The past few days, I have been surrounded by amazing people. Pure and simple. The day after FitBlogNYC, I boarded an airplane headed to Park City, Utah for Blend and to spend the weekend with a group of beautiful, strong and inspiring women and bloggers.
Before I started blogging, I had heard all these “rumors” about how incredible and supportive the blogging community is. I didn’t believe them. I didn’t quite understand how it was possible to form bonds and relationships through reading blogs and interacting on social media. Then, I started blogging and I started to immerse myself in Twitter and Facebook, followed by Instagram, and I got it.
I’ve made connections with blogging friends that are different from my other friendships because I share a part of me that I often don’t share with family and in-real-life friends. Except that these have now become real-life friendships too. This weekend was an opportunity to spend quality time with incredible people like Laura, Lindsay, Lindsay and Lisa and to make new friends.
The whole thing is centered around the idea of spending time together working out, enjoying great food, and exploring a new place – which, face it, is really what we all want when we go to conferences and events – time to network and get to know people. Yes, you learn a few things in the process but you come away with something way more important – connections.
The Lindsays – beautiful women!
It was a weekend that I needed – to unwind, relax and just be. I don’t have enough words to capture what a wonderful weekend it was. Thank you Lindsay, Janetha and Katie for coming up with this beautiful idea and event.
Here are some more snapshots from the weekend.
We stayed at the Hyatt Escala Lodge. It was gorgeous. Most everyone stayed in big suites with a number of other people. It kind of felt like summer camp. I didn’t know any of my roommates personally before I arrived and they were super sweet and fun to hang out with – Laura, Julie, Sonia, Mollie, Alex, Lauren, Lauren, Ali and Maddie.
Our butts were kicked by GPP Fitness on Saturday and Sunday morning. The trainers were some of the nicest people, even though they yelled at me to make my chest hit the floor in burpees and push-ups and to not slack on my squats. They put together killer workouts that also combined fun elements like cartwheels. I haven’t done a cartwheel in a good 20-30 years. I will be sore for days. I definitely intend to check out some of their other workouts. We ended our last bootcamp with a group handstand. Totally normal.
GPP Fitness fun including cartwheels, lunges, side planks and burpees. Lots of burpees.
Handstands post-bootcamp – totally normal
Much needed girl time. Lisa cute and styled our hair. I had a luxurious spa day with Meg, Amy and Vanessa at the Golden Door Spa. Definitely one of the best massages that I’ve had.
Haircuts from Lisa!
Food. OMG so much good food. From this ginormous turkey club sandwich at lunch at Slopes at the Waldorf Astoria prior to spa-ing to dinner and breakfast sponsored by Chobani, Laughing Cow and Muesli Fusion as well as snack breaks sponsored by Attune Foods and Onnit.
The highlight was when Janetha’s mom – Mama B – made us scones on Saturday night aka pillows of heaven. They were like beignets and were delicious with honey butter. It turned into an impromptu gathering on the last night of Blend.
Thank you so much to all the sponsors who made this event possible and spoiled us with overflowing gift bags.
Chobani, Attune Foods, GPP Fitness, Silk, Blue Diamond Almonds, Core Power, Healthy Bites, Green Mountain Coffee, Laughing Cow, Muesli Fusion, Soy Joy, Onnit, Blue Print, Bob’s Red Mill, Living Proof Fit Gear, Zevia, Swanson’s Vitamins, Fitmixer, ProBar, Build-a-Sign, Larabar, and Simply Choices.
It was so great meeting everyone! I can’t wait for next year!
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