Hi folks! I managed to squeeze a bunch of fun things into my weekend and have plans to share all of those this week, but this post is dedicated to the Healthy Living Summit, a blog conference that went down on Saturday.
The Healthy Living Summit was my very first conference that I ever attended and it was held in Chicago in August 2010.
Apparently I was a lot wordier back then and it required 3 posts to tell you everything. This time I’m boiling it all down to one post. 
Well, mostly because I actually only attended one day of the 3 day event. Heh.
The conference was held at a hotel in Cambridge, not to far from my house. On Friday night they had several mini mingle events and a cocktail party, but I had tickets to a concert that was a can not miss event. So I arrived bright and early Saturday morning.
I arrived just in time for breakfast, all put on by Wild Harvest. There was a competition before the conference to make a healthy breakfast recipe using goodies from Wild Harvest and the winner, Cupcake Kelly, had her dish (Greek Egg Scramble) served at the summit. So good and definitely worth making at home!
Next up was a sample of a CrossFit class. Have any of you tried this? I have a pretty good idea of what the classes would be like and this pretty much confirmed my idea. I’m not exactly sure if the whole “do as many as possible!” is right for me. It was fun, although a bit short, to try though.
Throughout the day there were a few sessions to attend. Unlike my BlogHer experience, I really got a lot out of the sessions. I ended up attending:
-Hosting a Virtual Challenge
-Working with Brands
-I Am the Blogger in Your Neighborhood
-Social Media Trends
The social media trends session, presented by Heather from Running with Sass, covered a lot of ground, but I took away a ton of To Dos. There is so much to learn about Twitter, Facebook fan pages, and all those types of things!
*If you are interested in following some of the highlights from the sessions check out the HLS website to find the hashtags that can be searced for on Twitter.*
Ok, so here goes some honestly. Up until Saturday morning when I walked in the door of the hotel I really really really didn’t want to go. I bought my ticket several months ago ready to spend some time with a few blog friends, but then life got a hold of me and my schedule got hectic. I had just finished BlogHer12, a busy time at work, and a medical crisis with Korky. I wanted nothing more than to sleep in and just relax. Believe it or not, there are some times when I can be really shy too. It isn’t often, but it can happen and this was one of those times.
Plus…it was a Healthy Living Summit and I still have so much more to go before I’m 100% healthy. I have weight to lose. Blood pressure to lower. Feet to feel better. Having attended the conference before I am fully aware that the majority of the bloggers who attend are super cute 20-something tiny cute girls in Lululemon workout gear. All very nice people, but I always felt out of place. As I walked through the door I was kicking myself for signing up for an event where I knew that I would feel self conscious.
When I walked into the ballroom where breakfast was taking place I could feel myself start to sweat and then it happened…someone called out my name. Someone recognized me and wanted to say hello. *Phew* I immediately felt relief wash over me and then that turned into feeling silly. Why was I so worried?! I was there with my insecurities just like everyone else was. I was also there to learn, have fun with friends, and enjoy the conference…just like everyone else.
At the end of the day, as I was saying my good-byes, I found myself sad to see the day ending. I had so much fun and really enjoyed being a part of the HLS community.
I’m not sure where 2013 will be held next year, but you can best believe I’m going to try my best to be there. I might even be wearing my own Lululemon gear.
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PS. I know I said that I would do a giveaway with some of my BlogHer swag, but when I remembered that I would be at HLS I decided to wait and include some of those goodies. That giveaway WILL happen this week!
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so, so glad you came!!! It was absolutely wonderful to see you!
And to see you too!
It was so great to finally meet you this weekend! Excited to get together again soon!
Agreed! Sooner rather than later!
I’m glad that you had a good time- but I know what you mean about feeling “out of place”- I probably would too. I’m not in my 20s or tiny and all LuLu-ed out like a lot of other HLBers. I was actually afraid of that a bit before I went to BLEND, but that was TOTALLY not what it was about. It was pretty damn awesome- and a great mix of people.
I’ve heard a lot of different things about HLS, and chose not to go based on some of that. I’m sure it would have been a lot of fun- especially since it was in Boston… maybe one year I will.
I also am not really a big fan of that “blogger celebrity” thing. you know what I mean.
I do know what you mean and I found that there was a TON less of that this time around. It was there in 2010 but I really felt like there was a wide range of bloggers this time around and definitely a more even playing field.
BLEND sounds like my kind of conference. Maybe next year!
WOW Erin! Never in a million years would I ever think that you could feel out of place or self conscious. Shy? I didn’t know that either! You are beautiful, smart, strong, funny and a stellar person no matter what you are wearing or what size it is!
Aww shucks. I wasn’t digging for compliments, but I certainly appreciate them.
You=the best!
I’m so glad you went! It was really great to meet you. I had a lot of the same uncertainties. But it was a great weekend. =)
Also, fantastic idea to do a giveaway with the swag!!
And you too! I’m glad I’m not alone in my silly fears.
HOW did I not manage to find more time to sit and chat with you!? If you do make it to HLS13, please promise me we can remedy this!?! I’d love to spend some face time with you, dear!
Of course! HLS13!
I’m happy to hear that HLS12 exceeded your expectations
We worked hard on the conference this year and really took to heart all of the feedback from last year’s event to make a bigger and better one for 2012. I’m sorry we never really had a chance to to chat – you were one of the faces I was hoping to spend some time with, but Saturday was definitely my crazy day. Maybe for 2013? 
I’m really glad we got to connect this weekend, and even more glad that you enjoyed yourself. I think HLS12 was the best HLS yet. Hopefully 2013 is just as good–or better!