Scenes from BlogHer and a New Hairstyle Controversy

I was totally prepared to spend my flight to San Diego yesterday writing a beautiful, heartfelt post about the work/child balance.

But then I ran into Jill Smokler, otherwise known as Scary Mommy, who had a layover in Nashville and was on her way to BlogHer, too.

And y’all. Even though I had never met Jill, we talked non-stop for the next five hours. We had so much to chat about, from our jobs writing for The Stir to our kids and husbands to our blogs.

And we bonded over the bumps along the way.

Neither one of us are big fans of turbulence.

Suffice it to say that I LOVE THIS WOMAN. I mean it, she’s so much fun.  If you’ve never read her blog, Scary Mommy (and I think most of you have), you are in for a treat! Check her out!

Once I got to San Diego, I met up with Yvonne and Lena. We have adjoining rooms this year (we’re getting a little too old for the four-women-to-a-room thing) and are having a blast catching up.

We met some old friends for dinner and I ended up sitting next to Gretchen Rubin, whom I had never met. It was one of those happy coincidences that make life so much fun. We sat and talked and talked and talked. And Gretchen was awesome- funny and warm and entertaining and full of ideas and questions and interesting stories- She’s had a lot of success with her book, The Happiness Project (as in #1 New York Times bestseller success) and I’m so glad I got a chance to get to know her, because she’s the real deal and she deserves every accolade and positive review she gets.

After that, things got a little strange. I drank a blue drink named after The Smurfs and then rode on a rickshaw and posed for pictures.

By the end of the night, I was dancing at a BlogHer party with a woman who was dressed as a man and lip-synching to Jason Mraz. I kid you not. There were witnesses.

These are the kinds of things that happen at BlogHer. It only officially started this morning, and already, I have totally gotten my money’s worth.

This morning, I checked out my blog on The Stir, only to find that my new hairstyle is causing a controversy. Do you like it, or do you think, as one reader does, that “it looks lazy, unkempt, and trashy, and it brings to mind 1980s corner whores and methed-out carny wives every time I see it”?

Personally, I think it was fun to try something new, and easy enough to change once I get tired of it.

But I’m glad to see that so many are deeply invested in the state of my hair!

I’ll be back as soon as I get a spare second! Have a great weekend, everyone!