Being part of a blogging community is so much more than writing. To me, this community is about supporting each other in life and in our passions! And you know what? You don’t have to be a blogger to do that.
That’s why I love the Blend Retreat – Bloggers (and non blogger) + friends = BLEND! This weekend many of us came together to do just that, celebrating friendships and one amazing COMMUNITY!
(Blends- new and old- Lindsay, Janae, Brittany, Ashley)
As I mentioned in my Friday Post, I had the honor of representing Nuttzo. I did my best to share the love all weekend, which was way too much fun! Bloggers (and non bloggers) go nuts for NUTTZO! I was also able to share a few healthy bites samples made with
Thank you Heather, Jayne, and Kanoelani for the lovely pictures!
Healthy Bites + Nuttzo = ONE FREAKING AMAZING COMBO! Okay I am bias, but you get my point here.
So what all did we do at Blend? Let me recap for you!
It all began Friday with run led by Oiselle and Janae! I couldn’t get my Crazy Cotter act together in time to actually make the run, but I did get a chance to hang out and hug everyone afterwards at the Artic Zero snack break.
Janae and I have “known” each other since 2009 and we finally got to hug in real life. Love that woman!
Thank you Annette for the picture and letting me adore you sweet baby L!
Who doesn’t love a good Arctic Zero smoothies and ice cream sandwich? Totally stole this photo from Gina because I loved her close up!
Later that evening we all got dolled up for the Sizzlefish and FLurowater Happy Hour!
You all know I adore Sizzlefish! Their salmon appetizer was amazing a. It paired nicely with my Flurowater Bubbly! Hehe.
After the cocktail party we all sat down for dinner and chatted the night away! I have way too much fun hanging out with momma B and these Blends again!
Heather, Laura, Heather P, Melissa
Saturday was the bootcamp led by Onnit (Austin based company, yay) and then a delicious breakfast held by Quest Nutrition! Quest Cupcakes for breakfast anyone? Thank you my little Chickadee Kait for letting me borrow the UP close picture!
Right after breakfast we all met in the lobby for the Organic Valley hike! We took the Gondola up to the mountain and then hiked up and down from there. It was great to hear about Organic Valley and their farming and new protein milk product. They also sent a celebrity Trainer to lead us on the hike.
I stuck around these girls cause they are just too cute not to want to follow, ya know?
The rest of the day was spent at out leisure. For me, it was a great time to chat up Nuttzo and talk more to all the amazing expo and snack sponsors!
Oh and I can’t forget to mention the Kidzshake smoothie bites (these bites are from kidzshake). Did you know their whey is caesin free and made with New Zealand whey? I like the Kiwi love here ya know!? 
Silk also had smoothies being made that morning, so as you can see, we got our smoothie fill! LOVE SMOOTHIES!
All that running around left me a bit dehydrated and with one big headache, no really, I had a massive headache. I blame altitude. But after a nap and chugging water, I felt better. That’s when my lovely blends Ashley, Katie, and my roomie Brittany came to check up on me and lure me to dinner. I am so glad they did because it was just what I needed fresh food, fresh air, and good conversation!
Red Rock Brewing Co.
Later that night, we all hung out in Momma B’s room while she cooked up her famous Utah Scones.
Sunday came way too fast and so did the 7am GPP bootcamp! But of course it was fun and kicked out butt. If you haven’t tried GPP you need to!
Breakfast was hosted by Yoplait and Nature’s Valley and then we scurried over for the closing ceremony and raffle right after.
I won the Onnit gift bag and have already eaten half their goodies! Everyone that attended got a prize, which made it even more awesome!
Sheesh, well, that’s a wrap! SO much swag! Again HUGE Thank you to FlapJacked, Bulu Box, Balance Bar, DRY soda, Kodiak Cakes, KIND healthy snacks, Justin’s, the Simply Bar, NuNaturals, Love Grown Foods, detour bars, and so many more!}
Thank you to many of the sponsors- FLUROwater, Oiselle, Onnit, Sizzlefish, Organic Valley, Nuttzo, Quest Nutrition, Silk, Nature’s Valley, Green Mountain Coffee, Hail Merry, and many more! These sponsors are what make BLEND affordable, fun, and literally FUEL our passion!
And thank you to NUTTZO for allowing me to represent their awesome Brand and share the NUTTZO passion with other passionate BLENDS!
Now, about this community – THESE GIRLS MAKE IT HAPPEN! Blend wouldn’t be here without Lindsay, Janetha, and Lauren! So thank you ladies for all your hard work!
[Tweet “What the blogging community is all about! @blendretreat recap via @LCCotter #fitfluential “]
Next year Blend Retreat is mid May and will be held in Boulder, CO!! Stay tuned for details!
What do you love about this community? Will you be at Blend next year? Hope so!
Cheers,
LC
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Wow I would love to attend one of these blogger retreats one day! Boulder 2015 sounds like a great place to start! 😉
i sure hope you do!! would love to meet you
Such amazing peeps & community!! LOVE LOVE all the pics & of course the food sponsors!!! 🙂
i don’t remember if i commented on this or not because i read it from my phone the first time lol. and yeah i just read it again! i love you
It just looks so amazing! Would love to attend one day 🙂
The swag is great, the food is delicious and the trip is fun but of all the blogging events I’ve attended the people are the best part! Next year my friend 🙂
Bummed I couldn’t make this year – seriously a big highlight of last year for me! – but I’ve loved the recaps. WHOA on all the sponsors – you guys got loved on! 🙂 If you have too much Nutzo on your hands…well then, I’m your girl up north. 😉 Great recap and thanks for sharing the love of the weekend and those brands with us!
I hope I can come to blend next year!
Too much travel for me this year. Hopefully next year I can go – these always look like so much fun 🙂
Utah looks good on you. And a girl’s gotta look good right? So…..
Looks like your gonna have to visit Janae and Brooke more often?
Sorry about your bad turn with the headache but glad you had fun and represented for Nuttzo!
i say new zealand looks best on me, with a side of vineyard. wanna dine?
Said so well – it’s an amazing weekend because of the women! Glad I was able to spend some of it with you, my friend. 🙂
What a FUN weekend. And that hike left me wiped, too! I think it was all that sun 😛
Love YOU and your shortbread healthy bites! Can’t wait until a) next year’s blend and b) you come visit Colorado 😉
Oooooh, such a great recap!! You look just damn gorgeous girl!!
My plans are pretty much fixed to be in Boulder next year!
i was just thinking about you! wishing you’d be at blend next year!!
Oh man. Making me want to go even more next year. Especially so I can give you an in person hug for all these delicious recipe and triathlete wife encouragement you’ve already given me!
i want to hug your cute face! please come!
That chocolate Quest cupcake looks far too good. It is not the healthiest of breakfasts I guess, but if it tastes half as good as it looks it is worth it.
it’s actually healthy! i’ll send you the recipe!
UHHH I heard BLEND is going to be in BOULDER next year?!?!? My old stompin’ grounds. I will definitely NEED TO MAKE THE TRIP! BOOM – SHAKA!
oh i know why you lived there.. ahem.. jk! yes, come next year!
I am loving reading these Blend recap posts – that hike sounds like it was fabulous! I am hoping to make it next year – fingers crossed! 🙂
please do!!!
That looks like so much fun (and so much YUM!!). I hope to one day get the chance to enjoy something similar! 😀
looked like a great time!! we besides the headache 😉
xoxo
Yay I got to hug you in real life this year! I don’t think we hung out at all last year..I was too intimidated haha.
You are so motivating in how genuinely kind and uplifting you are to others. Thanks for being awesome and I love you! <3
//end super cheesy comment
Wow!! Sounds amaaaaazing! Go the Kiwi Whey 😉
Hey I love your blonde hair – looks HOT!
Oh I am sooooo jealous! I need to come to this next year! You ladies are all so vibrant and beautiful!
Wait a minute…are those scones being fried?! Haha, I’m confused, but I love me some scones. 😛 And I seriously can’t wait to attend a blogger event (hopefully soon)!
wow so wish i was able to give you a real life hug!
Brother. This was the best year yet. And we are NOT waiting a whole year to hang out again. *chest bump*
Sounds like a truly incredible time!!
I would love to go to Blend – maybe next year since I could drive fairly easily!!!
There was so much good food! I need to make Nuttzo balls!
totally! go nutz! haha
Honestly, nothing better than the opportunity to spend a weekend with such an amazing community! That resort is so beautiful, and so is Park City… you look fabulous, as always, I hope to see everyone again next year!
I hope I’ll get to be at Blend next year!! It looks so amazing!! Loved reading your recap 🙂
you better!
Amazing! This looks like so much fun 🙂 I still have never been able to make it to a retreat or blogging conference, and I NEED to get to one soon! Loved the recap!
come next year!!
Sounds like so much fun. I dream of going to Blend one day.
really?! blend it is! come!
Looks like you ladies had a blast!! Looking forward to being able to attend next year! Would love to meet all of your pretty faces in person finally!
and i’d love to meet your pretty face!
Love you Lindsay! Sad we never got the pic 🙁 That just means it’s a requirement for next May in Boulder!
i know!! i was so bummed. sheesh! next year
AH ! I hope to make it one year it looks SO beautiful there – the people and the environment 😉
It’s about time for some COLORADO LOVIN’!! Whooo!! Can’t wait to have it here and be able to attend!!
yes!! you better come! pretty please
Love this. Love you. The blogging community sure is a wonderful thing! xoxo
So fun! I wish I could have come.
me too! i need to meet you!
I can’t believe we didn’t get a picture together! Next year, that is our mission! I’m so glad I got to meet you, as you are just as sweet in person as you are on your blog. Thank you for allowing me to try Nuttzo for the first time – I think I’ll be needing to place an order ASAP! <3 <3 <3
use my discount when you do!! and yes, next year, lots of LINDSAY pics.
Aww it looks fantastic! Really wish I could have been there – alas I live in Scotland so a bit far to go!
start saving! them come travel all over US! pleeeeease
Y’all got hooked up with some seriously awesome swag!! How cool that everyone won a prize, too! I am hoping to go next year 🙂
Blend sounds amazing! I’m sorry I missed it! Hopefully, I’ll get to go next year!!
I LOVE YOUR PINK DRESS!!! You’re so cute! I’m glad you had a great time even if you were running around like a coo-coonut :o)
Looks absolutely AWESOME!!! I really do wish I was able to come this year!!! It looks like a blast!! XO
Ahhh I need to go to this next year! It looks like it was SO much fun!
I didn’t know anyone going into Blend, but I knew that we’d all have something in common: a passion for healthy living and a drive to inspire others. This community is full of amazing people, and I’m so glad that I got to meet so many of them over the weekend, including you!
So incredibly jealous! There are so many of you I cannot wait to meet in person. Looks like a blast! <3
Looks like a fabulous weekend! So glad you had such a great time! xoxo
Wow this looks like such an awesome time! I am going to need to be there next year!
Love love love that you got to go enjoy the weekend and have a blast! 🙂 Looks like it’s as much fun as a race weekend! haha So happy for you to escape for a weekend of fun.
I love this so much. You are absolutely write that the blogging community is so much more than just the writing and the reading. I loved seeing everyone’s photos! I agree with Lisa – I’m drooling thinking about Momma B’s scones!
I missed you SO much! It sounds like every year this event gets better and better! My mouth watered when I saw Momma B’s scones, I could smell and taste them in my mind! I hope the dates work for me next year– I lived in Boulder for 12 years and my sister and her family still live there.
LOVED this and LOVED our dinner together. I think it was just what we all needed that night! 🙂
Ooh, I’m jealous-Blend is the BEST! So glad you had another amazing weekend. I have the Colorado trip in my calendar for next year!!
The more recaps I see on The Blend Retreat, the more I wish I would’ve gone. Next year for sure! So many amazing people, good food, and fun exercises. What could be better than that?!
i seriously love you….enough to make us all move to Colorado! Don’t you kinda wanna move? 😉
Yes, and I’m not joking!
I’m coming too!!!
What I love so much about this is the idea of finally meeting in real life someone you’ve known through blogging. So cool!
This past weekend was seriously amazing, and it was SO great to finally meet you 😀 Better believe I’ll be in Boulder next year — which means you better be too!
I’m so glad you had a great time. Utah has been on my list of places to visit because it’s so beautiful… all the pictures from last weekend just reiterated that.
Looked like such a blast!!! Confession, I still haven’t tried nutzo. Having the hardest time finding it in Canada!
I love the blogger community! It makes me want to travel around to see everyone! I will absolutely be at Blend next year. Already inviting myself to Texas!
I might be a blogger but I read blogs like my full time job 😉 I love the fact that that I “know” a handful of bloggers. I’m really hoping I can make it next year! I would love to visit CO! Your so lucky you got to spend time with some my favorite ladies!!!!
Looks like SO much fun- friends who you share common passions with, great food, and amazing views!
And I love that it’s women supporting women in health 🙂
This looks like so much fun! I was creeping on Janae’s recap as well. This Colorado girl will DEFINITELY be at the Boulder one next year!
How awesome! I have been smiling ear to ear reading all about Blend and would love to attend one of these days. You are so right about supporting each other in our pursuits and passions. Need to try a Healthy Bite and enjoy some Corny Cotter in real life… hopefully sometime soon 🙂
Awww yay!! Loved meeting u friend & miss u already! So glad as a non blogger I went & was accepted :)… That’s what I love about the community(I am also getting nudged ever so slightly that I should start blogging myself ;-)… Well see I am seriously thinking about it & was b4 Blend. I am definitely trying to go to Blend in Colorado next year. Yay hugs <3
I feel like I was right there with you! Wish I really could have been. 🙂
SNIIIIIFFFFFF I missed seeing everyone. seriously hope our paths cross soon!!!
Oh my gooses, friend, this looked like SUCH a great time! I wanna go next year! <3 So much sponsor love, too…wow! 🙂
I love that pink dress! Looks like a great weekend!
I love you friend!! Miss you so much!
I will do whatever I can to be there next year… even if that means spending a whole day traveling by plane! I want to meet your adorable self 🙂
Oooooh my gosh this looks amazing! I totally want to come next year to meet all you wonderful ladies, and of course, to take advantage of all the wonderful food provided by companies we can’t get up here – especially Sizzlefish and Nuttzo!
YES YES YES COLORADO YES!!!
I’m definitely planning to come again next year – it was such a fun retreat! So great getting to meet you, lady!
Yes, next year!!! I am anxiously awaiting the details.
i definitely hope to be at blend next year! so sad to miss this year!!
Despite my typical sarcastic and wise cracking stance, I was excited for your corny cotter post. You are adorable lady (or should I say baby), and I loved getting a chance to meet you and work out alongside you (in boot camp and on the hike). I’m glad you’re reunited with the kiwi again. I love my Blends, but it’s amazing how those other halves make us come alive, yes?!
it is true, love me some blends.. baby, but my kiwi baby makes me life complete. amen! maybe we need a blend with our husbands?? Loved meeting you. WIsh we could bootcamp more often and curse at the squats of course
A Hubby blend could be interesting. Maybe we can make them do squats.
That looks like SO MUCH FUN! It is awesome seeing so many of my new blogging friends all together. The stuff you guys did sounds perfect too, I really hope I can go next year! Thanks for your recap, It was a great explanation of exactly what happened 🙂
please come next year! we can stay 2 weeks for altitude training! haha
I’m not sure I’ll be able to get away, but I love seeing the healthy living blogging community come together. Looks like a fabulous time!
bring the kids!! we will all babysitt!
It looks like such a good weekend! I am glad you all had such fun 🙂
i hope you can come one year!! would love that!
Sounds like a great weekend! I love meeting new people (bloggers and non-bloggers) who have the same interest in running/healthy living as I do 🙂
Karen @karenlovestorun
Seriously, what is not to love about that event?! Beautiful locale, people and food. One of these yrs I’ll make it but beginning of June is just too crazy around here right now!
next year it’s in may and in Boulder! I sure hope you can come!
Ok, just about my favorite place on earth! And May is slightly better than June, so I am keeping it in mind.
Blends are the reason I blog. Truth.
Blend 2015 should be in Australia 😉
I so agree! and yes to Aussie land. we might be in New Zealand anyway!
What fun! Next year, I’m in!!! By the way, love your hair and that dress you wore to the cocktail party. You so pretty 🙂