So, I’m a genius and didn’t hit “publish” yesterday … hence the lack of a post. I’m so sorry! Hope this lengthy one makes up for it. 
Hello, my beautiful friends! I’ve missed you so much. It was an amazing weekend in Boston at the Healthy Living Summit and I decided to live it up instead of post. Hope you were okay with that! All of the bloggers who helped put on the event were so friendly and welcoming. Thank you to Meghann, Julie, Heather, and everyone else involved!
Friday
Mid-morning, Cait and I hit the road for Wildflour! We wanted to kick off the day with pour over coffee and a solid blogging session since we were both planning on unplugging for the weekend. Unbeknownst to either of us, we packed our belongings in our respective Reebok backpacks and Sonia Kashuk bags. They don’t call us best blends for nothin’!
Once we got to Wildflour, we were instantly in what I like to call “zen mode.” It’s a state-of-mind in which you are so perfectly content, happy, and at ease that you never want that moment to sneak away. With my raw cauliflower tabbouleh and BB by my side, the words were flowing and we both agreed that we were just going to stay there until we felt that “zen mode” had snuck away from us.
Two hours later, we gassed up my Camry and were off to Beantown!
Apparently, lunch hour is synonymous with rush hour because we were stuck in traffic for quite some time. Cait and I were supposed to meet up with a bunch of fellow bloggers at flour bakery & cafe but traffic kept us from doing so. We made it to flour an hour late and were so ready for some salads!
I ordered a salad with mixed greens, sprouts, carrots, tomatoes, and their housemade hummus while Cait opted for the curried tuna salad. She also ordered a side of hummus and we were both so impressed with it – there were even whole chickpeas in the spread!
We walked back to the our hotel, The Hyatt Regency Cambridge, in the scorching heat (because we’re cheap-o’s and refused to pay for a taxi) and got ready for dinner with some very special ladies!
The six of us went to Figs, one of Chef Todd English’s restaurants. I’d perused the menu beforehand and figured there wasn’t much there for me to eat but I was there for the company – not the food – so I rolled with it. Turns out there were four things I could eat.
Me and The Lone Olive!
Four little olives in olive oil. Ha! The salads were far too expensive for me ($12 for mixed greens and beets?!) so I munched on the above olives, drank lots of water (we were all parched!), and talked and laughed with these five amazing ladies. I felt so blessed and so happy; we all got along so seamlessly!
After dinner, the real fun began at the cocktail party!
Lisa and I had lots of fun with some outlandish costume accessories provided by a really nice man in a spiffy suit.
I can’t look at the above picture without laughing hysterically at Cait. I’m also impressed by the tone-age of my left shoulder. Okay, vanity ends here.
Or not.
Air guitar, baby!
I met a fellow Garden Grille and Wildflour addict: Ashley! This girl is super kind and has the biggest, most beautiful smile! She and the wonderful Sara were good friends in college and Ashley now lives in RI. What a small world huh?
Unfortunately, there wasn’t any substantial food for me at the cocktail party aside from crudite, nuts, and sundried tomato-olive tapenade. Thumbs down number two! While it would have sufficed, I didn’t really want nuts and crudite for dinner so Cait and I snuck out of the cocktail party an hour early and went to Whole Foods for a late night salad. Win!
Saturday
We woke up nice and early for breakfast and, per usual, I arose with a grumbling tummy.
Yet again, there were scant vegan-friendly options. I was so disappointed that, especially at an event where there are so many people with various dietary preferences, there weren’t more vegan dishes. I ended up grabbing a KIND bar for some staying power.
Yes – I know this KIND bar has honey in it but it was either that or starve. My heart sank a bit because my veganism is so important to me but it was that or nothing.
After breakfast, we had our very own Reebok CrossFit WOD (workout of the day), hosted by many fine-looking CrossFit coaches from the area. Our WOD was 5 minutes AMRAP of 7 air squats and 15 jumps. It wasn’t super challenging but definitely got my heart rate up!
A bunch of us perused the sponsor booths after our workout.
Lisa, Cait, Me
Like our Reebok RealFlex sneakers? The amazing team at Reebok gifted all of us bloggers with a new pair and I loved the dark grey color with the purple laces. I have now accumulated four pairs of Reebok sneakers in the past four months. Pinch me?
Meg, Lisa, Cait, and I made sure to get a picture with CrossFit superstar, Rich Froning.
Flex it, Cait!
We listened to an awesome panel on “Blogging with Brands,” hosted by Lauren and featuring bloggers Anne, Theodora, and Ashley as well as brands Kelly Olexa representing FitFluential, Valerie Etson from Porter Novelli Public Services, and Laura Stanton from Dancing Deer Bakery. (I’ll blog more about these tomorrow!).
All that listening worked up an appetite and a bunch of us collectively agreed that a trip to Whole Foods would be in order. Meg and Lisa live in Canada and, naturally, were totally enamored with the entire Whole Foods experience so we wanted to make sure they got their fix as much as possible!
I filled my eco-friendly tub with greens, veggies, falafel, hummus, and a side of sesame-ginger dressing.
We arrived back to the hotel just in time to attend two more discussion sessions. Afterwards, Cait and I were so happy to hang out with Kelly Olexa for a few minutes. “I love these girls!” she said, as we snapped a picture. The love is mutual, Aunt Kelly!
A few hours later, I was ready for dinner with some of my favorite ladies!
Katie and I!
A bunch of us went out to dinner at a sushi restaurant. I was excited to see an interesting tofu dish on the menu. Little did I know that I would receive a cauldron filled with boiled water, cabbage, three mushrooms, and a block of tofu, haphazardly chopped and thrown into the mix. Food fail number three.
I tried to remind myself that I was here for the company – not the food – but my blood was boiling! Why the heck couldn’t I get a decent meal around here?! Sara and I had a long hear-to-heart, which eased my hunger pangs a bit and brought me back to earth. We all really did have an amazing time! Three of the CrossFit coaches even joined in on the fun. Ohhh yeeeah.
We were all pretty wiped when we got back to the hotel, so I called it a night with Restaurant Impossible and a dinner of Pretzel Crisps and hummus. Gotta do what you gotta do!
Sunday
The next morning, I woke up at 6:45 a.m. with one thing on my mind: ZWOW! I made the hotel courtyard my gym and completed ZWOW #30 in 19:03, just one minute longer than Zuzana’s time!
That’s me rocking my ViewSPORT Fitfluential #PROOF tank! I swapped the pistol squats for single leg dip jumps (see above) and felt amazing afterwards! Despite the exercise high I was on, my mood was slightly dampened when Cait and I bid a bittersweet goodbye to our friends.
I can’t tell you how incredibly sad I was to leave everyone! We all bonded in our own special ways and I am so, so, so grateful to have had the opportunity to call these ladies real-life friends as opposed to virtual ones. They are all amazing women and inspire me to be the best version of myself – that’s true love right there!
Cait and I skipped out on breakfast and did our own thing. She found thinking cup, a quaint coffee shop (with pour over coffee!) located directly across from the Boston Common.
We took our coffees across the street to the common and basked in the gorgeous weather. The warm sun beat down like a warm blanket over us and we had another “zen mode” moment. I’m seeing a correlation between “zen mode” moments and pour over coffee. Sigh.
To our total surprise, we ran into Teri and Holly!
Teri is so incredibly sweet! She has a heart of gold and clearly wears it on her sleeve with a side of wit, charm, and beauty.
I must admit that I was a bit star struck meeting Holly. I so admire the career she has built for herself. The two of us hit it off and starting chatting away before even introducing ourselves. Totally normal, right? Holly was more-than-willing to gift me with advice and confidence to move forward in the journalism world. We could have talked forever!
It was the perfect ending to a whirlwind weekend.
Throughout the weekend, I gained a heightened sense of appreciation for my beloved Beantown. I love my home city but it wasn’t until I heard blogger after blogger commenting on how active, magical, and beautiful Boston was that I truly counted my blessings for living so close by. Until next time, Boston!
Stay lovely,
Heather
P.S. – The Fashion page was updated!
Heather it was so fabulous meeting you this weekend! You were so sweet and so genuinely kind! I hope we are able to meet up again soon since we are both in MA! I’m sorry there weren’t many vegan options for you available! I had trouble finding Paleo options too but it was such great company it totally made up for it!
Girl, it was SO nice to finally meet you! You’re so sweet – I just want to squeeze you! Haha. I totally agree with you … the food was definitely the backdrop to the event. We should totally meet up soon, love. <3
Heather!!! Can I just say how glad I am I met you this weekend? I can’t believe I never even read your blog before. Oops! Forgive me?
You are the biggest sweetheart and I had the best time with you!
I’m so sorry about the food situation though, at both the restaurants and the hotel buffets. I’m surprised that the first breakfast didn’t have more vegan options too! That’s so bizarre considering how many vegan bloggers there are! Have you put in any suggestions to fix that for next year?
Also, Wildflour looks as amazing as you described it. I need to go there someday!
Chelsea!!! I’m so happy that we got to bond over music. That made my heart sing! I linked up my recap on the HLS web site so I’m sure the girls will see it and take notice. YOU MUST COME BACK SO WE CAN GO TO WILDFLOUR! Your life will be changed, my friend! You’re so wonderful, girl. I hope we can hang out again real soon! Let’s keep in touch! xoxo
I loved reading this recap and reliving the weekend with you! Even if it had its down moments, I was so happy to see you lifted up again at thinking cup. The pour over coffee really IS the ticket, hmm?
You know it, BB! I hope there is an endless supply in heaven.
I was SO happy to see you again Heather! I am thinking of you too, crazy about the similar situations with us <3
I miss you and yes Holly rocks! She is going to be a star, I just know it! I love her!
The feeling is oh so mutual, Katie! Love you to pieces my dear friend. <3<3<3
Wow Heather looks like so much fun!! I was wondering if the HLS is only for bloggers because I would really like to go next year. I’m pretty addicted to healthy eating and exercise and am interested to learn more and possibly meet all of you! If it’s open ONLY to bloggers then do you have any suggestions as to how I can start out?
It was super fun, yes, Mary! HLS is only for bloggers, yes. Are you interested in starting a blog or just interested in attending HLS?
Both. I have a PR degree so writing for me is my passion. Starting a blog has always been something on my mind but I just keep putting it off. I made mock blogs for school assignments but I want to do the real thing and don’t know where to begin.
Shoot me and email, girl!
I’m sorry the food situation wasn’t the best – but I imagine it’s a problem you run into a lot as a vegan?
Looks like you had an amazing time though!
It’s actually never that bad! Haha. Just a food related-rough patch. Le sigh. Oh well!
the thinking cup is my favorite place in Boston, I want to post up there with my computer and just live there!
I could not agree with you more, Kaitlin! It was incredible! So nice to meet you this weekend! xoxo
I LOVE the picture where you’re shaking hands with Holly, you look so happy! Looks like HLS was a blast
Aww, thanks girl! I was pretty freakin’ stoked.
oh my gosh it looks like such fun. I just love all the pictures of you and the others together, you guys just look so happy!
Wow what an event!!! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if they have any blogging events in Georgia. I bet they do.
~Heidi (Juicing Blogger @ Juicingpedia)
Love this recap. I was so sad I had to miss it, but I felt like I was there the way you told your story!!
That being said, I’m sorry about the food choices. Like you said – they people there had so many dietary differences, it’s odd they didn’t have more choices!
I’m so bummed you didn’t get to come, Liz! It would have been so great to meet you!
Ah, I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I had with you!!!!! I feel loke we truly connected and are meant to be great friends! Seriously, we could talk about anything and you are such a beautiful person inside and out, I wish we could have spent a whole week just chatting! We definitely have so many similarities! And I miss you already! Loved the recap!!:) I’m glad you FINALLY got good food in you haha, that was no beuno!
Lisa!!! I love you so, so, much girl. You’re so genuine in every sense of the word and have such a beautiful heart. Annnd you’re so stunning! It is seriously incredible. I totally agree – we could have talked FOREVER. Hopefully, Matty and I can take a trip out to Canada in the future because I freakin’ miss you already. <3
I can’t believe that there weren’t more vegan options for you at the convention and in all of the restaurants. That’s such a bummer! But I really admire you for staying positive and focusing on the company rather than the lack of food. I know how difficult that can be!
Other than that, it looks like you had an amazing experience! I’m so jealous that you were able to meet all of those inspirational women- and I’m sure they were all just as star-struck meeting you as you were with them! <3
Emilyyyy! I so wish that you could have made it to HLS. You were obviously there in spirit. And there’s always next year, right?!
Love you, beautiful!
loved reading this recap! looked like an amazing time!
love Teri and Holly! those are my girls
xoxo
Oh my word, it was incredible Michelle. It would have been OVER THE TOP if you and Lori could have been there but I just know we’ll meet someday. I might faint when we do. Haha! Teri and Holly were just unreal. So, so, so amazing – spreading love all over! <3
I’m sorry that you had such a rough time with the vegan food. I’ve been there. I feel your frustration. When I used to travel for sports, I thanked the vegan gods for Whole Foods. I could usually convince my team to make a stop there instead of a fast food place or burger joint. When all you want is a decent meal, it’s hard to think of anything else besides food. I’m glad that you were with people who could lift your spirits and help you push past the food annoyances!
Aw, thanks Marissa! It was pretty frustrating but you just have to roll with it, you know?
Thanks for your love and concern, girl.
Ahhh I work RIGHT next to the Common and LOVE the Thinking Cup! Isn’t it an adorable little coffee shop? I go there from work a lot… and the Common is probably my favorite place in Boston to spend a nice day, it’s so relaxing just to hang out, people watch, and enjoy life
You’re right – it is SO adorable. Literally a slice of heaven.
So glad we got to meet. You are an absolute sweetheart. Um, hangout soon?
So glad that you had a lovely time meeting so many wonderful bloggers. Too bad that the food was not up to snuff. A shame at something called a healthy living summit. (And thank heavens for Whole Foods!)
Amen to THAT. Whole Foods = life saver. Literally.
Words cannot express how grateful I am to have met you!! I know I gushed in my last comment, but I just can’t stop thinking about the connections that were made over the weekend. I will DEFINITELY be returning to Boston to see you! A trip to Wildflour and Garden Grille is in order. It WILL happen. <3
The soup at Sushi Cafe was probably the worst restaurant soup ever (so sorry! I think you should write a Yelp review, warning other diners!), but I was relieved there was lots of it because those watery pieces of cabbage added a little more sustenance to my 10-bite meal. ;-p
Okay, please let me gush one more time? I absolutely love you, girl. Your heart is SO big, SO beautiful. I truly feel blessed to have met you! <3
Sara!!! I read this comment when I woke up this morning and it started my day on the most perfect note. I can’t WAIT for you to come visit!!!
I would concur that soup was od awful. Great idea about Yelp. I really should get on that, huh? I couldn’t believe how expensive your sushi was but you were in heaven so it was all worth it, right?! I feel the same way – we’re so lucky to have formed that instant connection. Love you to the moon and back! xoxo
Sorry to hear about your food fails!
I’m very particular about my food choices, too, and it definitely is disappointing when you can’t get a good meal. But other than that… it looks like you had a great time!! I’m loving all these HLS recaps. Makes me want to start a blog just so I can participate!
Aw, thanks love! It’s okay. Was a bit of a bummer but what can ya do? It was an incredible time!!
ooooh and suddenly I feel too old for HLS
GIRL, you would have had a blast! Pleeeease come next year. We need a heart to heart. <3
Um, ily. I’m still so sorry that there weren’t much vegan options. I’m disappointed in that! I had so much fun this weekend, so glad we met<3333
Um, ily too! So happy we got to meet one another, girl. You’re amazing!
such pretty ladies! i was stalking on instagram of course.
I’m honored that you stalked me. #trueSTORY