How to Make Lemonade Out of Life’s Lemons

What do you do when life throws you a curveball?

For BLOOM mom tribe, that curveball was the Coronavirus pandemic. BLOOM was scheduled to host its fourth annual conference for moms and their friends in Seattle in May. Little did we know that Seattle would become the epicenter of Washington State for the pandemic, causing millions to change their daily lives and their plans. Fast-forward and the entire world has now been affected by this Corona curveball.

Our team has spent the last ten months curating our two-day event, choosing speakers and thought leaders from across the country who will bring the inspiration and motivation that so many moms need! Mamas thrive in a community like ours, where they can connect with and empower each other. We know that our in-person conference is exactly what a mom needs to feel refreshed and re-energized. It gives her a chance to get away with friends and relax, escaping the chaos of #momlife for a couple of days and putting herself front and center.

Not disappointing the guests who had already purchased their tickets in anticipation of such an unforgettable weekend was foremost on our minds as we went through all the scenarios of how we could still bring speakers, sponsors, and guests together. We had put huge deposits down on two venues: a hotel and convention center. Speakers and guests had booked their travel and accommodations, sponsors had paid us to share their brands, and our team had spent money on marketing and and so much more.

So, what do you do when life hands you lemons in the form of a worldwide pandemic?

You make lemonade! Or, in our case, you turn your conference into a Virtual Momference and make it the best online event for moms that has ever been seen!

Has it been scary? Yes—to wait for the approval for funds to come back from our venues, to make sure we’re able to take care of our guests who need refunds, to keep our speakers and sponsors lined up to continue supporting our message…there have been so many moving parts to this process. Many encouraged us to reschedule the conference for a different date.

Working together with our incredible speakers to still bring mamas what we planned on the same weekend is what made sense to all of us. We didn’t want to wait to have that mom party!

We’re so proud to present our first-ever online event. Did we plan it this way? Absolutely not, but one thing everyone can relate to is that plans can change. If we’ve learned only one thing with this pandemic (because we should all already be washing our hands!), it’s that we have to be flexible, in life and in work. What a learning opportunity for all of us!

We’ve created this updated event as a way for you to put yourself first for one day. We ask you to set aside the day of Saturday, May 2, 2020, for YOU. Grab your spot for our incredible six-hour event and have a viewing party! Gather with friends (if it’s safe) or lock yourself up in your favorite room at home. Make sure the kids, pets, and significant others are taken care of ahead of time so you can enjoy this time for you! By May, you might even be able to take it one step further and rent a VRBO for the day (girl’s night, anyone?)!

If you’re Iooking for community, connection, and an opportunity for personaI and professional growth, this is for you! Your Zoom Iink to join us onIine, aIong with your printabIe materiaIs, wiII be emaiIed to you before the event. Your swag (yep, swag, because what’s a BLOOM party without swag?!) wiII be shipped within two weeks prior to the event! There will be opportunities to “chat” online further with our speakers, and we will also offer four Friday Follow-ups to our attendees in a private Facebook group, continuing the connections and conversations made during the event!

We might not be able to hug and connect in person, but we can assure you that we will still bring mamas all the celebration, inspiration, and booty-kickin’ encouragement that they’ve come to expect at our other conferences. We hope you’ll join us—and here’s a little sneak peek of the day’s sessions!

TIMELINE:

9:15 a.m. Grab your coffee + get ready for the fun!

9:30 Welcome from Team BLOOM + emcee, Angela Schutz

9:40 Emily Hutchinson | The Hutch Oven

How this mom baked her brand from scratch

10:05 Natasha Hemmingway

Teaching women how to move from fear into faith to achieve success

10:30 Kyla Mowrer + Britney Calkins

Sharing the gift of surrogacy

10:55 Working Mom’s Panel | Blessing Adesiyan (Mother Honestly) + Jaimee Newberry (Picture This Clothing)

Propelling women forward in motherhood, work, + life

11:20 HeHe Stewart | Tranquility by HeHe

How to have a confident birth

11:45 Emily Tellvik | Best Next Steps

Don’t let your past pain define your present purpose

12:15 p.m. Lunch: Don’t miss our lunchtime giveaways + slideshow—you just might see yourself on your computer screen!

12:45 Jolene Fisher | No Bad Days

Fitness + nutrition and how it relates to mental health

1:10 Brooke Nielsen | The Empowering Mama

How to keep your relationships thriving after having kids

1:35 Vanessa Farino | The Women’s Hub + The Admin’s Hub

Confidence and the CEO within you

2:00 Toolbox Talk with Collin Henderson

Sharing tools to balance work + marriage, raise kids, and support a happy partner

2:25 Megan + James Earl Colvin | The Colvin Co.

Leadership: You are someone’s example

2:45 Corina Tripon | Ginger Root Society

The girlfriend’s guide to becoming an audacious female

3:10 Ambika Singh | Armoire

3:30 Let’s wrap up this mom party with a celebratory drink (have your favorite beverage ready!)

We can’t wait to see you online on May 2!