Diary of a Semi-Health Nut

ramblings + recipes of a semi-healthy nut

A Healthy Living Summit Un-Recap

by

If you’re a blogger like me, you probably write posts in your head.

They sound eloquent and informative; intriguing and entertaining. These posts written on the pages of our brain as we fall asleep or dawdle in the shower or while going for a run are so exciting we just can’t wait to actually get the words out via our keyboards.

Well, I had no such post in my head the entire weekend I was at the Healthy Living Summit, nor did any other ideas form when I crashed got home Sunday afternoon. Not even this morning when I shuffled around my new cafe job trying to look busy (even though we were dead for a good two hours) to impress the bosses. Seriously, no idea how to do a recap. Only a scramble of feelings.

healthy living summit recap #hls13 2013
Mollie, Alex, Katie and I after a long weekend.

So here is my un-recap of the Healthy Living Summit 2013, a community that I once was apprehensive of joining for fear of not being “healthy enough.”

So here is how/what I am feeling:

Excitement.

I am so excited about having a blog. It is more than just a hobby. It’s also not a job. I don’t really get paid to do it, but having a blog presents an array of opportunities..some of which do pay. I am so excited to get to work pursuing what I love to do!

Hope.

I’m not going to school right now. I have not yet received my licensing to be a registered dietitian. And that’s okay for now. When I do get my proper credentials, I am looking forward to helping people understand nutrition and themselves better. I can’t wait to have those moments where I feel like what I’m doing is making a difference! That what I’m doing is changing lives for the better!

Proud.

I can’t tell you how awesome it was to tell people I blog at Diary of a Semi-Health Nut and have them actually recognize the blog name. Winning!

I also asked questions in front of very large groups of people. Twice into a microphone. Sitting at the front of the room. Once was admitting I still blog on Blogger (the horror!) and another was admitting I had no idea why bloggers needed LLCs (to not get sued). And the last one was to ask a question on the Wild Harvest tour…”What does the word ‘natural’ on the labels mean?”

healthy living summit recap #hls13 2013 wild harvest tour
(first gal didn’t have a blog and I can’t find her on the pinterest page!), Tara, Ashley, Jen, and I

I know, right? Who is this person that is brave enough to speak at all in front of a large crowd?

Overwhelmed. 

So many ideas. So. So. Many!

I have tons of notes to go through from all of the sessions on Saturday, not to mention the slight chaos to which I came home. (I have a hard time ending sentences with prepositions, even though that sentence seems unnatural.) Dave worked this weekend and it was a rough one, plus I have mounds of swag and suitcases to go through. Oh and recap posts since this wasn’t one of them. Oh and so many new blogs to check out!! (Is “out” a preposition in this case? I fail.)

healthy living summit recap #hls13 2013
Photo by Megan, found on HLS Facebook Page

Regret.

I do feel regret for not making deeper connections with people. I felt like I just needed to “network” with as many people as possible, but I sit here today wishing I asked more questions than “what’s the name of your blog.” I know that’s a lot to ask for in a 48 hour span of time, but I think I could have done better.

Confidence.

Although I didn’t make many deep connections, I am proud of myself for getting out of my comfort zone and approaching any and all of the ladies at the conference that I could. Over this past year I’ve grown more and more confident in meeting new people and this weekend helped immensely.

Love.

I went into the conference already knowing a few ladies from the Blend Retreats, but I swear every time I spend time with them (or read their amazing blogs), I just feel the love. My roomies were amazing in that certain way that just made me feel comfortable being ME all weekend.

healthy living summit recap #hls13 2013

Motivation

Lastly, I found motivation to make some of the changes I have been putting off..in my life and on my blog! What more could I ask for from a blogging summit??

So there’s my un-recap! I will be back later to give you some real details such as restaurant reviews in Minneapolis and what I learned!

*~Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut~*

Linking up to the lovely healthy diva (whom I wish could have attended this weekend!!)

PS For those ladies in the pictures I just met this weekend…I will try to link to your blogs in this post. You can definitely tweet me that your face is on this post with your blog url to speed up the process! Love, your tired HLS13 friend who met way too many wonderful ladies!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I loved meeting you! Make sure you let me know when you are in the Omaha area! 🙂

  2. I loved meeting you! Make sure you let me know when you are in the Omaha area! 🙂

  7. It was great to meet you this weekend!

    I think we can all relate to these feelings about HLS. I definitely regret not spending more time talking to everyone too. And I’m so overwhelmed with everything I learned at the sessions – I feel like I have so much work to do on my blog now haha.

  8. It was great to meet you this weekend!

    I think we can all relate to these feelings about HLS. I definitely regret not spending more time talking to everyone too. And I’m so overwhelmed with everything I learned at the sessions – I feel like I have so much work to do on my blog now haha.

  11. Sounds like a great experience! I definitely want to go to a blogger conference of some sort at some point 🙂 I also love blogging and you know what you described it PERFECTLY… Blogging is more than a hobby but it is also not a job! Kind of a weird place to be, lots of opportunities, including some to make a little bit of money!

  12. So happy to have met you! It was really interesting learning about LLCs and tax stuff, i had absolutely noooo idea!

  13. So happy to have met you! It was really interesting learning about LLCs and tax stuff, i had absolutely noooo idea!

  14. Good for you for asking questions! I was still too nervous to do that 😉 And I feel you on the regret. I always go to conferences with the best intentions of talking with and meeting everyone and there is just not enough time!

    • After I asked the one at Golden Harvest I wanted to crawl into a hole because everyone was looking at me haha but it was a legit question and I’m glad I did it! I wish I could have chatted with you more, but I’m glad we had a few minutes at the cocktail party at least!

  15. Good for you for asking questions! I was still too nervous to do that 😉 And I feel you on the regret. I always go to conferences with the best intentions of talking with and meeting everyone and there is just not enough time!

  16. After I asked the one at Golden Harvest I wanted to crawl into a hole because everyone was looking at me haha but it was a legit question and I’m glad I did it! I wish I could have chatted with you more, but I’m glad we had a few minutes at the cocktail party at least!

  21. Sounds like a great experience! I definitely want to go to a blogger conference of some sort at some point 🙂 I also love blogging and you know what you described it PERFECTLY… Blogging is more than a hobby but it is also not a job! Kind of a weird place to be, lots of opportunities, including some to make a little bit of money!

  22. I’m not sure we actually formally met, but we were talking to the person at Applegate farms together, I believe :). I felt like I pushed myself out of my comfort zone at this conference too…it was such a great experience! Hopefully next time we’ll get to chat!

  23. I’m not sure we actually formally met, but we were talking to the person at Applegate farms together, I believe :). I felt like I pushed myself out of my comfort zone at this conference too…it was such a great experience! Hopefully next time we’ll get to chat!

  24. Love ya girl!! Always!! And seriously, we’re on the exact.same.page regarding this weekend! I’m not sure I could have said it better myself (though I’m hoping to say something in my recap…ha!)

  25. Love ya girl!! Always!! And seriously, we’re on the exact.same.page regarding this weekend! I’m not sure I could have said it better myself (though I’m hoping to say something in my recap…ha!)

  29. Gosh I don’t think we did formally meet, but I remember seeing you there! We will have to try to chat next time! I know I follow you on Twitter, so we will keep in touch! 🙂 We really need a week-long summit!!

  32. Sounds like a great weekend, even if you feel like this was unorganized I think it was a great idea to format a post around all that you were feeling 🙂

  33. Sounds like a great weekend, even if you feel like this was unorganized I think it was a great idea to format a post around all that you were feeling 🙂

  34. Looks like it was fun and informative. I didn’t know we needed LLC’s. Does that cost $? I have a lot to learn still too. Any other good info I should know?

  35. Looks like it was fun and informative. I didn’t know we needed LLC’s. Does that cost $? I have a lot to learn still too. Any other good info I should know?

  38. haha i love the roomies for life pic! I would have to say that I felt too overwhelmed to go to HLS this year.

  39. haha i love the roomies for life pic! I would have to say that I felt too overwhelmed to go to HLS this year.

  41. Just got a chance to read this. I just think blogger conferences look like so much fun! Even though I don’t have a blog yet. (I plan on making one but I’m a procrastinator at heart. 😉 I love reading blogs and so feel like I “know” so many of the bloggers. Would be cool to actually meet them in real life. 🙂

    • Hey a blog is a lot of work, so no rush (although it is fun and rewarding!). It’s funny because some bloggers I meet it’s like I’m meeting a celebrity. I have to remind myself to keep my cool haha. This HLS there weren’t the usual “big bloggers” such as Kath Eats and Carrots N Cake, so I didn’t have too much celebrity shock, but it’s still interesting meeting bloggers you feel like you “know.” I’ve mostly had great experiences, but some bloggers are a little different than you would think (or different than you picture based on reading their blog)…usually in this case the blogger is much more reserved or quiet than I thought they would be.

      You have to let me know if/when you start your blog!! 🙂

      • That’s the exact reason I haven’t started one yet. I don’t have the time for it at the moment. I will definitely let you know if I start one though. 🙂

  42. Just got a chance to read this. I just think blogger conferences look like so much fun! Even though I don’t have a blog yet. (I plan on making one but I’m a procrastinator at heart. 😉 I love reading blogs and so feel like I “know” so many of the bloggers. Would be cool to actually meet them in real life. 🙂

  44. Hey a blog is a lot of work, so no rush (although it is fun and rewarding!). It’s funny because some bloggers I meet it’s like I’m meeting a celebrity. I have to remind myself to keep my cool haha. This HLS there weren’t the usual “big bloggers” such as Kath Eats and Carrots N Cake, so I didn’t have too much celebrity shock, but it’s still interesting meeting bloggers you feel like you “know.” I’ve mostly had great experiences, but some bloggers are a little different than you would think (or different than you picture based on reading their blog)…usually in this case the blogger is much more reserved or quiet than I thought they would be.

    You have to let me know if/when you start your blog!! 🙂

  46. That’s the exact reason I haven’t started one yet. I don’t have the time for it at the moment. I will definitely let you know if I start one though. 🙂

  47. Awwww! This makes me so happy! It sounds like you had an amazing experience and I am SO proud of you for coming out of your shell! You are an amazing person, Amanda and more people need to see that! 😀 xoxo

  48. Awwww! This makes me so happy! It sounds like you had an amazing experience and I am SO proud of you for coming out of your shell! You are an amazing person, Amanda and more people need to see that! 😀 xoxo