I’m baaaaack!
And it feels good to be home, seeing the hubby, the pets, and getting back in my routine. I think this preggers girl is just about done with traveling. One more trip to Denver in a week and then I think I’m not going to be on planes for until after Baby O is born (insert happy dance here).
Philly and the Healthy Living Summit was a whirlwind. It was wonderful, enlightening, and exhausting all in one. I’ll be breaking up the recap over 2 days just so not to overwhelm 
Travel to Philly was pretty good minus the horrible shuttle driver I had from PHL to the downtown Marriott – somehow I landed at 10p and didn’t get to the hotel until 12a. FAIL!
But after a good night’s rest, I met up with one of my best college buds from Northwestern U –> Qamara!
(If we look a little worse for the wear it’s because we already trekked a few miles around in the humidity…next time remember, photo first!)
Our first stop was Reading Terminal, which reminded me a bit like Pike Place Market in Seattle full of delicious eats, homecrafted goods, and restaurants sprinkled throughout. LOVE places like these! It would also be the sight of our HLS cocktail party that evening!
Q chose for us to have breakfast at Down Home Dining. And as much as I love my pancakes, I knew that oatmeal would be the most sustaining:
After breakfast we walked around Reading so I could drool some more:
I had to buy a cookie from 1st Street Bakery – I chose an oatmeal raisin and while tasty, it was a bit heavy on the buttah flavor, which isn’t really my thang. Oh well.
Next up, we tried to see the Liberty Bell, but the line was annoyingly long so I just snapped a photo from afar along with some other Philly sites:
After some more walking, a stop at Dunkin Donuts for an iced latte (
) and a walk through Macy’s, it was time to meet my roomie Jillian from Sprinkle Massacre and quickly head to lunch with a some other HLSers.
The destination was Govinda’s Vegetarian – our group of nearly 30 (?) overwhelmed the tiny place, but to get a veggie Philly cheesesteak sandwich was worth it!
After trekking back, Jillian and I spent a couple hours resting and chatting before our cocktail party.
All gussied up
Cocktail party shots at Reading Terminal:
And some new friends!
Laury from The Fitness Dish (I stole her photo). She’s so easy to talk to – I wanted more time!
Lisa from I’m an Oakie – this girl has an awesome infectious personality!
And from our photobooth fun, CJ, and Janeetha from Meals and Moves – this girl is beyond real. Love when people are what they show on their blogs!
I met so many other awesome girls, but didn’t take a lot of photos. I was too busy having fun 
First day Philly & HLS impressions:
- Philly is a great city – love that you can walk so many places
- Reading Terminal would be my haven if I lived there
- It’s never too late (read: 10 yrs) to catch up with old college friends
- I lucked out with a great roomie in Jillian
- It is hard work to coordinate 200+ bloggers for a cocktail party
- I’m glad I wasn’t super hungry Friday night because the apps were lacking a bit
- You don’t need alcohol to have fun, but a photobooth sure helps get ya silly!
Phew! Long post!
Any favorite moments from Day 1 of HLS?
Or best moment of your weekend whatever you did?
What city do you want to see HLS in next? I say Denver or San Francisco!
