Vermont solidified itself in my heart as a favorite place to visit this past weekend. I drove up from my home in New Jersey to attend the:
Laugh. Drink. Win.
book signing extravaganza for
I JUST WANT TO PEE ALONE
With:
Kim of Let Me Start By Saying
Brenna of Suburban Snapshots
Bethany of Bad Parenting Moments
Amy of Funny is Family
Andrea of Underachiever’s Guide to Being a Domestic Goddess
It was all hosted by the amazing team of Amy & Tom, owners of the Whippersnappers Children’s Resale & More store in Brattleboro, Vermont. Click the button below to learn more about them on Facebook, as well as see photos taken during the event:
There was wine provided by Windham Wines, handed out by a mom named Jess (one of the most adorable human beings I’ve ever wanted to put in my pocket), platters of apps to sate the hungry women who ran away from their families right at dinnertime, and plenty of shopping to be done.
Not only did we have a fun, interactive audience during readings, a laugh-out-loud time meeting people we’ve only “seen” on the internet as we signed books, and all sorts of delicious food and drink…but about a dozen local fans joined us for dinner afterwards at The Marina, who – to their credit – were incredibly patient with this large, loud, boisterously-laughing table of talkers.
We even had an impromptu chauffer whose car was the coolest thing ever (Question: how many times can one shout “OMG I love your car so much I want to eat it!” before it gets weird? Asking for a friend…) and made me laugh so hard about something totally inappropriate that I can’t stop saying it to myself. Oh, and on Sunday morning, Bethany made us all breakfast. Note: If you ever find yourself wandering around Vermont with a hankering for croissants and eggs, HUNT HER DOWN.
Below are some pictures from the event, but you can find more HERE (if you attended the event, please add your pics there, too!).
The welcome sign of who’s who with the raffle bowl – lots of happy winners that night!
I was laughing so hard my nose was running from crying, so I was given (quite appropriately) a postnatal pad to blow my nose on.
So of course Bethany & I had to try them on. With mesh underpants. Over our clothes.
I love these book events, because not only did I get to connect with fans of I JUST WANT TO PEE ALONE, I also got to spend time with My People.
I met Brenna when a local friend emailed me her viral Toddler Party post three years ago. Despite living hours apart, we’ve made a point to meet up, and every time she laughs at something I say, an angel gets its wings. No one is cooler than her.
Last year at this time, I came across a hilariously clever Facebook Page with about 20 fans that I thought was run by two anonymous genius mothers. It felt special, so I reached out to ‘them’ and then told everyone everywhere to follow that Page. Ends up, it was Bethany, doing her thing. She now has over 12,000 fans.~
She may be anonymous AND not even in the book, but that didn’t stop Allison of MotherhoodWTF? from crashing the party. We started blogging at the same time, met at a Bloggy Boot Camp, and have been friends ever since.
One of the kindest, most generous, lovely people on the internet is Andrea. She makes me – a pretty decent human being – look like I have a soul of coal. And she has the longest eyelashes in the history of the world. I pounced on her when we met last year, and love to stroke her inky mane whenever she lets me.
This was the first time I met Amy, and she deftly jumped right into this group of people who know one another’s history like a pro. I look forward to forcing her back down here to NJ for another book signing soon.
What happens when a collective group like this – who all know and respect and enjoy each other – get to hang out for a weekend?
Laughter to the point of muscle strain. Incessant talking. Lots of eating. Long hugs hello. Even longer hugs goodbye.
“BEFORE” (he yelled SHUT UP ALREADY!)
“AFTER”
I highly recommend finding Your People in any way you can, whether it be at work, your kids’ school, or on the internet (but in a non-creepy way). Being surrounded by people who accept me for what I am, understand where my head is, and encourage me to keep trying to be the best I can be, gives me a calm center in the midst of this crazy life.
The fact that this is now my job, to write what I love and spend time with other creative people while meeting those who read and support us? I’m feeling like one very lucky girl.
Here’s hoping I get to meet more of you as these book events continue, and that you get to find your own People to fill your life with the kind of joy we experienced this weekend.
KIM BONGIORNO 
I want to frame that “before” picture. What a fun weekend, what a magnificent breakfast!
I think I want to see the outtakes! OMG, I can’t believe there’s even one shot of all of us taking a pause form talking that weekend.
Kim, you are a phenomenal writer. But this post could have been visual aids only. The pics are that good.
LOL! And I didn’t share all the pictures. Some things needs to be left to the imagination. 😉
I love this so hard. Seeing you all together IRL makes me want to dance and sing!
I do believe there was actual dancing AND singing, sooooo…yeah. You’ve got that about right.
It was an amazing weekend and I really felt the magic with all of us together. Like old friends with no secrets. It was the biggest highlight of my writing journey. I love being one of Your People. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Love you, Kim.
I am building a compound so you can all move in with me. I think our problem of distance will be resolved once this happens.
lovey… meeting you.. lovey…. reading this piece.. .. lovey… going to the event… only wish i had not left before the pose pads and Mesh panties came out
LOL! Thanks for coming!
Love this! I, too, would definitely feel as though an angel got it’s wings if I made Brenna laugh. This looks like a blast and I can’t wait to see some of you again on the 7th!
It was so fun! We need to find a way to make these Jersey book signings into overnight vacations. Work on that, would you, Amy? 🙂
I loved meeting all you awesome ladies. I am so glad my little “gift” for Bethany was such a hit. You both made them look like high fashion. I think you should build your commune, I mean compound, here. The moms in Brattleboro are super cool.
We are nothing if not fashionistas. Thank you for such a generous gift!
I love Vermont, and it was so nice to be reminded at how wonderful all the people up there are. It’s like there’s some Vitamin Awesome in your water supply!
I just kept smiling and thinking of how freaking FUN that weekend must have been with you girls together! Oh, how envious I am!! And also how happy I am for YOU. 🙂
Thank you, Chris! My job is painfully fun. There is no denying that.
Oh SO much fun!!!! It’s a rare moment that I wish I was back living in MA. But, looking at those pictures I wish I was there to hang out with all you fabulous ladies!
Some day, some day…
And you have such, gorgeous People, Kim–inside in out (and you blow me away with how stunning you all the time). Love you guys and love that you had such an incredible time.
Come by and compliment my friends and I ANY TIME YOU WANT. No, really. Please. 😉
Jesus how tall ARE you and Brenna anyway???
Looks like so much fun!
“And this is my wife Brenna, and these are our three children…”
I’m 5’9.5″, she’s an inch taller, but we both have heels on.
Best weekend I’ve had in ages…so lucky to have you girls as my blog family. I walked away with so much after that experience, one thing I would have liked to walk away with is Brenna’s camera – but alas, I resisted the urge to steal it from her gorgeous neck. Love you and your big fuzzy warm heart. xoox
You make me happier than a free ice cream sundae every day of the week.
Wait, what? Blog groupies can go to this stuff??? Yall are all so purdy…I’d give a digit to meet you all! ❤ Devan
DUDE. Then get thee to a booksigningeee!