Here we go, just 1 week left to plan, pack and get ready to be traveling to New York City for Blogher 2010. If you are anywhere around twitter you can not help but see the constant mention of the up and coming conference. For many this is the furst trip to a conference based around blogging ever. Boy did you all pick one heck of a trip, NYC AND Blogher! memory maker for sure no matter if you are a 5 time seasoned veteran or a first timer.

I see the panic tweets about what to wear, what shoes to buy, what to pack, how to pack. Then there are the squeals of excitement over getting to see very good friends again come next week. I am so looking forward to seeing friends again and hugging them all and thanking them for their support this past 7 months. I am looking forward to the SESSIONS, there are topics I really want to sit in on, and will be doing my darnedest to get in the rooms for those breakout sessions.

I have friends speaking, friends organizing events, and friends coming to Blogher’10 as their first time to attend the Blogher conference. I have MomTV show hosts going live while we are there, and I am working on their schedules now in hopes they have a seamless live show from NYC.

For those who are traveling to their first EVER conference, right now take a deep breath, grab a pen and paper, and make your list of items you don’t want to forget.

1. Bussiness cards - you will want to exchange cards and give out your cards to new contacts
2. Pen and Paper – yep what if your laptop runs out of juice? What if you run out of cards?
3. A bag – laptop bag, backpack, large purse – you will want a bag to tote your needed items in. Now after last year, I won’t carry my laptop shoulder tote bag again to Blogher. I love it, I use it often, but my shoulder will enjoy the leather bag on WHEELS so much more this year.
4. A CAMERA! Please don’t travel w/o some sort of camera to capture these memories & moments
5. Clothes – now this doesn’t mean go spend 500$ on a new wardrobe. many of you are arriving on Thursday, so you will be traveling in an outfit (make it comfy, but one you don’t mind meeting that surprise PR rep in), then everything get’s going Thursday night. So you need an outfit to change into after you get settled into your room. Then you have Friday daytime sessions. you WILL walk all over the gosh darn place all day long. Dress for it, wear comfy shoes, skip those oh so cute high heels you don’t normally wear. Dress in layers too, yes it is summer, yes NYC gets on the warm side. Those session rooms, and event restaurants will have their AC blasting away though. Now you have Friday night (repeat of Thursday night party events) Saturday daytime is more of the same from Friday, and you wrap it up Saturday night. So think ahead, plan your comfy daytime wear now, pack 1 extra daytime outfit. Look at the RSVP’s you have and plan your evening attire now too. Then pack 1 extra. This will keep you from over packing and your back thanking you on the way home.
6. Pajamas! Some of the best networking, getting know you, and sharing I had was in my PJ’s last year at BOTH Blogher’09 and Type-A mom. So leave the ripped Tshirt and old sweats at home.
7. Snacks – it takes little room to toss in some granola bars or something similar, they are a great mid day pick me up.
8. Bathroom necessities – this is different for everyone, but pack sample sized, or get refillable travel size bottles for your needs. Don’t forget the airline rules on how much of any one liquid you are permitted to have in your carry on. No scissors, no nail files, no nail clippers in your purse or carry on, this also goes for razors.

Now with all of the private invite events, Blogher official parties and the official Blogher bag at check in too, you need to plan ahead on how you plan to bring things home with you. Go through the “swag” while there, and if it is something you won’t put to use be sure to recycle those items, Blogher’10 has even set aside a place for you to do it at! We are also traveling to NYC, plan to do some shopping while there? Want to grab a couple of early Christmas presents to take back home? Plan for it NOW. So you have your list from above all laid out, will it fit in a slightly SMALLER suitcase? If so pack the smaller bag and place it inside a larger roller suitcase. Now you have built in space to take things home with you in. Now one of the official sponsors also has you covered in case you don’t want to check 2 suitcases on the trip back home.

The Shipping Station Presented by Diet Pepsi: One of the biggest BlogHer dilemmas? How to get all your goodies home without buying another suitcase! Well never fear… We’re thrilled to bring the Shipping Station back to BlogHer this year. Come by on Saturday and we’ll help you package and ship all your conference booty back home.

So no matter how much or how little extra you have to take home with you, there are two options That I know works for me when traveling to and from the conferences.

Speaking of “swag” let’s remember we don’t need to fight over goodies, don’t get mad at someone for their private invite, be excited for them. Don’t turn into one of the “Gimmie Needy Greedy Monsters”. You want to be looked at by companies and PR reps, and your fellow bloggers in a good light, so remember that in the back of your mind while moving about at Blogher’10.

Sit down today and make a list for yourself the HAVE TO get done things before you can leave next week. Do you need to write a practice schedule for sports? How about writing a few posts to publish for you while away? Laundry wrap up before heading out? How about meals for the family while you are gone? Remember the easier you make things on the family for the time you will be away, the more supportive they will be of you and you blog. I have goto meals my family loves, and that I feel are no hassle to make. So Friday this week I will make lasagna, chicken enchiladas, and sheppard pie for them to have while I am away. These are meals that are easy to prep ahead, freeze, and to pull out and heat through. They also feed all 4 of us with left overs, so between the three meals they will have a left over night on Saturday. Think now, write out a plan of action, and put it into place so that come Sunday you are on auto pilot and ready to travel with out all of the stress of last minute planning/prepping.

I hope we get to meet while in NYC, please don’t not come up and say hi to me, even if I am deep in conversation with someone.