, my youngest child is 7—and? #whatsyourpoint?)

If I were granted three wishes from an angel, it would be to see my mom one last time, so that she could see the beautiful flowers her grandbabies have become, so that I could thank her for her grace, wisdom, and firm hand, all of which have factored greatly in my accomplishments and the woman, wife, and mother I’ve become, and so that I could tell her just one more time how much I love her. With that, I wouldn’t need any more wishes.

When I think no one is looking, I sang, chile—loud and strong and wrong. Especially if it’s a Stevie Wonder song. Stevie makes me happy!"

You can reach Denene at MyBrownBaby (http://www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com) or
on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mybrownbaby. You can also read some of her work at essence.com and parenting.com, and get her books at major traditional and online book stores.