La Petite Chic

The Story Behind Pleepleus

Unless it's on HGTV, there are few shows that both Jon and I agree on. One of those shows happens to be Three Sheets, hosted by Zane Lamprey on the MOJO channel.  Don't be fooled though, we like it for completely different reasons.  Jon, of course, likes it for the drinking and I for the travel.

If you're a regular viewer of the show, you'll know that Zane never goes anywhere without his little stuffed monkey, Pleepleus.  Here's the story behind Pleepleus in Zane's own words:

"When I got engaged to my wife, we got engaged quickly.  We got engaged three weeks after our first date.  It was pretty awesome.  We're driving back (from Palm Springs), and I said, "We need to kind of get everything out in the open if we're engaged.  If there's any secrets, we need to get those out."  And then there wasn't anything, so I said, "Well, I have something.  I have to name my first-born Pleepleus; it's like a family thing."  And I was just trying to think of the weirdest Greek name or some obscurity that I could come up with.  And she's like, "OK.  Fine."  Probably six months later on my first Three Sheets trip I had to leave her behind and I opened my suitcase and there was this little stuffed monkey that said, "Mummy put me in here to take care of you.  Love, Pleepleus."  And so I took that monkey and I hid that monkey in in every scene to let my wife know that I was thinking about her." (quote via MOJO)

Okay, let's all pause for an AWWWW!!!  Better now?  Okay.

Jon has been wanting his very own Pleepleus for a long time now, but I wanted to give it to him when we would be apart.  Well, folks, that very rarely happens!  However, when I planned my trip to San Francisco for BlogHer, Jon decided that he would go to California as well, only he went to Los Angeles to visit one of our very best guy friends, Ying, who was one of the groomsmen in our wedding.  Last Thursday, I carefully tucked a Pleepleus monkey into Jon's suitcase, along with a card saying how much I would miss him and to take care of Pleepleus.  Shortly after I arrived at my departure gate, I called Jon to let him know that I made it.  He asked me if I had opened my carry-on yet, and Lord knows that I hadn't because I was afraid that I couldn't get it shut again!

Nonetheless, I tore into my carry-on after hanging up with Jon and found my very own little Pleepleus!  He was accompanied by two cards.  The first was a sweet, lovey-dovey one saying how much he was going to miss me and the second was a card congratulating me on my new baby!  It read, "Congratulations on your new Pleepleus!  He loves to drink and get into mischief.  If you get into trouble, just blame him!  Please take care of him.  I have enclosed $20 for drinks. Love, Jonny."  And true to his word, there was a crisp $20 bill enclosed.

I think it's time to pause for another aww.  AWWWW!!!

So the whole weekend, while I was missing my husband, and he was missing me, we were each taking pictures of ourselves with our own Pleepleus' and I, I was feeling just like the lyrics in that song, "Somewhere Out There", except rather than wishing on the same bright star, we each had a Pleepleus, and oh hell, yes, I realize I'm a dork, but gosh, do I love my husband! I've posted some of my favorite Pleepleus photos from the weekend below.

Pleeps Enjoying Some Baileys on the Airplane

Pleeps Dominating on the Beer Pong Table

Pleeps Enjoying a Slice of Pizza

And lest you feel left out by not having your own Pleepleus, Jon has created a page for him on Facebook and would really love for him to have more friends.  You can find him here: Pleeps Pleepleus

Why I Do What I Do

Now that I'm (almost) recovered from BlogHer, I figured it was about time that I wrote a complete recap of the weekend.

Obviously, I have to talk about my fabulous roommates first.  They were honestly all I could have asked for and more.  The day before I left, my dad said to me, "You're much braver than I am; I can't imagine rooming with complete strangers."  This is coming from a man who has spent the majority of his adult life traveling to hundreds of foreign countries as a NSA employee without any qualms.  My mother-in-law also said to me that she couldn't believe that I was doing this, probably in reference to my "in real life" shyness. 

But to me, there was no bravery involved.  Sure, I was a little nervous on Thursday morning when Jon dropped me off at the airport, but I really think those were more flying nerves than anything else. (Have I ever mentioned how much I hate to fly?)  More than anything, I was so excited to meet everyone in person, to hear their laughter and see their smiles and to just say "Hello, so you're the person I've been reading and exchanging e-mails with all this time!"  My roommates were genuine and funny and the type of girls that you would want in your closest circle of friends.

And the actual conference?  There was inspiration everywhere.  I think it took going to BlogHer to realize that there are all of these other women out there who love writing and sharing their lives as much as I do.  And that?  That makes me want to be a better writer.  It makes me want to have more meaning behind these words and to make more of an impact with these words.  And no, I'm not promising to be the best blogger you'll ever read, but I want you to want to read my words and to get something out of it.  I'll try, I promise.

One of the best things about the weekend was learning that I had something in common with all of my new (old?) bloggy friends, besides the obvious answer (blogging).  I learned that Slynnro, Ali and I all love a classic trench coat.  Raven and I are adventurous, and yes, we will come to the lesbian bar with you if you ask nicely.  (And Raven, I'm so sorry for kicking and elbowing you in bed all weekend!)  Kristie, Sarah and I are suckers for free schwag and will load our backs with bags to carry it all home. Kristie also makes a fabulous yoga buddy because she totally won't make fun of your ineptitude.  Sarah and I also share the evil, greened-eyed monster called Jealousy, but we're working on it, people! 

Jennie and I are most likely going to end up with children with the same first name and gosh darn it, we really just love our husbands to bits and missed them like crazy!  Kristin and I shared the same feeling of "Dude, am I the onlyperson who doesn't shop at Anthropologie?", but we shared the smarter, "Who cares, pass me a glass of wine!" sentiment as well.  It assured me to know that someone as brave as China-traveling Emily could get anxious in social situations just like me, and as usual, was amazed by her and fellow Exposaroonie Ashley's photos all weekend.  Speaking of Ashley, if you're ever feeling like buying a fancy DSLR was a mistake because you take crappy pictures, just let her take you on a photo tour of San Francisco and she will totally boost your ego by telling you that your pictures are good! 

I was so amazed and excited to meet Nanette in person and I even refrained from touching her oh, so cute pregnant belly; she's such a sweetheart that she probably wouldn't have even been annoyed with that!  I'm sad that I didn't get to spend more time with Jamie, since she was working the BlogHer desk, but she really is as lovely as she is on her blog.  Janet was so graciously nice and effortlessly chic (I want her haircut!), and I hope I didn't scare her away by always running up to her and saying "Hi, Janet!!" every time I spotted her.  And Katelin?   So gorgeous and one of those genuinely nice girls that could be friends with everyone.  I already said this on Elizabeth's blog, but her visit to our room with her husband and son made me realize that yes, I can totally handle having a boy and not a girl when Jon and I get pregnant because her son was such a joyful little person of all his own.

I know I've probably missed people, but I just had to link to all of those lovely ladies above because they all made my first BlogHer experience amazing.  I'm really lucky to have friends like them, and yes, I can totally call them my friends now that we've met in person!  To the BlogHer co-founders, thank you.  Thank you for bringing all of these talented women together and thank you for letting me be a part of it.  It was truly an experience I'll never forget.  And now for some photos...

Kristie, Me, Raven and Jennie (stolen from Kristie)

Cocktail Party at Ruby Skye with Katelin, Ashley, Emily, Me and Raven (stolen from Fling It Girl)

My lovely roomies, Kristie, Jennie and Raven in front of the Full House homes

My California twin, Sarah, and me with Grover!

Me and Pleepleus (I'll share that story tomorrow) (stolen from Raven) 

This Crazy Little Thing Called Blogging

Since my last post was inspired by several whiskey sours and a glass of red wine, I'm going to try to give you all a proper post on BlogHer.  The short story?  I am SO glad I came. 

I really hadn't been anxious about BlogHer at all until yesterday morning, when I really thought about the adventure I was about to embark on. What if all of these wonderful women that I've e-mailed and read and chatted with over the past year turned out to be people I didn't actually like once I met them in person?  I'm sharing a bed with one of them, for God's sake, so I would have a long weekend ahead of me if that were the case!  Thankfully, as soon as I met each and every one of them, I was immediately reminded why I consider these women friends.  They're charming, and funny and absolutely delightful. 

We've now lunched together, shopped together, drank together and learned together.  They didn't laugh at me when I was starstruck after introducing myself to Amalah (I was seriously giddy after meeting my blogging idol) and they understand why it was so very important to me.  I think that's what I've enjoyed most about BlogHer thus far.  In my life back in Virginia, I think it's considered somewhat unusual or ridiculous or even rebellious that I blog.  Here, blogging is our common bond.  Our need to write and share and read is what brings us together and it's awesome to receive so much support for this crazy, little thing that we all do.  And really, it's not considered so crazy here. 

Keep These in Your Back Pocket

Stolen from Jennie...

Things You Should Know About Me When We Meet at BlogHer:

1.  I'm quite petite (duh!) but usually counteract this by wearing at least 3 inch heels.  Please, none of the "Ohh, you're so cute!" that all us tiny girls get, thereby driving us crazy! 

2.  I curse like a sailor and was once told by a guy friend that he usually hates when girls swear, but he liked when I did because it actually sounded quite natural coming out of my mouth.  Whatever that's supposed to mean!  (In all reality, I usually reserve my bad words for when I'm around people I know really well, so unless I have a lot of cocktails, this probably won't come out).

3.  I bite my bottom lip when I'm nervous.  So yeah, I'll probably be biting my lip all weekend.

4.  I slipped down a flight of wet, wooden stairs two weekends ago, landed right on my bum, and I still can't sit right.  So if you see me slowly easing into a chair, don't fret, I don't have hemorrhoids, just a bruised bum.

5.  I tend to babble about really ridiculous things when first meeting a person, so don't mind me if I tell you about how heartbreaking it was when Goody stopped making rubberbands with the metal or that one time that I got in a fight with a girl at Universal Studios because she cut in line. 

6.  Err, yeah...about that.  Most people call me feisty.  I prefer passionate.  I try to keep it in check, but it's not always easy.  Napoleon Complex, what?

7.  Don't get me wrong though.  I tend to make friends with everyone, even if it's just for a few minutes in line at McDonald's or while sitting next to you at a concert.  I am totally my mother's daughter in that regard.

8.  I'm terrible with hair and mine usually ends up in a ponytail at the end of the day.  Even more so now that it's in that in-between/growing out stage.  I'm open to any and all pointers!

9.  I LOVE to dance. Please join me on the dance floor.  (Will there be a dance floor?)

10.  I'm always hungry.  I'll be the girl toting around the bag full of snacks.

I can't believe that at this time next week, I'll be meeting so many fabulous women at BlogHer!  I feel so unprepared--I haven't even started planning outfits!  And in case I haven't mentioned it already, I'm rooming with three wonderful women that I am so excited to meet: Jennie, Kristie and Raven.  Ahh, the excitement is building!