thoughtful thursdays: network.

i like to write these thoughtful posts when i'm feeling, um, thoughtful.  like today. 

it's been so long since i wrote a thoughtful post, i almost forgot how!  this iteration's pictures are the work of alaina of live creating yourself and danielle of breakfast at toast (see bottom of post). 

last thursday, i was given the opportunity to join a whole bunch of fabulous chicago bloggers at rockit for cocktails and good conversation (thanks again to danielle for setting it up!).  this was my second such event since i started a spot of whimsy.  the first time around, i was barely a month into blogging.  i was green.  and i was intimidated.   there are so many beautiful, inspiring, compelling blogs in the world, and i felt very much a nobody.    

but i went anyway.  and while yes, it was intimidating and i did feel like a newbie, i also started some blogger friendships that have continued to flourish through today. 

last week's event still gave me some butterflies, but it was the good kind.  the "i'm excited to meet some new people" kind.  this time, i'd been blogging for just over a year, learned a TON, and while still pretty much a nobody (lol), i felt more confident in myself. 

i am still an amateur at this in so many ways.  and that's why these meet-ups are so important.  it was like our own little blogger conference.  we bounced ideas off each other, discussed what we do or don't do, as the case may be.  (btw?  everyone is a HUGE fan of pinterest.  i knew it!).  

and what i've come to realize from these talks is that there is no right way to do things when it comes to blogging.  one girl gets tons of traffic from twitter, another hardly gets any.  the lesson i learn from occurrences such as this is: do what you want to do.  isn't that what being your authentic self means?  if you're on twitter, for example, solely to drive traffic to your blog?  you're on it for the wrong reasons.  

after all, we're supposed to be having fun.  and we hope that translates into fun for our readers.

 
it was a privilege to get to know the real faces behind the blogs.  i hate networking, and although i am technically building a network here, i don't hate this.  in fact, i'm already looking forward to the next event.  i hope they (and the ladies behind them!) continue to challenge me in a way that makes this a better space for my readers.

here's a pretty awesome list of chicago-based blogs:

Live Creating Yourself

Make Under My Life
Things That Sparkle
Curly In The City
The Dailey Dish
Chicago Cuisine Critique
Breakfast at Toast
Where the Sidewalk Begins
An Urban Cottage
This City Girl
A Lovely Escape
Chicago Quirk
Ashley Nicole Catherine
Mo Pie Please
101 Things I Love
Oliver's Inspired Mama

happy reading!

xo. di. 

*images 1, 3, 5, & 6 via danielle of breakfast at toast; images2, 4, & 7 via alaina of live creating yourself.