#EvoConf11
Not really sure where to begin. Last week I had the opportunity to fly across the country to Park City, Utah and spend time with some of the most wonderful people. I’m not just saying that either. I met some seriously good people, and if you know me, I really appreciate good people. Who doesn’t? Good people make me happy.
(Team Bean: Katie, Cheryl, Kristen, me, Laura, Maria & Sandy...thank you Sandy for the picture!)
(One of my most favorite people in the world, Maria)
(Like a sister…Sandy and I at Lookout Cabin for our Food and Photography Workshop…stunning view…thank you Sandy for the picture!)
(Food always makes people smile doesn’t it? Katie and Flavia…thank you Sandy for the picture!)
(I might, just might, love food as much as this guy does…Sandy, Jeffrey Saad and me)
(Look at these pretty ladies…Annalise, Kelley, Helen Jane, Lisa, Sandy and Alison…Thank you Sandy for the picture!)
(Had fun finally meeting Marla in real life…we had one of those “I know you!” moments in the hotel hallway on the first day… :)…love this photo, thanks for sharing it with me girl!)
(I want to take each and every one of these gals home with me…Kelley, Marla, Sandy, Dara, Laura, Maria, Diane, Flavia, Cheryl and Katie…xoxo…Thank you Sandy for the picture!)
If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you probably got glimpses of what was going on. I wanted to share so much, but didn’t want to come off too annoying if you know what I mean. There was a lot going on at The Canyons…a little overwhelming at times, but all in the best way possible. Evo 11 is short for The Evolution of Women in Social Media. It’s a conference put on by Jyl and Rachel and when I tell you that these girls have it going on I’m totally not exaggerating. What I love the most about Jyl and Rachel is that as busy as I know they were, whenever you saw them they had genuine smiles on their faces and would stop and say hello. There was so much involved in this conference that I have no idea how they kept it together, but I think that is the beauty of doing what you love to do which is clearly what makes these two ladies click. The conference brings together such a fantastically diverse group of people and I love it even more for that.
So to sum up my experience…I just want to share a few things that I took away with me…
First things first. I love Nature. I always have (I’m infatuated with the ocean – I am a FL girl) but the mountains really opened my eyes to a whole other part of this beautiful world we live in. I had incredible hikes up winding trails with friends and am really missing the crisp (non-humid) air that made those hikes even more enjoyable. Aaaand…have to say I loved what those hikes did for my glutes! I was pretty sore!!
(apparently this is a weed? I haven’t seen one of these beauties since I was young and lived in NY…make a wish…)
Something else…I’m still afraid of heights. Not much to say about that one. But I did try!
(Freaking out…oh yea, let’s take a picture….um how about bringing down the bar first?!? and again…thank you Sandy for the picture!)
(I got over my fear once I got to the top and knew I was going down…)
(not sure how this is considered normal…but the only way to get to the restaurant for our Food Workshop was on one of these…look at these happy ladies…no fear in that little pod is there?)
Most importantly I really learned that:
It’s ok to not be perfect. Be true to who you really are and do what makes you happy. Be you!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder – I really really missed my family!!
Life is an adventure – after listening to Me Ra Koh, I told myself I would create an adventure in my daily life, no matter how big, how small…so don’t forget to ask yourself “what will your adventure be today?”
Creativity has saved my sanity. Seek creativity around you. Embrace it.
It’s really okay…actually more like necessary…to unplug every now and then. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones. Welcome the break from it all and just let go. (Thank you Rachel)
Accept other’s styles and personalities…no matter how different than yours, we all have a lot to learn from each other.
And most importantly….
Pay It Forward. Share what you learn and know. Always. (Thank you Diane & Todd)
Thank you to my Bush’s Beans family for sending me out to The Canyons in Park City…and many heartfelt thanks to Jeffrey, Helene, Diane & Todd and the Chefs at The Canyon restaurants for sharing your passion and talent with all of us!
Please take the time to visit all the bloggers in this post and say hello, I’m sure you will enjoy them as much as I do…so happy to have them in my life!
Glad to be home! 🙂 And back in the kitchen…stayed tuned for more food!
Looking for more…Evo Conference 11 posts:
What is a Blogging Conference?
Evo Conference: Learning, Sharing and Being Inspired
Evo’11 {Bloggers} Conference Recap
EVO’11: A Weekend of Inspiration, Sharing and Friendship
Are you following me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest? If you’d like to subscribe to Aggie’s Kitchen and have each post delivered straight to your e-mail box, then please add your email here. Happy cooking!
There are affiliate links in this post. I make small earnings through any purchases made through these links. Thank you for supporting Aggie’s Kitchen!
What a great recap! And loved all photos- especially the hiking ones on nature 🙂
This looks like so much fun and I VOW to attend at least two conferences next year…or four, whatever 🙂 Best piece of advice on there: pay it forward. I wish more people understood this. Sharing is Caring and you’ve done a great post about it and share with all your heart! Thanks dear!
Looks like such an amazing time! I love all of the pictures. A gorgeous setting for sure. AND it sounds like you learned a ton.
I am so happy that you got to go and had such an enjoyable experience. Your recap and photos are terrific!
Awesome post! I had so much fun getting to know you. I know we will be friends for a very long time. You are a wonderful down to earth person who is so sharing and easy to talk to. I am honored to call you a friend!
Good Morning Friend! What a great post of your time at EVO. I remember when I first started blogging I had that conference on my radar and as I was reading your post I thought… I should be sure to try to go next year ~ UNTIL I read how you get to the restaurant. I share your fear of heights and am afraid I wouldn’t be able to eat! 🙂 Ha! LOVE all that you shared here and am so happy for you to have had this experience. Enjoy being back home!!!
What a beautiful post Aggie. Looks like there was an abundance of soul food to be enjoyed! And in my opinion, *soul food* and *good food* are the two things that make the world go round!
Hope to go experience this incredible conference next year, and I really hope to have the chance to meet you IRL one day too!
Looks like it was an amazing experience Aggie!
I miss you!!!!! and look at you…..miss Instagram whore now! hahahha I SO love seeing all your pics Aggie!
See you in Oct!!
Great post, Aggie! Thank you for linking to my blog an including me. I am so happy to have met you–you’re my fellow “Italiana”! Much love, Flavia
Great recap and photos! I loved reading your post, but it made me miss you:( Why dont we live closer? I had SO much fun hanging out with you. Thanks for everything. You are the best! Come back to Utah anytime. The mountains are waiting for you:)
Hi Aggie! Awesome post, girl. You really captured the spirit and I love the Instagram pix, too. My fave! I luv appreciate your bright, upbeat, positive attitude and appreciation for everyone around you. It’s contagious! XO
What a great recap, Aggie. It was so good to spend some time with you. I just wish we got to do so more than once a year. You’re a gem, my friend.
Oh, Aggie, where to begin? You are beautiful inside and out and and even more lovely in person. So happy to have gotten to spend time with you and get to know you a bit more. Hopefully our paths will cross sooner than later!
Lovely recap! It was so fun meeting you at Evo and I wished you lived closer, because you are definitely the kind of gal I want to hang out with! Hope to see you again before too long!
Sounds like this was a blast!
So SO fun!!!!! I love reading all those girls blogs. Hope to meet you one day 🙂
Love your recap and photos. I want to go next year! 🙂
what a great adventure you had and very inspiring! You are definitely following your path and things are falling into place. I am so happy for you because you deserve everything life has to offer.
You girls all had such a great time. I’ll have to plan on coming to EVO next year!
Wow, what great pictures and you look like you had a blast. I wish I was there too! 🙂
I love this post for many reasons… the bloggers, the mountains, but most of all the lessons you learned, not the least of which is: “It’s ok to not be perfect. Be true to who you really are and do what makes you happy. Be you!” I had a major epiphany about that early this year and it changed everything for me, socially. No fear! Just be yourself! Lots of love to you, Aggie, and I’m glad you had such a wonderful time. xo
I truly think you can’t go wrong when you are just being you. So many of us struggle with that, myself included. It’s so easy to get caught up in all of it isn’t it? I’m glad for your epiphany, I’ve had a few myself. Love ya girl 🙂
Right on! 😀 ♥
Omg..what an amazing trip. I must say I am jealous!!
Pingback: Summer Vegetable Soup with Pesto | Aggie's Kitchen
Wow, what a fabulous trip. Hope to meet you next year at one of the conferences!
Pingback: evo’11 Conference at The Canyons Resort in Park City Utah-Social Media — Family Fresh Cooking
Gorgeous scenery and gorgeous ladies! Looks like such a wonderful group of girls to hang out with and I’m so glad you got a little get away…..although I’m sure your family missed you as much as you missed them! But it’s always good to get a good look at yourself and organize your thoughts. You ARE awesome for sure:)
check out the daytona beach where to stay and daytona beach where to eat and daytona beach attractions
It is nice that you have a wonderful time with your friends and fellow bloggers. I like the first photographs because of the few flowers on the left side. Now I know why the post is called Evo 11 because it is short for The Evolution of Women in Social Media. Thanks for sharing the wonderful photographs and may you have wonderful time in the near future with the conference and fellow bloggers.
Onkyo TX-NR708 Receiver
Pingback: Aggie's Spice Kitchen: Cumin Seed {Recipe for Cumin and Agave Grilled Chicken Thighs} | Aggie's Kitchen
Pingback: Iced Apple Cinnamon Tea with Honey & Baby's First Library | Aggie's Kitchen