{Stepping away} SoFabCon 2014

"For Mother's Day, all I really want is a hotel room. All to myself."

That was the not-so-subtle hint I offered to my husband as the holiday approached. I could think of nothing more blissful than a night away where I could eat, read, watch some tv and pee alone. Oh, and sleep. Lots of sleep. I'm not sure which I miss more about my life before motherhood, sleeping or getting to finish a cup of coffee while it's still hot.

So imagine my excitement when I was given the opportunity to go to SoFabCon, a blogging conference right here in Northwest Arkansas. Due to the generosity of Collective Bias and the Northwest Arkansas Bloggers, I was able to go for free. Not only was this an opportunity to meet other bloggers and learn ways to improve my blog, it meant two days away from baby boy. Forget excited, I was ecstatic.

Don't get me wrong. I love that boy more than anything, but after 10 months of being home with him every single day and only a handful of hours to myself, I needed a break. While I didn't get that hotel room (I live only 40 min from the Embassy Suites where most of the action took place), this conference gave me the space I was craving.

SoFabCon was unlike any conference I've ever been to, blogging industry or not. I got the clear impression that what Collective Bias CEO Bill Sussman said in his introduction speech on Friday was true--these folks like to have fun. I enjoyed every minute of it, from the kickoff at Crystal Bridges Museum where I met some wonderful new friends, to the two days packed with invaluable tips and information from pros and finally, an evening to celebrate at the Collective Bias 5th birthday masquerade party!

All the same, it took no less than a day for me to end up in the bathroom weeping, begging my husband to send me photos of my baby so I could see his sweet face and know he was okay. The conversation went like this:

Me: Can you send me a picture?
Jeremy: Of?
Me: Coen.
Jeremy: You don't have a bunch?
You want me to take one and send it to you? I don't understand.

Sigh. He also did not understand when I ran to the bedroom when Coen began stirring soon after I got home. I guess I'm not ready for that hotel room, after all.