Yesterday I spent a very informative day at the Connecting Bloggers and Brands Conference in Vancouver, the first ever! First ever Connecting Bloggers and Brands Conference in Vancouver AND first ever blogging related conference for me.

I’ve been at this for about 6 years now and never really thought of myself as a blogger, weird right? I’ve always thought of the Children’s Directory as just that a web based directory of services and events. Sure we have content, great content for that matter and fantastic contributors and sponsors who have always stood by us, but I still never really thought of the website itself as a blog.

I have wanted to share more personally and write more content for the site myself and have been working at developing some pieces that I hope will entertain, inform and keep you coming back for more! My issue has been that I don’t like talking about myself or my child or my family on the internet…I’m not over that tiny little issue yet but I think after meeting the people that I met yesterday at the Connecting Bloggers and Brands Conference I have a better idea of the direction I want to go! SO you can call it a bit of a breakthrough if you like and there will be some changes a coming! Good changes I hope and if not I really do want you to tell me!

That being said I would like to invite you right here, right now to tell me what you like about the Children’s Directory and what you don’t. What would you like to see more of, what are we missing, what do we do that you think we should stop?

Thank you to the great organizers, ambassadors and brands who were at the conference and shared information that made that light bulb finally turn on!

If you’re writing a blog yourself, I would recommend attending a conference or two to get out there and network a bit. It’s not nearly as scary as I thought it would be! Some great resources and connections can be made if you step away form the computer!

Here are some other awesome local sites you should visit:

Kristy from I Just Had to Laugh and Twell Media a multi talented local mom of 2 who has been writing and designing for years as Twell Media but she has recently launched her new project “I Just Had to Laugh” a blog dedicated to your funny parenting stories that may not have been that funny at the time (like when you accidentally put breast milk on your hubbies cereal and only realized it after he was nearly finished eating…oops) but now when you look back on that moment in time you bust a gut laughing. Well this is the place for you to share those stories!

Sarah goes by the Twitter handle @BentoMomma and she is busily blogging on More Than Your Average Mom. We have tons in common such as our mutual love of purses, shoes, and Starbucks  which would naturally lead to being heavily caffeinated at all times! I am so glad we crossed paths and you should definitely stop by her blog and peruse her posts! Here’s a favorite of mine, a great breakfast idea,  that I plan to test out one morning, maybe even this weekend! (usually I try to stay out of the kitchen…I think I’m allergic, but this looks easy enough and might even impress someone! Who am I kidding, if I boil water it’s impressive, THIS will get me some sort of award!)

I spotted Eschelle yesterday and knew immediately that I would like her! She has amazing energy, an outgoing personality and great style! Her blog Mumfection is funny, easy to read and will certainly entertain. I will be sure to check in with her every Monday now that I have discovered #ManCandyMonday!

There were so many great women and men in one place it was almost overwhelming! These are just a few of the great local bloggers that I had the pleasure of spending the day with, go visit them, let them know we love them! (I’ll mention everyone else I met soon!)