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#BlissDom12 Conference Blog Recap – Part 1

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My BlissDom12 program, badge and journal

It’s been a week since I attended BlissDom 2012 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Since then I have been marinating in the beauty and memories of the amazing conference and community.  In the midst of all of this marinating, I was able to:

  • ease back into my daily life with insights gained from Jeannette Kaplun’s session on Living (and Embracing) the Best of the Life You Have Created for Yourself (thank you Jeannette for reminding me to choose joy, grace, gratitude, ease, acceptance, forgiveness, and peace!),
  • go grocery shopping and pay the monthly bills,
  • wash my clothes and watch Young and the Restless, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, and Revenge (yep I am a soap opera lover),
  • put my luggage and BlissDom swag away,
  • wear some of my BlissDom swag like my Lisa Leonard silver “bliss” necklace,
  • drink water out of my BlissDom swag cup from the Croc company,
  • re-gift some of the BlissDom swag,
  • share conference highlights with family and friends,
  • do a mental check-in with myself about my 2012 vision and mission statement as it relates to my personal brand based on the work I did during Tami Heim’s session on Branding You: The Merger Between Their Perception and Your Reality (thanks Tami for preparing me for this amazing work I am called to do this year!),
  • review my conference session notes and aha moments in my journal and determine what parts I will include in the last chapter of my upcoming Digital Sisterhood book,
  • post my conference photos on Flickr and write a narrative about most of my favorite moments,
  • add my photos to the BlissDom photo group on Flickr so others can see them,
  • record and tweet four Cinchcast audio blog recaps about some of the conference sessions I attended and things I learned,
  • follow and read the #BlissDom & #BlissDom12 Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and blog posts written by my fellow BlissDom digital sisters and brothers,
  • watch the opening conference videos from BlissDom 2012 and BlissDom 2011 (these videos really inspire me),
  • embrace my visual voice by visiting a new video web site and creating a short video with music (thanks Diane Cu for your amazing conference session on Storytelling and Embracing Imperfection: Empower Your Visual Voice with Photography and Video), and
  • write this blog (which is part one of my BlissDom 2012 Conference Recap series).

What fun I have had!  And there’s more blog posts with photos and audio blogs to come in the next days and weeks.  In the meantime, check out the links to my Flickr photos and audio blog recaps on Cinchcast below. Enjoy!

Me sitting on the floor with the BlissDom conference arrow for the Girls Night In Event with Oprah and the OWN Network

1) BlissDom Flickr photos

2) Cinchcast Audio Blog Recap #1 discusses the meaning of BlissDom (includes an acronym I created to explain BlissDom).

3)  Cinchcast Audio Blog Recap #2 discusses the PichaGlobal.com business by and for women that offers social good and photography opportunities in a sharing community.

4) Cinchcast Audio Blog Recap #3 discusses the takeaways I received from Jeannette Kaplun‘s session on Living (and Embracing) the Best of the Life You Have Created for Yourself.

5) Cinchcast Audio Blog Recap #4 discusses the takeaways I received from Diane Cu’s session on Storytelling and Embracing Imperfection: Empower Your Visual Voice with Photography and Video.

Ananda is speaking about Pinterest during 3/1 SistaSense Power Circle Telesummit for Web Entrepreneurs

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Great news! I will be speaking about “New Media Marketing: Understanding Pinterest” at the SistaSense Power Circle Telesummit for Web Entrepreneurs on March 1 from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET.  The Telesummit features 12 sessions with amazing speakers.  Check out the fantastic video.  Click here to learn more about the all-day event. You will also need to register and pay $45 (early registration fee) for the event. It is a great investment! Many thanks to LaShanda Henry for including me in her SistaSense Telesummit series.

2/29 Update: Here’s a link for my Pinterest resource board for my talk on understanding Pinterest. Enjoy!

http://pinterest.com/anandaleeke/ananda-s-3-1-understanding-pinterest-talk-for-sist/

Ananda’s #BlissDom12 Conference Pinterest Treats for BlissDom Attendees: Fierce Living From Your Creative Heart

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Ananda's 2012 Creative Heart Mantra Statement

The #BlissDom12 Conference is two days away.  I AM SO EXCITED!!! It’s my first BlissDom experience!  I am gonna have big fun meeting new people, seeing old blogging friends, networking with brands, hanging out at the great events, listening to the keynote speakers, and learning a lot about video and photography from some amazing speakers.  I am also facilitating a workshop session on “Fierce Living from Your Creative Heart” on February 24 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm.

Happy to be going to BLISSDOM
In preparation for the session, I created a Pinterest board with 40 different pins that include photos, images, videos, and links to creative inspiration and information that I hope will encourage my workshop attendees to open their hearts and embrace fierce living.  Each pin includes a question that invites reflection and comments.  To learn more about what’s on my #BlissDom12 Fierce Living from Your Creative Heart Pinterest Board, click here to listen to my Cinchcast audio blog.  Feel free to check out my board and leave a comment.  If you are unable to attend my session and/or #BlissDom12, you can still use my Pinterest board as a source of inspiration in your creative life Enjoy!
Love's Troubadours by Ananda Leeke

PS: I will be signing copies of my novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One on February 25 at 11:00 am at the Barnes & Nobles booth at BlissDom. If you are in Nashville, drop by.  Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.com.

So excited that it’s Social Media Week DC!

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Photo Credit; Social Media Week DC

Today marks the launch of the Social Media Week DC (the very first one), a week-long series of events featuring panels, workshops, Twitter chats, and parties. iStrategyLabs is the chief organizer of Social Media Week DC (#smwwdc – folks have also used #smwdc on Twitter).

When I looked at the schedule last week, I discovered so many amazing events.  I decided to check out a few events that really spoke to my interests.  Here’s what I plan to check out.

Are you planning to attend any Social Media Week DC events?

If you live outside of DC, are you going to any Social Media Week events in your local area (they are hosted in several big cities)?

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your week!

Remembering Digital Sister Susan Niebur, One of My #DSFierceLiving Sheros

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Susan Niebur speaking @ Be Blogalicious, The Movie event, Jan. 2011

This morning I dedicated my yoga practice to Susan Niebur, an amazing digital sister and #dsfierceliving shero who inspires me tremendously.  After yoga, I wrote in my journal and discovered I was writing the dedication page for my book, Digital Sisterhood.  Susan’s name appeared.  Here’s why.

I heard Susan share her breast cancer journey at BlogHer in New York City in August 2010.  Click here to watch a video of her talk.  Her words moved my spirit.  They made me think of my two grandmothers who lived with breast cancer.  When I returned home from BlogHer, I started following her blog, Toddler Planet and became inspired by her fierce living spirit, heart, and courage.  She quickly became one of my digital sister sheros.

In January 2011, I met her in person at the Be Blogalicious movie event in Silver Spring, Maryland (photo above was taken of Susan at the event).  That was a game changing moment because I had a chance to tell her how much I was inspired by her BlogHer talk and blog.

In October 2011, I listened to Susan share her journey at the Blogalicious Conference held at the National Harbor in Maryland. Later in the day, I was able to hug her and say how much I appreciated her story and work.  Susan made her transition on February 6.  Her hug is now a priceless gift I will always treasure.

Through Susan’s blog, I was able to witness the power of how one woman used social media to document and share her health journey, build community with like-minded people, give and receive support, and promote breast cancer awareness.  She caused me to look for other women who were doing similar things with social media.  I found plenty.  These women along with Susan inspired me to dedicate Digital Sisterhood Month 2011 to women’s health.

I am so grateful for the presence of Susan in my social media life.  Her fierce spirit, heart, and courage will always be remembered. Today I am sending love and light to her husband, sons, family, and friends.  She will be deeply missed.

Visit  her Toddler Planet blog to learn more about her amazing life and journey.

PS: Join Digital Sisterhood Network on February 8 for a special #DigitalSisterhood Wednesday Twitter tribute to Susan.  Follow @digitalsisterhd and check out the #dsfierceliving Pinterest board.

Happy Friday!

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Ananda writing!

Happy Friday!

January sure has been a quick month! It’s been filled with lots of rest, play, fun, and work for me …. writing, revising, dreaming, brainstorming. I call it the Dragon Year of Fierce Living. Dragon Year comes from Chinese New Year (started on 1/23). My family celebrates it on Sunday! I am also a dragon! Yep I was born the year of the dragon and nicknamed Puf the Magic Dragon as a child.

Check out the new look of AnandaLeeke.com. Let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance. Enjoy the rest of January and have a fabulous February!

PS: Check me out on #Digitalsisterhood Wednesdays via @digitalsisterhd on Twitter in February.  Each Wednesday Digital Sisterhood Network is going to have a #DSFierceLiving discussion you don’t wanna miss!

Watch video of Ananda speaking about Digital Sisterhood at Ignite DC

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Ignite DC logo

I just learned that Ignite DC posted a video my “Digital Sisterhood for DC Women Entrepreneurs” talk on Blip TV.  It was given on October 20, 2011. Click on the link to watch the video. http://blip.tv/ignitedc/ananda-leeke-presents-at-ignite-d-c-8-5736296.

Here’s the link to the SlideShare presentation (it was updated with additional slides on October 24, 2011).  http://www.slideshare.net/anandaleeke/digital-sisterhood-for-dc-women-entrepreneurs-9865081

What do you think about the video and presentation?

Thanks for your comments!

 

What were your top 40 moments of 2011?

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2011 was an intense year for me.  So many great things happened. So many lessons were learned. Each person and experience made me who I am today.

As I look back on 2011, some of my greatest experiences were from my work with the Digital Sisterhood Network. Click here to listen to my audio blog that provides my top 40 Digital Sisterhood moments in 2011 (1 hour 11 minutes).

Check out some of my photos below.

1) Traveling to Haiti as the Heart of Haiti Blogger Ambassador with a group of dynamic group of digital sisters in February

Heart of Haiti Digital Sisters

Heart of Haiti Digital Sisters

Heart of Haiti Digital Sisters

Heart of Haiti Digital Sisters

Heart of Haiti Digital Sisters
2) Speaking about Digital Sisterhood for DC Women Entrepreneurs at Ignite DC #8 in October

Digital Sisterhood at Ignite DC #8

Digital Sisterhood at Ignite DC #8Digital Sisterhood at Ignite DC #8

Digital Sisterhood at Ignite DC #8

3) Speaking at the Blogalicious/Black Public Relations Society of DC Meet-Up in September

Blogalicious/Black Public Relations Society DC Meet Up

4) Attending the Blogalicious Weekend Conference with lifestyle blogger Kamaria T. Richmond, the 2011 Digital Sisterhood Network Blogger-in-Residence at the Gaylord National Hotel in October

Digital Sisterhood at Blogalicious

5) Meeting my BlogHer roommate Lilian Chang, founder of ChineseGrandma.com at the BlogHer Conference in August

Digital Sisterhood at BlogHer

Ananda is speaking at #BLISSDOM12 on 2/24 @ 2:30 pm — Fierce Living from Your Creative Heart

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BLISSDOM logo
Happy to be going to BLISSDOM

Great News!  I am headed to BLISSDOM on February 23-25!  I have been wanting to attend this social media conference for years!  Why?  Because it represents Fierce Living to the MAX!!!!!  They have amazing speakers all of the time!  They celebrate joie de vivre and call it BLISS (which is the meaning of Ananda in Sanskrit)!  I also love the spirit and work of Alli Worthington, Barbara Jones, and the entire BLISSDOM team!

Guess what? I will be speaking about Fierce Living, my new favorite passion and 2012 life theme during BLISSDOM.  The topic of my writing session is “Fierce Living from Your Creative Heart.”  It will be held on February 24 from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.  See the description below.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

Calling all creative women!  You know who you are Ms. Artist, Collage Maker, Crafter, Dancer, Dramatic Performer, Musician, Painter, Photographer, Poet, Sculptor, and Ms. Writer.  When’s the last time you allowed yourself the space to dream, imagine, and create something that inspired a deep feeling of peace, play, and fulfillment?  Wait no more. During this session, you will have an opportunity to explore your inner women (also known as archetypes or personalities) and the role they play in your creativity through mindful writing exercises and discussion.  The takeaways include ways to tap into your inner women’s intuition, imagination, and nurturing energy as “fierce living” growth opportunities for 2012 and beyond.

FYI — Join #DSFierce Living Conversations on #DigitalSisterhood Wednesdays

The 2012 theme of Digital Sisterhood Network (DSN) is “Fierce Living.”  As the DSN founder, I define Fierce Living as,

“the mindful practice of unplugging, understanding, and unifying who I am online and offline from the inside out so I am able to express myself fully in my healthy living journey, Digital Sisterhood book writing, art, and work as a coach, digital media producer, yoga teacher, and innerpreneur.”

My mother Theresa and Oprah Winfrey are two of my Fierce Living sheroes because they remind women we are stronger than we know.

DSN recognizes that fierce living means different things to different people. That’s why we are hosting #DSFierceLiving conversations on Facebook, Pinterest, Survey Monkey, and Twitter on #DigitalSisterhood Wednesdays in 2012.

Here are four ways you can participate.

1) LIKE Digital Sisterhood on Facebook, visit the page on #DigitalSisterhood Wednesdays, and share what you are doing to make fierce living a reality in your daily life.

2) Create a #DSFierceLiving 2012 board on Pinterest and share what fierce living looks like in your life. Cross post your Pinterest link on Digital Sisterhood Facebook page. Also, tweet the link on Twitter with the hashtag #DSFierceLiving. DSN will retweet it. Click here to check out Ananda Leeke’s #DSFierceLiving Board on Pinterest.

3) Follow @Digitalsisterhd on Twitter and participate in #DigitalSisterhood Wednesdays by tweeting your favorite digital sisters. Tweet about your acts of fierce living by using the hashtag #DSFierceLiving.

4) Participate in #DSFierceLiving 2012 Conversation on Survey Monkey by answering six easy and fun questions about your fierce living definition, sheroes, and inspirational music.

LINKS: