Aggie's Kitchen

Sharing By The Shore Blogger Retreat – Traverse City, Michigan

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

You know you’ve attended a successful blogger retreat when you come home feeling refreshed and inspired. A few days with friends that you normally don’t have the opportunity to see if maybe once a year (or finally meeting for the first time!) is priceless. Throw some good food, wine and conversation in the mix – not to mention a beautiful location – you’ve got yourself the perfect weekend.

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

(the moment I felt like I was cheating on the Atlantic Ocean with Lake Michigan)

I got together with some blogger friends recently in Traverse City, Michigan. The weekend was put together by Rachel of Rachel Cooks and Erin of Well Plated by Erin and included other bloggers, some whom I’ve met before and some I was meeting for the first time. We snacked like crazy, cooked together and enjoyed some amazing local wines. We also spent time sharing knowledge with each other about what we do best, from food photography to managing time efficiently to writing cookbooks. Blogging can be a bit isolating at times so I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from others, especially face to face! If you are wondering what a blogger retreat is, well there you have it.

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

Our group – Rachel, Brandy, Katrina, Kristen, me, Liz, Deborah, Krista and Erin (not pictured Monique) – enjoying some local bubbly from the most hospitable L. Mawby Winery. A truly beautiful afternoon in Michigan!

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Traverse City happened to be hosting their annual cherry festival while we were there. We spent an afternoon walking around town and visiting Cherry Republic where we got to sample some of their amazing cherry products and food from their cafe. Guys, if you have the opportunity to visit this store, plan to eat here! The food was incredible – from their Bacon & Blue Fig Jam Pie (pictured below, pizza crust topped with blue cheese sauce, provolone & mozzarella, bacon and dollops of Cherry Fig Jam – omg) to their Cuban Sandwich with house made pickles and Cherry Mustard…the food was absolutely delicious. This place had a fun vibe and was very kid friendly. I went home with a couple of their top sellers – cherry sours (candy), cherry salsa, a cherry horseradish sauce as well as some other treats. By the time I’m writing this post the cherry salsa, cherry sours, sweet and spicy cherry trail mix and dark chocolate covered cherries are officially gone. I’m glad my family got to enjoy a taste of Cherry Republic with me. 🙂

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

We also enjoyed an elegant meal with an incredible view of the bay 16 stories up at the restaurant Aerie at the Grand Traverse Resort. We sampled quite a few appetizers and for dinner I had the Seared Diver Scallops with English peas, bacon jam and lemon curd. I am currently obsessed with scallops and these were truly over the top.

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

The rest of our time together was spent mostly at our rental house in Sutton Bay. There, we really got comfortable with each other and had the best time in the kitchen cooking our meals and just getting to know each other and our businesses better.

Put 10 food bloggers in a kitchen together and you know you will be eating well.

Snacking…

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

(Sabra hummus and fruits and veggies from Door to Door Organics)

Fajita Night!!

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

(we used Rachel’s fajita seasoning and healthy refried beans recipes)

Our days started with pretty epic breakfasts.

Waffle Bar!

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

(really great way to feed a large group of people breakfast!)

Yogurt Parfait Bar!

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

Goodness gracious did we eat well this weekend. Don’t you think? I really appreciated the healthy, local Michigan foods we enjoyed – especially at breakfast time. I live by the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and to me, it definitely sets the tone of the day. I included yogurt in my breakfast both days, I love using it as a topping for waffles with fruit (instead of syrup) and it’s no secret how much I love yogurt, fruit and granola parfaits. I could eat like this every day.

Get in my belly…

Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

All of the food we cooked at “home” during our weekend was generously provided by Milk Means More, Door To Door Organics, Sabra and Bob’s Red Mill. Can not thank these wholesome brands enough for feeding us so well. Sharing By The Shore - Traverse City, Michigan

This was my first time in Michigan and I seriously can’t wait to go back with my family one summer. My friend Kristen wrote about her family vacation to Holland Beach a couple of years ago and I knew that my family would have to make the trip together one day. From what I could see, Michigan is a beautiful part of the country and I’d like to get to know it a little better, preferably in the summer. 🙂

I can’t thank Rachel and Erin enough, along with Milk Means More, for hosting us this weekend. I definitely went home with a full heart, full belly and renewed spirit. This mom needed a little getaway and I couldn’t have asked for a better one!

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Learn more about the nutrition provided by dairy along with plenty of recipes at MilkMeansMore.org as well as Milk Means More’s TwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagram and Pinterest channels.

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18 comments on “Sharing By The Shore Blogger Retreat – Traverse City, Michigan”

  1. I wish this was a preview of your upcoming trip and not a RECAP of what already happened!!! I had so much fun with you and loved watching you experience Pure Michigan for the first time!! Can’t wait for you to come back here!!! I’m going to make sure it happens sooner than later. 😉 xoxo

  2. Sounds like an awesome retreat!!! I’ve yet to go on a blogger retreat and need to go on one sooner than later! Your so right blogging at times can get so lonely so it’s always nice to reconnect with people in real life!!!

    • this was my first retreat! Like mini conferences, they really are a great way to get to know other bloggers better. Hope you are doing well Katie!! xo

  3. BEAUTIFUL recap Aggie. It was so wonderful spending time with you! I won’t tell the Atlantic Ocean about your fling 😉

    • ha ha! I don’t know, right now I’m kinda wishing I was back at Lake Michigan swimming in the cold waters (as opposed to having anxiety attacks over sharks!)…it was so nice to get to know you over that weekend, you are a gem! love ya!

  4. Loved your recap. Let’s go back. And take a dang picture together this time!!!! xoxoxoxo

    • I seriously can’t believe we missed getting a pic together. I miss ya girl! It was so awesome to finally get to hang out in “real life”!!

  5. LOVED getting to spend some time with you, but it was not enough. 🙁  I sure hope we get to do it again sooner than later!!

  6. You make me want to be a blogger just so I can go on an awesome retreat! Haha 😉 Looks like sooo much fun! I’m glad you had a great time.

  7. Loved your recap and pictures Aggie! If you do make it to Michigan for a family vacation I’m DEFINITELY crashing that party 🙂 Or I’ll help you plan it! 

    • You are more than welcome to crash that party!! Hope I make it up there again soon and meet you in person!

  8. Traverse City is our favorite place! We go every year to enjoy the wineries, food and the scenery. So glad you got the chance to go and experience pure Michigan!! 

  9. I absolutely loved every second on getting to know you. I feel like you are a blog sister, even to the point and loving sports as much as I do! #meanttobe! 🙂 Cannot wait to see you again in October sweet friend! Hugs!

    • I am so so happy we got to get to know each other better – I can’t believe how much we have in common. Love ya girl!