If money were no object, I’d forever choose to stay at Ritz Carlton properties. Over the top attentive staff, luxurious accommodations, grandiose staircases, floral arrangements everywhere. I could go on and on. It is luxurious.
Located on Key Biscayne, this Ritz Carlton property felt like an island to itself. Situated on a lovely beach with killer views, one could spend days here and not feel inclined to leave the property.
My friends and I popped off the property once to check out downtown Miami. I had never been, so I was curious what all the hulabaloo was about.
We went to lunch at Versailles which had incredible Cuban food. The best I’ve ever had. But then again, it was the only Cuban food I’ve ever had, so I have little to compare it to. But I can assure you it was fantastic.
The next day the conference started. People often times ask me why I go to blogging conferences. Well, there are a few reasons….
First of all, I go to learn how to blog better. There are panels on how to fine tune your writing skills, how to grow your readership, how to promote your blog, etc. I’ve been doing this for a long time and I always learn something new at these conferences.
I also go to meet new bloggers. Be it brand new bloggers who’ve just launched blogs, or bloggers that I just haven’t crossed paths with yet. It’s good business to keep in the know in this industry.
Also, I go to connect with brands that I might want to work with. Basically, I look for brands/products that I’d like to review and give away here on The Coupon Goddess. And everyone seems to enjoy a good giveaway. Don’t you think?
Of course I also go to hang out with my blogging buddies….
We started with appetizers and cocktails in the mansion court yard, which was pretty over the top elegant. But after a little while they opened the doors into this lovely area….
Of course there was even more socializing and networking. Above is my new friend Ellen who writes a blog that addresses the topic of special needs children. If you have special needs kids, I’d highly suggest checking out her blog.
And for all of you green conscious people, above is my friend Sommer who writes a blog that is focused on green living. I’m certainly no expert in this area, but I’d sure love to start heading in that direction.
It was an amazing evening and such a special experience to visit the Versace mansion with my peers. I doubt that any of us will forget this conference anytime soon.
Mom2.0 was not very swag heavy, but I did manage to grab some goodies for a giveaway. Hallmark was there promoting their newest card line and their recordable story books. I was able to grab both a recordable story book and an assortment of cards.
Check this one out…
I thought you might like that one. I also grabbed a free product coupon from Sargento for the new Thin Slices. Two free product coupons for Ecover laundry detergent, $10.00/1 coupon for Charmin toilet paper, a yummy bag of chocolate strawberry granola from Love Crunch, and a laundry bag from LG.
I’m also throwing in a $25.00 Chevron gas card because I’m in a super good mood that my flight went well this evening. No major bumps. No electrical fires. Just clear skies and smooth sailing. My kind of flight.
To enter this giveaway, just comment on this post with your first name, last initial, and the state you are from. Entries must be received by Friday, May 11th 11:59pm ET. Good luck!
Also, thank you for letting me share this experience with you. I know it’s off the beaten path, but I promise to get back to business as usual lickety split.
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Lisa G. minnesota
Melissa M. from California would love to win some swag!
Oxana H. Minnesota too
Fun times!
Tara T., VA
Loved meeting you (commenting, not entering)—at the conference! It was hands down one of the best conferences I have ever been too!
Wendi S. from Connecticut…Would love to win this giveaway
Felicia J. Nebraska
Looks like so much fun and I love that dress!
Teresa P from AZ
Kym O from PA. Looks and sounds like you had a great time… Very nice!
Ashley R. from Cameron, Missouri!!! Love all of your work!!!! I’m super happy when I read your blog and normally end up laughing out loud!!!
Loved your party dress!
Marcia M. OH
Michelle D., GA
Kelley O. WI – would love to win the swag!
Angie s. From missouri. Great post
Looks like a great time had by all! Sara r. CA
Great dress!!!
Jackie B. San Diego, CA
Looks like a great time had by all! Sara r. CA
I’m not entering; just wanted to say it was SO cool to meet you. You obviously have good taste in friends, given that you’re pals with Ellen G., Cecily and Sommer. Jealous that you got this up so fast! Ack! Still unpacking! My suitcase and clothes smell like Eau De Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.
You take such beautiful photos.
Welcome back! Glad you had a good plane ride this time!
I’m a new blogger and would love to end up at a conference with you sometime!
Lori M
MT
Mel J. from Pa.
Would love this. Thanks.
Looks like you had a wonderful time, love your outfits, also love winning things:)
Donna G St Peters Missouri
Amanda s from ny. I always love your photos and stories! This looks like it was soo much fun. Thanks for the.giveaway.
Amanda s from ny. I always love your photos and stories! This looks like it was soo much fun. Thanks for the.giveaway.
Kristen K, AK. If I win please redraw for the gas card, there are no Chevron’s in my area!
Brenda A.
OH.
Looks like you had a great time and love the party dress.
Looks like fun!
Lanea W.
Missouri
Looks like fun!
Lanea W.
Missouri
Cynthia S.
Dighton, MA
Paula M. from Arkansas
Looks like you are having a blast!
Merri c from Mass. Looks like you had a blast!
Bethany P
Maine
Makes me almost want to write a blog just to go party! One of the pics of the mansion looks like part of the Alhambra in Spain.
Patricia N. Mass.
Brenda H – IN
Glad you had a safe trip.
Kate B. – Ohio – love all of the stuff being given away!
So glad to see you had a blessed time!!!!
Looks like a great time!
Mmmmm, the mojitos look good!
Shannon Y Washington
Heather T , NC
Doreen C. Texas
Becky V. from TN
Pick Me! Pick Me!
Sounds like a great time!
Melissa M.
Maine
Awesome giveaway! I need some swag in my life. And my daughter (15 months) would LOVE this book.
melissaleemarquis@yahoo.com
Doreen C., Texas
Doreen C. Texas
Jon M.
Maine
Nice bag!
Toilet paper!
jonmarquis@rocketmail.com
I’m ready to book a trip to Miami after reading!! Melissa W, MN
Rachel A from NH…looks like a great conference!
Jacklyn C., IL
Tammy S – NY
You look amazing in all of those photos!
Miami looks beautiful.
Jessica A Massachusetts.
Melissa O. from Virginia
Ranger S. from Florida
We never promised you there wouldn’t be super-saturated humidity in Miami. Sorry.
Elizabeth T
Michigan
Sherri K from Florida. Sounds like you had an amazing time!
reeree821@aol.com
Dottie F from Vermont
Your pictures were breathtaking,thank you for sharing.
Danielle R. Florida
Heather C.
Indiana
Tracy from California would love to win!
Sara K. from Illinois. Glad you had a good time!!
Heather O.
PA
Looks like a fun time!
cheryl e. in pa
Angela T
Michigan
The conference looked like amazing fun!
Love your sandals! Super cute!
Emily H.
Texas
Cindy B.
Colorado
Brittany S
NY
Looks like you had yourself an amazing time!
& I’m glad your flight back was better than the one there. 
Margaret P. from NC
Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing all the fun with us…
You look wonderful!
April B
Asheville ,NC
Liz M from Texas!
The hotels looks amazing!
#1: This is how I feel about J.W. Marriot hotels.
#2: I LOVE that turquoise and black tunic? dress? Whatever – love it.
#3: Thanks for links to 2 new fab bloggers to checkout.
#4: Thanks for the chance at the goodies!
Britt D
SD
I just love your blog, longtime reader. Your pics are great and I have expanded my recipe collection, thank you !
Rita S in VA
Tara D. from Orlando, Florida
Krystin B from FL
Cassie S., California
Man, that looks like so much fun! And your dress for the party was beautiful, it looked light and really complimented your figure.
Maggie M
Los Angeles, CA
What a super giveaway…id love to win!! Thanks!
Jessica D from CT
Rebecca W. Michigan
Thanks!
Pattie Q. NJ
Heather R, NV
Neat giveaway!
Amber S. from Texas
Amanda S. from MA
Jessica M. Pennsylvania
I’ve enjoyed this little trip you’ve taken off the beaten path. Always nice to see different places!
Sandy B
Maryland
Carrie B.
Connecticut
Yonnetta F. Louisiana
Sonya Z- Colorado
Looks like you had a fabulous time, Melanie! You look wonderful!
I am not entering, just wanted to say- LOVE your dress!!
Moira-Lin B from Arizona
Madeline S. -Georgia
Terri M. -Nevada
brianna P
New Jersey
I must say you look fab! You’ve come a long way baby. Sandi C, MA
Cheryl G from MA
So glad that you had fun! That’s what life is all about – being frugal so that you can truly enjoy the things that you want to do. I loved all of you outfits!
Becky H in MA – glad you had fun!
Elise L from Texas!!!!
Glad you had a blast
Stephanie R from Alabama
Windi H. in Indiana
Michelle L. – Ohio
Looks like an awesome work-ation.
Hips? What hips! You looked stunning in all your outfits.
Sara L – delaware
Amy H
VT
Glad you had such a great time!
Amanda H
Virginia
Regina H from Missouri.
Take me with you next time you go, pleaseeeeeee
lol
Estera N- WA
Lauren W. Pennsylvania
Marge M
NY
Thanks for sharing!
Terry J
NY
Marilyn B
NY
I think I want to start bloggng just to go to the conferences
Donna L.
Virginia
Martha L- CA
Love your blog.
Diana D, MA
Glad you had a great time! Stephanie R. from MA
Thanks for the chance.
Aubrey
Oklahoma
family74014 at gmail dot com
Love your clothing choices. You looked great!
Marla S
Michigan
You look fantastic! One would never know that your world was turned upside down just a short year ago. Thanks for the chance to win.
Dianne P
MA
Nicole B
Wisconsin
Hooray for giveaways!!
Lisa B., Florida
Laura O.
Michigan
Looks like you had a fabulous time!
It’s wonderful to see a smile on your face!
Cara P from TN
Great dress! Maria M from MA
shannon d flordia
Love the card!
Sandy I.
Michigan
Krystle W TX
So glad you are having such a great time! Thanks for sharing your goodies!
Jeni G., VA
Mandy M.
Missouri
Tina H.
Wa
Looks like fun!
Michelle R
Nevada
I would love to take some of those goodies off your hands lol.. Thank you
Maureen L. from Massachusett
Loved your outfits!
You look wonderful, so glad you had a great time!!
Joanne B from Maine
Tricia G. of MA
Really enjoyed this post!
Lee Ann D. Pennsylvania
It looks beautiful and so do you
Thanks for sharing!
Pamela E. of Texas
Amy C., Miami, FL
Glad you liked our neck of the woods! Cuban food rocks
what an awesome conference u attended =)
Ann B., WA
Deb B., MA
Love hearing about all your adventures!
Tara S. from FL
Oooh I would love to go to a conference some time (:
Marie T. CA
Heather B from MA
Angela l.
Kentucky
So happy to hear that you had a smooth flight home and that you had an amazing time! One of these days I will make it to a conference myself. In the meantime, I must live vicariously through my blogging friends. Enter this gal into the mix for some blogging swag!
Candice G., Hawaii
could definitely use the gas card with gas prices here as high as they are!!
Didi D.
Upstate NY
Can I just say I love, love, love your upstage dress!!! It’s long and gorgeous, with just enough cleavage and ever so complimenting… WTG girl!!! YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!
Jennifer B. from WA
Cindy S, Pennsylvania
Carin W, Michigan.
Tiffany S.
Wyoming
Katherine M, NC
Looks like you had a great time!
Seana M. -upstate NY
Thank you!
Kellie R, PA
Glad you had such a good time, and thanks for sharing a little of the love with us!
Danielle H
Florida
Dayna M from NC would love to win!
& holy balls! The Versace mansion!!!!!!
Awesome goodies and it looks like you had a great time!
Heidi V from PA
Angela D from Upper Peninsula of Michigan
angdavis33@hotmail(dot)com
Looks like u had a great time, thanks for sharing the photos!!
Glad to see you had fun Mel! Thank you for the opportunity.
Jackie Z. Fl
Wow! It looks like an amazing time!
Alyssa H., Tx
Amanda R.
North Dakota
Glad you had fun!
Irina G. From CT
Linda L from RI you look beautiful in that stunning dress Melaniie!
Kathleen W. MINNESOTA
Karla S from VA
Latonya Ramsey, MS
yes.4eva.r(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the opportunity!
Andrea C
California
julie h. from illinois
Cynthia R from Ohio. Thanks! Looks fabulous.
Sara-Beth R.
Virginia
Good for you, Mel! I kept hearing about it on twitter and not going to lie and say i wan’t green with envy sitting in the 50 degree rain in NH!
I’m so glad you had such a rocking time! Hope to see you at BlogHer in NY! (Or at least honk at me on 95!)
Looks like a great time. Live within 2 hours of Miami, but didn’t have the money to go to the conference.
p.s. I also hate to fly
Michele S from Colorado
I am taking notes for a future get-away…
With a baby due in a couple of weeks, we may need it in a year!
Ingrid M.
CA
Thank you for the opportunity, looks like you had a great time.
Looks like so much fun!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Nicole B
RI
Lisa P from PA loves your dress~bellamaxjoy@yahoo.com
Kerri L. from New Hampshire
Kathy E, Enfield, CT
Melanie,
When I saw your pictures from your trip I was blown away! It is such a miracle after what happened last July. You are such an amazing woman!! You not only have managed to get better, you surpassed that – You looked right at home & quite elegant at the conference. You are truly an inspiration!
Thanks for all you share – it touches all of us in different ways!!
Kathy
What a wonderful trip, you deserve this. I’d love to win the goodies!
Valerie S
CT
Looks beautiful in Miami!!
Bethany A
Ohio
I could use all, especially the gas card!
Linda D from Alabama
Nick D from Michigan
nicdavis21@hotmail.com
I would love to win this !!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time at the conference!
Rachel C from NM
Great post Melanie!! So glad your return trip was safe and uneventful!! Fantastic pix of the hotel, conference, bloggers and especially YOU! You rocked that dress for the Versace party! I concur with those above that mentioned that you look great and only 10 months after the accident!! Thank you for sharing your adventure and swag too! Kristi B, MA.
Looks like fun!
Kelly O., California
Melanie N, Wyoming
great pics!
It looks like you had a wonderful time. Yay!! You certainly deserve it. I enjoy reading about everything you do, no matter what!!
Jen R., NH
Oh I loved reconnecting! It was a great time! I love all your photos!
Sommer @greenmom
Johanna H. from MA
Looks like a great time! Fingers crossed… Love SWAG ;o)
Jennifer R from WA
I have always wanted to go to the Versace Mansion. NO FAIR. oh well, I’m so excited you enjoyed your trip. Your dress looked amazing.
Sarah M. North Carolina