Pea of Sweetness

Fun at the Care Bears Brunch at #BBNYC

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One of the amazing events I got to attend at Blogger Bash was the Care Bears Brunch. It was the first event of the conference and such an amazing way to kick it off! Seriously, my first day, and I get a photo op with Funshine Bear? Love it!
Fun with Funshine Bear Care Bears Brunch
Of course, the Care Bears Brunch was so much more than just a chance to hang out with Funshine. We got to learn about so many great Care Bears products, eat a delicious brunch, learn more about what’s coming up this year for Care Bears, and was introduced to an amazing young woman who has really been making a difference in her community and beyond!
Care Bears Brunch Blogger Bash
I have loved Care Bears since I was little, and I really do feel like their message has made such a great impact. I love that they’re not only still making a difference, but their presence is still so strong! We not only got to learn about some of the current Care Bears products, but got a great swag bag with them including a gorgeous exclusive Funshine Bear figurine. It’s so sparkly! I love it!
Exclusive Funshine Bear
Plus, did you know you can make a Care Bear at Build-A-Bear? So cute! Care Bears have such an impact and are so recognizable that it’s been a huge hit! I know it’s on our list for the upcoming holiday season! What could be more special that something you make specially for someone you have in mind?
*Special Tip: For those that may not know and have special needs children like ours, did you also know you can take a bag of Poly Pellets with you to add to your bear as well for a comforting weighted plush?*

Care Bears Brunch – Care Bears Kid Ambassador

Care Bears Kid Ambassador
Photo Credit: Blogger Bash
I was so blessed by the story of the Care Bears Kid Ambassador, Jessica Carscadden. She created an organization called We Care Bears which helps first responders give plush toys to children in unbearable situations all over the country. It’s helpful for both the first responders and the children they comfort. Jessica is so generous that she and her mother even donated the Care Bear plush decor from the Care Bears Brunch to the local police station while in New York City!
I definitely recommend visiting We Care Bears and learning more about how you can help. You can even organize a bear drive in your own community!
Additionally, I’d love to introduce another cause that is close to this generous family’s heart. They are gathering funds to adopt a new member of the family! Please take a look at (and share!) their YouCaring page to learn more the Carscaddens’ mission to welcome Jentry into their loving home! They have done so much for others. I’d love to see their family reach their goal and bring Jentry home!

Share Your Care Day

Share Your Care Day
Additionally, I got to take the Care Bears Ambassador oath and become a Care Bear Ambassador! I’m so excited to help support the Care Bears’ mission and bring you the latest information and news. First, I would like to start with giving you a heads up on National #ShareYourCare Day! It’s coming up on September 9th and everyone is encouraged to #ShareYourCare. We will be encouraged to go above and beyond in showing care through various ways. Not to mention it’s a great way to encourage our kids to do so as well! Stay tuned because I will be sharing more details as well as some suggestions for how you can #ShareYourCare closer to the date!
Be sure to check out Care Bears & Cousins on NetFlix!
Care Bears Ambassador

Connect with Care Bears

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube
The Care Bears Brunch was a blessing in so many ways, and I am so excited to be a Care Bears Ambassador! Do you have a favorite Care Bear?
 

Blogger Bash Takeaways from a First Timer!

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Blogger Bash Logo
So you may have seen on social media that I was in New York City last week for Blogger Bash, and I’ve been eager to share my Blogger Bash takeaways. It was a lot of “firsts” for me:

  • First time going to a conference specifically for bloggers. I’ve been to a few different conferences as a blogger, but they weren’t specifically for bloggers.
  • First time in New York City. Seriously. That alone was a whole lot of “first” experiences! lol Stay tuned because I’ll be posting about my experience in the big city as well!
  • First time on a boat for a conference.
  • First time sharing a room with someone I had only talked to online. The good news is, she is awesome. So is her blog! Be sure to check her out at Mommy by the Sea.
  • First time at a wax museum. It was slightly creepy, but also really cool!
  • First time on a bus tour, which was so much more than a bus tour! Did you see my videos on Instagram?!
  • First time staying in a room with an adjustable bed.

OK, there is probably more, but I’m sure you get the idea. I may have lived near a couple of big cities over the years, but I am definitely still a country girl!
There is really SO much I could share about Blogger Bash NYC! I’d love to share my experience at the Care Bears Brunch, Sweet Suite, Babypalooza, New Products Expo, etc., but if I tried to cram it all into one post it would be WAY too long (and you’d probably get bored). So, I’ll be sharing more about each (including some of my favorite products) in subsequent posts. To make them easy to find I’m also going to link them to this post when they’re complete!

Blogger Bash Takeaways

Blogger Bash Takeaways
I got to connect with some amazing bloggers and brands (and even won some amazing prizes), but there is so much more to Blogger Bash. It truly is an awesome experience! Here are my top Blogger Bash Takeaways:

  • Be confident in what you do and what you offer. I am a bit timid and a lot socially awkward, but that’s OK. With encouragement and advice from other bloggers, I went in there with confidence knowing who I am and what I offer is valuable. We have quite a complex family with special needs and medical issues, but that’s what makes Pea of Sweetness unique.
  • Know your elevator pitch. This kind of relates to the point above, but it’s really important. (Probably even more so if you’re socially awkward like myself.) When someone asks you “what is your blog about?” have an answer ready. Know that answer, practice that answer, and be confident in that answer.
  • Expand your network. I think we all fall into a “comfort zone.” We stay in the same network groups even if we get that nagging feeling there is more out there. Well, there truly is more out there. I connected with a handful of bloggers that are ideal for networking with as we fit each others’ niches. I found we’re even in some of the same groups, but I never thought to reach out and expand that circle.
  • People care about your success. Knowing all the work the organizers put into Blogger Bash is absolutely amazing. It is seriously a huge blessing. Knowing they take the time to put this all together for us shows that they care about our success. It’s easy to burnout and get overwhelmed in the blogging world. Knowing there are people who want to help can make a big difference!

Blogger Bash NYC Boat

Blogging Concentrated

Blogging Concentrated was just one part of Blogger Bash, but I had many Blogger Bash takeaways specifically from it. Although I probably could write an entire post about it, it fits so well with the “takeaway” topic that I wanted to share it here. The main thing I learned that really stuck with me is how I’m allocating my time. So often we think we need to be pushing out content, but what if that’s not the best use of our time? What about posts in our archive? Could we spice them up and push them out again?
Things around here have been absolutely crazy. I can’t even keep up with the posts I need to do let alone try to push out more evergreen content. I have a BUNCH of things in my archives from when I first started blogging and had a smaller audience. Although it takes time to revamp a post, I know that it may be a better use of my time than writing more original posts right now.
Plus, I have a nice long note of other ideas that were sparked to help me grow my blog (as well as my income). I didn’t get to sit through all of it because I was blessed with the opportunity to do The Ride, but in the time I was there I got so many great ideas and left feeling refreshed and inspired!

Blogger Bash NYC

I can’t say enough good things about Blogger Bash NYC! I was nervous about going. It’s a big city and I wouldn’t know anyone, and for me that is really intimidating. I had to save up some money and take a few days away in the midst of some craziness, but I am so glad I took those chances. I really did meet a lot of great brands and made some lasting connections with amazing bloggers. It was definitely worth it, and I can’t wait to go to Blogger Bash again next year for even more Blogger Bash takeaways!
Blogger Bash NYC
 

Other posts for Blogger Bash 2016

Fun at the Care Bears Brunch!