Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup (Plus More Swag)

To my many readers who aren’t bloggers: sorry my posts this week have been a bit blog-focused.  Hopefully you soaked up some inspiration from yesterday’s post about IDS12.  I promise that next week it’s back to fun in the townhouse as usual.  I just want to blog about blogging once more because, in addition to attending BlogPodium and checking out IDS12 last weekend, I also went to the Canadian Design Bloggers Meetup (organized by Vie of Verdigris Vie, and Daniella of Daniella Marie) and had a chance to mingle with fellow bloggers at Brassaii Restaurant and Lounge in Toronto.  PLUS I got to stand kind of near to some pretty fabulous people:

Cameron MacNeil, one of House and Home‘s senior design editors, gave us all a sneak peak into next month’s issue of Canadian House & Home (hint: there will be a lot of fun, invigorating use of colour).  He also chatted about the process of choosing submissions for his “Ask a Designer” feature.  Submissions with many clear photos are more likely of being chosen and sending a floor plan is an added bonus. 

House & Home‘s online editor, Lisa Murphy, also spoke and revealed that House and Home loves blogs!  Her enthusiasm was contagious, and also encouraging.

Coco + Kelley founder, Cassandra LaValle, shared her personal blogging experience and even revealed the ups and downs on her way to running a gorgeous blog and successful business.  Best takeaway tip: don’t create a post you aren’t completely happy with because it is better to take a day off if you need it and only deliver your best content to readers.  I was surprised she was so down to earth, and so modest!

Brian Gluckstein was the surprise guest and wowed everyone.  We all know he’s talented, but did you know he’s a fabulous public speaker as well?  He is so witty!  He revealed that he too loves blogs (and blogging), even though other aspects of technology confound him.  I can relate.

Between juggling my drink, handing out my business cards and keeping my annoying hair off my face, taking a lot of photos was simply too challenging.  But I did manage to find a few photos of the evening, with me in them! (This is for everyone who has written or commented, asking for more photos of me – I’m listening).

Let’s play spot the blogger.  In the first photo, all you can see of me is my oddly shiny hair (good lighting), polka dot dress, beloved new purse and the odd, show-and-tell kind of way I’m holding my business cards.

Photo by Alessia Lamonaca Via

My Daily Randomness

I actually won something in the draw!  Not the $1000 gift card to Ikea, fabulous Delta faucets or the many other drool-worthy prizes.  But I’m pretty excited about what I did win, because it is the gift that keeps on giving, as they say:

I won a subscription to Canadian House & Home magazine! It is a perfect prize for me because my mom bought a subscription when I bought my subscription to Canadian Style at Home, with the understanding we’d swap.  That never happened because one of us, not saying who, didn’t hold up her end of the bargain.

Photo by Alessia Lamonaca Via

The prizes were so fabulous because there was a great line up of sponsors: House and Home Magazine, Delta, Ikea, Cottonelle, CIL, Gluckstein Home and Aya Kitchens, so our swag bags were – again – pretty great:

I’ll be sharing the fruits of my blogging labour.  As a result of all this networking, I made some fabulous contacts and have some giveaways in the works!

Whether you are a blogger or not, do you enjoy networking?  Have any tips or tricks?