Sure, it’s chilly now, but a lot of people have summer on their minds—particularly their summer conference plans.

Many of you have reached out to see when we’ll be kicking off evo’13 and we are sad to say that after three successful years and due to some date challenges for the 2013 event, the evo Conference is bidding farewell.

We have loved evolving with you and your families. From fabulous hands-on workshops, passionate ignite presentations, singing in Swahili, zip lining, line dancing, flash mobbing, pool jumping, and making personal and professional connections that will last a lifetime, we appreciate you for being along for and contributing to what has been a remarkable ride—whether on the ground, in a gondola at 9,000 ft., or in a hot air balloon. Your presence has enriched our lives and our time spent building evo will continue to be some of our most treasured experiences.

Let’s end this on a high note. We’ll be keeping our Facebook page up for 2 more weeks and we’d love for you to share your favorite evo moment or a way in which evo helped you evolve. We look forward to hearing your highlights.

Sincerely,

The evo team!

Jyl (Mom It Forward) and Rachael (Today’s Mama)

Also, please connect with us on Twitter and share with us on our Flickr group, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Pinterest page.

Links to Blog Posts

Please include your name and a link to blog posts about evo’12 so we can see your fun pics, read about your takeaways, and see any videos you captured.

Whatever the age of your child(ren), Park City and The Canyons are great places to bring your children. Here are a few tips on attending EVO with children:

I’m Attending evo Pregnant

• Attending a conference is a little tricky. You’re not always feeling at your best; you need to know the closest bathroom and if you’re coming in from out of town, the altitude may make it more difficult to breathe.
• Conferences can be very physically and emotionally draining. Be sure to take good care of yourself. Prop your feet up and wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
• Bathrooms are located very close to registration and the main general session room, as well as class rooms.
• Be sure to drink lots of water and bring lotion for sensitive pregnant skin. The air in Utah is much more dry. Be sure to consult with your physician before flying.

The first year I attended evo, I was four months pregnant and still at that super sick phase. I really had to pick and choose which classes I was up for. For me, pregnancy sickness was the worst in the morning and at night. I chose to not stay up at the Canyons and sleep in my own bed. It was simply too difficult for me to make it to the breakfast speakers as I felt too sick. But I was able to enjoy the classes.

My favorite part was hanging out in the sponsor suites and getting to know the people behind the brand. Three years later and I am still very close to Erin and Jesse that I met in the Scandinavian Child suite and have stayed in touch.

I’m Attending evo with a Baby

Reader be warned, if you are bringing a baby to evo, you will be mauled with attention! Babies are very welcome to this group.

• Feeding baby – depending on your comfort level, there is a nice area to feed baby above hotel registration on the second floor with comfy chairs. Or if you are more comfortable nursing or feeding in a crowd, this group is very supportive and welcoming. While attending evo last year, I brought my then 6-month-old baby girl. There were a few classes that I nursed her while attending.
•  Nap time may be a little tricky. Bring a stroller, baby wrap, or sling to carry baby (if you don’t have other care for baby).
• Be sensitive to other attendees. While your baby is adorable, some may find the chatter or giggles distracting. Read the table or class you’re in and measure their response.

I’m Attending evo with Younger Children

The Canyons is a great place to wear out younger and older children. The mountains and terrain are great for hiking, nature walks and the outdoor pool is ideal for swimming.

The sponsor suites are a great place to take children

I’m Attending evo with Older Children

Check out these options for older children:

• Child care
• Day camps
• Park City has a skate park
• Library
• Historic Main Street
• Olympic Park ski jump

Enjoy your stay!

Editors Note: Kathy Dalton is a consultant to Daybreak and the author of The Danish Mama Blog. She is also the CEO of Little Stinker, a natural products company focussed on childrens products. Connect with Kathy @kathydaltonslc.

1.     Confirm last minute travel – Contact your airlines and hotel and confirm reservations. Email yourself a copy of your itinerary.

2.     Business Cards – If you have not printed your business cards, do so now. If you’re running too close to your departure date, you can always have the business cards shipped to your hotel.

3.     Documents – Email yourself important files, like your business cards, scan your drivers license, prescriptions, or passport.

4.     Sponsors – Connect with sponsors via Twitter. Familiarize yourself with their brands, so when you meet you can have a conversation around their latest initiatives.

5.     Speakers – Similar to connecting with sponsors, you’ll want to connect with speakers and their websites. See when your favorite person is speaking and be sure to sign up for their class.

6.     evo schedule App – Download your evo schedule to your mobile phone with the sched app.

7.     Cords – Pack your computer cords, camera charger, and phone charger now so you don’t forget them at the last minute.

8.     Get ready to have fun!

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

Post written by Kathy Dalton. You can find her at DanishMama.com.

1. Cute and comfy sweat pants or shorts
2. A tank top or t-shirt
3. Cross-trainers or dance shoes

However, did you know that Park City has so much to offer in the summer months as well? With evo Conference just over 1 month away, you are likely trying to plan your days and nights to squeeze in everything the conference and local area has to offer.  Consider me your own personal tour guide as I give you a preview of the 5 Must-See Summer Attractions in Park City, Utah:

Utah Olympic Park

The Utah Olympic Park was created and used for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Thankfully, the legacy of those games lives on for the public to enjoy. In the summer months you can visit the park and enjoy activities, like the Comet Bobsled Ride, museums, and the Rocket Skeleton Ride. (Image credit: Utah Olympic Parks)

Historic Park City Main Street

Have you ever wanted to be transported back to a different time? Historic Park City Main Street gives you a brief glimpse into a silver mining town of the past. The buildings lining the street are an attraction all on their own, but they aren’t just for looks. Main Street holds one-of-a-kind museums, world class restaurants, and shopping galore.  (Image credit: Historic Park City, Utah)

Park City Balloon Adventures

How would you like to soar hundreds of feet above the city in a hot-air balloon to take in all the glorious views Park City has to offer? Park City hosts several hot-air balloon festivals each year, but you don’t need to just be a spectator. You can book your own Park City hot-air balloon adventure.  (Image credit: Park City Balloon Adventures)

Park City Mountain Resort

Park City Mountain Resort is so much more than just great skiing. During the summer months, it is transformed into a playland that kids and adults of all ages will enjoy. Zip lines, an alpine slide, and a mountain roller coaster are just a few of the activities that will keep you coming back for more. And it’s all set in a picturesque mountainside. (Image credit: Park City Mountain Resort)

Tanger Outlets: Park City

Yes, shopping is 100% considered an attraction, especially when you are visiting Park City from another state. You don’t want to miss out on all the great deals and stores that the Tanger Outlets have to offer. From Polo to Guess to Coach, it’s all at the outlets. You may even have to pick up a suitcase at the Samsonite outlet to take home all your shopping treasures.  (Image credit: Salt Lake Magazine)

Now you just have to decide how many extra days you plan on staying in Park City, because you don’t want to miss anything the city has to offer.

Guest post by Stephanie Hansen.

It can be tricky not to over- or under-pack. Try really hard to under-pack. One thing you need to remember is that you are going to have to leave room in your bags for one of the best perks of conferences: SWAG. It always takes up more room than you think it will and some of it can be rather large. Here is one tip if you haven’t left enough room in your bag to bring everything home, go through everything the night before (read the stuff brands put in bags, there are some ROCKING discounts that a lot of people overlook) and decide what you really want and what you can give to someone else if the conference you are attending doesn’t have a swag recycle room.

Comfort is Key!

Conference days and nights are very long, so you want to stay as comfortable as possible. I generally advise to have at least one outfit that can go from day to night with ease. Also, let’s have a little chat about shoes, shall we? If you’re, say, Victoria Beckham and haven’t worn a flat in your life and could wear high heels 24-hours a day, then I say woot … go with what you are used to. For me, my feet killed at the first two conferences I went to until I got it into my head that since I never wear high heels at home, I probably shouldn’t wear them at a conference.

Don’t Break the Bank Just Because You Want to Make a Good Impression.

Seriously, I mean this. If you can splurge and want to, that’s fine. But honestly, no one really cares what you’r wearing. Wear things that make YOU feel good and you will win every time. I have learned that there are certain pieces of jewelry that ALWAYS starts conversation that I got at Forever 21 for like $6 bucks.

Layers and Cardigans are Your Friends.

Here are some things you should know about Park City: the elevation is HIGH. At this time of year, it can still be quite chilly or scathingly hot. What can I say? Our weather is very diverse. We always have at least one snow storm in May and there have been many a rainy, cold 4th of Julys. So having layering options can be very handy. But sometimes even that isn’t enough, which is where cardigans come in. Even if it’s hot outside, hotels can be notoriously cold. So I learned quickly that one or two cardigans are life savers, especially as the workshops at evo are long and you can’t pop back up to your room as quickly.

Do I Need to Dress Up at Night?

That is entirely up to you. If you’ve run really hard all day and want to stay in what you’re wearing, that’s fine. If you want to perk up your plumage and change into a hot cocktail dress, that is also fine. The only exception to this rule is if the party you’re attending has a dress code where they obviously want you in something specific, like The White Party at Mom 2.0.

Either way, as long as you wear things that make YOU feel like a million bucks, you can’t fail to make a good impression on whoever your talk to.

I can’t wait to meet you all at evo ’12. I hope you all come up and say hello! I’m friendly and don’t bite!

(AND … I am wearing a pair of raspberry Crocks to the conference. So there! )

1. No matter how big a company may seem, there are real people behind it.

The fact that there are real people, just like me, working behind the scenes at a big name company is a recent revelation of mine. Life altering, I know. Okay, so it may not have been life altering, but career altering? Probably.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in “the name,” especially if it’s a product you love. Realizing you are talking to a person, not the company, makes approaching the idea of working with them seem less intimidating.

2. When you make a connection, nurture it.

At a recent conference, I met a few people whom I hope to work with in the future. We enjoyed talking with each other at the events and their products are a good fit for my blog. We exchanged business cards in the hopes of connecting once we were back home.

It’s one thing to make a connection at the conference; it’s another to keep those lines of communication open when you’re back in the real world.

Within a week or two of the conference, I made sure to send them an email saying I enjoyed meeting them and included an idea of how we could work together. I also made a point of following their company’s Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, Google+, etc.

3. Not every connection will be a fit. That’s okay.

Who are you? What do you hope to promote on your blog? What makes your blog unique?

Being able to answer these questions can help you determine what kinds of products and companies would be a good fit for you. Not every company, product, or pitch is going to fit. That is okay!

I write about day to day life with four boys and trying to feed everyone on a budget. The companies I’m interested in fit in those categories; family and budget friendly. If you are an expert on gluten-free baking, then the companies you work with will fit that in that niche.

4. See a need and fulfill it.

What can you offer a company you would like to work with?

If you know that a company has a new product launching in a month, how can you help promote it? Do not underestimate the power of word of mouth and the value of your voice? Most companies are excited and very interested to be working with bloggers.

I know it is intimidating to cold-call or email a company with an idea, but think about it. What have you got to lose? If you never hear from them, then you are no worse off than if you hadn’t contacted them, except for the fact that your ego may be bruised.

Not only have these tips helped me enjoy the business aspect of blogging but I have met some wonderful people this way.

Born and raised in Southern California, Krista Dearden started blogging in 2009 to stay in touch with her family.  Shortly after giving birth to her fourth son she created her blog, Budget Gourmet Mom.  In it she shares stories of motherhood, budget friendly recipes, and the occasional tip.  Earlier this year she joined the team at The Hive which is a community for local Utah Food Bloggers.  She currently resides in Spanish Fork, Utah with her husband and four boys.  Connect with Krista on Facebook and on Twitter.

After all that prep and anticipation, you can only imagine how frustrating and disappointing it would be to get “sick” while at the conference. evo’12 is held in Park City, Utah. Park City is in the mountains and is 6900 feet above sea level. For some people, that means you may experience Altitude Sickness.

Altitude Sickness Symptoms:

• Headache (most common)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sleep disturbances
• fatigue

Altitude Sickness, doctors believe, “is the result from changes in the body’s responses to lowered levels of oxygen and air pressure changes.”

Altitude sickness can occur as low as 8000 ft. But Park City is 6900, so you’re safe, right? Most likely, but some are at a higher risk of experiencing symptoms if:

• there is a rapid ascent to high altitude
• you have a prior history of altitude sickness
• you live at an altitude less than 3,000 feet
• you are  less than 50 years of age

Can you prevent it?

Some doctors suggest keeping yourself hydrated, driving instead of flying, so your body can adjust to the altitude gradually, and getting enough rest. Speaking of rest, they suggest, if you can, to sleep low. Low altitude, that is. If you have experienced altitude sickness in the past, you may consider staying in Salt Lake City and driving to Park City for the day.

Our friends, the SnowMama’s, have a great article with more detailed information. We also suggest talking to your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Post written by Kim Demmon.  Connect with her on Twitter or TCreativeBlogs.