Disclaimer: I am writing this post in exchange for a discounted conference ticket; however, all opinions are mine.

Blogging is definitely a job where you learn something new everyday.  I started this blog over 5 years ago (CRAZY!) and I'm still learning.  There are many different types of bloggers and everyone has their own style.  I've never aimed to be the biggest or best blogger--but I aim to learn as much as I can!  I keep doing this to have fun, teach people a little something and make some money for my family.  Plus, I've met SO MANY great people from blogging.

Of all of the companies I work with, Social Fabric is one of my favorites.  They really take care of their bloggers.  Plus, they have a great website to teach you MORE about your job: SoFab University. The courses are FREE and you can take them at your own pace, usually around 20 minutes each.  Seriously, they are so helpful.  

Many non-bloggers don't quite get the importance of a conference.  There are a variety of large and small ones available to go to each year.  At BlogHer Food two years ago, I was able to meet and connect with so many brands and other writers.  It truly helps you stay on your A-game. 

Conferences can be super expensive to attend: flights, tickets, food, etc.  I truly appreciate smaller, local conferences that don't break the bank.  When I found out SoFabU On The Road was heading to Chicago on July 11, I knew I had to go!  Three hour drive in my favorite city? Yes, please! 

To be the best blogger you can be, there will be sessions on video, networking, sponsored posts and other learning opportunities.  Plus, the national sponsors are Müller, Kraft and iBlog.  You know they'll have something tasty and fun up their sleeve. Not a SoFab member yet? NO PROBLEM! 

Chicago is limited to 50 attendees and it's expected this to sell out! Early Bird pricing ends 6/12.

Will you be joining me in Chicago on July 11?! Leave a comment and let's connect!

Check out my Blogging Conference Tips, too! 

Visiting Chicago? Check out the World's Fair Exhibit at the Field Museum!

This past weekend, Ricky and I took a trip together to visit Chicago.  I love that we are only 2.5 hours away here in Michigan!  Instead of driving, we took the MegaBus (more on that later...) and it was nice to not have to worry about parking!

We stayed with my friend Cori and she lives within walking distance of the Field Museum.  It was so fun to wake up and see a quiet Chicago.  The only people on the sidewalks were runners of a Santa 5K.  I haven't been to the Field Museum since I was a teenager, so I was super excited!

Have you checked out the new World's Fair exhibit yet?  If you are close, make sure you do!  We learned SO much.  It will be running through September 2014, so you have plenty of time.

So much has changed since I have last visited the Field Museum.  Now there is an interactive Field Museum app which guides you through the museum with videos and extra information.  I used my iPad and it was so helpful...I just wish I had headphones!  Throughout the exhibits there are QR codes that you scan for extra tidbits of information.

Here are a few screenshots from the app.

To be honest, I really didn't know much about the World's Fair before visiting the exhibit.  I had no clue how large it was!  At the time, there were 67 million people in the country and 25 million people visited the Fair!  It was the first time many people were exposed to different cultures and information.  After the Chicago fire, the city had a rebirth with the Fair.  Over 200 new buildings were built!  People remorgaged their homes to visit from all over the country, and even the world!

This exhibit is called "opening the vault" since there are artifacts that have never been seen before.  Although the Field Museum wasn't built for the Fair, it was built later to commemorate the huge event.

What I found most interesting was the information about different cultures.  Whole groups of people from all over the world would set up a camp to be put on "display" so visitors of the Fair could experience other cultures--"travel" to faraway lands.  The downfall of this was that they were looked down upon.  Instead of highlighting the differences between Western and non-Western civilizations, it created a sense of entitlement from some visitors.  There was even one photo which showed a group of women laughing at people in one of the villages.

The World's Fair also allowed people to see animals that they could only imagine before.  Many stuffed animals were put on display for people to see...they also gained new information about new foods and jewels.  Since almost everything was for sale, people could purchase these new goods from the over 63,000 exhibits.

What's hard to believe is that the Field Museum holds over 50,000 objects from the World's Fair, so this is just a small component of what they have.  Everything is kept in such impecable condition...some items almost looked artificial!

I could ramble on forever about the exhibit, but I don't want to ruin it for you!

Another exhibit that you have to check out is Images of the Afterlife.   They were able to use technology to scan mummies and create what the people would have looked like.  It is CRAZY when you see how they do it.  There is a King Tut bust and it looks so lifelike. 

We had a wonderful few hours at the Field Museum and learned so much!  It's nice to get out of our little bubble and go exploring sometimes...especially without the kids!

When is the last time you've gone to the Field Museum?

 

Sue says "Hello!"

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, however all content and opinions expressed here are my own.