10 Irresistible Secrets About the BlogPaws Conference in Phoenix

It’s been three weeks since we got back home from spending a week in Phoenix for the BlogPaws conference. It’s safe to say I’ve fully recovered from the “BlogPaws Hangover” and have finally gotten back into a rhythm again! I wanted to recap my time at the conference with you.

It feels like I’m moving in slow motion ever since we got home. There’s been so much to catch up on with work, home, and life in general. I’m pretty sure being 6 months pregnant hasn’t helped with my lack of energy! Here is a recap of my top ten “irresistible” secrets from BlogPaws 2016 at the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa.

1.Flying with a Small Dog While Pregnant is Challenging

Since the conference was a cross country trip for us, we flew this year. No way was this pregnant woman going to drive for 36+ hours even though I’d love to do a road trip one of these days. We’ve flown a few times before with Chuy but it always makes me nervous for some reason. Usually after the first leg of the trip, I get over it. Flying while pregnant added a whole other layer of complexity. Pre-boarding is a perk though! Overall, it really wasn’t that bad except for the fact that the airports were insanely crowded. However, by the last leg of the trip, I was DONE. Like stick a fork in me done. I was never so happy to see my house!

As always, Chuy did a great job flying. This year, I took Chuy though the security checkpoint so I could avoid extra x-rays. Thank goodness my husband was with us. Seriously, I couldn’t have done this trip without him. We have attended the past 4 conferences together as a family and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

2.R&R Before and After a Conference is a Must

We arrived in Phoenix the day before the conference started. Since there was a few hours of down time, you better believe I took advantage of that. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass Resort. This place is gorgeous! There are lovely pools which I highly recommend. Yes, it was hot but I wasn’t going to let that pool go to waste!

Swimming when it’s 115 degrees out is a lot like sitting in warm bath water. It’s a little cold and refreshing at first and then it’s just warm hot. So, you get out, dry off, and repeat. My husband got to check out the water slide . . . yes, I’m slightly jealous I had to sit that out this year.

After our last team meeting on Sunday, Frank and I were on our own to do some exploring. We went to checkout the western town of Rawhide. It’s accessible from the Sheraton via the free water taxi. We saw baby Bobcats on the way! It was hot but we had a good time!

3. It’s a Good Idea to Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

As a member of the BlogPaws team, I had a more public role this year at the conference from facilitating educational sessions, doing interviews, and presenting a Nose to Nose Award! Head over to my other blog, Irresistible Icing to learn how I stepped outside of my comfort zone while accepting my new and expanding pregnant body.

4. Celebrate Where You Are! Chuy’s 7th Birthday in Phoenix!

I still can’t believe my little guy is now seven years old! Chuy turned 7 on June 22nd while we were at BlogPaws. I wanted to order him a cake from a local bakery but just ran out of time. Instead, we packed a “Happy Birthday” bone so he could enjoy a special birthday treat! His birthday was on the same night as the PetSmart welcome reception.

5. Reconnect with Old Friends & Meet New Friends

Let’s be real. BlogPaws is all about the people. I love the relationships I’ve developed over the years that I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for this community. Each year, I get to meet tons of new friends too! It’s also a reunion for the BlogPaws team since we all telecommute and only see each other via webcam and phone most of the year!

I’m so excited I finally got to meet my long time social media friend, Kinsey Schofield! Her dogs Styles and Littles are too irresistible!

6. BlogPaws Has Swag!

Every conference attendee gets a huge bag of swag from all the sponsors. You seriously need to bring an extra suitcase to get it all back home! I think Chuy is in heaven with all of those treats and toys!

7. So Many Irresistible Pets!

What makes BlogPaws the best blogger conference? Oh, probably the fact that it’s pet friendly and Chuy gets to come with me every single year! Here’s just a snippet of all the Irresistible Pets around the conference.

8. Oh, and Irresistible Food!

I don’t know of any blogger conference that includes as much food as BlogPaws. They take care of all the meals and even provide snacks. Some of the sponsors also host VIP meals that are invite only. Thanks to AAHA for these delicious chocolate covered strawberries during their VIP Tea Party!

In addition to the meals, Natural Balance provided snack bags on Friday and Saturday. This pregnant lady was thankful for that!

9. BlogPaws is More Than Just a Conference . . .

As I mentioned in my post over on Irresistible Icing, this was my first conference as a pregnant woman! Well, my first anything as a pregnant woman lol. I couldn’t believe that I was surprised with not one but two baby showers! I’m still blown away at how generous my BlogPaws family is. I’m beyond grateful and blessed to have this amazing community of friends! If I never attended that first conference back in DC, I would have never met all of these amazing people! Watch out, Baby B might become the youngest blogger in the BlogPaws community!

A photo posted by Aimee | Irresistible Icing (@irresistibleicing) on Jun 26, 2016 at 10:04pm PDT

10. Walk the Red Carpet with Your Pet

Where else do you get to walk the red carpet with your Chihuahua?! Or your cat, dog ferret mini pig, hamster, rabbit, etc?!  We always look forward to the red carpet walk prior to the Nose to Nose awards. Chuy looked so handsome in his tuxedo!

I can’t wait for BlogPaws 2017! It will be much closer to home (driving distance) in Myrtle Beach, SC. I hope to see you there.

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