Behind The Butter

Hello From The Influence Conference

I realize this post was, um, supposed to be written about a month ago and I am seriously late to the game. Forgive me, please!

What was meant to be a “pre-conference meet & greet post” is now a “the conference starts tonight and I’m a month late meet & greet post”. I’m honored to be leading and serving alongside a fabulous team of women this weekend at the first ever Influence Conference. We have about 200 women attending {along with some husbands and babies!} and I can hardly wait to re-connect with old friends and make new ones. I’m excited / really, really nervous to lead a workshop tomorrow evening on the road to traditional publishing. It’ll be my first time ever speaking at a conference, and despite the four pages of typed notes I worked on all week, I’m shaking in my boots.

So, if you see me this weekend, please say HI!!! I can’t wait to meet you.

Over the course of the past month, other leaders have posted on their blogs a little “get to know me” post, so here’s mine. I apologize in advance for any cheesiness that will ensue!

Three “get to know me” Things:

1. I pretty much always have my nose stuck in a book — my 4th grade teacher once accused me of lying when I said I read 1,200 pages in a month. She called my mom, who totally had my back. The nerve!

2. I am an introvert…and big crowds freak me out. Amusement parks? Not in this lifetime.

3. When I was little, I actually had a phobia of people throwing up in public. It got so bad that I was scared to go to the movie theater because I thought someone might puke! While I still don’t care for vomit, I’ve outgrown that stage {thankfully} for the most part.

Two Things I am Looking Forward to this Conference:

1. Connecting with so many wonderful women on a deeper level! I’ve been “virtual friends” with many women going for a long time, but this will be the first time we meet face to face. I’m THRILLED! I also will get to spend time with old friends such as this one and this one!

2. Meeting my close friends, spiritual mentor and “big sis”, Polly. Polly and I have been close for about four years now but if you can believe it, we’ve never actually met face to face! Crazy, huh?! I don’t know where I would be without her and her guidance over the years and I am just over the moon excited to get a chance to have a real life coffee date with her on Friday. I’ll probably burst into tears when I see her.

One Thing I Can’t Leave Home Without:

My iphone. Absolutely.

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  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    October 11, 2012 at 5:19 am

    Have a great time at the conference Jenna! It was nice getting to know you better in this post. I too can’t leave my house without my iPhone…. I’d feel naked if I did!

  • Kris @ www.kris-lawrence.com
    October 11, 2012 at 5:21 am

    Enjoy conference time! Have to say I have never imagined a fear of people throwing up before….that’s a new one. LOVE my iphone.

  • Abby@ Totes Delish
    October 11, 2012 at 5:36 am

    You will be GREAT! Indy is such an awesome place with wonderful people, so I’m sure there will be plenty of support there. Always wonderful to get to know more about favorite bloggers!

  • Molly @ RDexposed
    October 11, 2012 at 5:40 am

    Just for the record, you get prettier as you age.

  • joelle (on a pink typewriter)
    October 11, 2012 at 5:50 am

    I hope you have a great time! And maybe snap some great pics of Indy? I’ve never been!

  • Runner Dad
    October 11, 2012 at 5:57 am

    Have fun there! And that ice cream cone looks amazing!

  • Jenn
    October 11, 2012 at 6:07 am

    Have a wonderful time at the Conference. I know you will be influential to many women and will have the guidance of the Holy Spirit right beside you! Just lean on Him if you feel nervous:)

    Have a fab coffee date with Polly! She is my BFF, and I know you’ll love her in person even more than from across the country… just like I do!

    I can’t wait to hear all about the way God is using so many amazing women to influence others for His Kingdom. I just wish I could be there.
    Jenn

  • valerie
    October 11, 2012 at 6:14 am

    welcome to my city! i am not attending the conference, but will be praying for all of you as you come together to bond in the Lord. have a fabulous weekend!

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    October 11, 2012 at 6:17 am

    Aw, I just love this post. Don’t worry about your boots shakin’…I’m sure every other speaker secretly feels the same. You have loads of wisdom to impart on the lucky 200 ladies who are attending the show (wish I was one of them!) and they’ll just be so delighted to hear what you have to say ; )
    Wishing you all the best this weekend. Cheers!

  • Megan @ whatmegansmaking
    October 11, 2012 at 6:23 am

    Sounds like it will be a fun conference! I wish I could meet both you and Polly 🙂

  • Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
    October 11, 2012 at 6:34 am

    I am totally an introvert too, so I’d be super nervous too! Good luck, I’m sure you will do great!

    I love your “get to know you” facts! 🙂

  • kim@hungryhealthygirl
    October 11, 2012 at 6:52 am

    Good luck….I’m sure you’ll do great! Can’t wait to read about the recap and by the way that ice cream looks delish.

  • Jessica
    October 11, 2012 at 7:10 am

    Have an amazing time at the Conference. And I expect to hear what Polly is like in real life; she has such a beautiful character!

  • Hannah
    October 11, 2012 at 7:53 am

    I had the exact same phobia as you as a child, right down to the movie theaters!

    Enjoy the Conference – soak it all in!

  • polly
    October 11, 2012 at 8:10 am

    eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    that is all i have to say. 🙂
    XOXO

  • Lily O' Dare @ Candied-Life
    October 11, 2012 at 8:13 am

    I am too an introvert! And sometimes I leave my phone at home to rebel…and then regret it. haha!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    October 11, 2012 at 9:13 am

    I’m a big reader, too. I’m reading Gone Girl right now and it is totally worth the hype!

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks
    October 11, 2012 at 9:25 am

    I hope the conference is everything you’ve been hoping for and that connecting with everyone in person and meeting people for the first time that you’ve ‘known’ online is as fun and exciting as it sounds like. Love it when I finally get to connect with people in person! Have fun, Jenna!

  • Caroline L.
    October 11, 2012 at 10:10 am

    That ice cream cone… uh wow. I wish I could be there to meet you – you seen so genuine and honest and funny 🙂 Have a great time! Come back with stories!

  • erin @WELLinLA
    October 11, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Ditto on #2! I can do crowds as necessary, but I need serious alone/”me time” to recover after all is over! Thanks for a little insight & congrats!

  • Amy
    October 11, 2012 at 10:38 am

    It’s always fun to connect with people face to face. Should be a great time. Also, I love your kitty! Of my two cats, Kiwi is the spittin’ image and Hansel is similar + 5 pounds of fur (little black marshmallow). Don’t they just make your heart smile 🙂

  • Corey
    October 11, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    Have fun Jenna, sad I did not get to meet you! Indy is my home and I love it:). FYI, there is a Fleming’s across the street from your hotel, and a Bonefish Grill right down the street! I think those are two of your faves?

  • Corey
    October 11, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    And also if you will be around for church Saturday night or Sunday morning . . .I think you would love Common Ground church, at 46th and Illinois:)

  • Brianne
    October 11, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    I have the same phobia….. it was my biggest fear when becoming a teacher–a kid would throw up in my room. Well, it happened 3 times my first year…and 8 years later I’m still terrified every time a kid tells me they don’t feel well. But I’ve learned not to completely freak out about it! Still have the phobia though!

  • Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy
    October 11, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Have a great time at the conference! Where is that ice cream from?? It looks so good!

  • Mel
    October 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Big crowds freak the hell out of me. Something about a hoard of people is way worse than a hoard of puppies.

  • Kara
    October 11, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    It was so fun to meet you this morning! Thanks for taking the time (and cab ride) to meet us! Did you make it to Cafe Patachou? Hope your conference goes well! You will do great! I’ll send you a book to sign:). Enjoy your time in Indy!

  • Andrea
    October 13, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    I had a friend on my college ultimate frisbee team that had a phobia about throwing up. We bonded because we’d end up doing our own thing when the rest of the team was out drinking- I didn’t drink, and she didn’t want to be around people who might possibly throw up! Never heard of another person like that before now!

  • Leah
    October 13, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    I’m an introvert as well and cannot handle large crowds. When I was young, I often skipped PE to read my Nancy Drew books. Ah, that was the life! Wish I was going to this awesome conference to meet you. Have fun!

  • suzie
    October 15, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    I had the same fear about throwing up in public. When I was in 3rd grade I saw someone at school get sick and after it was a real problem. I missed a lot of school cause I was so scard I would get sick and made fun of that I literlly made myself sick. Luckly I grew out of it.