I write this with tears in my eyes that this weekend is over, but with such gratefulness that I am overwhelmed with emotion.
How can I describe the way that it feels when you just click with a group of people?
What can I say about the way it feels to be with people who get you?
How can I describe the self confidence I’ve gained, knowing that I can meet new and wonderful friends over one little thing we have in common?
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Blogging.
For awhile I felt like a nerd for having a blog.
For a long time I would hide the fact that I escaped into a world where I could share my deepest thoughts and desires (as well as some yummy recipes and fitness related topics); a place where people didn’t judge me on my shyness or the way I looked, but embraced me for my creative and thoughtful mind.
Since I stepped out of my comfort zone last year and attended Blend 2012, I’ve grown more confident in myself and in my blog.
But it’s more than blogging.
It’s relationships.
It’s passion.
It’s sharing ideas.
It’s fellowship.
How can I explain the way it feels to give hugs to the ladies whom you are inspired by on a weekly basis?
The friends that you empathize with, cry with, laugh with, if only via the internet.
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I just can’t describe it.
My heart is so full with love for the ladies I hung out with this weekend, some whom I’ve been wanting to meet for SO LONG, others I’d never known but became fast friends with, and the lovely ladies whom I met at last year’s Blend Retreat.
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This weekend gave me just what I needed.
A reminder that I’m not alone in this world.
A reminder that I am a special and unique person.
A reminder that I am loved by ladies that mean the world to me.
A reminder that it will be okay and I will make friends when I make my big move 6 hours from the place I’ve called home for 26 years.
A reminder that I have a passion for helping others achieve their own definition of healthy.
A reminder that there are so many women out there who need encouragement and love.
And the gorgeous Park City setting didn’t hurt all of the awesome that was happening.
Thank you all for blessing me this weekend.
Thank you all for being so kind, even when I awkwardly walked over to a table where I didn’t know anyone and made silly small talk.
Thank you to Lindsay, Janetha, and Katie for arranging the event and also a special thanks to all of our sponsors for the crazy amount of swag we received.
[Update: Here are all of the wonderful sponsors listed out. (Stole this from Brittany, who took the time to link them all. Thanks girl!) Chobani, Attune Foods, Green Mountain Coffee, Healthy Bites, Laughing Cow, Muesli Fusion, Soy Joy, Onnit, Blue Print, Bob’s Red Mill, Living Proof Fit Gear, Larabar, Simply Choices, Zevia, Swanson’s Vitamins, Blue Diamond Almonds, Core Power, GPP Fitness ProBar, Build-a-Sign, Fitmixer, Silk, and GPP Fitness.]
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Happy Monday my friends! I have clothes to wash, schools to research, and a move to prepare for!
Also check out:
Blend 2013 WIAW
Blend 2013 Fitness (aka the much debated GPP post)
If you read blogs other than mine, who would you really want to meet?
What has been the most inspiring moment for you this year?
Linking up to the lovely Diva:
For all of you lovely bloggers who were there…share your recaps!!
You are so on it with the recap!!! I’m going to work on geting mine up ASAP. 🙂
It was so, so good to see you again. I wish we’d had more time. I vote for a week-long Blend next year!!!
Um yes for the week-long retreat!! Seriously wish I could have hung out with everyone more…especially you pretty lady!! <3
You are so on it with the recap!!! I’m going to work on geting mine up ASAP. 🙂
It was so, so good to see you again. I wish we’d had more time. I vote for a week-long Blend next year!!!
Um yes for the week-long retreat!! Seriously wish I could have hung out with everyone more…especially you pretty lady!! <3
Seriously, such an amazing weekend! Love your recap! Can’t wait until next year!
It was so great to meet you!! I wish we had more time to chat! Thanks for making my first blend retreat so amazing!! You are such a sweetheart!
Thanks friend! I’m glad you got to go! 🙂
I’m new to the blogging world, and I recently posted something very similar to this a few weeks back. I fell in love with the blogging community the second I joined. It’s such a beautiful place for all healthy, positive people to come together and support each other. I’m glad you had a great time at Blend! I’m hoping that I can, too, someday make it there.
http://www.frecklednettles.com
You should definitely try to go next year! It’s so worth it!!
Aw that looks like an amazing retreat!
Aw that looks like an amazing retreat!
That looks like an amazing time! Love seeing all the blend recaps
It was pretty amazing! 🙂
That looks like an amazing time! Love seeing all the blend recaps
I freaking LOVE you and I’m so glad I got to spend the weekend with you! 🙂
love love love you! We will see each other soon!! We will make it happen! 🙂
Love ya girl and so sad I couldn’t go this year too! I hope you go next year, I will be there!!
Glad you had fun!!! <3
Yes I will definitely try to be there to hang out with you!!
sorry we did not get a chance to really chat and meet this year at Blend! we will have too next year 🙂 glad you had a great time!!
Me too! Such a short amount of time to hang out with such amazing gals! You two were celebs there though so you were kinda busy. 😉
sorry we did not get a chance to really chat and meet this year at Blend! we will have too next year 🙂 glad you had a great time!!
Seriously, such an amazing weekend! Love your recap! Can’t wait until next year!
It was so great to meet you!! I wish we had more time to chat! Thanks for making my first blend retreat so amazing!! You are such a sweetheart!
I’m new to the blogging world, and I recently posted something very similar to this a few weeks back. I fell in love with the blogging community the second I joined. It’s such a beautiful place for all healthy, positive people to come together and support each other. I’m glad you had a great time at Blend! I’m hoping that I can, too, someday make it there.
http://www.frecklednettles.com
Thanks friend! I’m glad you got to go! 🙂
You should definitely try to go next year! It’s so worth it!!
love love love you! We will see each other soon!! We will make it happen! 🙂
Yes I will definitely try to be there to hang out with you!!
Me too! Such a short amount of time to hang out with such amazing gals! You two were celebs there though so you were kinda busy. 😉
I freaking LOVE you and I’m so glad I got to spend the weekend with you! 🙂
Love ya girl and so sad I couldn’t go this year too! I hope you go next year, I will be there!!
Glad you had fun!!! <3
Awww!! I got tears in my eyes reading this!! You are such a beautiful person and I consider myself lucky to call you my friend! I am SO glad we BOTH stepped out of our comfort zones and attended Blend last year or else I never would have met you! I can’t wait until next year…hopefully we can convince the girls that we need one closer to our half of the country this time! 😉
Love you dearly friend and am so happy I got to meet you last year and hang out again this year!! We can form our own retreat if we have to! 😉 But still go to the other one too lol! 😉
Awww!! I got tears in my eyes reading this!! You are such a beautiful person and I consider myself lucky to call you my friend! I am SO glad we BOTH stepped out of our comfort zones and attended Blend last year or else I never would have met you! I can’t wait until next year…hopefully we can convince the girls that we need one closer to our half of the country this time! 😉
A second year. A second beautiful post. I am SO happy that our friendship (blendship?) was able to form and continue throughout this year, and that even if we only truly communicate via tweet or comment, being together “for real” is like we’ve known each other for years. I, too, needed the reminder that even though big changes are coming, we are not alone. 🙂
I totally agree that hanging out in person is like we’ve always been friends…and I love it!! We both have big things coming up! Can’t wait to hear more about your big move and the next step in your life! 🙂
A second year. A second beautiful post. I am SO happy that our friendship (blendship?) was able to form and continue throughout this year, and that even if we only truly communicate via tweet or comment, being together “for real” is like we’ve known each other for years. I, too, needed the reminder that even though big changes are coming, we are not alone. 🙂
Love your stinkin, beautiful guts!
haha thanks you too Janetha! I’m really glad we got to chat for a little bit this year! 🙂
Love your stinkin, beautiful guts!
why didn’t we get to spend more time together 🙁 I LOVE this and yes I’ve felt so many of those same things!!! I still sometimes feel like uhh do I tell people I have a blog and it’s my dang livelihood!
haha since I’ve seen so many blogs and bloggers it seems less weird…either that or I’ve just gotten over it!
why didn’t we get to spend more time together 🙁 I LOVE this and yes I’ve felt so many of those same things!!! I still sometimes feel like uhh do I tell people I have a blog and it’s my dang livelihood!
<3
<3
I was SO great to finally meet you!! I knew we would get along, and we totally did.
You are going to have a fantastic move … I know it!
Also, thanks for posting the thumbhole photo … you’ll be seeing it on my blog tomorrow 🙂 with due credit, of course.
Right back at ya girlie! You will have to visit!!
I was SO great to finally meet you!! I knew we would get along, and we totally did.
You are going to have a fantastic move … I know it!
Also, thanks for posting the thumbhole photo … you’ll be seeing it on my blog tomorrow 🙂 with due credit, of course.
love that thumbhole photo. 🙂 weirdly, i own no shirts with thumb holes …
haha get with it Calee!!
love that thumbhole photo. 🙂 weirdly, i own no shirts with thumb holes …
I love you! You are a beautiful and sweet girl inside and out! I wish we had longer together!! xoxo
YOU are a sweetie! I wish we hung out more too!!
So glad to have met you Amanda! Your post said it perfectly! Let me know when you do through Des Moines, we’ll have to gt together!
Absolutely!
haha since I’ve seen so many blogs and bloggers it seems less weird…either that or I’ve just gotten over it!
Right back at ya girlie! You will have to visit!!
haha get with it Calee!!
Absolutely!
YOU are a sweetie! I wish we hung out more too!!
It was pretty amazing! 🙂