Summer Summit Summary: Part I {#HLS}
You know you’re officially at a food and health blogging conference when this happens.
That, my friends, is the amazing Melissa! We are here at the Healthy Living Summit and I could not be more excited about all of the lovely ladies I’ve been able to meet and chat with so far.
But before we get to the conference shenanigans, let me back up to last night! The summit kicked off with the HLS Cocktail Party at LaSalle Power Co.
Melissa and I arrived together and both agreed that we were nervous – in a good way – to see so many people we know online in real life! Good thing the atmosphere was fun and relaxed.
Immediately after we walked in, we found Danielle and Kristie! Kristie and I snapped a quick picture with her fancy new haircut. 
I love it!
We truly enjoyed ourselves throughout the night and met SO many great ladies – and gentleman!
Left: Evan Thomas, Gena, me, Melissa, Chandra and Jess
Right: Gena, Gina, Danielle, Melissa and me
I was also super excited to finally meet Chandra and Hangry Heather!!!!
In addition to all the fun photos, there was an actual photo booth! Melissa, Gena, Kristie and I went in and some silly photos ensued. I love photo booths! I’m actually having one at my wedding. 
I sampled a bit of the food offerings – chicken and shrimp skewers, as well as a veggie quesadilla – but after a while, Melissa and Kristie both agreed that what we were really craving was fro yo! Problem? It was raining outside! Fortunately, my [wonderful awesome fantastic] fiance Bobby offered to pick us up. Thank you, Bobby!
We, of course, decided on YOGEN FRÜZ!!
I decided to go with the “Mix It” and tried vanilla fro yo with raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Topped with dark chocolate chips, it absolutely hit the spot.
We bid adieu for the evening in preparation for today’s activity – the conference itself! Melissa woke up at the crack of dawn to go on a 12-mile run. I love hanging with her, but not that much. 
I joined her with a little over 3 miles to go and got in a nice morning workout!
Then it was off to the conference! We arrived just in time to grab a quick breakfast of Thomas’ Bagel Thins and fresh fruit, with some orange juice.
And the best is yet to come. I’m currently enjoying Chandra’s session on the 5 W’s of Weight Training. I can’t wait to share the details from all of the sessions – everyone has done a superb job.
In Chicago or not, I hope you are all having a great weekend!
Question: Do you get nervous when you meet other bloggers in person?
Abrazos,
Everyone looks so gorgeous!!! And yes! I met one blogger and although I’m obnoxious on my blog, I’m shy IRL!
I’m totally shy in real life, too
Love seeing everyone together!!
You were missed!
Looks wonderful! I so wish I was there!!!
Wish you were, too! I’m going to email you soon about all the exciting things you’ve been up to!
i so wish i could be there! you are glowing!
And you are too sweet! You totally made my weekend with that comment!
I wish I was there too! Sounds like an amazing event with tons of wonderful bloggers.
Definitely – there’s always next year!!
I get excited, sometimes nervously excited. Just because I sometimes worry the person will be negatively different than on his or her blog. But I’ve never encountered any live blogger like that, so yay! Hope the fun continues!
Totally agree with you!!
This was the first time I had been in a room full of bloggers and I must admit that I was nervous. The bad thing is my nervous/shyness can sometimes come across as bitchyness (can I say that on your blog?).
At the end of the day I met some really great bloggers and can’t wait to check out some of the new blogs I learned about during the HLS day!
Haha! Of course you can say bitchyness on my blog
I totally hear you on that and feel the same way about myself!
I get a little nervous to meet other bloggers. Mostly that I will be different than I portray myself on my blog and that they won’t like the real me as much. Of course, I don’t think this has actually happened, but it still makes me kind of nervous. Plus, I’m shy.
That’s my biggest fear as well! It’s amazing how we can over analyze ourselves, isn’t it? I’m shy, too. Can’t wait to meet you in person
You are getting to go to all of the fun stuff! I am so jealous, and happy for you
It looks like fun. Will you two be at BlogHer Food too?
Aw, thank you! No, I won’t be at BlogHer Food only because it’s a week before my wedding! I think I would be a total nut case if I did that
Will you?!
How are the bagel thins? I’ve seen them before, but I wasn’t sure about them. I do like the deli thins, and use those for sandwiches. But the bagel ones?
I liked them! I will say that they definitely are flimsy and don’t have quite the allure as regular bagels with cream cheese, but they made for a nice, lighter side breakfast. I would buy the thins before I would buy them, though – only because they are more versatile!
So sad I couldn’t make it…I would have loved to meet all you bloggers! I enjoy blogger meet-ups so much, but I do admit sometimes I get a bit, just a tad bit, nervous beforehand…but the moment we hug and greet each other, it’s like meeting an old friend!
Would have loved to meet you, too, Sophia! I agree with what you said about “old friends”
How did we go to so many of the same events and miss each other! So glad I caught you at Karyn’s.
And I’m soooo jealous of the yogen fruz! They’re my favorite and they don’t have them back home. I never made a trip there the whole weekend…doh! lol
Have a great week!
Ah it was SOOO good to see you! Honestly, YOU were the reason I started my blog. I had been reading others for a little while, but when I saw yours I was like “wow, well…I know she is REAL because I grew up seeing her in the same hall ways at Benilde…so if she can do it, then I should be able to as well!”. I want to thank you SO much for that. Becoming part of the blog world has seriously taught me so much about myself and just life. Its an amazing community to be a part of, and I feel so blessed to be in it.
It was great to see you this weekend! Good luck with the wedding! I know it will be a blast
and you are gonna be a gorgeous bride!
And if you’re in Minnesota anytime soon we need to have a blogger meet up
xo-Molly
http://www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com
Meeting new people, especially in such large numbers, can be intimidating… but I think I did what I could, and now I have a lot of new blogs to follow.
I don’t think we got to meet at the summit, so hopefully at the next one, whenever that might be.