Get to know Bonnie Upright

I am very excited to have PR Specialist, Bonnie Upright speaking at our event this year.  She came highly recommended and we are very lucky she agreed to join the 2012 presenter team.

Bonnie is the owner of Upright Public Relations and has a highly impressive resume working with corporate and non-profit organizations including  Child Guidance Center, One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa, 927 Events, Drayton Florence Foundation, Mike Peterson Foundation and Micah’s Place.

"With a blend of experience in advertising, public relations and emerging media and a gift for imaginative ideas, Upright Public Relations brings a unique perspective to clients’ communications challenges. Strategic planning, savvy communication and established media relationships are the cornerstones of our public relations and event campaigns.

With a knack for getting people to talk about your business or event in a POSITIVE way, and an enthusiastic passion for new ideas and collaborative partnerships, Upright PR can help your organization strengthen relationships with your customers, your employees and your supporters/fans."

You'll love her humerus tweets and great tips she shares daily on Twitter.  We are all in for some great advice when it comes to public relations strategies and tactics, how to grab the media's attention, and knowing the difference and similarities of PR and social media.

Get to know The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck

We are so very excited to have The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck at our event this September!

With flavors such as Orange Cream Dream, the very popular- Peanut Butter Choco-Rama, and Lemonata, no wonder The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck is a favorite with the locals.  Their menu is filled with amazing choices and is updated monthly.  If you are vegan or prefer gluten free cupcakes you're in luck!  The Lady Bird, their gluten-free option, is my favorite!  Oh, and even more amazing news, The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck offers catering.

With over 10,000 followers online alone, Joey and Alex know a thing or two about local business success.  This fall, the owners of the infamous cupcake truck will be sharing their story and tips on how they have excelled as a local business.  The Blog Fete attendees are in for one sweet treat!

Not a Blog Fete attendee but want to see what all the Yum Yum fuss is about?  Head over to their site for the current menu and find out where the truck is going to be this week!  

Become fans of the Yum Yum Truck: Website. Facebook.  Twitter.

What to Wear: Mix and Mingle

Are you getting excited for Blog Fete?  If you have already purchased your ticket you may be wondering what to pack.  The two main portions of the event are a Mix and Mingle, held on Friday night out by the pool, and the conference on Saturday.  The Mix and Mingle will give you a chance to get to know the other attendees in a casual way but will also be where first impressions are made.  While you don't need to dress to impress, show these gals who you are.  Let "you" shine through.  And don't forget that Orlando is quite warm this time of year (mid 90's people!) so keep that in mind! 

1. Dress . H&M $19.95

2. Necklace . Chiky $34

3. Bracelet . Meliora $12 . Jewelry by Carmal $34 . Melinda Maria $60

4. Clutch . Gigee Marie $36

5. Sunglasses . Coach $158

6. Wedges . Maki Uehara Tokyo $115

7. Card holder . Gifts for Pros $16.25

Meet Event Sponsor- Sassy Lemonade

We are thrilled to announce another one of our event sponsors, Sassy Lemonade.

Sassy Lemonade is a shop dedicated to several collections of fun jewelry and also specializing in "bringing out your Sassy side".  I adore her work and sweet personalty.  From chic floral designs to all things nautical, Sassy Lemonade has your accessorizing covered and at a great price! The Blog Fete attendees are in for a special surprise.  

Visit our lovely sponsor and order yourself an item or two...

Etsy. Blog. Facebook. Twitter. 

Meet Melissa Chambers Creator of Blog Fete

Melissa Chambers is the creative talent behind the blog, Truly Chic Inspirations, and the mastermind behind Blog Fete.  She has created a conference that will motivate, educate and connect like-minded bloggers.  Let's find out a little more about her and why she started this amazing event.     

Melissa at a Glance

Style of your wedding - traditional

Favorite past time - blogging or chillaxing pool side

Favorite song - Decode by Paramore

Sports Fan? - Yep!

Favorite movie - Casablanca

Daily blog reads - A Sweet Spot Home, Cupcakes and Cutlery, A Beautiful Mess, Pizzazzerie and 79 Ideas

Tea Party styled shoot

What drew you to blogging and how did Truly Chic Inspirations start?

I've always had a love for all things parties and have planned events for family and friends for years!  After stalking one of my favorites sites, Pizzazzerie, for awhile I thought I would give it a shot. Of course there is always a learning curve with trying things out solo but it has been beyond worth it.  I've gained more motivation and drive than I thought I possessed.  Truly Chic Inspirations, which I refer to as Truly Chic, has brought the most amazing opportunities my direction.  2 years later I couldn't be happier with my decision to give it a whirl. 

Owl Always Love You styled shoot

How have you seen blogging change since you started?

I've noticed a variety of social media platforms created and supportive groups formed as well.  The online blogging community is such an amazing, evolving, and supportive community. 

What is your favorite part about blogging?

I tend to call it my happy place.  It truly makes me happy and motivates me to stay on my path to reach my goals.  Blogging has also connected me with some amazing ladies I now call friends.  I love meeting new people and have been lucky enough to get to know the faces behind my favorite sites on a personal level. 

From the Dreamers In to Doers Florida Meet and Greet

What prompted you to want to put together a blogging conference to help others learn?

I wanted to get to know others who blog so for the last 2 years I have arranged meet and greets for the local gals here in Florida.  They turned out to be much more than I expected and everyone left each meet up inspired.  After attending the Dreamers Into Doers event in NYC this year I felt motivated enough to take the meet and greets to the next level.  I had many questions for those who have accomplished so much and found out most bloggers want to know the same "secrets".  Just a month after being home from my NYC experience, Blog Fete was a dream that I knew would help many, including myself, if I could pull it off.  With assistance from The Flair Exchange and Intrigue Design Studio, Blog Fete quickly went from a dream to reality and a date was set!  

Is Blog Fete geared towards party planning blogs or will others who attend gain valuable information as well?

Although a few of our presenters have a party background the conference was created with a variety of bloggers in mind.  From beginning bloggers to foodies, Blog Fete will bring valuable information to all of us.  The conference will be a relaxing environment with Q&A time and an open forum to wrap up the day for all the attendees to ask those burning questions.  

What are you most excited about at the conference?

I'm eager to hear each presentation and even more anxious to meet the attendees!  I'm looking forward to one on one time with everyone. 

Be sure to buy your tickets soon so you don't miss out on the chance to attend this awesome conference.  Don't forget to say "hi" to Melissa! 

Who is Carrie Sellman?

We are beyond excited to have Carrie Sellman of Half Baked - The Cake Blog, as one of our speakers!  

Carrie Sellman's blog, Half Baked, is the well known, go-to site for dessert inspiration.  Covering everything from dessert tables to fancy cakes, this site is full of sweet discoveries and includes submissions by today's top bakers. 

Carrie's background in cake design makes her a natural at creating compelling content and keeps her in the forefront of magazine editors (both print and online) everywhere.  A cross country move meant shutting down her specialty cake business but allowed her to put more focus on the blog and creating unique cakes for styled photo shoots. 

Carrie has been featured in numerous publications and we are lucky to have her sharing some valuable knowledge about how to get noticed and featured.  There is no lack of content on the web, but how do you stand out from the crowd and get editors to want to know more?  Carrie's experiences will help direct your efforts so you aren't just spinning your wheels. 

This hard working mom will be sharing information she had to learn on her own saving you the stress and frustration that can often come along with growing your brand visibility.  We can't wait to hear her tips and spend some time with this inspiring woman.