Obligatory BlogHer post. Style! Swag! Sessions!

Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 34 Comments

the time has come my friends – time for those of you going to BlogHer to start freaking out, getting pumped, feeling anxious and all that fun stuff (and for those of you who aren’t going or don’t know what it is to start blocking those of us who are. it’s ok, i won’t take it (too) personally). the countdown is officially on and i thought i’d share a few style tips and other advice with those of you who haven’t been. sure, i’m no expert (i have one notch on my belt) but i did love reading posts last year as i was in the throes of my INSANE FREAKOUT sessions. the more you know, right?

i’ve had lots of people ask me about clothes. i’ve seen hundreds of tweets and several blog posts freaking out about what to wear. and i completely understand. last year i bought a new outfit for every day and a new dress for each party. because i was insane with anxiety. this year? no. just no. with the exception of a new dress and possibly a new top, i will be shopping my closet for all my BlogHer needs. because you guys? listen very closely: it’s not about clothes. it’s about making connections, seeing those friends you’ve made through the wonderful world of blogging face to face (and hugging them so hard it hurts), learning what you can to make your blog more you, and possibly a little bit about dancing and drinking wine until you deface the unicorn cake. please, for the love of johnny depp, put effort into what you wear because you like clothes and find joy in getting dressed only – not because anyone there will give one iota about what you’re wearing. i ensure you, they will not.

allison, myself, mae, jenna & morgan at Martha Stewart headquarters. if not for photographs, i’d have no clue what they wore.

so! lets talk daytime. the conference rooms can be cool, so i suggest you bring a cardigan that will match anything. last year i did a fun tank, jeans, flats and cardigan both days. easy. another option is a comfy day dress, cardigan and flats or sandals. how about leggings, a tunic, flats and a cardigan? see the pattern? FLATS. when people say you are going to be walking around all day like a maniac, they aren’t kidding. this isn’t the time to try out a new pair of shoes. your path may look something like this: hotel room, breakfast, session, hotel room, lunch, expo hall, session, lunch, find a starbucks, session, hotel room, party, dinner, hotel bar, party off site, hotel room…you get it. comfy shoes.

here are a few outfits i pulled from my closet.

cotton top, jeans, comfy flats, fun but simple accessories. (shirt: gap, jeans: old navy, flats: target, bracelet: target, necklace, F21)

ruffles! again, cute top, same jeans (save packing space), cute flats, pretty big bracelet. (top: old navy, flats: charlotte russe, bracelet: boutique i can’t remember – apologies)

comfy day dress, sandals, bracelet and cardigan (that ta-da! matches the previous outfits so i could throw it over any of these). (dress: h&m, sandals: thrifted, cardi: target, bracelet: target)

how about a skirt? fun print, add a plain fitted tank, light weight scarf and flats. again, throw that cardi over it if you’re chilly in the conference rooms. (tank & flats: target, scarf: h&m, skirt: F21)

with airlines charging for checked bags, it’s important you choose versatile pieces that you can mix and match. besides, you’ll need that precious extra space for swag. last year i admittedly brought two suitcases (but i was staying for about 4 days past the conference), one packed lightly so i could stuff it with swag. i stuffed, i left what i didn’t want (you can swap with others or leave it at the swag station where others can grab what you didn’t want) and still had to leave some things with my cousin to keep. they do have a shipping station, which is hopefully better than last year. i still like to be in charge of my own stuff, because i’m a weirdo like that (as if that is news). while we’re on the subject? don’t be crazy about swag. it’s a nice perk of the conference, but don’t be that person.  please.

parties! i’m bringing this dress and this dress. i’m not sure on shoes yet, but wedges will probably win. last year i wore insane shoes that were awesome and by the time i returned home i was near crippled. true story – one of my little toe nails actually gave up and peaced out on me a few weeks after i returned. no srsly.

you don’t NEED to wear fancy dresses. you’ll see people in jeans, skirts, even t-shirts. heck, i ended up with a t-shirt over my dress last year <–you’re welcome. anything goes. truly, wear what you feel comfortable in – the last thing you want to be doing is hiking up a strapless dress or hiking down a too short skirt. find something you love that feels good.

as far as sessions go, chose before hand the ones you really want to attend, but don’t put pressure on yourself to hit each block. if there isn’t one going on that you aren’t completely interested in, go hit up the expo, meet up with friends, grab coffee or even nap. don’t wear yourself out trying to get to each one, especially if you feel it doesn’t apply to you. take notes if you want but don’t try and write everything down – listening and really taking in the info that way can be more helpful than trying to get it all written down.

people! let’s remember one thing – everyone there is a blogger. the majority of us do better spilling our guts in the form of writing on the internet than face to face. most of us are extremely anxious individuals. remember that when you’re feeling that way, most everyone else is, too! if you see someone sitting alone at breakfast, sit down and introduce yourself! easy convo starter – what is your blog about? exchange cards and get to know them for a bit. you may make a new friend. in fact, you probably will. along the same lines, try not to be offended if you try and talk to someone and they are weird about it – remember this is new for a lot of people and kinda scary. also, they may be in a rush to get to a session, etc. don’t take it personally and certainly don’t let it stop you from talking to other people. you never know who you may meet!

a few random tips: don’t forget to eat, nap if you feel really tired, be sure to hit up the expo hall, exchange numbers with people you want to meet up with before hand (you may think you’ll just run into everyone you want to see – nope! i never saw a handful of people i really wanted to meet last year), drink plenty of water, oh and have fun. <—most important part.

any questions? of course there are. feel free to leave them in the comments and i will answer them for you! and since a lot of people are doing BlogHer posts – fashion, advice, nerves about going for the first time, etc – i’m making this a link up. so please! if you’ve done a BlogHer post, link it up below and if you know someone who has, send them this way. it will be awesome to have a bunch of resources for everyone in one place.

this would be a pretty good time to thank Mott’s for being my sponsor this year! i never dreamed i’d have a conference sponsorship so this is all kinds of exciting. EXCITING! LOTS OF CAPITAL LETTERS!

ok, i’m leaving now, to bask in my excitedness.

Sponsor Highlight : Ruche

Posted on | June 24, 2011 | 21 Comments

have you guys seen the newest Ruche look book? since i’m fairly new to the whole world of fashion blogging (reading style blogs is one of my new favorite things – so inspiring), look books are pretty new to me as well. but looking at gorgeous photos of pretty clothes and dreaming up how i’d wear the pieces? sign me up.

with my trip to BlogHer just over a month away (whaaaat?), i’ve been looking for dresses to wear out to the various parties and events. i’ve found a few contenders that i’d love to wear while i’m in san diego. which is your favorite?

clockwise from top left: dress 1, dress 2, dress 3, dress 4

i’m hoping whichever i choose, the sunshine down in california will leave me looking like the models in the look book. that will totally happen, right?

exciting sidenote – i was featured on the Ruche blog last week after i posted here with my girls night out outfit! that was pretty awesome to this mama just trying to find my style sea legs.

have you found some pretty items over at Ruche? i was really happy to hear the last time i mentioned them that some you had just been introduced to the awesomeness. yay for pretty, affordable and unique clothes! check them out if you still haven’t!

hello, lover.

Posted on | September 21, 2010 | 78 Comments

last week whilst on vacation, visiting Scot’s parents, i got an email on my phone. it started with “Congrats Mandy!”, so i almost deleted because hello, i’m not really interested in winning the Nigerian lottery and all i have to do is send my first born plus 3 goats and 9,236,000 rubles or whatever.

but then i saw the word Balenciaga. and then i saw BlogHer. and then i realized all at once as i was reading it that this wasn’t jokes. i remembered specifically dropping my card in the fishbowl at Sugar Inc. while Mae and i perused the expo. i specifically remembered them saying “you could win a Balenciaga handbag” and specifically remembered my heart skipping a beat.

this email was telling me i’d won. me. i never win ANYTHING. i think i’ve won one giveaway on a blog, but before that i’m pretty sure the last time i won something was when i was 5 years old, had a raging case of chicken pox so bad i was quarantined for 3 weeks and won a coloring contest at the local safeway for a cabbage patch kid. true story.

that was last tuesday. the last week was spent jumping up and down at random times, looking at the bag over and over online, doing the necessary steps to claim my prize (dude, a notary was involved), and emailing back and forth with the very lovely Victoria over at Sugar, Inc. those of you who follow me on the twitter know that i’ve barely shut up about it. sorry. only not really because seriously?

it came today. and yeah, it’s totally on my mantle right now. because obviously.

it’s perfection. gorgeous, magical, soft, GORGEOUS and looks like narwhals and unicorns sat for years painstakingly creating this masterpiece. i’m actually scared of it. hence the current mantle placement.

i knew i had to sign for the package so like any smart person, i put a bra on when i woke up this morning (you’re welcome fedex guy!) because my tracking number said it would be here today. wouldn’t you know right as i’m changing the monsters diaper, the doorbell rings? luckily i had already wiped, but the new dipe wasn’t on. i started to panic. omg, if i don’t get down there NOW, he’s going to leave! and by the time i get this diaper on and down the stairs he’s gonna be driving away and i’m gonna have to run after his truck and i’m gonna look crazy! and then they will send the bag back and pick a new winner and ZOMG!!!1!!one! so i scooped her up, no dipe, legs of her footie pajamas flailing behind us, and booked it down the stairs. i don’t care if she pees on me! i set her down in the kitchen and opened the door as nonchalantly as one could who just had baby business on their arm, signed for the bag and WELP, HERE WE ARE.

last night, before it’s arrival, we got the bill for Harper’s hospital stay (we don’t have insurance, but they thought asking for $8000 by october 5th would be right up our alley. GO AMERICA!). after throwing up in my mouth, i turned to Scot (and twitter) and said “i’m gonna have to sell the bag”. but after seeing it today? OH HAIL NO. besides, i’d need about 7 of these bags to pay the hospital bill so I’M KEEPING IT. besides, how cool will it be to give Harper someday?

::passes you a drool rag::

i want to thank Sugar Inc profusely from the bottom of my never-owned-anything-this-nice heart, especially whoever drew my little business card out of the many. this has made my day week month possibly year.

special thanks to emily and morgan for talking me down of the ledge last night re: selling the bag. seriously.

if you need me, i’ll be off wondering if it’s kosher to carry a target wallet and dr. pepper chapstick in something that cost more than my entire wardrobe combined.

review and giveaway :: love, megan.

Posted on | August 18, 2010 | 99 Comments

this giveaway is closed! congrats to Nicci!

if you follow me on twitter or pay any attention here, you know i have what could be called an unhealthy love of narwhals. you know, the unicorn of the sea. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. and if they aren’t obvious, then i’m not sure we can be friends anymore. just kidding. mostly.

when Megan emailed me offering to make me my very own narwhal phone snuggie, i nearly passed out. would i like a narwhal phone snuggie, made especially for me? UM SHYEAH. i nearly squeed my pants when it arrived before my big trip to NYC. because my beloved blackberry deserves a nice, warm, (thought to be but not) mythical creature adorned place to sleep. and  my business cards at BlogHer needed a place to go. a place where they could feel secure within the arms (er, fins?) of pure magic.

adorable, yes? YES. in fact i may have shown everyone i gave a card to. people may have been scared (of me and my obsession, not the snuggie itself). look at how friendly he is! he’s so happy. i love him.

all the things in Megan’s shop are adorable. she has every possible cute thing you can imagine on a phone snuggie. she also has cute wristlets and clutches. my snuggie was cutely wrapped with a hand written note. she is very, very sweet and a doll to work with.

Megan would like to give one lucky reader of the Haps a phone snuggie of their choice from her shop! there are a few ways to enter, so check it out:

• visit love, megan and tell me which phone snuggie is your favorite.
• like love, megan on FB.
• tweet about this giveaway using @teammandy and @lovemegan_xo

don’t forget to leave a separate comment for each that you decide to do! we will take entries through this Friday, August 20th at noon PST and announce the winner the same day.

ready go!

i received my narwhal snuggie free of charge from love, megan. no compensation was received for this review. unless you count FREAKING AWESOME NARWHALS money-like. it’s a fine line, really.