It’s a flat out fact that reading makes your kids smarter. It increased their vocabulary and creativity at the same time. To encourage your child to read, Scholastic is giving one winner 4 books tailored for their child. A great value and a great thing you can do for your kid by encouraging a little summer reading in-between school sessions;)

Right now, you child can enroll in the Summer Reading program and log the books they’ve read.  I think there are around 70,000 books logged from children reading everywhere!!!  YAY for them!  For every 4 books your child reads and logs, Scholastic will donate a book to the Room to Read program which donates books and sets up libraries in developing countries.  AWESOME!  What a great incentive….your kids will learn that by reading and logging their books, they are helping those in need.

I met several lovely ladies from the various companies like Leapfrog, Vtech, and Scholastic.  In fact, Amanda was super nice and I had the pleasure to sit by her during the Rocco lunch:) Oh, and we have a Scholastic giveaway coming soon!

Me and Amanda from Scholastic:)

I also met Emily Post, author of the most wonderful set of children’s books ever!  Oh she has other books too but I would love to have had the manners book for little ones.  I really met to buy it before I left and completely forgot.  She’s absolutely delightful and it was an honor to meet her.

Me and Emily:)

As great as the Blogher food was, it was nice to get out of the hotel and eat at my own diner.  Yeah, I’m everywhere over there including the airport!  What?  You didn’t know I had a chain??  Well, duh!  I’ve got pictures to prove it:)

Me and my diner:)

Me and my menu!

So I was asked by a gal earlier if I felt intimidated at all by anyone and my answer is yes.  The three people that I wanted a picture with but didn’t even approach, were Megan from Velveteen Mind, Bossy from i am bossy, and yes…Erin from Queen of Spain.  Why didn’t I approach them?  I don’t know really.  Maybe it was the fact that every time I saw Megan, she wasn’t smiling and I was afraid it was a “bad time”.  Maybe this short and fat girl didn’t want to stand next to Bossy’s beauty & grace.  And Erin, well…..I’m not sure how to take her.  Do you judge by things you hear?……no…..would I sound stupid talking to her in my ol’ Texas accent and if not, what would I even say to her.  These were just some of the things that kept me from approaching these people.  Maybe another day, another time.

So the highlight of the weekend?  Hmmmm, there were so many great things and VERY fun times but I would have to say it was Heather’s words at the closing keynote.  Not ’cause she’s the famous Dooce but because what she said made so much sense.  It made me sit back and think about what kind of relationship I want to have with my readers, as well as the friends & family that read my blogs.  She’s this famous, wealthy woman that treats you like you’re her best friend.  She doesn’t act all high and mighty, she’s real.

She said something that I loved.  She said that she reads every single comment, backlink, etc.  She said that if we the readers can take the time to comment or reference her, it’s her job to read every single one of them.  Even though she doesn’t always respond, she reads them.

This is exactly how I feel.  I may not always respond but I am ALWAYS reading your comments, your blogs, and thinking about you.  I hope you all know that!

Thank you Heather for reminding what’s most important.

That’s it about Blogher.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna finally get some rest.  My brain is fried, my body hurts, and my big toes are still numb from wearing high heels at the Macy’s party.  If any of you are trained from one of those massage therapy schools, please drive to Sweetwater, TX and give me a massage.  I desperately need one;)