I can’t believe it’s over! My first-ever Healthy Living Summit is officially d-o-n-e.
This weekend has truly been unforgettable. I feel like I could go on and on (and, let’s face it, I probably will), but I guess I should step back and tackle covering this conference chronologically.
Breakfast
The day began with an Attune-sponsored breakfast buffet featuring cereal, fruit, milk and hard-boiled eggs.
I ate a bowl of fruit with my fingers while outside chatting away (because I’m classy like that), but I refilled it with more fruit and grabbed a hard boiled egg to bring back to my seat at a big, round table in the conference room. I also ate a NuGo dark chocolate chip bar from the HLS swag bag that I loved! It was so, so chocolaty and right up my alley.
I was surprised I wasn’t hungrier in the morning, but my stomach was full of butterflies about my presentation, so I think my nerves were messing with my appetite all morning.
The Conference
The conference itself was a lot of fun. The first session I attended was “How to Write a Better Recipe” by Stepfanie Romaine of SparkPeople.com.
She did a fantastic job and I took notes frantically because I feel like my recipe writing could use some work. I usually get so excited to share something with you guys that I just spew off a recipe and her presentation made me realize I should take time to carefully craft the recipes I post.
I learned every recipe should include the following:
- Title
- Headnote and tips
- Yield (serving size)
- Prep and cook times
- Ingredient list
- Directions
Other takeaways include: Write out measurements and list ingredients in the order you use them!
The next presentation was by Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and author of The Flexitarian Diet, who attended the conference thanks to Quaker Oats.
She did a fantastic job speaking all about the effectiveness of mantras in healthy living. You guys know I am a fan of exercise mantras, so I was quite interested in her healthy living mantras. I think that a whole post about healthy living mantras may pop up on my blog in the near future!
About three quarters of the way through Dawn’s presentation I started to get really nervous about my own presentation with fellow bloggers Heather, Courtney and Brittany. The butterflies were kickin’!
Once I took my seat at the top of the stage with my fellow presenters, I was nervous but also excited to talk about negativity in the blog world. It’s honestly something I could speak about for hours.
Here’s a little preview of our presentation:
Question: How Do You Handle a Negative Comment?
You didn’t think I could do a presentation and not include Sadie, did you? 
Honestly seeing her crazy little face on the big screen helped calm me a little. Once we all started talking and I got going, I felt like I relaxed a bit and the whole thing went really well. Of course I felt like I talked a mile a minute, but everyone was so kind and complimentary about our presentation afterward. Thanks so much to everyone who came! We had a packed room and it was amazing.
During our talk, I was able to share my experiences handling the negative comments I’ve received on this blog and we were all able to tell some of the crazy stories that go along with negative comments. Hearing about the experiences of others and ways to rise above some of the hatred out there was so refreshing. I loved the Q&A portion of our presentation and the advice the attendees shared.
Once our talk was done, I felt like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could finally relax and enjoy the conference.
Lunch
Lunch at the Healthy Living Summit was as delicious as I expected.
When I heard that lunch was provided by Great Harvest, I was pumped! I’ve heard so much about Great Harvest bread and it really was great. We learned that the bread was actually in full wheat berry form just one day before we were eating it on our sandwiches. Very cool!
I had the marinated roasted vegetable sandwich and a side salad and loved every bite. I wish we had a Great Harvest in Ocala because I’m pretty sure their bread would become a staple in my diet.
And now it’s time to head to the Philadelphia airport to catch a plane home to see my family, Ryan and Sadie. I miss them so much!
Rumor has it that the airport has free wi-fi, so I hope to be back with another post soon!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Congrats on your presentation! I hope to attend HLS next year…I told my husband that all my favorite bloggers were there this year and his response was “even the Peanut Buttter Girl?” lol at least he knows about your blog too!
I’m sure you did awesome!
I wish they didn’t have an age cap for HLS. It looks like so much fun!
There’s an age cap for attending HLS? Hmmm. I had no idea.
i didn’t know there was an age cap either!? do you have to be 18?
I think so, :C
It doesn’t say so on their FAQ so they’re probably just assuming you’re 18 since you have to buy with a credit card and get there
I would assume so, right? It seems kind of inappropriate for a 15 year old to be attending, considering the main even is the cocktail party! I don’t even see how this would appeal to a teenage blogger! How to network? How to make money off your blog? Etc…
Yeah the cocktail party was a little bit out of my age, but I think for every blogger learning to network and make money and just learning how to expand and touch more people is a valuable thing to learn…regardless of age.
I knew your presentation would go smoothly. You’re so organized and are so good at conveying things in an orderly manner!
Hope to see your shining face next year!
xo,
Heather
It looks like everyone had a great time at HLS. I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s posts throughout the weekend on the big event! It looks like a blast!! I’m sure your presentation went very well! How could it not when it started on a high note 🙂
Have a safe trip back!! And congrats on (what I knew would be!) a successful presentation 🙂
Any chance you can do a recap of your presentation on your blog so anyone who didn’t attend the conference can still learn about it? 🙂
yes!! i think i may make it into a blog talk tuesdays post!
Looks like it was so much fun!! I hope i can make the next one.. and that recipe-writing lesson? Very useful!!
So glad to hear that your presentation went well! I’m so bummed I had to sell my HLS ticket – everyone’s recaps are making me jealous!
I so wish I had been there! Your panel sounds fantastic 🙂
So cute that you included Sadie!
So glad it went so well! And I’m super jealous of your GH sandwich – it looks amazing 🙂
Yay! Glad that your crazy Sadie could send those butterflies away! 🙂 Aw!….. Congrats on finishing your first HLS! Way to go!!!!!
I’m glad the presentation went well…I’ve been reading everyone’s HLS posts all weekend and you guys made me SO jealous!! Have a safe flight 🙂
SO happy your presentation went off well, although I had no doubt about that ;)! Safe travels back!
Good job! I’m glad things went so well and it is so cute that Sadie made an appearance and helped you with your presentation.
Yay, so glad it went well!
I was wondering, could you write up a synopsis of your presentation in the blog sometime? as a reader, it totally blows my mind that there really can be that much negativity towards you or other healthy bloggers I love. I just don’t understand!!!
I’d love to hear more about the topic if you could 🙂
I was going to ask the same thing! I’d love to read a synopsis of what you guys discussed.
yes! i’d love to! i’m thinking i may do it as a blog talk tuesdays post.
I’m excited to read it and learn some of the things that you discussed!
I laughed out loud at that picture and caption of Sadie 🙂
So glad the presentation went well! Do you think youll be posting a recap of your discussion?
see above comment! 😀
Congratulations! Wish we all could have seen it!: )
Congratulations on the presentation! It is such a valuable topic.. I did a post on it a while back after seeing blogger after blogger being trashed in their comment section! It is amazing what people will say when they can hide behind the computer!! Safe travels to you, Julie!
I’m so glad your presentation went well! I was rooting for you in UCF’s name 😉
new goal for 2012: attend HLS!!!
YES!
Congrats on the presentation! I’m sure it was amazing!!!
I wish I could hear some of those crazy stories! Your segment sounds like an awesome addition!
Loved your Negativity presentation! It was great and thank you for the “how to look up IP addresses” tip!! Let the stalking begin… 🙂
So great to hear ya’lls panel went well! I’m so going to HLS next year! I’d love to get to meet you 🙂
Glad the presentation went well! Can’t wait to hear all about the healthy living mantras 🙂
Love the topic! I took your survey a while back – I hope you’re able to share the results. I love the idea that it really does happen to everyone – very cool topic and i’m sure the presentation was fabulous – mile a minute or not! 🙂
It was so awesome to meet you in person. And commiserate about long hotel stays inducing certifiable insanity.
Also, your hair is super pretty in person. I am jealous.
P.S. I hope that isn’t creepy/stalkerish. I figure it is OK since I have now spoken to you for like 5 minutes.
yes! you were so fun to talk to and i’m so glad i’m not alone in experiencing the horrors of hotel living!
Dealing with negativity is definitely a topic that I’d be interested in hearing more about. I haven’t encountered it yet, but since I’m relatively new, I imagine it’ll crop up at some point.
Would you be posting any highlights from your presentation on your blog in the future?
yes!! hoping to do so soon!
Ah I wish I were there! It’s crazy to see several bloggers that I follow all in one picture together haha I second Rosa’s comment : will you give us some presentation highlights?
i definitely hope to ASAP!
I would love to hear more of your presentation! It sounds great.
Man, that Great Harvest bread looks delicious!!! I’ve got to find some… The HLSummit looked amazing!! I can’t wait to go one of these years. I’m sure your presentation was wonderful and extremely helpful. Hopefully you’ll do a small recap of it for us?
Have a safe flight!
I’m sure you did awesome. Would definitely be nice to hear some of your presentation in blog post form for those of us that couldn’t make it. Or the highlights of course. I hope you’re putting something together! 🙂
Great week end! That must have been such an experience I’d love to attend a meeting like that!
I love that picture of Sadie, so hilarious!
i’m with the others, i’d love to read a recap of your presentation or some stories that you told.
glad you had fun…can’t wait to hear more about the summit!!!
Congrats on a great presentation. The food you have posted about at the HLS looks delicious.
Congrats girl! I’m sure you rocked that presentation…and great pic of Sadie! Safe Travels!
This looks soooo amazing! I commented on Meals and Miles and the HLS looks so awesome. I wish it was closer! You all did such a great job! Congratulations!
Sounds like a great trip! glad you had fun 🙂
Loved the panel and loved meeting you! Just the same in person as on your blog – so lively, energetic, friendly and welcoming 🙂 Great meeting ya!
that sandwich looks like something i’d have ordered! delish!!
I’m glad to hear that your presentation went well! I’d love to see a post that’s sort of a recap of your presentation!
Love the sadie picture I LOL’d when I saw it and the caption i nearly peed myself
The panel was fantastic! Well done. You are a spectacular girl and I only wish we had more time to chat! Next year? Or perhaps you need to come to Cali 😉
i know! i looooved meeting you, shanna!
Sounds like a great time! Glad your panel went well — hope you do a recap! 🙂
So glad to hear you presentation went well! I’d love to hear more about it as it’s something I’ve already experienced, and I’ve only been blogging for a month!
I bet your presentation went awesome–congrats on being done!! 🙂
Have a safe trip back!
Congrats on your presentation!! Im glad it went so well.
Will you do some sort of mini recap of the presentation? Perhaps on a blogtalk Tuesday?
PS Love seeing u and Courtney together! 2 of my favorite bloggers 😀
yes!! i hope to do so soon!
I’m glad your presentation went well! It’s always great to have friends up there with you, and photos of your dog! Haha. All those seminars sound so interesting! I hope you learned a lot and enjoyed it!
Glad the presentation went well… I am curious too if you will do a recap of the presentation… or more of the highlights of the weekend 🙂 Thanks in advance! You rock Julie!
I’m sure you guys did an amazing job!! I wish I could have been there … it looks like so much fun!! 🙂