Since the mantra "DO NOT EMBARRASS SELF...DO NOT EMBARRASS SELF..." keeps running through my head, I thought it might help to make a NO-NO list. (Remember my Embarrassing Moments list?)
Lists can be very helpful in times of stress. They can keep us focused and act as reminders of our goals.
1. Do not run and jump into the arms of bloggers that I admire. I am 6 ft tall and might injure the less agile of the group.
2. Do not lick, sniff or feel up said bloggers. I am a tactile person, ok?
3. Do not use profanity. This is tempting because I spend a lot of time with children- years of f-bombs have built up, just waiting to spill out.
4. Do not talk too loudly. Not only am I deaf in one ear, which makes me unaware of my volume, but I also grew up in a large, rowdy family where if you wanted to be heard, you had to shout. Not appropriate for conference schmoozing, I'm guessing.
5. Do not tell dirty jokes. I love dirty jokes but I can tell by the heavy sighing and eye-rolling that some folks do not appreciate vagina jokes.
6. Do not badmouth chevron, spray paint or thrift stores. Bloggers love that
7. Do not sing. I am the worst singer on the planet and 9-1-1 would be called.
8. Do not dirty dance. No one needs to see a 40 year old blogger humping a horrified Centsational Girl.
9. Do not ramble. I'm a nervous talker and when I don't know what else to do, I ramble. Before I know it, I hear myself saying "And, then came the 80's...I like big hair and blue eyeshadow...don't you wish they would come back in style? What say we go back to my room and give each other makeovers?"
10. No hillbilly speak. I have an alter ego, Loretta MayJoe. When I am either nervous and/or vlogging, she takes over. Please, Lawd, save me from Loretta MayJoe.
If you are also attending Haven and you happen to witness any rule breaking, feel free to slap me hard across the face and shout "GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF, WOMAN!"
In the meantime, I will be hiding in my powder room practicing my appropriate greetings, comments and body language.
I will watch and re-watch "How To Be A Better Blogger!"
Good blogger body language:

Bad blogger body language:
Link Par-taay at:
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://howtonestforless.com/
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/
http://www.the-mommyhood-chronicles.com/
http://too-much-time.com/
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/
http://whipperberry.com/
http://tatertotsandjello.com/
http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
http://www.504main.com/
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Look me up sister. We'll exchange dirty va-jay-jay jokes. I need some new ones. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I can't wait, Barb!
DeleteYou are making me want to attend the conference - but only if I could meet Loretta MayJoe. Please take lots of photos and sing and dance for me!!
ReplyDeletexomichele
MICHELE!!!! I was just thinking about you today! Where have you been?
DeleteSo good to see your smiling face again!
I wish you were going to Haven!
Hee hee hee. What fun, enjoy yourself, you or Loretta - love em both AS IS - and don't forget your regular readers will expect nothing less than your ole precious real self, loud and all. Don't change fer anyone!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michele!
DeleteLOL - I so wish I was going so I could run and jump into your arms (note - I did a typo and actually wrote hump which would have been a whole other comment really). Have a fabulous time, whoever you go as.
ReplyDeleteYou could jump into my arms to recreate the Dirty Dancing moves!
Delete#6 kills me!
ReplyDeleteMy bad.
DeleteOh girl...you make me belly laugh!! PLEASE jump in my arms if you happen to recognize me...just don't jump into Trish's arms....she is only 5 ft tall...you may, in fact, squish her! :)
ReplyDeleteI will give Trish a ride on my knee...after I jump into your arms.
DeletePLEASE COME TO BLOGHER. PLEASE COME TO BLOGHER. PLEASE COME TO BLOGHER. I'm not shouting. I'm just talking into your deaf ear. ;)
ReplyDeleteI NEED A SPONSORSUGARDADDYLOTTERYTICKET!
DeleteOh I so wish I was going .. I would jump into your arms me being 4' 11" we would be a pair ... and um you better do at least 5 of these things listed above heck do them all mostly talk about Vagina's ... Also Please Lord make a dance video for us all from you dancing behind bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI heart you ...
Brooke
Brooke is an enabler.
DeleteOh, my goodness. We would be a great pair! I could carry you around on my hip!
DeleteOh Kerry I'm dying here! lol. You can sit next to me and tell all the dirty jokes you want! ;) I finally feel ready for Haven! Even got me a new pair of Spanx! lol can't wait to hug your neck!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Good Lawd, my gal pal just asked if I was taking "Spanx"...I had no idea that this kind of torture existed! I will be wiggling and jiggling all over that conference!
DeleteKerry, you are still cracking me up. I really look forward to meeting you! You can totally do all those no-no's on me though. I don't judge. I have foot-in-mouth syndrome, so I'll probably do worse to you when I meet you! I tend to say really inappropriate stuff which is always a great first impression. Sometimes it takes years for me to redeem myself.
ReplyDeleteOne time I met a mother of triplets who were 2. When she told me she had triplets I made a funny joke about how I would have chosen "selective reduction" if I were pregnant with that many.
Um. Ya. I did. And I would NEVER do "selective reduction". I was trying to be witty and funny and OMG, let me just say that comment did not go over well and that poor mom was not laughing. At all.
Usually after I meet someone I replay the conversation in my mind over and over with lots of added commentary from myself which usually sounds like, "OH. My. Gawd. Allison. Srsly? Why the hell would you say that? I'm so embarrassed. Where's the closest hole so I can go crawl in it."
So anyway, long story short, please do all your conference no-no's when you meet me because a) I will feel totally flattered that you even like me that much and b) I will surely embarrass myself as well, so then we can at least both be embarrassed about our exchange later. And then it will give us both a great excuse to go get plastered together. ;)
xoxo
Allison @ House of Hepworths
OH.MY.HILARIOUS. I think I just snorted coffee. This takes the cake!
DeleteI know I am going too far when I see my mister's eyes glaze over and he shakes his head oh, so slightly. It's the "STOP.TALKING.NOW.NOW.NOW." look.
YAY- See you soon!
I can so very much relate to all of this. Just yesterday I told my new neighbor not to swat her dog or I would take it. I was kidding, but from the way she, her husband, and their friends looked at me from across the yard I'm not so sure they knew it.
DeleteMy foot comes out of my mouth so rarely I should be super skinny.
If I was going. We could be roomies ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's all I'm saying.
SHANNON! I wish you were coming! Party time!
DeleteHmmm...I guess I should review your rules before I go to a conference...especially 3,4 and 6! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm a giver, Holly. Review and re-review at your own pace.
DeleteI will be there. I am afraid that, not realizing there are rules, I have already packed my profanity.
ReplyDeleteAll rules are off for you...prepare to catch me!
DeleteI want to go to a blog conference with you... I promise to that dirty dancing is not on my No list.
ReplyDelete(have a great time)
Get your booty there, Jen!
DeleteIf I ran and jumped at you would you hoise me over your head like Patrick Swayze? If yes, I am so craching that shindigeroonie! Have a great time. Be yourself. That's why we luvs ya....ahhhh f' it, take Loretta whats her name too, something tells me she'd be perfect company if the "serious, pretty bloggers" start taking themselves too seriously ;)
ReplyDeleteI have been trying in vain to get one of my gal pals to recreate the Dirty Dancing scenes for #Bloggersdance...why won't they take my calls anymore?!?
DeleteNext year girl, I'm totally there with you!
ReplyDeleteJessica
stayathomeista.com
Oh, Jessica! We would have so much fun! AND, you could give me your kitchen as a party favor!
DeleteBE YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!! BREAK all those silly rules. I need some good va jay jay jokes. Take pictures, Do a video. XOXO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteWish you were coming!
DeleteI laughed so hard imagining the horrified look on Centsational Girl. God - you are so hilarious!! LOVE your blog! I wish I was going - my damn kids are holding me back ... again! I will be there next year so please save up your best vagina jokes and I will save my b**w j*b jokes for you. Hope you can handle me! Missi
ReplyDeleteThose darn kids! Mine are distracting me from fully obsessing over Haven!
DeleteI'll keep you posted- wish you were coming!
This will be my first ever blog conference & if I happen to run into you...I think it will be a very entertaining conference! On my "No-No" list is - "Do not sit in the corner & rock back & forth because you're so nervous around all the incredibly talented bloggers!" ;p Hope you have an awesome time! Thanks for adding some humor to the event I'm really nervous about! :p <3 Heidi Rew from Parties for Pennies
ReplyDeleteObsessing over this conference could put me in the corner, rocking and sucking my thumb!
DeleteSee you there, Heidi!
Hey, I'm going to Haven too and when I saw your blog post thumbnail I knew that I HAD to come read it to find out the "no-no's" of a blogger conference...thanks for all that advice...some of it I might follow. So I will be looking for you, girl! Did you recently re-do your blog header? It is so darn cute. I saw your post over at "Weekend Bloggy Reading".
ReplyDeleteMISS KITTY! I always notice you because I have a daughter, Kitty (Katherine) that I call Miss Kitty!
DeleteCan't wait to meet you at Haven!
And, yep, new header. Brooke over at Get Outta My Head Please did it for me. She is fantastic if you ever need techy help!
DeleteJust found your blog via #haven2012 on twitter! I'm going to Haven too...first blog conference for me!!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you there!!!
Jen
athomeinthernothwestblog.com
ACK! We can be first timers together!
DeleteThank you, Jen. See you SOON!
I think I would like Loretta MayJoe! 5 More days!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I am ping ponging between excitement and OHMYLAWDIMIGHTTHROWUP!
DeleteSee you SOON!
LOL! I might be 6 feet tall in the platform wedges I plan on packing, so you can jump on me if you feel the need to jump on someone. I second Heidi Rew's comment...I get nervous in big crowds like that!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to live to regret that statement! I am going to hug your neck and gush all over you!
DeleteREALLY wish I could be there! SNAP was so much fun & I know Haven will be too. Have a wonderful time. I was SO BAD at gushing over blog celebs. Remember, if you see Char from "Crap I've Made", DO NOT . . . I repeat DO NOT try to hug her!
ReplyDeleteWarmly, Michelle
I LOVED YOUR SNAP POST! You made it seem so fun and casual! So, Char is not a hugger? This might cause me to hug her and kiss her face off.
DeleteLove this list; totally has me cracking up lol
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the Strut Your Stuff party :-)
What a great profile picture!
DeleteThanks for popping by!
Okay, I'm like totally in love with you right now. consider this me running into your arms at a conference. I'm 5' 8", you're safe. ;) This is seriously fantastic. You can tell me dirty jokes all day. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI'll catch you like Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing!
DeleteI love your list. I am attending Blogher in August and I will remember all your tips-lol!! I will try my hardest not to sniff the other bloggers! No dirty dancing at the parties- Bummer!!! Hysterical post!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous! I am a Blogher lurker! No sniffing is important...
DeleteFound you via The Mommyhood Chronicles...am dying to hear how it went! And I would so, so struggle with #1 too. I appreciate the body language break-down. Visuals are always good :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Meredith! Thank you for popping by for my body language break down. If I have time, I will vlog appropriate vs inappropriate dance moves for a conference...
DeleteGirl... you are a hoot! Oh how I wish I was going to Haven to meet you :)
ReplyDeleteI WISH YOU WERE COMING!
DeleteThank you, Kelly!
Oh my gosh.....I think I actually peed my pants while reading this post, Kerry! lolol! You are a total hoot and I think they should seriously consider hiring you as Haven entertainment! You're good enough to have a one-woman show! Well...two-woman if you brought Hickerbilly What's Her Face.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your blog, girl!!! Have fun at Haven - and break all the rules! lol!
xoxo laurie
They don't have to hire me - I act like a fool for free!
DeleteThanks, Laurie!
Wait, your vlogs are really Loretta MayJoe? That's not really how you talk? This shatters my whole image of you....
ReplyDeleteTrue. I have a slight accent but the vlog ramps it up!
DeleteHahahaha! Love this. I too have the embarrassing tendency to ramble (and ramble and ramble) when I am nervous or uncomfortable. The result is I end up feeling even MORE nervous and uncomfortable because I KNOW I sound like an idiot, and the person I'm talking to ends up wondering how they got stuck talking to such a blathering idiot. Uuuugh. Great post. Great list. Stopping by from the blog hop. Have fun at your conference!
ReplyDelete-Laura
www.strollerparkingonly.com
I am a long time rambler! You and I could have a talk off!
DeleteThank you, Laura!
Oh my! I feel like you're my long lost twin...taller, blonder and wittier, but twins in the foul-mouthed, nervous rambling, gushing way :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Meet Me Monday, and am so glad I stopped by!
Ramblers UNITE!
Delete#8. I snorted. You've just moved to the top of my "must-meet" list! See you there, sister!
ReplyDeleteI bought some snappy and very uncomfortable shoes today in hopes that my discomfort will keep me in line!
DeleteThanks, Beth! See you SOOOOOON!
Oh man do I wish I was going! Look no further for a partner in crime next year :)
ReplyDeleteTanya
It's a date! Thank you for popping by, Tanya!
DeleteKerry,
ReplyDeleteHahahahahaha :) No spray paint jokes? Seriously. What am I going to talk about?
Are the coffee filter wreaths off limits :)
See you there my funny friend!
karianne
Spray paint is actually my bff...and chevron...and burlap...and NOT coffee filter projects.
DeleteCould you bring me your pantry to borrow?
Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! If you slip I hope I'm around to see the "real" you. :)
ReplyDeleteAnna
I have been packed and standing by the door for 6 months!
DeleteThank you for popping by, Anna!
Send Loretta MayJoe over for a drink, a moon pie, and some nabs. We'll talk about vajayjays and tell dirty jokes!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a date! Thanks, Jennifer!
DeleteI hope you have a fantastic time! I'm too a-skeered to even think of attending a blog conference... Makes me kinda glad no one knows who I am...
ReplyDeleteI am a-skeered out of my mind!
DeleteHope you have the best time!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'll post updates of the Haven antics on Twitter!
DeleteIsn't the point of going to these conferences so you can see your favorite bloggers make fools of themselves? Or am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteI am counting on it! This is my first bloggy conference...we shall see!
DeleteI will be one of the wacky ones, I might not be jumping up on someone, but I sure will be jumping up an down. Since I grew up with 9 siblings, I'm sure I'll be talking to loud, and maybe snorting every now and then cause that's what I do when I'm having fun! Hope to meet you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Cathy! I am also a snorter! I'll see you there- we'll have a snort off!
DeleteOh my lord I'm laughing so hard I'm almost crying! Had to read parts of this aloud to hubby. YOU are hilarious! I'm hooked and following!
ReplyDelete<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
Christina! Well...did your husband laugh? Mine just shakes his head and walks away in defeat.
DeleteOh wow would I love to go to a blog conference with you! Dammit. We need a meetup soon woman!
ReplyDeleteWe would be a force of nature! I was just laughing today, retelling about you and Abby running for my moving mini-van with camera equipment and Janis Joplin blaring!
DeleteThat was hilarious. Love the f-bomb comment. Is that because the kids use the f-bomb or being around kids makes you want to use it?
ReplyDeleteI spent the whole day spray painting stuff I found at the thrift store. Cracking up right now.
Have a great time at the conference.
Katie
Visiting from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.
Ha! That's funny! I constantly have little ears monitoring! Kids are like parole officers!
DeleteYou are just hysterical! I love stopping by to visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by, Pamela!
DeleteOh how I wish I was going to Haven! I would let you body slam me ... and feel me up ... and scream in my ear telling dirty jokes using dirty words with your hillbilly voice ...
ReplyDelete:)
Linda
LINDA! I wish you were coming! TROUBLE!
DeleteI'm a nervous rambler, too. And then I usually follow up my nervous rambling by laughing. At myself. As if I think I'm actually being funny.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't leave the house much.
My son just explained that I shouldn't laugh at my own jokes! Someone has to!
DeleteOh my gosh, Kerry...this is awesome!!! Hope you have a fantastic time at Haven!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maggie! I have a daughter - Meg, Margaret, Mags! When I see your cute little profile picture, I want to call you "Mags"!
DeleteWhere have you been all my blogging life?
ReplyDeleteA snarky woman like me, but the only difference, I'm a foot shorter.
Perhaps a Halloween costume would work for less awkward intros?
N
NICOLETTE!!
DeleteWell, if you go to Haven next year, we will be buddies, then. I'm so nervous about going to those things for fear that everyone will be armed with hot glue guns and will want to solely go over the joys of parenthood. Sigh. Neither of these things interest me and I think I will need a reprieve with someone like you.
ReplyDeleteYou should so come next year! I was so blown away by the savvy business sense these women rocked!
DeleteYou and I can yuck it up! DO IT!
Can't wait to hear your wrap-up from Haven.
ReplyDeleteI'm featuring your no-no's next week. You are a freakin' riot.
xoxo
n
WHAT!?!?? YAY! Thank you!
DeleteAs a fellow tall gal I would LOVE to come to Haven just to meet you... but only if I can meet Loretta May. I have a Southern alter ego myself... her name is Tequila Rose. I think she was a stripper at one point. You and I in all of our height and southern glory may overwhelm and definitely offend some people I think. But I can tell it would be fuuuunnn...
ReplyDeleteYou MUST come next year! Not only was it a blast, but head is reeling from all that I learned!
DeleteI just lurve you SO, gurl!
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAND, I just lurve you!
DeleteYou make me want to go to a conference so bad! Sounds like good times to me!
ReplyDeleteDO IT! Come next year and we'll go wild!
Deletethis is too funny, i've never been to a conference but if i did i would totally bring your list with me lol!!
ReplyDeleteCome with me, Michelle! We can yuck it up together!
DeleteJust like failing to chat it up with Angie, I apparently missed out on chatting it up with you too. Hilarious. But there's always next year, and in between I can be a twittering fool.
ReplyDeleteThat sounded better in my head.
We will chat until our little hearts are content at Haven 2013!
DeleteThank you for popping by, Sarah!
I LOVE SPEAKING HILLBILLY!!! If we ever meet, please, please bust out Loretta MayJoe and I'll bust out Uldine Jean.
ReplyDelete(Thanks for linking this up with us over at #findingthefunny a couple of weeks ago! Sorry I am such a loser and just now stopping by to read it!)
Oh, Kelley! We would be trouble together. HILLBILLIES WALKIN'!
DeleteGood god woman! I started reading today's post, since then I have read this, about breastfeeding, and the Y...still gotta get back to today's post!!!! Oh Kerry, I just keep thinking that we would be the best of friends, or at least you are someone to adore(and breastfeed maybe??;))anyhoo, just wanted to say thanks for being so awesomely you!
ReplyDeleteYAY! There is a house for sale on my street. Start packing and I'll get our happy hour drinks ready! Breastfeeding optional.
DeleteThank you, Erin!