I can not say enough THANK YOU’s to Fitness Magazine , FitFluential and Samantha Pepi (@Sampepi). What an incredible day this event was!
A room full of people who all love to talk and write about the same topics, healthy-living, fitness, food the list goes on and on! I met so many amazing bloggers, many of whom I felt like I already knew since I follow their blogs.
I’m always amazed when I meet people in real life who I only know from Twitter or Blogs how different they are than what I had expected. I will picture someone being short and meet them and they are 6′ tall. Or I’ll picture them speaking with a little cute voice and they end up sounding more like a 3 pack a day smoker! (Am I the only one who does this?) I think it’s my favorite part of social media friends…meeting them!
I’m fairly new to this whole blogging thing. Yes social & digital media is what I do for a living but my own blog is only about 5 months old. I was incredibly nervous going to an event where there are people who blog for a living! (ah to dream…) The place was filled with an incredible energy.
I always feel extremely lucky anytime I get to cross paths with people who are successful and passionate about their craft. Those two traits just feed and grow in ways that are amazing to watch, and here in front of my eyes were 100’s of them!
Normally I’m not a big fan of events that make you do the passport, like you’re a child who doesn’t know what to do and needs to be followed. But this passport was nothing like any I’ve ever seen before! Again its passion at work, each booth was filled with people who loved their products and couldn’t wait to share them!
Great Sponsors included @fitnessMagazine @BirkenstockUSA @CamelBak @Gowiththegrain @kiwisweat @MNsosphere @Oakly @pureProteinPro @Reebok @SchickHydroSilk, SunMaid #V8Smoothies and Vichy.
The Reebok Booth… hey what’s up sneaker envy!
The #V8Smoothie Table: These were great and not as chalky as some smoothie drinks I’ve tried.
The day was packed with speakers and Fitness Magazine editors discussing a variety of topics.
My favorites included Easy Beauty secrets with Fitness Magazines own Eleanor Langston and Laura Geller. Laura has some amazing advice about what to put where and when. Let’s face it I’m not as girly girl as I could be right now I’m lucky if I actually apply makeup more than once a week. It was great getting tips for shimmer, bebe creams, and the 3 E’s of Beauty Eyelash, Eye Liner, Eyebrow. I’m horrible at makeup it was a good reminder to get gussied up for ME. I’m worth it and no one will do it for me! (unless I pay them!)
I also really SUPER enjoyed the Blogging as a Business speakers! The speakers included: Kelly Olexa, Tina Haupert, Carla Birnberg and Julie Fagan. Kelly Olexa the Founder of Fitfluential has the best quote of the entire event “Get over yourself you aren’t Lady Gaga no brand will die if you don’t talk about them” This panel had great advice about being true to yourself as a blogger, selling yourself and story ideas that ONLY you could write. It was refreshing to hear none of them said “oh yea it’s easy!” They all had reservations about “tooting” their own horns as well as asking for money rather than just products. Each of them is proof that passion and perseverance payoff!
(Photo Source: fitnessmagazine)
Oh and did I mention I met Mia Hamm?! Great Gal! She signed a soccer ball for my friend Erin who is a huge fan and just had a baby! (Hey Erin!)
Annnnnd I met the Fabulous Courtney from SweettoothSweetlife. Courtney’s Blog was the first blog I used to market my watches back in the day!
I also met these Wonderful Bloggers:
Amy who blogs at FruitSaladLife, Kara who blogs at and Kararuns and Megan who blogs at HealthyontheRun Go check out what they are up too! My one regret is I should have taken more pictures!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention possibly the greatest swag bag I have ever received! I mean seriously I’ve been in media my whole career, I’ve seen swag. But never have I ever seen something quite so fabulous!
AJ Jacobs was a speaker and I can’t wait to dive into that book!
Yes REEBOK sneakers (OMG !!) I can’t wait to get some miles in those!
As a mom of 2 I was super excited about this Vichy product to tighten the middle. Again fingers crossed I hope it works overnight 😉
I can’t wait to try out the Sweaty Bands…
It was one of greatest days I’ve had so far as a blogger! HUGE thank you’s to all who sponsored this day especially Fitness Magazine!
PS: I couldn’t possibly use all this Swag myself…I’m seeing some giveaways in the future! 🙂
Speaking of giveaway’s only a few days left to win a purse or bag from Thirty-One, my contest ends May 15th: Enter here
What’s the best Swag you have ever received? What is your favorite part of events & conferences?
Bendiful 