If you follow my social media you'll know that last week I was in New Orleans for our annual MacKid Meetup. While there we heard from some amazing outside speakers — Rich Collins from Disney's Imagination Movers and LaTonya Norton, a former news reporter, anchor, talk show host and current Press Secretary of New Orleans, were two of my favorites; learned from just a few of the super talented publishers in the company, took home some fabulous swag from a bucket load of sponsors and we had a whole lot fun! And WOW, what an experience it was.
I stepped out of my comfort zone and presented to approximately 150 of my fellow publishers, ate and drank my way through the city to the tune of an extra three pounds (that darn fried chicken festival did me in), visited the Aquarium of the Americas, marched in a Second Line parade in costume for a few blocks with my fellow publishers, threw beads from a balcony on Bourbon Street, sang my heart out at a piano bar, and oh, yeah, won one of six Flying Pig Awards awarded each year to publishers that are going above and beyond (I'm not even sure how they make these decisions because I know a couple dozen publishers personally who could have walked away with one of these pigs, and that's just the ones I know). I'm truly honored, and to make that award even sweeter, I won it alongside two other publishers who I have become very close friends with this year and a new friend who just happens to be another mom of twins.
This year has been a whirlwind, and this trip just made it all that much sweeter. Thank you Macaroni Kid for inviting me into your family with open arms, and thank you to my readers for your continued support.
Until next week ... Keep making pigs fly!
Kelly
