Food Blog Forum Recap
One more post without a new recipe, but I promise there’s a great one coming later this week! I just had to write a quick recap from the Food Blog Forum Seminar this weekend because it was absolutely incredible and surpassed all my expecations.
I can’t say enough about the seminar. I learned so much and met so many wonderful people. The seminar portion was full of useful information. One of my favorite parts was when Diane and Todd from WhiteOnRiceCouple gave an amazing photography talk (I have so much to work on!). If you haven’t checked out their blog, you need to – it’s beautiful. But the part I think I learned the most from was when Jaden from Steamy Kitchen talked about finding a focus for your blog. I love my blog, but I have to admit that it’s kind of all over the place in terms of focus. I mean, it’s about food, and recipes, but I want to be able to define it a little more narrowly than that. I’ve done a ton of thinking about this over the past couple days, and I’m pretty excited about where I’m headed. More about that later, but expect a few (minor) changes in the coming weeks!
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Me, Julie from The Little Kitchen, and Jaden from Steamy Kitchen. |
In regards to the whole weekend, however, I have to say that meeting so many wonderful people, and the relationships we formed was by far the highlight of my time in Atlanta. I was so afraid it would be awkward to walk into a room full of bloggers I’d never met. I was afraid I wouldn’t have anything to say or anyone to talk to. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Everyone I talked to was incredibly kind, outgoing, friendly, and talkative. I met some truly wonderful people that I’m sure I’ll stay in touch with, and I want to introduce a few of them (and their blogs) to you. These are all people that I met for the first time this weekend, and we definitely parted as friends!
Melissa (right) – Melissa was my roommate for the weekend, and I truly believe that God put us together. We had a blast staying up late talking blogs, family, friends, etc. She has an awesome smile and is truly a joy to be around. She writes a wonderful blog called My McDonald Meal that combines great healthy recipes and useful health tips.
Julie (left) – I got to spend a lot of time talking to Julie, and since we’re both programmers by day, we have a lot in common! She writes a really cute blog called The Little Kitchen, which tells about her cooking and baking adventures in her tiny kitchen.
Julie – Another Julie! She writes a blog called Mommie Cooks. Her tag line (which I love) is “A blog detailing what’s for dinner. Sometimes simple, sometimes grand, always delicious.” She has 3 young boys, and I have no idea how she manages to cook dinner every night, let alone take pictures and post about it! Julie was kind enough to drive us around in her car for the weekend, and she did an awesome job in the crazy Atlanta traffic!
Prerna – Prerna is one of the nicest people I met this weekend. She’s so sweet and very easy to talk to. She writes the blog Indian Simmer, which is chock full of delicious looking Indian recipes. I’ve already bookmarked a few that I want to make. Her photography is absolutely amazing!
This truly was a wonderful weekend, and I can’t wait to put to use everything I’ve learned. The food blogging community is definitely amazing, and I’m so thankful I got the chance to experience the generosity, kindness, and friendliness of the community firsthand.
Welcome! I'm Megan and it's my hope that here you'll find food that has been made with love and recipes that are shared with joy. Thanks for stopping by! 
Glad you had a great time. I followed the tweets. Wish I could of been there. I can't wait to see where you are headed with your blog!
I've not been able to make any blogging events this year; I'm recuperating from a leg injury and so I watch from afar. Wait…I watch, jealous…from afar!
And the one recurring theme I hear over and over, no matter the location, program or the speakers, is how great it is to meet other bloggers. It sounds like FBF did not disappoint on all counts!
So great meeting you!! xo jaden
Oh you make me so wish I could've been there. I loved your post and your "introductions" to your new bloggy friends! Makes me want to meet them too!
It sounds like a lot of fun! I wish i would've been able to go.
sounds like such a great experience! I hope I can go to one of those one day!
Love your pics! It was so fun spending the weekend with you. And, thank you for risking spaghetti sauce all over your clothes so that we could save some money 😀
Great recap and it was wonderful to meet you. Wish we could have spoken more. Your photos rock! Keep in touch!
Great post Megan! I so enjoyed getting to know you better this weekend, I couldn't have imagined a better experience! Hopefully we'll meet up at another conference soon, but until then I'll be seeing you often on the blog!
Hey Megan! I enjoyed getting the chance to chat with you. I have to agree with you about the nice people. Everyone was so friendly and warm. Those kinda things can be intimidating but it's nice when you finally get there to find everyone else feeling the same awkwardness. It was a great weekend!
Megan! It was such a pleasure meeting you. You know what I love about the food blog community? It's not nasty, mean or competitive – everyone wants to help each other and learn from one another. And, everyone LOVES what they do with food blogging. It's not a grind, it's almost easy.
I've really enjoyed your website – you can tell there is a lot of love behind it.
I would have loved to go on this! Visiting you from Mingle Monday. Your blog is absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to read more.
Visit me at http://www.jennifersikora.com
Blessings,
Jennifer
I just went to my first blogger event this summer and can't wait to go to more. Putting faces to so many of the blogs I follow is invalueable. Maybe I will see you at one next time.
Hi! I'm popping over from Julie's (Mommie Cooks) blog! I love your blog! I am glad you all had a great time at the conference! I hope you don't mind me stopping by more often. I look forward to getting to know you better and seeing what your yummy new recipe is that's coming up! Have a great week!
Barbara – I hope you can get to a blogging event soon – it truly is about meeting people and building relationships (and so fun!)
Wendy – thank goodness there was no spaghetti sauce on my clothes! 🙂
Mandy – I agree about how friendly and nice everyone is – definitely a wonderful thing about the food blogging world
Alison – So good meeting you too!
Amy – Thanks so much for the comment – I'm so glad I got the chance to meet you 🙂
Maranda – Stop by as often as you like 🙂 It's nice to meet you 🙂
Barbara – I hope you can get to a blogging event soon – it truly is about meeting people and building relationships (and so fun!)
Wendy – thank goodness there was no spaghetti sauce on my clothes! 🙂
Mandy – I agree about how friendly and nice everyone is – definitely a wonderful thing about the food blogging world
Alison – So good meeting you too!
Amy – Thanks so much for the comment – I'm so glad I got the chance to meet you 🙂
Maranda – Stop by as often as you like 🙂 It's nice to meet you 🙂
Megan, it was nice to meet you this weekend and get a chance to talk with you! How crazy is it that we are from the same area and yet met in Atlanta of all places?!
Great recap… looks like there are some pretty amazing women out there I need to check out!
You be blessed!
Amanda
Hi Megan! Hopping over from Robyn's Monday Mingle at Our Homeschool Home.
Okay, I knew there were food blogs out there but wow, a whole giant group of them? You have opened up a whole yummy world to me. Thanks for the links!
Hi Megan I wish we would have met but I do remember seeing your smiling face at the conf. It was a great weekend and I liked your perspective of it. And your right Prerna is one sweet lady that I did meet. Maybe we'll see each other at another conf. in the future.
Andrea – so good to meet you as well! We'll have to get together in pittsburgh sometime 🙂
MarshaMarshaMarsha – Thanks so much for stopping by! And yes, the food blog world is an amazing place 🙂
Suzanne – I wish we could have met as well! Thank you so much for leaving a comment to say hi 🙂
Andrea – so good to meet you as well! We'll have to get together in pittsburgh sometime 🙂
MarshaMarshaMarsha – Thanks so much for stopping by! And yes, the food blog world is an amazing place 🙂
Suzanne – I wish we could have met as well! Thank you so much for leaving a comment to say hi 🙂
Hi fellow food bloggers!
After attending the foodblogforum last weekend, a couple of us decided it would be great to get together on a regular basis to talk about blogging, what's working, what's not and help each other out. It's a chance for great networking and we'll plan it around a meal. We're planning on having our first meeting Wed. Sept 22 at 10:00 at OK Cafe near I-75 and West Paces Ferry Road. Please let me know if you can come. Hope to see you there!
Becky Reynolds Smith
http://whats4dinnertonite.wordpress.com/
Great recap! I enjoyed the weekend so much and was so happy to meet you!
Thanks for the recap! It sounded like a FABULOUS event full of terrific people.
aww this sounds like so much fun!! I hope one day I get to go to blogger events!
Sounds like a blast! It must have been awesome meeting other bloggers.