Hey there!
This week has seemed…weird. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m feeling a bit off. Maybe it’s due to weaning from breastfeeding (less oxytocin hormones?) – not sure.
On a happier note, it is Zach and my 3 year anniversary today!!! Amazing 
We have plans for a decadent dinner out on Friday night:
Anyway, I started to notice that Healthy Living Summit comments are surfacing for 2012. I was able to attend in 2011 and have made the decision to not go again. There were a few wonderful aspects of my experience last year: meeting and rooming with Jillian of Sprinkle Massacre (she’s faboosh, btw); getting one heck of a swag bag (I’m a sucker for free food goodies that I actually enjoy); visiting / exploring Philly (and seeing an old college friend).
My reasons for not attending this year are in large part due to the ‘negatives’ of last year:
- I assume it won’t be near SF, therefore will require a plane ticket and hotel fees –> mucho dinero = blah
- I now have Sawyer…not that this would hold me back if I wanted to do something, but if I’m going to be away from him for a weekend or longer, I want to make sure it’s worth it
- HLS wasn’t what I wanted/hoped for:
- No structured fitness classes – only loosely schedule runs (guess what, not everyone likes running
) - Only 1 short day of activities – it’s a big commitment to fly to the other side of the country for approximately 8 hours of a conference
- I didn’t learn much else that could not have been gleaned from reading the recap posts off my Google Reader
- It felt very cliquey and there was no impetus to meet others
- Lacked a definitive upfront schedule (I ended up booking an early AM flight on Sunday only to find out there was a brunch scheduled that day)
- Based on the 2010 Chicago HLS recaps, I had a different set of expectations for 2011, and from what I’m told, 2010 was enjoyed more by the attendees
Let me add that I did have a nice time overall and was particularly happy about meeting some fabulous ladies who I’ve had the pleasure of seeing again since then. And quite frankly, there are probably things I could have done to have a more enjoyable experience, but I figure for the cost/time/effort, meh, not worth it this go ‘round.
How about you? Are you planning on attending 2012 HLS? I think we should all just meet up in the middle somewhere and spend the day wine tasting…ha!
….aaaand literally since drafting this up, I see that it is in Boston. Well heck, that just throws me for a loop! Why? Because bestie is in Boston so I could bunk with her and maybe just try to meet up with some of the gals I’ve met before and skip the actual conference part. Hmmm, something to think about, no?
I’m in a similar boat as you, Miss Banana. I had fun last year, but more at the cocktail party and hanging out with some folks I knew (or felt like I knew) already. But as far as the actual CONFERENCE part, I agree, it wasn’t anything more than what I could’ve read on blogs. My one bonus this year is that I’ll already be living up North, so it might only be a quick train ride. If I could manage to either get a number of roomies OR crash at a friend’s pad, I may go. If not, it’s recap posts all the way.
If it was convenient, I’d be more apt to go I think…you kept me highly amused with all your tweets during the conference and for that I thank you!
If its in Boston then I say GO!! Then we can hang out together with our boys. When is it?
April 17-19…I’ll look into it — it would be worth it to see muh bestie!
I think you meant August!
First up, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you both!!
Second, I’m really glad you did this recap of HLS. I was always so curious to see if it was all that it’s hyped up to be/worth it. I miiiiight go this year, depending on where it is. But I’ll be sad not to meet you! We must one day! 
Thanks!!!
I think if you have an idea of what’s it will be like going in, your expectations will be met. For me, they were a tad too high.
But YES we need to meet
Argh, I’d love to go to Boston! I’ve never travelled for a blog event before! Happy Anniversary – you guys got a great (early) gift this year!
Boston is pretty fabulous.
We got the BEST gift already..oh so true!
Happy Anniversary!!
HLS is never anywhere near me, so going hasn’t ever really been an option considering the fact that I’m super poor. But if it was, I think I’d be more interested in just going to meet people than the actual conference part.
Yep, the meeting people is the fun part
I’m in for a wine tasting!!
. And I hope you have a very happy anniversary!
Sweet, wine tasting it is!
Happy 3 Year Anniversary!!!
And I really love your honesty. I don’t think I’ll be attending a blogging conference any time soon bc of some pretty serious savings goals. BUT if one were ever hosted in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, I’d definitely go just to experience it firsthand.
Happy Anniversary!!! And I do hope you come this year to Boston but I totally understand your reasons for not. Either way, I DEFINITELY hope we can see each other again. Maybe I just need to plan a trip to San Fran!
Yes! If you’re ever near SF, please do come visit me. It was lovely meeting you last year!!!
Happy Anniversary!
I agree with the reasons not to go. But we’ve discussed this before. :p It’s too much money for what you get out of it.
This is why I’m sayin’ let’s meet in the middle and just drink vino..ha!
I like your style.
Actually I was debating weather I was going to go as well. Boston is somewhat of a drive for me-but I’d love to meet a lot of the bloggers. That being said, west to east coast for the commitment seems pretty rigorous to me and I don’t know that I would go over that far. Though seeing your best friend would be fun too!
If I knew people going in advance it may help sway my decision
Happy anniversary!
I went to HLS in 2010, and had fun but it wasn’t what I was expecting either. I’m probably going to go this year, but only b/c it’s in Boston. I have family and friends there who’d I’d like to see, plus it’s hands down my favorite city. If you change your mind and decide to go, I’d love to hang out w/ you
Good to know Jen
— it does help if you know of a lot of people going. Last year most of the bloggers I follow didn’t attend…
I agree with your reasons not to go. I don’t know that I would have gone in the first place in 2010 had it not been local for me, but I agree that it’s not worth the price of travel/lodging for what you get. Plus I was really turned off by how cliquey it felt.
definitely not going! i recapped about why shortly afterwards last year. apart from meeting a few fabulous ladies (yourself included) i thought it was one of the lamest ways i’ve ever spent my $! no thanks!!
The only reason I went last year was because it was in Philly (Ella was 3 months old then and she required me every 2 hours).
Aside from meeting you, Melissa, Jen and a few others it was pretty lame, cliquey, and OMG fawning over “celebrity bloggers” No thanks. I do love Boston though. If I had a bunch of friend bloggers going, and I wasn’t poor, and was ready to leave Ella for a weekend, then I’d consider but not take the thing too seriously
I do with we had more time together last year though. Having Ella there and rooming with my mom so she could watch her while I went to things (as opposed to another blogger) kind of made me miss out on a lot of socializing. But I did feel really awkward about the whole vibe and weirdness of how much ass kissing was going on with the “big bloggers”. Weird.
I am so so happy I got to meet you! And even though we didn’t get to hang out too much, I feel like we have got to know each other so well. I think you are fabulous and hope we have another opportunity to meet up…this time with our little ones