Oh Google, I’ve been a fan for a long time. Gmail makes me happy, Picassa makes me sing. But Google Plus just makes me mad. Here’s why:

1. Google Hangouts: Hangouts have validated video as a normal form of communication. Um Google, I am on the ineternet because I don’t like interacting with people in real life. Now you want to me to see and talk to them just like they are across the table from me. Thanks for nothing.

2. Chris Brogan: I met him in person and he seems like a nice guy even if he seemed to think it was odd that I asked him where he lived. What can I say? I suck at small talk, especially over cocktails. And yes, he seems to have a lot of interesting things to say. But Google Plus could be renamed Chris Brogan Plus. This could be remedied by the whole Facebook technique of hiding but there’s not a one click way to do that on Google Plus

3. Design: Wait is this secretly a Microsoft product? Because it seems overly complex (see above complaint). Now Google can get a too treasure hunt like at times. And by that I mean that (see my tips on Gmail hacking here) you often have to spend some time finding out the best ways to use Google products. But overall they seem to work the way people think without being overly designy (I am looking at you Apple.)  But Google plus is clunky and lacks the intuitiveness of their other products. I think the programmers of Google are messing with our minds.

4. Time Suck: much like the rabbit hole Google Plus leads me into endless amounts of clicking. And it’s just one more thing I have to do social media wise. That I can’t manage from a third party app.

5. Spammers: it took them about a week and a half to catch on. And now they won’t stop

6. The Home Icon: It’s ugly. Seriously no one could come up with something besides that sad little house?

7. Being Added to Circles: In theory this is good because who doesn’t like to be popular even if it’s with random eastern european spammers. I’ve even seen several blogs with Google + icons saying how many circles they are in. But in reality being added to circles drives me insane because I can’t see what circles I am in. Um, Google how am I supposed to know what people think of me if I can’t get all obsessive about the names of the circles.

8. Circles: Why we are on the subject, I both loathe and hate circles. Love them because they allow me to talk to a targeted audience. I loathe them because they take away one of the things I love most about social media, the random interactions that happen. Google has un-randomized social media. They are fun thieves.

9. It’s Facebook: Sometimes I feel like I am the child in The Emperor’s New Clothes. Am I the only one who sees that Google Plus is just a cooler version of Facebook. There’s nothing you can do on Google Plus that you can’t do in some form on Facebook (nothing is probably way overstating it, feel free to prove me wrong in the comments.)

10. They Hooked Me: In spite of everything above, I still use Google Plus. Because it’s Google and Social Media. And it’s two of my very favorite things. Damn you Google!

It was a very love filled press release week. These two cracked me up the most!

Did you know that August is National Romance Month? Me neither. And don’t tell my husband. But if you haven’t had enough of Valentine’s Day you can celebrate with these Summer Kiss cocktails from VOGA Italian wines (mute your computer before clicking): 1 shot peach Schnapps, fill glass halfway with VOGA Pinot Grigio Sparkling, fill the rest with cranberry Juice (they also suggest adding a few ice cubes but that sounds blasphemous to me. Romance, schomance. I think i will make this on Monday to celebrate the best Summer event: back to school day.

In case you get in the spirit, Wet manufacturers the world’s best-selling line of intimacy products wants you to know that you should get out of the house if you want to get busy. Their poll found that 67% of respondents said they tend to have better sex while on vacation than they do at home. 82% of respondents admitted they would be more likely to have sex outside the bed (in a hot tub, on the beach, etc.) while on vacation and 71% of respondents said they are more likely to experiment in bed while on vacation. These respondents obviously don’t vacation with four year old twins.

Tomorrow I head to BlogHer. Whoa! It seems like I have been preparing for weeks and all of the sudden it is here. This will be my second year at BlogHer. And wow have things changed. Last year I went knowing no one, barely blogging, and with no plan. This year I am headed there with four friends from CoMo, two different blogs, and a carefully executed plan.

And this year I am concentrating on the things that are most important to me. I turned down party invites to spend more time with friends I don’t get to see very often. Instead of attending sessions just to attend them, I am concentrating on the few that are really important to me. I blocked out only one two hour period for the special needs mini conference and let myself do whatever I wanted the rest of the time.

The biggest decision I made this year was to approach a sponsor. I wanted to partner with someone who I felt comfortable promoting and who fit in with the message of my blog and my personality. And I am thrilled that I found the most amazing sponsor that more than does both: Missouri Wines.

Did you know that some of the oldest vines in the country are from Missouri? That’s why the slogan of Missouri Wines is the country’s first wine county. And now I get to share some of the varietals coming from those vines with friends at BlogHer.

It’s not all about the wine though. As a localvore, I am proud to be representing my state. There’s a movement called the other 46 which is about celebrating the wine made in the states that aren’t the wine superpowers (California, Washington, Oregon, and New York.) Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be giving up my Oregon Pinot Noirs, or for that matter my Malbecs, anytime soon.

But I do want to support my local producers. I make an effort to shop local businesses, support the farmer’s market, and buy meat and dairy from local producers. So I should be supporting my local wineries (and breweries too.) I want to spread the message that if you are a localvore you should be localpouring too. Shop local? Sip local!

You can learn more about Missouri Wines on their website, read more about them on the Wine Wednesday series of my local blog, or just come ask me about them at BlogHer! I am happy to talk your ear off and share a glass of wine with you.

So it’s finally the week of the BlogHer conference and if you’re not going you’re probably sighing a huge sigh of relief that a week from today it will all be over and your favorite tweeters and bloggers will finally start talking about something else. Even though I am going, I feel your pain. There’s nothing worse than hearing about something you can’t go to constantly. So I would like to give you a piece of BlogHer!

Even though the talk may be all about the parties on twitter, the real meat of the BlogHer conference is the learning opportunities the sessions offer.  I can’t pack you in my bag for my geek bar appointment and the photography roundtable I am attending. But I can give you some of the knowledge through two informative books from Wiley publishing about digital photography.

The first is Mamarazzi, an every mom’s guide to taking better pictures of your kids. It is a must have for any mommy blogger. It will ” show you how to compose shots, handle cameras from basic compacts to advanced dSLRs, take portraits or candids, create prints that impress, and even work with kids! Packed with beautiful examples and written in a down-to-earth style from one mom to another, this book will help mamarazzis everywhere take better photos.”

Image Credit : Wiley Publishing

The second book is Plate to Pixel, a digital food photography and styling guide. This book will “Discover how the food stylist exercises unique techniques to make the food look attractive in the finished product. You’ll get a taste of the visual know-how that is required to translate the perceptions of taste, aroma, and appeal into a stunning, lavish finished photograph.”

Image credit : Wiley Publishing

Want a copy? Leave a comment telling me which book you would like before 11:59pm on August 7th. The only requirement is that you not be attending BlogHer. Attending BlogHer and want a copy for yourself? They are both available for $29.95 through the Wiley site. Ebooks are also available. If you would be so kind I would love it if you would like my Facebook page too.

Disclosure: I was given these books as a personal gift. This giveaway is not sponsored by Wiley Publishing.  Shipping to send the books to you is courtesy of my spare change piggy bank.

Here’s the second to last post in my series on prepping for the BlogHer conference happening next (!!!) week. Check out my previous top ten posts on packing, fashion, and networking for even more tips. This week we’re tackling roommate etiquette. Because you’re going to be packing into a small space with these women for three to four days. Follow these ten tips and keep things running smoothly. Please share any tips I missed in the comments!

Top Ten Tips For Not Killing Your Roommates

1. Respect the Common Space: With luggage, expo swag, papers, and two clothes changes a day it’s easy to clutter up the room. So be conscious of your stuff. Some people set up corners of the room where people can leave their stuff. I am a fan of giving everyone a drawer so they can throw things in there and sort later.

2. Pack Hangers: It sounds like a waste of precious luggage space but think about how few hangers are in a hotel closet and how many of you will need to hang things up. To make unpacking a snap, consider packing your clothes on your hangers. Then all you have to do is pull them out and hang them up. And you will have an outfit ready to go each morning

3. Ask First: Don’t assume anything. Want to use the toilet while your roommate is in the shower? Knock and ask first. Need to jump on their laptop to check your email? Ask first. Need to charge your phone? Ask before using your roommate’s adapter. Solve problems before they start by asking permission.

4. Set Shower Times: Your BlogHer schedule is probably packed so don’t expect leave shower time to chance. Have a quick conversation before you go about who will be showering when. Then honor that.

5. Lights Out!: While we are talking timing, consider establishing a “lights out” curfew for the room when people can feel free to say “stop talking” without getting booed.

6. Smell Good: Four adults in a room can get a little musty. Consider bringing a small can of air therapy and pack a book of matches for the bathroom. Your poo does not smell like roses.

7. Tip the Maid: The room is going to get messy, you’re going to need extra towels, and the maid has the power to help. Consider setting up a tip fund which everyone contributes a few dollars to each day. I personally am suggesting to my roommates that we each stick a five dollar bill in an envelope and each take one of the four days.

8. Talk about Expectations: You may already be good friends with your roommate, they may be a total stranger. Either way, it’s a good idea to talk scheduling before hand. That way no one’s feelings are hurt when you head off to do your own thing or attend a party your roommate wasn’t invited to. Before you leave agree on whose credit card the room is going on and how the others are going to pay their share. If possible, take care of payment before you arrive in San Diego.

9.Stay in Contact: On the advice of my social media guru Jen Lee Reeves, I downloaded the Beluga app for my iPhone so I can text all of my roommates at once.

10. Be Generous: Have extra swag? Offer it to your roommate first. Headed out for a drink or dinner with friends? Invite your roommate to join. Consider giving a plus one to your roommate.

Wordcamp Kansas City is winding down and they have packed a lot of learning into the last day and a half. With a couple of exceptions, the sessions were very informative and engaging. Great job guys!! I will be emailing you guys for tips because I really want to bring WordPress camp to Columbia, MO now. You can read all of my live blogs from the sessions I attended here: WordPress Camp Kansas City LiveBlogs.

Here is a list of resources, recaps, and relevant information from camp and for fun, follow the WordPress Camp Kansas City sign on its adventures. Bob King compiled of list of #WCKC Tweeters. Please bookmark this post as it will be updated as blogs, etc are sent to me. Want to be added? Contact me! I would love to add your links!

Session Notes and Slides:

• WordPressCamp Kansas City (slides from all presenters will be put up here once they are received)
• PlugIn Presentation
• WordPress Peformance
• WordPress : the Engine That Drives Your Online Marketing Machine presentation
• WordPress for Government Sites
• Turning WordPress Into a CMS For Your Client session notes
• The Responsive Grid and You Presentation : Extending Your WordPress Site Across Multiple Sites Slides
• So you have a blog, now what?

Blogs About WordPress Camp:

• Jeffrey Way’s thoughts on his presentation about the business of WordPress design
• subbob’s WordCamp roundup with thoughts, pictures, and links
• Design For Lunch’s take on WordPress Developer and Design tracks
• WordCamp KC Afterthoughts
• Thoughts on Wordcamp Kansas Cityp

Helpful Wesbites:

• WP Beginner
• ProBlogger
• Fuel Your Blogging
• WordPress Videos TV

Recommended WordPress PlugIns

• WordPress Custom Post Type Generator
• SQL Profiler Plugin
• Broken Link Plugin
• JQuery Address plugin : provides powerful deep linking capabilities and allows the creation of unique virtual addresses that can point to a website section or an application state.

Other Resources:

• Reading list