What a weekend in Boulder, Colorado!
(source) Left to Right: Katie, Lindsay, and Janetha
Last minute, I decided to take a blogger’s vacation with bloggers. LOL. Meaning less being online (in fact, I decided not to bring my computer) and limited time with camera in hand. I wanted to really enjoy the experience. And I did take a few pics, but knew there were a lot of photo pros around with pics to help recap everything (with due credit, of course). How do I start! Do I give you the whole thing? Pieces?
Let me just first say, Janetha, Katie, and Lindsay did an awesome job of putting the Blend Retreat together! I seriously cannot wait until Blend 2013. Blogger or not, I better see you all there (new or again), too!
=> Click here, for Instagram spread of #BLENDretreat #BLEND2012.
Friday
When I got in about one o’clock, I was welcomed by the three Amigos.
And they welcomed me back with hugs and swag! I was so excited to meet all three of them. And they easily made me feel at home. The nerves were quickly banished by the warm welcome (Lindsay has some seriously adorable kids, too).
Should have seen the Mission lodge (main gathering place), as they were getting the bags ready, it was PILED with boxes of product. They seriously were working like busy bees and needed their own recycling bin for the boxes.
From left to right: Melissa, Me, and Amy
The cabin at Chautauqua was beautiful! The weather was beautiful! And I couldn’t have asked for better roommates.
Lunch:
Since I got in early, I stopped by the Chautauqua Dining Hall for a simple bite and some local brew. There I chatted with the owner, Susan, and some of the friendly staff members about Boulder, food, and the retreat. If you get a chance to dine here, stop by and say ‘hi’ to Susan.
View from the porch
Beet & Orange Salad with a Champagne Vinaigrette
I love beets. This salad was seriously good!
Dinner
I went back to the main lodge to help the girls with any prep. More attendees started to check in. It was really cool to meet some more bloggers. As the girls came up to the check-in table… we kept commenting how familiar one would be, but couldn’t place it. Then when the came into the lodge – it would be “Oh ya!”. And then we would know who is who. It was cool.
Came five o’clock, we all started getting ready for dinner & cocktails. Dinner took place at the Chautauqua dining hall. It opened up with cocktails & hors d’oeuvres (veggies, fruit, artichoke dip & baguette toasts). I had some more Avery brew on tap.
Right to Left: Greg, Lauren, Kelly, Heather, Core Power, Fitmixer crew (join their virtual bootcamp!), Elizabeth, Laura, Calee, and me.
Then we sat down to dinner. Did I seriously not get pics of dinner? No, I did not. I wanted to take in ambience and get to know everyone. I had the vegetarian dish – Pasta with a spicy tomato sauce & capers (I love capers, did I mention that? Check out Katie’s picture). Dessert was a wonderful cupcake spread by a local company called Street Fare. Seriously, check out Courtney’s pics of the cupcakes.
My favorite was the Street Fare Lavender-Raspberry cupcake.
After dinner, we chilled a bit and mingled with everyone. Ate more cupcakes. Went back to the lodge for a bit. Then crashed, lights out. Most of us had a long day – all from different time zones.
And I think they all feared Saturday morning’s bootcamp led by Lindsay and Tina. Least they all would have Fitmixer Amino Acids to keep them energized. 
hehe.
Will continue to update the retreat. Seriously awesome. And posting of retreat may be sporadically published.
About Christine McCarthy
what a great recap! Thank you for coming and making it WONDERFUL. I loved getting to meet you – can’t wait to see you again next year!
Katie recently posted..BLEND 2012
Thanks, Katie. It was great getting to meet you, too! I am so ready for BLEND 2013! So…so…ready.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Julie Fagan: What Makes Your Blog Tick?
YAY!! How fun!! I’m so glad you met my girl Lauren!! Love her!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio recently posted..Body Revolution Week 6 Results
Lauren is bad ass! You better come next year!
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Have Recipe, Will Pin: Recipes that Must Be Made
Yay Blend!!! I really enjoyed meeting you this weekend, Christine!! You were a FAB hiking partner
And I loved picking your brain about blogging 
Can it be #blend2013 yet?!?!
Kelly @ No Sugar Sweet Life recently posted..Blend Part 1 + {From Obese to Healthy}
OMG! You were a FAB hiking partner, too! Was great fun chatting about life and blogging. I can’t wait to post all the beautiful hiking pics I have. Blend2013 here we come. Seriously ready for it!
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Nutrition is 70% of the equation
Blend was seriously awesome! I took tons of pictures of food, but not much of anything else lol. I’ll be doing a lot of online photo looking myself. Glad to have met you!
Lena @Fit on the Rocks recently posted..I Left My Brain in Boulder
Ya, Lena! So glad you stopped by and now I have your blog link. New blog reads for me!
I had a blast and it was great meeting you, too. See you next year!
Any chance you are going to the 2012 Fitness & Health Blogger’s Conference in Denver next month?
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Julie Fagan: What Makes Your Blog Tick?
Fabulous photos!! So nice meeting you!
Can’t wait for more updates!
Ashley, I am so glad we finally met! Blogger star struck.
Can’t wait to see your updates, too!
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Oatmeal Toppings Celebrates Cinco de Mayo – Ole!
I definitely have to split up my posts about Blend…so many different activities!! It was great to meet you and I look forward to the rest of your recaps!
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut recently posted..Blend Retreat Kicked my Booty
Amanda! I had such a blast. I wanted to try and put it in one post, but there is no way!
Thank you for helping me celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..WIAW: Enjoying the Blue
What an amazing weekend. I had so much fun getting to know you. I cannot wait until next year!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Purposeful Running
Seriously – a TON of Fun. Was such a cool weekend. I was seriously conflicted about coming home. LOL. Laura, it was really cool getting to know you, too! I am so glad we all got to bring in Cinco de Mayo together.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Have Recipe, Will Pin: Recipes that Must Be Made
i had a blast just following along. So thank you for making me feel included.
<3
lindsay recently posted..A “Whoa” Weekend
you better be there next year! that’s an order, missy.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Julie Fagan: What Makes Your Blog Tick?
Looks like so much fun and gorgeous!! Very jealous. Plus, you got to hang out in Boulder
Hope I get to go next year!!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Finding Time for Fitness
you better also be there! I heard there is much I still not experience in Boulder. Next time, I think I may take a week to visit the area.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Have Recipe, Will Pin: Recipes that Must Be Made
My fellow oatmeal buddy!!
I didn’t know you could get lunch in the dining hall there- and beer! I guess that makes sense.
I’m going to check out staying in the cottages again in July- they were so awesome!
What an amazing weekend- and I’m so glad we got to meet and hang out! xoxo
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted..Pre-Blending in Colorado
Totally happy we met! You and your husband are lots of fun to hang out with.
The lunch was really good. And a perfect meal before our fulfilling dinner.
Jealous! Have a great time in July if you go. BTW, great pre-blend-recap… definitely need to take more time to explore Colorado next year.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..10 Best Low-Calorie Drinks for Cinco de Mayo
Yum – I love White Rascal – I don’t think I tried that one while we were there though.
Wishing I was in Colorado right now!!
Heather @ Better With Veggies recently posted..Cocktails + Cupcakes: Blended Together
Total withdrawals right? I’m all for moving out there.
The Avery’s Ellie brown Ale was really tasty too.
Heather – you are too cool! Glad we got to hang out.
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Nutrition is 70% of the equation
I am so excited that we got to meet this weekend!! Can’t wait for next year. I’ll be practicing my dart throwing skills before then though!
Haha! Bobbie still beat me. I am going to have to polish my skills.
Brittany, I had a blast hanging out with you, Bobbi, and Lindsay. Definitely need to do it again!
Christine McCarthy recently posted..WIAW: Enjoying the Blue
So fun to see all the pics. I can’t wait for the rest of the recap. I’m so jealous. Next time we’ll have to go together. And um, hello swag bag.
STUFT Mama recently posted..Safari Park Half Marathon 2012 Recap
Kristin, you better go next year! The swag makes it totally worth it (being an extra suitcase for it!)
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Weight Lifting Insights {with Plan}
Blend looked like SO much fun!! I wish I could have gone!
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family recently posted..Post Baby Body: 7 Months
Madeline, I hope you do go next year! It was some awesome, genuine fun with a bunch of girls (and a few husbands).
Christine McCarthy recently posted..Julie Fagan: What Makes Your Blog Tick?