Tammy with Rick Smith at BWE 2009

I’ve been reading lots of posts/re-caps about the Blissdom conference that was last week and I’ve noticed a few things.

Now I’ll admit I didn’t attend Blissdom ’10 (due to last minute childcare issues) but I have attend several blogger and social media conferences over the years. (even was the lead organizer on one )

Basically — no matter what you do , the type of sessions you create, the amount of tracks (experience level) you have … not everyone is going to be happy.

I know that you are thinking well DUH Tammy — that’s kind of obvious. The thing I’ve noticed that that many people expect that a conference is going to be custom-fit for the individual .

One thing we need to remember is that conferences don’t supply a “magic key” of information. They provide more tools and encouragement. They also provide attendees the ability to build relationships.

It’s great to give feedback to the conferences/event organizers as that helps them plan for next year. I highly recommend that and be completely honest in your feedback. Tell them what YOU would like to see not just what was WRONG

We also need to remember that we get what we give , take what info YOU get from a conference and apply it to what YOU are doing. There is not going to be someone that says ” Jane you need to do X , Y, and Z to make your blog the best ever” I’m sorry its just not going to happen.

If that is your expectation at a conference – then my friends you need to put your big girl panties on and join the real world. (i say that with all the love in the world)

One of the best thing I love about attending conferences is not necessarily the sessions, its the networking that happens there. It’s engaging with the community (yes I know some people despise that word ) and the conversations/ideas/thoughts that occur organically at these types of events. I can’t always remember the information given at a particular event but you can bet I’ll remember most of the conversations and people at those events.

After all , isn’t that what it is all about ??

No, I’m NOT! We are still here in CO , healthy and pretty happy. It’s just been a whirlwind couple of weeks.

First – I hope that all of you had a wonderful thanksgiving holiday! We didn’t have SGT Daddy at home but we certainly had a lot to be thankful for this year.

Secondly – My awesome super cool desktop computer aka Mac is dying. His heart is giving out! (aka hard drive issues) I can’t blame him for I’ve put Mac through the wringer for last 4 year with video/web/graphic editing.

I’ve forced (yes FORCED) to use my HP mini PC laptop for all online activity these days. For those that know me very well, no that I’m not particular a fan of PC. (let the hate mail start now….)

Anyway,I’m here and we are all doing great! Looking forward to Christmas! I’ll be posting some cool stuff about SGT Daddy later today , so stay tuned for that!  : )

XOXO
Tammy

Yes that is ME , your Household6,  doing an interview WHILE receiving a facial! What I won’t do for some tv time huh??

Also – if you are in the local Colorado Springs area – make sure you visit The Russian Day Spa for a special offer on a facial

Today is November 1st and I’ve been blogging for  5 years ! I wasn’t even an “Army Wife” yet when I started. We had just decided to join this crazy military life. Dan and I had been married as “civilians” for 7 years at that point. We thought our life would greatly change and boy did it ever!

So much has happened since I started writing.. heck I even managed to get some really awesome paying gigs from it, not to mention my dream job!! I’ll continue to write as long as you guys are here to read it. Oh who am I kidding… I’ll continuing writing even if no one is here. I just love blogging and social media that much!

The blog has gone through lots of changes too (names, layouts, format) over the last 5 years but one thing remained the same… authenticity and honesty.

So – a big thank you goes out to Dan , KK and Beck who continue to let me write  about our lives and putting up with me sitting at the computer for hours so I can “just get this blog post done ” I love you all.

Also – thank you to ALL of my readers for your continued support over the years, especially since SGT Daddy deployed. It such a nice feeling that I know all of you are here reading my posts and supporting our family when we need it.

A SUPER BIG Thank goes out to everyone who jumped to SGT Daddy’s and my defense a few weeks ago . You know who you are !

XOXO

Yesterday I got the opportunity to go to the spa, have a facial, get away from the kids and help out a fellow mom!I even braved the cold, icy, and snowy Colorado weather for this!

Fellow Facebook Friend , Cari Pemberton (organizer coach for busy moms) needed people to help with a news segment she was filming with FOX21 . I offered to help out .. you all know how much I love to be on TV!!

Considering the issues I’ve had in the past with Ft Carson Public Affairs, we decided to film the segment off post. The Russian Day Spa was chosen and they were gonna give me a FREE facial! I found someone to stay with Kiersten and I was ready to go .

Yevgeniya and her staff were fantastic!! It was so quiet and serene at the day spa. Sheryl who did my facial and makeup was so cool and awesome!! I will definitely be going back there. (hint to my family for christmas/b-day – they have online gift certificates)

The funny thing was that part of my interview was done while Sheryl was DOING my facial. Yes dear readers – I , your ArmyHoushehold6, was on TV sans makeup . (the things I don’t do for some TV airtime ) Thankfully the rest of the interview was finished after i was “all prettied up”.

The segment won’t actually run on the air till next week for we were bumped because of the bad weather we have been having yesterday and today! I’ll be sure to let you know when it does!

If you want to check out the spa , click here and tell Yevgeniya that you heard about it from me! (disclosure – I don’t get any benefits from this… just want to share an awesome spa and really cool people) I highly recommend a morning (or all day) like this for ANY mom !!! (especially moms with deployed husbands)

Here are just a few  of the pictures from BlogWorldExpo.. I will post the re-cap later this week!

YouTube Celebrity ChadVader & Tammy

moderating the milspouse panel at BlogWorldExpo

Hanging out at the MilBlogger Lounge at Blog World Expo .. Thanks Army!!!

Rick (AF Public Affairs) and Tammy

Master Chief Bobble Head

Yes – the trip I’ve been waiting months for is FINALLY here. I leave bright and early tomorrow morning for Las Vegas–  for  Blog World Expo 2009 .I think everything is pretty much ready to go and all bags are packed. Kids and the dog getting dropped off in the morning and I’m out of here.

There were be several people at the event that I’ve known for awhile but never got the opportunity to meet until now. I know its just going to be a ton of fun. I’ll be posting pics, video and updates here on the blog but also over at Twitter and Facebook.

I’m also pretty excited to I will be one of the panelists ( along with fellow milspouse bloggers DeltaWhiskey & BarmyMama)  on Thursday during the Military Bloggers Track! Our panel is They Also Serve : Military Spouse Bloggers.

If you are going to be in the Las Vegas area and you want to attend… of course there is still time!!

If you are currently serving in the Armed Forces, or are a veteran of same (discharged or retired), military spouse, military spouse, spouse blogger, military supporter, or reader of the milblogs.. send a quick email to Blake ( wolf1 at laughingwolf dot net ) to get your code that gives you a free registration for the milblog track on 15 October, and access to the exhibit hall (and the Milblog Lounge) on the 16th & 17th.

If you already have plans on being at BlogWorld Expo – make sure to find me! I would love to meet YOU!

Well the Channel 5 finally streamed my segment on their website (thanks Stefanie) ..  you can view it here
My segment is roughly at 9:25 min

Last night my story about Twitter and USAA was on local Channel 5 – News First. Of course I missed it as I was working to get caught up since I’m without an assistant right now.

I promised when I got links to the interview I did last week that I would post it. The video is not up on their website yet but you can read the story here

I just think its so cool that little ol’ me is one of the Top Stories on the site! I’m hoping the video is up soon – as I’m dying to see it.

The one thing I’ve learned early on in our Army life was to expect the unexpected! Today was no different –

Well today was my interview with USAA here at the house! I was so excited it that I got up extra early to make sure I didn’t oversleep! (lame I know) Of course, I twittered my excitement about the interview too.

As I’m waiting for the USAA video crew (David & Daniel) to get here, I get a direct message on Twitter from a reporter from the local news ( NewsFirst5).  Being the media hog that I am, I said of course! The lady tells me that they need to contact the Public Affairs office to come onto Ft Carson.  I didn’t see that this would be a problem due to the fact that this interview had NOTHING to do with the Army and SGT Daddy obviously wouldn’t be there.

The video team gets there and starts setting up… then the Public Affairs office (PAO) calls. They tell me that they should have been notified that they were coming on post,etc. (this was not the case when we did our interview with Fox at Belvoir. PAO only needed to be there because my hubby was there )The PAO tells me that they need to run it by JAG real quick but “it shouldn’t be a problem.

OK, so I’m thinking — no big deal! they will get all straightened out and we’ll be good to go!  WRONG!

Brandy from the PAO office calls and tells me that since “the interview wasn’t previously approved by the Commander” we can’t do the interview in my house on post. It has to be conducted off post.

ok no problem — we decided to do the interview at Garden of the Gods here in Colorado Springs… it was a beautiful day here and Garden of the Gods is such a pretty place. The crew packs up their gear, we pile into the SUV and off we go.

We met up with the local news reporter and find a nice location. Everything is great! (wait for it)

10 minutes into the interview, it starts raining lightly. The USAA team continues with the interview. We finally wrap up the interview 10 minutes later, only because its raining REALLY HARD.  The kicker is that the local news reporter still hasn’t interviewed me yet.

We decide to wait it out  and 5 minutes the rain starts. I do the interview with Channel 5 and some wrap up footage with USAA and FINALLY we are done. (you think this is over don’t you … )

The video team and I decide to get something to eat and the girls choose their favorite restaurant (and mine), Texas Roadhouse. So we head over there.. and GUESS what? They don’t open till 4pm during the week. I mean seriously?? What else was going to happen?

We finally get something to eat at Chili’s which was completely awesome by the way and I make my way back home to good ole Fort Carson.

All in all, it was a fun day and I thoroughly enjoyed doing both interviews.  I just wish Murphy (as in Murphy’s Law) would have kept to himself. Once I get copies of both interviews, I’ll be sure to post them here on the blog.

I’m tired and going to bed… I’m sure you can understand why!  : )