Hi Everyone! Thanks for being so patient with me! I have been underground for a few days for good reason. I am going indie. I have launched thefrugalista.com, my own blog. I have had an AWESOME time blogging for the Miami Herald, but now is the time for me to strike on my own.
The party isn't ending...it's going to a new place so please visit me at thefrugalista.com and update your blogrolls and add yourself to my RSS feed! My email is the same, for those who know. :)
Much love to the Miami Herald for letting me have a wonderful ride here!
Greetings, Frugalistas! So I got back last night from a MARHHHVELOUS weekend at the first Blogalicious conference, a networking event for women bloggers of different ethnicities. I laughed. I cried. I networked at the W hotel in midtown Atlanta. :) I had so much fun.
The thing about blogging conferences (or any conference for that matter) is that they are rife with sponsors who are looking to get their products in front of tastemakers and influencers.
The swag (stuff we all get) was plentiful. Our registration bag was the size of a small village. At the different sessions and meetings, registrants were offered free lotion, hair care products, eyelashes, blankets and Barbie dolls. I had oodles and oodles of stuff.
So leaving the conference, I had an extra bag of "stuff." I filtered some of the swag, giving it off to the local bloggers. I know Shameeka, who blogs at The Broke Socialite, is doing a shelter run, donating some of the lotion and blankets to the less fortunate in Atlanta.
When I got to the airport, I ran into a swag dilemma. An airline agent made it clear I would have to check my luggage or get rid of some swag. I had no intention of paying $25 to check a bag due to the stuff I accumulated at the conference.
I thought about giving the swag away to someone at the airport, but for security reasons, I nixed that idea. I didn't want to be put "under watch" for the suspicious activity of giving way items at the airport. I did the unthinkable. I tossed some of the swag in the trash. I had free rice and other snacks in my swag bag. I was able to save the Barbie doll, make up and some hair care products. *Le sigh*
I feel pretty bad about being wasteful but I was up against the wall. I'm not a swag hag. It's just that the registration bag for the conference was filled to the top.
Should I have spent the $25 to check my luggage to keep the swag? Should I have not taken any of the swag? Am I a swag hag? Do I need to practice the "Swag Surfing" dance to get my swagger back? I can still shake it!
So a few weeks back, I got contacted by a Chinese journalist named Fu. Apparently, I'm known as the "Frugal Queen" in the Far East! Fancy that! As a Frugalista, I am a citizen of the world, even though my passport may need a few more stamps. :( One day! Anyway, here's the article that the China Youth Daily wrote about me. The article is written in Chinese, in case you aren't fluent, but it included some of my party photos.
Life is good. Frugal living is great!
Thanks to Fu for writing about this American girl,
BlogHer is an online community for women who blog and it holds an annual convention.
I know a lot of people have approached me about starting a blog and what the blogging experience is like, so the chat tonight will cover all that ground.
For me, blogging as a woman has been a life changing experience, so I am Team Blogger. The BlogHer experience was eye opening. I was lucky enough to be a panelist the first time there!
So Frugalistas, if you are thinking about blogging, the social media game, or frugal and fabulous living (heheh) check us out tonight!
Over 160 nominees were selected for this honor by political, business and organizational leaders in South Florida. The final 40 honorees were then hand-picked by an advisory committee composed of business leaders in the fields of banking, media, politics, and medicine and community/non-profit leadership. Chosen for their professional accomplishments and tireless efforts to support our community, the 40 award recipients will be honored at a VIP reception.
I'm wearing a dress from my closet to the event. My one business dress will be taken out of retirement and to the reception!
Let's hope he can come out of this O.K. At least he is smart enough to sell off his property. Well, I hope he can sell it. Real estate isn't that hot these days.
Keep your head up, Nick!
Do you like any of Cage's movies? Do you remember him in Fast Times at Ridgemont High? Do you think he bought too many houses? Will buying real estate ever be the cool thing to do again?
I don't find pleasure in being frivolous with money. In fact, I find it uncomfortable.
I've always liked Eva. I mean, she's been able to smooch, er act, with the finest leading men: Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Johnny Depp. See what being a Frugalista can do for you!! :)
Anyway, I was pretty captivated by Pollan, Food Inc. and the Meatless Monday movement. I am not a vegetarian, for the record, but I'm sure I could try one day without meat.
Frugalistas, what do you think? Are you a big meat fan? Could you go a day without meat? What do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle? Do you put pork on your fork? Is meat too expensive?
