Listen to Your Mother: A Look Back in Photos

It hardly seems like Metro Detroit’s first Listen to Your Mother was only a week ago. 

I have so many feelings that I am still processing and still wrapping my mind around the magnitude of this experience.  I mean, it’s not everyday you go up in front of a live audience to talk about one of the most difficult moments of your life.

So even though I’m still working through some emotional stuff, I wanted to share something about this experience.

Here are some of images from that day that the photographer, Jarrad Henderson took. You know, when you take a photo and it doesn't match up to the feeling you experienced in that moment?  This was totally not the case.  Jarred is an amazing photographer, and I felt he really captured the essence of the experience.  Thank you, Jarred, for your beautiful images. 

Metro Detroit’s Listen to Your Mother show happened here at St. Andrew’s Hall.  Eminem has performed here.  So have the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would have performed on the same stage as awesome talent like that!

And can you believe that there was a line to get in?!  My family was second in line here.  They don’t mess around when it comes to making sure they get good seats.

Here is where we got to hang out before the show.  What a great space!

One of the best things that have come out of the show is this sense of belonging, of being on the team.  Bonds have been formed.  I am fortunate to have met not only amazingly talented women, but also genuinely kind people.

This photo cracks me up.  Yes, I was concerned about my eye makeup.  In retrospect, I am not sure why since I was teary eyed for most of the day.

I was totally surprised by this beautiful necklace that producers gave us each created by Sara Russell of Sara Russell Designs.  I was just happy to be there. And now I have this awesome piece of jewelry to always remind me of that day.

An inspiring champagne toast right before going on stage.  Here are the producers, Angela Youngblood, Jessica Watson, and Angela Amman, along with Reshounn Foster and Ber-Henda Williams. 

And here we are with Dr. Earlexia Norwood from one of our sponsors, Henry Ford Health System.  

Here I am on stage.  Me on stage.  That is crazy!

I am glad I could not see my family because I would not have been able to be in the moment.  So I am grateful that Jarrad took this photo of my husband, my dad, and my mom watching the show.

Ta-da!  We did it!

Holy $hit!  Can you see all of those people there!  Even the balcony was packed! 

Aww, look at that good-looking group!  Here are some of my family members that were there to support me.  It meant so much to me to have friends and family there.

And to these lovely ladies, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for thinking I was good enough to be on the team.  Thank you for helping me see myself in a different light.  Thank you for creating a positive environment to share our souls. Thank you.

 If you like Jarrad's amazing photos (and honestly, how could you not like them?!), be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram.  Also be sure to learn more about his project Beyond This Place which examines the Black Greek Letter Organizations and how they have helped shape American culture.

Clarity Through Chaos and Some Fun Times: My BlogHer Recap

This past weekend, I traveled to New York for a blogging conference.  Maybe you’ve heard about it; it’s called BlogHer.  Plenty of people heard about it because there seemed to millions of women there.  And by millions, it was probably closer to 5,000.  It felt like millions because the sessions were filling up. 

On Friday, there was a very long line to eat lunch, and I was faced with a choice: do I place a premium on seating to hear The Great Martha Stewart speak or do I place the priority on food?  I, in an unprecedented moment, decided to power through the crankiness of low blood sugar and placed the priority on hearing Martha talk about her life (which included her talking about how she tweets and cleans chicken coops and her new show).  This, in turn, resulted in waiting forever to get a turkey sandwich along with a bad attitude.  Others were not so lucky.  They placed the priority on food and had to sit *on the floor* outside the hall where Martha was talking.

Needless to say the vibe was frantic and kind of set the tone for the rest of the day.

I went to some great sessions about turning posts into publishable essays, SEO, Google Analytics, pricing your services, and using social media.  I learned a lot.

But it was outside of the sessions in which I gained clarity about my goals. 

I went to the Voices of the Year ceremony and was completely blown away by the talent on that stage.  The posts were funny and heartbreaking and insightful.  I was moved to tears, both of sadness and joy.  I left feeling completely inspired.

And then it clicked . . . again.

I started my blog because I love to write.  It makes me feel whole and true.  I love the sharing and connecting over the human experience whether it is hilarious or sad or angry.  Losing sight of one’s goals is very easy to do at BlogHer.  There is glitter and mayhem at every turn.  I feel like I got kind of turned around which led to an anxiety attack which was compounded by the crowd and lack of water.  But once I got in touch with my priorities (and ate some food and drank some water), all (well, most) was OK with the world again.

Aside from the frenzied pace and soul searching, I had an amazing time with friends.  To me, this is the very best part of BlogHer.  I have made some awesome friends, not just online friends, but real-life friends from this blogging experience.  Being able to hang out with them in person is just amazing. 

Until you are fighting back tears as you say good-bye, which you blame on lack of sleep and water.  Which is a total lie and everyone knows it.

And if you are from Michigan, plan on me stalking you getting in touch with you so we can hang out more!

 I also attended BanShe which was a ton of fun, too.  And my favorite official BlogHer party was the Come as You Are with the Mouthy Housewives and AimingLow.  Cotton candy, cupcakes, and wine with the Mouthy Housewives?  Yes, please!

Yes, this trip had some hiccups.  But overall, it was success.

Did you go to BlogHer?  What did you think?