It can be a daunting task going back to work after a three or four day holiday weekend or vacation. Maybe you traveled to another city and after the apex of a great weekend, you suddenly find yourself depressed when you land back in your town.

A few weeks ago, I received an exciting email about an opportunity for me and my family to go to Branson, Missouri for the Memorial Day weekend to visit Silver Dollar City and stay at the Hilton Branson Convention Center.

I will always be a mid-western girl at heart, but I cannot pretend that the fabulosity that is Miami isn't appealing and addictive. The vibe here is definitely contagious, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are indeed in the most awesome place in the world, if only for a little while.

Don't you just love this place? As I blogged a few weeks ago, I am in Miami this weekend for the Shecon New Media Expo which is taking over South Beach. I am so excited to attend this conference as well as getting the opportunity to meet other bloggers and social media folk that I have been corresponding with online for some time now. And the schedule of presentations and speakers is outstanding! This is a must attend event for sure.

Last month, I appealed to you to vote for me for the 2011 Black Weblog Award for Best Lifestyle Blog. And you guys heeded my cries because I received word on Monday that The Cubicle Chick is one of five finalists for that Lifestyle Blog category. I appreciate everyone who took the time to nominate me, and now the voting process has officially begun.

Conferences are a good way to network, build morale, learn new and interesting techniques, and build your brand. Here are a few tips you can use to get the most our of your next social media/blogging conference:

What is OneNote, you ask? It's a Microsoft program that allows you to make a virtual scrapbook for any subject you are interested in. Let's use my faux trip to Beijing, for instance. I can highlight my trip, add links to destinations, add tips, photos, and more---kind of like a notebook where everything you need is all in one place.

Being the 'Lacquer Lolita' that I am, it's a must that I change the color of my nails once or twice a week. This week, I decided to stray away from my usual bold and daring self, and try something more subtle and subdued.

Since I have become a makeup maven during the last year or so, I have found my bathroom inundated with products, creams, makeup, and other items. It's easy to become hooked on purchasing such items, but storing them can be a chore.

Which is why I was so excited when I heard about Shecon, a new media expo for female bloggers and social media types. It's being held in Miami South Beach, and unlike 90% of conferences, it's FREE to attend. You just had to register in time for the free ticket and VOILA, you are on your way!

So it's been a few weeks since my last video. I am not too happy about that since my goal this year has been to get on point with my vlogs and hopefully become You Tube partner by year's end.

After last night's Show Me the Blog Spa Soiree at Go! Spa (a blog post will follow soon), I am on my way to be a Georgia Peach for a few days.

I first began my stayaway series because I wanted to show that you can have a good time in your own town without spending major dough for airfare and travel expenses.

In any event, in this week's video update, I discuss my STL Stayaway series (next stop, Hotel Lumiere), as well as the Atlanta Bloggers Unconference next weekend, high gas prices (oh the pain!) and Show Me the Blog Social Media and Blogging Conference which will take place this year on Oct. 21st through Oct. 22nd.

Bettie Page Clothing, located in the Mile Shops on the Las Vegas Strip, features fashions and styles from the pin-up era of the 50's complete with high waisted and pencil skirts, peasant blouses, sailor dresses, and cigarette and capri pants.