It’s Oscar week!
Welcome back, Troops. My apologies for being rather quiet here of late. However, life has been anything but dull. I’m just back from a weekend in Salt Lake City where I attended the Build Your Blog Conference.
While it was splendid effort crammed full of educational seminars that left me reeling with wonder, it wasn’t the main event.
Nope. Not by a long shot.
And The Oscar Goes To
Ok kids, who remembers Partners in a Pair Tree? High fives to you that do!
Partners in a Pair Tree was a collaboration I did with Mo of Mocadeaux back in December of 2013 where we alternated daily postings about our families’ favourite traditions of the season. It was a great success.
However I have a confession to share. Mo and I have long harboured a secret. Yup.We’ve NEVER met. Nope. Not once. Generating a familial spirit with Partners in a Pair Tree was a magical act of online proportions.
But not anymore …
YES! Mo and I actually got to meet this weekend!
Allow me to reintroduce you to her via her own words:
“I’m a Midwest gal living in my suburban Chicago empty nest with my husband, my laptop and a bunch of wine.”
In person? She’s a delight, just as you’d expect. And man, does she ever know her wine!
But that’s not all. She was accompanied by another gem.
Katie Clooney of Preppy Empty Nester. I’ve been aware of Katie’s blog for about a year. Do you know it? If not, sign up. Here’s a wee tidbit from her bio:
” … a very humble trophy/ super model wife of a former professional chef who now works as an executive in the hotel biz. ”
I know, right?
So what did we learn at BYBC? Besides navigating the 2016 blogging world of sponsorships and affiliations and the importance of tribes and authenticity, we learned that we are kindred spirits. The three of us.
You know that magical feeling when you meet someone and it’s as if you’ve known them forever? YES. That.
While I’ll be tweaking Just TypiKel over the next couple of weeks as I play with some of the things I learned at BYBC, one thing won’t change. My friendship with these two. They’re pals for life.
One more thing. Should you fear I’m going to change things vastly over here at Just TypiKel, here’s a weensy bit of reassurance.
It’s the broken component (Part A) that I snapped off the hotel bath and shower handle (Part B). Uh huh. Just TypiKel.
38 Responses
Hi Kelly,
That sounds like a lot of fun. Not just going to the blogging conference, but meeting your blogger friends! How cool! I did that once. I was visiting NYC and found out that a fellow blogger friend was visiting there the same weekend, so we hooked up and had lunch. It was so fun!
How lovely, Amy that you were in NYC at the same time! Imagine if you were and had simply passed each other on the street without knowing. Ouch. Yes, we had so much fun. Folks were shocked to learn I’d not met either of these two until just yesterday. One even asked if Katie of Preppy Empty Nester and I were sisters! Hope to meet you one day too!
Yea for blogging buddies! I’m sure the bathroom fixture wasn’t the only trouble you got into, Kelly, especially with Mo around. 😉
Can’t wait to join the throng next year!
Oh, Katy, the fun we are going to have. So glad you’re going to be a part of it. And yes – the adventures weren’t limited to the bathroom fixture, I must say. You know that situation where it’s all you can do NOT to laugh? Nails crushed into the palm of your hand, thoughts frantically scrabbling to the saddest of the saddest, worst case potential scenarios … and then you lock eyes with one of your people in the mirror and the laughter bubbles up and explodes? Yes. That.
Oh, Kelly, I am laughing as hard at the retelling as I did while experiencing the hilarity live and in person. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have met you IN REAL LIFE. Forever, forever pals. Seriously, your love and support mean the world to me. Can’t wait to see where our #authentic #tribe antics take us next!
Grinning here, too, Mo. Hugely. Oh the stories we COULD tell.
Told Mom about the broken bath/shower handle last night and she went from being rather tired to gasping with laughter. I come by it honestly. She’s the gal who snapped the entire tap off at a coffee shop when we went out for an innocent drive into the country. At 93.
And yes, I can’t wait to see where our #authentic #tribe antics take us next either. Bring ’em on!
Hey Sis… Great post!!! I had so much fun thanks to you and Mo. My abs feel tighter from laughing so hard. You are right we are pals for life. Did you call Burt Large & Son to fix the shower do you?? Rumor has it that the hotel GM was running around with a $500 bill for you to replace the shower handle. You should change your name to Mrs. Tishel so they can’t find you!!
I did call Burt Large and Son. Burt is a wee bit busy with his Match.com account at the moment but he promises to toddle over to Little America the moment he is free. Unfortunately Son is busy with Auntie Joan’s B and B at present. Thanks for the heads up re the hotel GM. I looked into the Mrs. Tishel name change but that’s a no go. My refusal to wear the neck brace put the kibosh on that option. Am going with Ruth Ellingham.
what a great post – and I’m so glad you 2 met! I have a feeling I will be saying soon – “I knew her when” – I think you are on an unstoppable track! I always love your posts, they always make me smile, sometimes laugh out loud and often think! That is a rare combination – to make one really think about something important and still laugh it. Keep it up and keep learning!
Oh, Vickie how very kind. Thank you. Truly. After the blog conference my mind – and that of my pals – is swimming with info. I really do need to take one big breath and step back and look at the big picture. Thank you for your steadying and wise advice.
What fun for you, Kelly! So glad to hear you were able to not only connect with collaborators face-to-face (I did this with a business partner I had never met last year – five years we’ve been working a project together, all virtually – so get it), but found kindred souls confirmed. My gut’s a pretty good barometer and imagine yours is too ;-). Also happy to see you back – I was starting to get worried.
Yes, I’ve always suspected your gut was a pretty good barometer, Nanette. Mine is as well. I’d love to meet you one day and I hope that comes to pass. How lovely to be able to meet your business partner of 5 years. That’s special. As for worrying about me, I do appreciate it. Lots and lots and lots of balls in the air at the moment. However, I’m always drawn back to Just TypiKel. Loved your most recent post about the importance of delivering a good speech. As I commented on your site – we had PRIME examples of that this past weekend…
We will meet face-to-face one day, Kelly, no doubt. Too funny, just this week I was thinking maybe I ought to try to find someone closer to Kelly to ensure she’s OK (online silence for too long). Do tap me when you get closer to first rough done with that book. I’m happy to help in any way I can. This is an exciting project for you (and frankly, a better way to monetize your blog than ads and other things). Anyway, I just know we’ll hit it off fabulously when we do get that “meet”. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for thinking about me, Nanette. I do appreciate it. I can’t thank you enough for your offer to help me with the book. I’ll be sure to reach out to you. Thank you.
I saw your pics on FB, and it made me so happy! Sounds like the three of you had a blast. I’m a little jealous, but I’ll get over it!
Oh, Dana. We actually talked about you! We did have a hoot – you should come along to the next one.
Sounds great. Welcome back.
Thank you for popping in and leaving a comment, Anna. It was great fun and my mind is swimming with the info we received.
Looked like so much fun and I truly love getting to meet other bloggers that I follow and am friendly with in real life. That said hope we get to meet someday soon, as I truly do consider you on my bucket list of those I would love to meet in person someday soon 😉
Ha! LOVE the end of this one, Kelly! Keepin’ it real, girl. Always just TypiKel for YOU!!
I absolutely LOVE that you got to finally meet Mo and the added bonus of Katie as well! Those pics are so precious. Isn’t it amazing when this kind of friendship becomes even more solidified?
I can’t wait to see the changes you will be making! I bet you learned so so much. I really need to get my butt to a conference. I’m SO glad you went and had such a fantastic experience, Kelly!
Thank you so much, Chris. Yes, it was magical meeting up with Mo and Katie. The changes are rather daunting and I’m debating whether they are for me. We’ll see!
I’m stopping in from Mo’s introduction at her place. Sounds like the three of you had a great time. Like meeting a pen pal after quite a bit of time just “penning.” Happy to have found you.
Hi, Barbara. Delighted to meet you. Thanks for popping by and checking me out. And yes, it was just like meeting a pen pal after years of penning. We had so much fun and I am sorry our time together passed so quickly! I haven’t laughed that hard in such a short period of time in ages. However, I take great comfort in the fact that we are scoping out the next opportunity for a meet up! Gotta say, I’m loving the “sixtydaysinparis.com” that’s winking up there on the left of my screen. Off to check it out.
LOL to breaking stuff at the hotel! HA! And how AWESOME that you got to meet two friends (I don’t know either of them but remember some of your posts from traditions of the season so maybe I do know Mo but forgot? Either way, rectifying that now! I love love love meeting writing friends in person. It’s magical.
Meeting writing friends in person is indeed magical, Kristi. Hope to meet you soon!
I’m not entirely sure the world is ready for the antics of the three of you – but what a delight imagining the laughter and chaos that will ensue. I’d say just steer clear of bathroom fixtures, but I’m pretty sure there’s more trouble where that came from. 🙂
I was truly horrified when the bath/shower fixture came off in my hand, Deborah. Honestly – just so very typiKel.
It all sounds so wonderful, the conference and especially connecting with the other two that are now to be ‘life -long’ friends. I am so happy for you! Also, am excited to see what you have in store for the future here at Just Typikel!
Thanks, Elda. I do appreciate you popping by and leaving a comment. Just realized that no one was getting any of my posts if they signed up by email – for the past month or so. Have spent the afternoon sorting all of that out. Just TypiKel …
Best part of blogging? The people. So glad you were able to connect in real life.
So very true, Lana. The people are the very best part of blogging. Hope to meet you one day soon!
I’m so glad you had a wonderful trip – and envious of Mo and Katie for being able to share in the adventure with you. I remember the story about your mom and the tap … I guess difficulties with faucets just runs in the family 😉
Have to laugh – thank you for remembering about Mum pulling the tap off. She hooted with laughter when I told her I’d pulled the knob jobby off in the hotel bathroom. Honestly I was just shutting off the shower and it fell off in my hands. Oh man. That was a delight to share with the front desk staff, I have to say. Perhaps I should just have steered them in the direction of my blog …
Oh Kelly….it sounds like you had a truly magical time! So looking forward to hearing more!
Sure did, Debbie. Thank you so much for popping in and having a read. I look forward to catching up with what’s been happening in your world!
That sounds like such fun. I love it when I meet people in person after knowing them online, the connection seems quicker and more fun.
So very true, Kama. And yes – we had the best time. It was as if we’d known each other much longer than just the three days.