I’m packing my bags and heading a few hours north to Saint Louis this weekend.

I’ve got plans.

This weekend will be filled a few firsts. My first time away from my husband and children. My first blogging conference. And, meeting online friends in real life for the very first time.

I’m so excited. And maybe even a little nervous.

The Show Me The Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference is being held at the Lumiere Place Hotel and Casino here in St. Louis, Missouri on Friday and Saturday, October 21st-22nd. I’m looking forward to a weekend of networking and learning more about blogging and social media.

Some of the sessions I’m looking forward to include:

You Too Can Be a Rockstar Blogger – Speaker, Stefani Pollack (She has a cupcake blog called Cupcake Project. Seriously. I hope she’s bringing cupcakes.)

Building and Maintaining Relationships with Brands – Speaker, Robyn Wright (I’ve followed Robyn on Twitter for a while now. She’s smart and sweet and I’m looking forward to learning from her.)

Social Media, Being Social: How to Effectively Engage Your Audience – Speakers, Liz Jostes and Kristin Zaslavsky (Blogging besties and marketing experts, Liz and Kristin, offer social media and marketing services for small businesses and bloggers through their social media consulting company, Eli|Rose Social Media. They’re smart. They know what they’re doing. And I love them to pieces.)

The sessions sound great and the opportunity to learn and network with others is wonderful as well. But what I’m really looking forward to most is spending a little bit of adult time with a few of my online friends. In real life, for a change!

I’m looking forward to getting dressed up and putting on a pair of heels. I’m looking forward to laughing with a few friends without having to dote on my four children. I’m looking forward to drinking a glass of wine for the first time in forever. And I’m really just looking forward to being with people who share one of my passions – blogging.

It’s going to be a great weekend of firsts.

Any advice for a first-time conference attendee? I’m all ears.