No more a 'blogger meet up newbie'

So this weekend was my FIRST blogger meet up! Believe it or not, I'm actually shy when first meeting people (it's a work in progress) so I was kind of nervous to meet with 5 other ladies.

 Julia  @ Pain Pride and Perseverance is going to school in Utah- they have tons of running bloggers out there who do meet ups on what seems to be a weekly basis, so when she was going back home to Louisville, Ky for a month, she decided  to carry that over to us 'southerners.'

Ashley @ Redonkulous Runner, another Nashvillian, suggested Bongo Java as our meetup for coffee and conversation.

Not only was the coffee amazing...

mmm Punk kin spice latte

but I LOVE people watching. This part of town is right across the street from Belmont University- which seems to be the hipster capital of Nashville. If you're unsure of what a hipster is- the link is a handbook on what to look for in identifying a hipster... or if you see something along these lines....

When I got there, it was just Vanessa @ Gourmet runner and myself, so we had the opportunity to chat for a bit until everyone else came (she has an adorable slight English accent)  Before long there were 6 of us and we chatted for probably 3 hours about running (duh), blogging, how to get companies to give you free stuff to review/ giveaway, relays etc.  

Afterward we walked the 100 yards to an AMAZING mexican restaurant to fill our bellies

I'm extremely indecisive on what to get when going out to eat- I.WANT.IT.ALL. I decided to get a combo plate of chicken burrito and chimichunga- don't judge me on my lack of being healthy- I had fruit in my pineapple margarita and veggies in my salsa :) 

Another 2 hours and its time to part...

Vanessa, Ashley, Jill, Stephanie, Julia, and myself

 The award to those who drove 3 hours to come play...

Vanessa and Julia

And the Nashville surrounding area locals....

Jill, Ashley, me, Stephanie- this is our 'random' pose

I learned so much from these amazing ladies (seriously, I took some notes) and am anxious to put into practice my new knowledge. I'm equally excited about doing my upcoming 'meet up runs' with Jill, and eventually Ashley as well. It gets lonely listening to the same music over and over!


Have you done any blog meet ups?
This was my first official 'meet up' I've met a few people at races, and randomly saw Jill at the baggage claim at the airport in the winter


If you have done a meet up, what did you talk about it?
Running, ragnar relays, how to get companies to give you free stuff to either review or giveaway, figuring out the kinks in blogger, healthy eating, pyschos in jail etc. 

Easter Weekend- bullets and pics

After work on Thursday I ventured back home to Ohio for a long Easter Weekend with the family. Lot of fun festivities and catching up was had by all.

• Thursday night stayed with Jenna, an old friend / roommate from back in Louisville and pigged out ate Melting Pot- shes pregnant so she has an excuse- me, well I just like food. 

Jenna and I last time I visited- we both have an affinity for taking photos with random signs

• While at the Melting Pot, I had my first EVER stuffed mushroom cap (huge deal because I worked at the Louisville MP for 1.5 years and was too scared to try it) 

• Arrive in Dayton Friday morning, lounge around during day, and get to play with nephews when they come over!!!
• First up is Joseph- 8 months. Son to my oldest brother Eric:

• Then I got to feed Codyn, 6 months- son to my middle brother, Andy

Look at those big blue eyes!! 

• I finally got to give them their very first Mickey ears I bought them after Princess Half in Disney World

couldn't quite get them both to look at the camera

Codyn and his Mama 

Joseph and his daddy

• After dinner, one of my good friends Kory came over before he left for a year in Turkey - he left today :( - we all got a little silly telling stories, playing pool and darts, been awhile since I've had THAT much fun (although I only took 2 photos)

I was excited to drink my beer from this itty bitty authentic German stein 

Kory and I

• Actually got a run in the next morning (rare to run when I go home)
• Mom wanted to do our annual Easter Egg hunt on saturday since it was supposed to rain all day on Easter Sunday. 
• Yes I'm 26 and my brothers are 33 and 31- we still have an Easter Egg hunt amongst the 3 of us every year... and we're competitive. 

The ladies with their baskets

Courtney in action of grabbing an egg

Helping Codyn put his 1st easter egg into his basket

The kids and grandkids after the hunt (of course i'm looking at the wrong camera)

• After the Egg hunt, my mom dumps all the plastic eggs into a giant bowl, and we have 2 minutes to match up PROPERLY as many eggs as we can (color, size etc) and the winner of that gets an additional prize. 

in action putting eggs together- its much harder when there are 5 sets of hands reaching in

after the contest- i lost miserably (first year i've come in last) and loser gets BUBBLES!!

• Shortly afterward it poured, and poured, and poured some more. I lounged around (its been so long that I didn't have somewhere to be that I took full advantage of being lazy)
• We had our "easter dinner"- pasta, bbq chicken, garlic bread, and my absolute FAVORITE spinach salad- sorry no pics
• One of my bfs Jen came over with her fiance and we chatted until wee hours of the morning. 
• Had Easter breakfast, played with nephews, watched 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Joneses'
• Eventually everyone parted their ways, but I switched shifts at work for monday to close, so I had one extra night in Ohio before I would head back to work early Monday morning. We had dinner @ Applebees, followed by renting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1- amazing
• I have read all books, but for some reason just hadn't gotten around to seeing the last 2 movies. 
• I went to bed, woke up early in the morning, had a nice omlette from mi madre, then made the 5 hour trip to Nashville. 

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, and for the lucky ones, spent with family