This post is a recap of things that I loved, hated, and WTFed?! about SXSW.

First, I hated that I missed the Food Blogging Panel because I wanted to see my blog buddies Rachel, Cathy, Zach, Addie and Kalyn rock SXSW. I booked my flight before knowing what time the panel was scheduled, so I was at the airport while the panel was going on.

I loved that Saul from Freshbooks set up a lunch so I could meet the founders of Outright, Shoeboxed and Batch Blue.

I loved that I ate cupcakes in the morning with Rachel in the lobby of the Hilton.

I loved laughing with Rachel, Twanna and Zach.  [We could have our own reality show]

I loved that I got a HARO sticker from Peter Shankman. I WTFed that a girl from Phoenix came up to me just because I wearing the sticker at The Onion party.

I WTFed that the VIP section of the Onion party only had Miller Lite for Free.  I loved that a guy asked, “Didn’t I meet you at Likemind in Brooklyn?”

I hated that I got called a racial slur on the street by a homeless man.  It dampened my mood for partying, but I loved that I didn’t wake up with a hangover on my last day.

I loved that I got a free ice cream sandwich from the Ice Cream Man.

I loved that I met Austin food bloggers like the TipsyTexan and Addie Broyles.  I loved the goodie bag from Whole Foods food bloggers event.  I hated that I couldn’t bring the lovely lotion from the goodie bag on the plane.

I loved doing a panel about Finance 2.0, and people coming up to me afterward to ask me questions.

I loved meeting Anya Kamenetz.

I hated that I missed  some panels that my friends were on.

I loved that I ran into friends that I didn’t know were going to be at SXSW.

I hated the word “privilege” being thrown around at panel discussions.

I loved using Tweetdeck and Twickie while twittering the panel discussions.

I loved that I rocked three parties Sunday night.

I loved eating cupcakes at the Cupcake Social.

I loved meeting Babette from BakeSpace after knowing each other for years online.

I WTFed the Austin Convention Center. That place is a weird maze.

I loved that I met the guys from Lost Zombies.

I WTFed that a drunk cougar tried to pick a fight with me at the hotel bar.

I WTFed that bars put on the ugly lights at 8PM when the sponsored open bar ends.

I hated the ATM Fees which were $3 and up.

I loved that iPhone and Mac users were fascinated by my Peek and HP Mini.

I hated that it was hard to get something to eat at lunchtime.

I loved that I didn’t have a breakfast taco.

I loved that I want to come back next year.  I am already thinking of SXSW panels to pitch in June.

• Caroline Waxler

  very nice! you are inspiring me to do my own! lovely running into you

• http://kateblack.com Kate Black

  I love this list!

  I also WTF a drunk cougar trying to fight you? WHAAAAT!?

• http://www.funkybrownchick.com Twanna A. Hines (Funky Brown Chick)

  I love it that you GROWLED at me at 1:23am the other morning Um, I can’t remember the last time anyone’s actually growled at me. It was refreshingly unexpected

• http://www.dozi.com/lifestyleempire.com Carolynn

  Thank you for your great reporting from SXSW all week, it enhanced my virtual participation!!

• http://batchblue.com Michelle Riggen-Ransom

  Thanks, Nichelle! It was so nice to meet you, I’m sorry I had to run and catch my plane. Hope you guys enjoyed your lunch. I definitely want to come to NYC for a cupcake event so let’s stay in touch – you are one cool lady!

• http://austin360.com/relishaustin Addie Broyles

  So great to meet you! Keep up the good work (cupcakes AND $$).

  I love SXSW b/c it puts me in contact with good people like you.

• http://bakespace.com Babette @bakespace

  Nichelle – We loved meeting you too! We put the Whole Foods lotion in our checked in bag and it made it home ok. The caramels are awesome. We saw your tweet from the plane about how long it should take you to get to the airport, but the guy next to us was a pilot and said we had to power down.. Boo. Next time we’re in NYC we’ll have to hook up for a cupcake crawl… OXOXOO -

• Ryan

  It was a pleasure meeting with you and having a friend to celebrate with. Be on the look out for some interesting cupcakes

• http://www.lostzombies.com Lost Zombies

  Thanks Nichelle. We loved meeting you as well.

• http://www.midtownlunch.com Zach

  I love that my Whole Foods lotion made it through airport security! (Actually, I should say… my wife loves that my Whole Foods lotion made it through security.)

  I love that I thought Twanna’s use of the word “masturbation” was code for watching a replay of your own panel online. She actually just meant straight up jerking off.

• http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com Rachel Kramer Bussel

  Love your post! That was so much fun – I think my favorite part (though one I was ready to relinquish by the end) was seeing people I know or who know my friends (like the Lifestyler folks) on the street/in the hallway/everywhere. It really is its own little village.

  Zach, that’s hilarious!