Everyone in a while you meet total strangers who aren’t.
I swear that made sense in my head…
I hope I’m not the only one that feel like they “know” bloggers. So many of the fabulous ladies I met at Blend this past weekend are bloggers I’ve been reading for so long that I felt like they were my “real” friends already!
First, I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Janetha, Lindsay (with credits for the following pic), and Katie for putting together another life-changing weekend!
Heather, Me, and Lindaay
Second, I owe a big thanks to Growing Naturals for sponsoring me at the retreat. These guys are truly a great example of a small business offering good, clean products.
I was so thrilled to share their pea and rice protein powders and their protein drink mixes with my friends. More on their products here.
I know Bonnie was extra-excited to try this after the 9 mile run they did in the chilly Park CIty rain!
My friend Heather already used hers and shared a pic on Instagram:
It was also the start of my first post-workout recovery meal.
The vanilla rice protein was fabulous in my green smoothie (extra spinach!) topped with Muesli Fusion:
Stay tuned – this fall they are coming out with a new addition to their protein/supplement line – yummy greens to throw into shakes!!!
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Rather than a “traditional” WIAW post, today is all about What I Ate at Blend! We were totally spoiled all weekend, and I’m still enjoying all the tasty schwag-bag selections at home. 🙂
Check out my eats with my Blends below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see what delicious foods everyone else is enjoying!
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Friday:
We arrived at the hotel excited and famished from travel. Famished. The schwag gods were smiling though… check out all the goodies we had to munch on: protein from Vega, Zevia, SoyJoys, a Lara Bar, muesli and granola from Bob’s Red Mill, Attune Foods chocolates, Healthy Bites (so in love)…. and more!
After a photo ops, we gabbed, snacked… and headed to event #1: a pre-happy hour with Justin’s Nut Butter! I was careful to sample everything, but stopped for a pic with one of the lovely organizers – Katie!
My top butters were: Maple Peanut and Chocolate Hazelnut. They were even better on Attune Foods graham crackers. All I needed was some apple juice.
The kind folks at Silk must have wanted to make absolutely sure the Blends were happy, so they set up a Happy Hour where we could unwind from travel and begin the photo-taking frenzy. Heather was patient enough to take a gorgeous pic of her ginger-Silk drink.
There was also an amazing buffet of black bean cakes, veggie summer rolls, and cute veggie sticks in jars (how did they know bloggers like Mason jars?!). Let’s pretend like I didn’t attack this… the temptation was too tasty and I couldn’t wait until dinner! Plus, we all know it’s bad to drink on an empty tummy. 😉
Dinner itself was off the chain. It was a buffet… but a good buffet. Normally I’m anti due to the rogue dirty hands and food sitting out too long. That didn’t happen here. My Blends were nice and clean, and the hotel staff couldn’t have done a better job and keeping the food refreshed.
There were salad options, quinoa patties, roasted veggies, chicken breasts, and lemon-y fish filets. There was literally something for everyone! And it was all good!
No dinner is complete without dessert! there was Chobani panna cotta, apple pie, and berry tarts.
A few of us decided to split all 3… which I graciously finished off. Starving kinds in Africa, you know.
Thanks to Lindsay for this artful photo.
Saturday:
One would think that after all that I’d still be full… well, GPP Fitness fixed that with a little workout that left me waddling. More on that tomorrow but let me just say 200 burpees (I did refuse to yell “Yay burpees!” after each rep as instructed) is a certain cure for lack of appetite.
The highlight of breakfast for me was getting to try a new granola – Muesli Fusion. They have an “Athlete’s Fuel” mix that rocks my socks off. NO added sugar or sodium, and 7g of protein per serving. It’s like they designed it for me. I poured my unsweetened Silk all over that! There was a ton of fresh fruit (holy pineapple deliciousness), and a fabulously strong brew from Green Mountain coffee.
Then we had another workout! Zoomba. I’ll spare you the pics of this white girl shaking her thang… until tomorrow. 😉 Following that we did what any normal blogger does – we went to Whole Foods. I totally failed at life and didn’t take a pic.
I DID take a pic of the snack break that followed – Onnit provided us with some amazing chocolate-banana hemp protein smoothies and rice cakes with cashew-walnut butter (totally crave-worthy). What’s better than these blogger staples? Getting them handed to you by Miss United States! Whitney is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met. How cute is she?!
And then there was dinner. Calee, Michelle, Heather, Heather, Heather (that’s not a typo – there were 3 beautiful Heathers) found an amazing restaurant on Main St. in Park City called Riverhorse. The food was incredible.
We started with a great Pinot Noir, chosen by fellow-wine lover Michelle (who I will gush about meeting later) and a beet salad served with micro greens, brie cheese, and a potato crisp with tarragon vinaigrette. Calee and I split the Trio of Wild Game for our entrée. It came with buffalo, venison chop, and elk over broccolini and asparagus with a port wine and huckleberry reduction.
I was nice and full… but when I saw the dessert menus I had to place one more order. Peanut Butter Bread Pudding with caramelized bananas and a chocolate drizzle. Can you blame me? 🙂
Every dish was near perfection. Lucky because our server was terrible. I swear I have the worst luck. She basically ignored us all night, added 20% gratuity (for a party of 6 who was clearly spending money… WTF?!), and when Heather asked about the charge (there was NO warning note on the menu) she snatched the bill out of Heather’s hand and stalked off. We tipped the man refilling our waters in cash on the side and spoke to the manager on the way out.
Like I said, the food was great. That combined with the fantastic company made for a great evening and we laughed about our crazy experience all the way back to the hotel (the cab driver was thoroughly entertained).
Sunday:
Holy breakfast heaven. This was the best breakfast out of any Blend Retreat. They had an omelette station!!! Protein at breakfast?! Color me happy. Thank you for this sponsored deliciousness, Chobani!
I got an egg white omelette with mushrooms, garlic, onions, and spinach. And a Chobani yogurt pancake. And fruit. I wanted ALL the foods! 😉
Be sure to check the #blend2013 hashtag on Twitter and Instagram for more action from the weekend!
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I snacked my way back to ATL with schwag bag goodies, and (obv) hit the Whole Foods hot bar immediatly after getting home. 😉
Soooo… are you all going to come to Blend next year with me?
Have you ever tried any of these fun products? What are you loving right now?
Still so jealous over the amazing Blend recaps! SO wish my surgery wasn’t the same weekend! Boo to that. Hopefully next year!
It sounds like SOOO much fun and looks like everything was put together perfectly. I mean, how fabulous does everything look!
I’m super impressed with all the food goodies they had! So neat.
I so wish you’d been there!!! Heal up and come see me. 🙂
I’m still kicking myself for not going to Blend this year, and all the recaps are just salt in the wound. Next year for sure… although I think I’d have to find some way to sneakily avoid 200 burpees. I’m pretty sure I’d be dead after that 😯
You HAVE to come next year. And I’m watching you – burpees will happen. 😉
It’s ON!!!!!!!! Blend better watch out… Cause when I come it’s going to turn into a full on ICE CRUSH session! Ah ha ha ha, uh….. Does that only make sense to me?
LOL! Please, please come next year. Please.
I love love love the picture with you and the desserts! So funny. Your timing couldn’t have been better, with your competition and strict diet behind you. I would love to go to Blend next year. So many bloggers I’d love to mee!
It was strategic timing. 😉
I do hope you can come next year!!! It would be so great to meet you!
I hate burpees but I’d bust out 200 if it meant eating breakfast hosted by Chobani! Looks like an amazing weekend!
Haha I didn’t yell “YAY burpees” either. I’m not about to act like I like em! Lol. I wish I could’ve spent more time with you and Heather. You two followed me on instagram from the beginning. Way before I started my blog and I really appreciate that! 🙂
Same here! We really needed more time. Next year!!!
I’ll see you the no yelling “Yay burpees” and raise you an “I didn’t even attempt them.” I’ve never done a burpee in my life, and was pushing myself plenty hard enough without trying them for the first time at Blend.
Surprisingly, your food pix look a lot like mine. It was an amazing weekend, and I didn’t want to leave. Already plotting ways to save up for next year’s retreat …
Never done a burpee??? You missing out. So much fun… LOL!
That sounds like the perfect weekend! Look at all these foods and goodies – yumm! I would LOVE to go next year and meet all of the bloggers, it is just a bit crazy expensive to travel from Switzerland for 3 days…..gah 🙁 so I am just inhaling all your recaps pretending I’ve been there too!
I vote for a European Blend! 😉
200 burpees!? Yikes. I tried doing burpees the other day for the first time in over a year and gave up after 8. It was hurting my knee so I had a good excuse, but still 😉
Saturday night’s dinner was SO much fun! Our waitress just helped to make it even more memorable. 😉 My husband has been jealous ever since I told him about all the delicious dishes we orderedt. “Don’t show me pictures of what I can’t have!” lol.
LOL! You two need to come to ATL and let me take you out!
All of the recaps of BLEND are killing me! I so, so, so wanted to go this year but we had to travel to visit family for a wedding. NEXT year for sure!
All those eats look fantastic! Everyone’s recaps are making me so excited for next year, I am clearing my calendar so I can go! 🙂
What an awesome recap! All that food looks amazing!
I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR.
no matter what 🙂
And repeating myself from all the other Blend recaps…I am jealous! It looks like everyone had an amazing time and ate so well! I’m thinking that next year I’ll have to join you 😉
What great eats! Yum. 🙂 I love Lindsay’s “artsy” pic of you – a good one for sure!
LOL! I had NO idea she even took that! Typical me… 😉
I MUST go next year!!! It looks like SO much fun!! There are bloggers I’m dying to meet in person- I just want to be friends? If we meet in real life can we be friends? 🙂 And all those eats look ammaaazzzee!
I have a feeling we would be very good friends, my blend. 🙂
Ah wow!! looks like you had an amazing time; all that food looks unreal and sounds like so much fun!
If I lived in the U.S. I would definitely be going :(. So jealous heheh!
Mmmm.. looks like a tasty conference with fun exercise, too…. but I don’t think I could do one burpee, let along 200!! 🙂
When I grow up, can I come to Blend, too?!?!?! 😉 Looks like you all had such a wonderful time! The food looks fabulous and it’s even better to have the chance to meet up with the people you “know”on their blogs! Glad you’re home safely, Laura!! Have a great day!
I think you NEED to come next year. We would be strange but good buddies. 🙂
the food at blend was reeeeeedic! and i loved meeting all my online friends haha 2014 here we come 🙂 🙂
I’m still pissed i missed that dinner and wine. gah..
I know!!! You would have loved. Guess you’ll just have to come to ATL and let me take you out to dinner!
I would totally love to go!
The whole experience looks incredible. From the people, to the activities to the food. Nothing but good is what I see. I’d love to experience it!
I hope you can come next year! We would have some bangin’ workouts! 🙂
Yes, I am coming to Blend with you next year!
So. Much. Fun!! I really hope to go next year and meet all of you wonderful “friends” too!!
all the pictures over the weekend just made me drool. those rice rolls the first night look so delicious
I really, really hope you can come next year!!!
I am loving the thought of trying to recreate some of the deliciousness that we sampled at home: peanut sauce, black bean cakes, quinoa patties, muesli…
I am made FOR y’all about your Saturday night server. The food looked amazing though. I’m pretty sure that was the place Maria and her husband went to Thursday night that had kale biscuits. [Also something that might need to be attempted.]
I wonder who could have arranged that swag so beautifully?
Please remake those bean cakes. They were delish!!!
You are a schwag-arranging genius. Perfect IG square, totally accidental. That’s real talent.
great recap! miss everyone so much! your saturday dinner looked fantastic!
Love that photo of you and the desserts… somehow I neglected to photograph them. This post makes me hungry. Let’s do it again!!
Oh, I never forget dessert. 😉
This looks like so much fun!! So much food! I am hungry just looking at it!
I hope to join Blend next year. Looks like it was a delicious blast!
I didn’t actually count the burpees, but … holy crap. THAT’S why it was so hard.
The food was so great all weekend. I wasn’t ready to go home and have to fend for myself again! That bulgar wheat salad keeps standing out in my head as something I need to try at home, for sure.
Oh, and the omelette station was totally missing black olives. I suppose I’ll forgive them. Better have em next year!
Yeah… I asked him after how many that totaled and almost passed out. LOL!
They were also missing bacon. 😉
Can you make it any harder for me to be so jealous!!! 😉 LOVE! Reading all these posts – so much friggin fun!!!
Um. 200 burpees? That’s insane!
I’m glad you had a good time, though – it looks like a ton of fun with good people and good food!
That first sentence? YES, exactly! Nail on the head.
I can’t get enough of all these recaps!
I know! It’s like we get to relive the weekend all week. 🙂
Everything looks amazing! I want to try that granola, love that it has no added sugar. I so so hope to be at blend next year! Reading all the recaps it looks like everyone had an amazing time.
The granola is really, really good! I’d basically quit eating it because of all the added stuff but this one is super-clean. 🙂
Blend looks like so much fun! Every single thing you guys were served looks so incredibly tasty, a food blogger’s dream. Maybe I can go next year when I’m not hugely pregnant. And yes, I find it difficult to distinguish between my blog friends and my “real” friends sometimes.
It WAS a food dream! And yes you must come next year. We’re pushing for East Coast! 🙂
It looks like y’all had so much fun. I have to go next year, that’s all there is to it!
so. much. food! I’m hoping next year I’ll be able to eat more of it, but I was so impressed at how they really thought of everything. Cheers to 2014… WOOT!! Um yeah, 200 burpees is insane. I started doing squats instead and I’m pretty sure I’m even more sore because of that! I’m finally feeling normal today 🙂
That would have KILLED me! We did 200 squats too… so you probably did like 300?! Whoa.
I HAVE to go to blend next year. I so wanted to go this year, but just couldn’t work it out–funny, since I’ll be in Park City next week (!!!) So close, yet so far. The recaps all look amazing–the chobani breakfast dear LORD! And I love stalking where people went for dinner/drinks etc. I am, however, terrified of that burpees lovin’ class. 200?? I think I would have passed out. More power to ya honey! Thanks for the recap and the fabulous pictures! Happy Wednesday!
Awwww… are you going hiking? I hear the weather is better now. Have fun!!!!
I’ve still never tried Justin’s before. I need to get on that!
It was really good! Expecially the chocolate. 🙂
bahhh now im so hungry!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like you had an awesome time! I can’t wait for more recaps!
Yum!! The food pictures, alone, have convinced me that I need to go next year! 😉
LOVE that pic of Heather, you, and Lindsay!
I need to do a recap of sorts, but it’s probably not going to be much other than a HUGE thank you to Lindsay, Katie, and Janetha as well as the sponsors.
And way to sum up the amazing food and awful waitress at Riverhorse. 🙂
PS Hope you are feeling better!
also, I flipping LOVE Michelle. I’m so glad I got to meet her finally!
Isn’t she awesome? So are you, btw. 😉
So jealous of this retreat! Your eats look delicious 🙂 I am definitely making this a priority next year.
Those eats were sooooo amazing, I agree!!
I actually LOVED the pineapple at b-fast on Saturday-that was a highlight for me. And boy, did I enjoy that Justin’s hazelnut. Mmmmmm!
<3
great food highlights! Blend had so many great food and sample selections – we were impressed!!
we are still on our plantain kick 🙂
I think you guys are to blame for my plantain kick. 🙂
I dreamed about the peanut sauce from the happy hour Friday night. Is that weird? haha Saturday nights meal was so good but the company was even better! Minus the “B” waitress, but I’m over her. haha
Do I ever feel like other bloggers are my closest friends?
All the flippin’ time!
So glad you had a wonderful weekend hanging out with your ‘blends’! Would have LOVED to join you!
I am in foodie heaven from all your descriptions and gorgeous photos, thank you for the recap!
Cheers
CCU
“I wanted ALL the foods” <- Bahaha! I am STILL in awe of that Chobani breakfast! They seriously went above and beyond! Secretly praying there is an omelet station next year!
Love that you got a shot of me "in action" haha! Hey, a blogger has to have her priorities ya know…plus it was a drink, not food! 😉
And seriously? How could I forget about the cab driver! Haha!
I am not-so-secretly praying for more omeletes! With bacon.
I think you MORE than got back at me for that shot. Jerk. 😉
Ok I want to point out the little cup/bowl you had your breakfast muesli in…I want that!!! It’s so cute!
And everything looks fab. So jelly.
LOL! I should have stolen it.
So much epic goodness. Food blogger fun FTW.
I love all of the pictures from Blend! They make me happy 🙂 plus all of the good food… 🙂
I giggled at the “Heather, Heather and Heather” line and the pic of you mowing down at dinner! AGAIN so good to see you but wish we had more time to hang!!
Mowing down dinner. LOL! I heart you.
I would have totally yelled Yeah for burpees. Maybe even a Thank you sir, may I have another. I probably wouldn’t have been able to walk the next day, but I like a challenge. The food looks amazing; sounds like a great weekend.
You will just have to come next year and yell it for me.