Blogalicious 2010 was AMAZING! 275 people registered to attend the three-day weekend conference held on October 8 to October 10 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Miami Beach. Yes it was on the beach and the weather was YUMMY! Check me out chill-axing in the lobby of the Ritz (see photo below)! It was relaxing, spa-like, luxurious, and beautiful all day and night long! The Ritz staff was great! I could actually live there! Does it show that I am a Ritz fan and aficionado?
I arrived in Miami on October 7. My flight was a late one. Mis hermanas de alma (soul sisters) Xina Eiland and Kety Esquivel picked me up from the Miami International Airport. The first night Xina and I stayed in the Marriott. We had a free room due to her Marriott points. It had an ocean view. So we slept with the terrace sliding door open to get the Miami Beach energy and ocean sounds all night long. It was juicy and relaxing. The next morning Xina and I got up really early and checked into the Ritz before the first general session of Blogalicious began.
While sitting in the lobby waiting for the registration desk to open, I used Cinchcast to give a pre-conference audio blog update. Click on link to listen: http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/99926. After I finished my audio blog I met one of my favorite bloggers Onica, founder of Europhoria Luv. We chatted for a few minutes before I asked her to do an interview about her blog, why she came to Blogalicious, and her definition of digital sisterhood. Click on link to listen: http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/99929.
Before the general session began I met one of my favorite Twitter digital sisters Jewel of The Tiny Jewel Box. We hit it off immediately and ended up sitting at the same table with Xina during breakfast. During our breakfast conversation, I learned Jewel is a DC native with an amazing sense of humor and style! Jewel allowed me to interview her about her blog and digital sisterhood. Click on link to listen to Jewel’s interview: http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/99939.
I thoroughly enjoyed the morning sessions on women of color in marketing, networking, and Latinas in social media. The open-mic lunch that Xina and I co-moderated was soulful and filled with digital sisterhood love. Click on link to listen to my audio blog update: http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/99985.
The first day of Blogalicious was really special because I connected with new friends and reconnected with old friends. See the photos below.
Xina and I headed to the pool after lunch and chilled out in the warm Miami sun for a few hours. We made it to the evening reception at the Ritz’s beach club. That was a lot of fun! During the reception, Ronnie and Lamar Tyler of BlackandMarried.com interviewed me for their Be Blogalicious documentary. I’m looking forward to seeing the film.
Xina loves Miami and has been many times. So she suggested we walk down the famous Lincoln Road for dinner at Sushi Siam. Yummy yummy yummy! See the photo below.
I ended the evening at Kindred Family Soul’s concert and the Parranda! party. The first day of Blogalicious 2010 was a bloggy blast! Come back later this week for more posts on my Blogalicious 2010 adventures.
Ananda Leeke 