Earlier this summer I was invited to Grand Forks, North Dakota for a bloggers weekend. When I first got the email I thought it was a scam or a joke because this is North Dakota we are talking about … and I still haven't met a lot of bloggers from here. Now don't get me wrong, I love my state and was even more excited to find out this was a real offer from real people who wanted to lavishly spoil us in their city!
The whole weekend was courtesy of Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau and this is not a sponsored post and I {obviously} wasn't required to talk about it because it is a good two months later and I'm just now blogging about it - so yep, all opinions and rambling here is my own!!
As you may or may not know I have met one North Dakota blogger in person, Samantha, and she was also invited for the weekend so I was really excited to see her again but other than that I didn't know any of the other girls.
The weekend started out wonderfully from the get-go. We were put up in the Staybridge Suites, and let me tell you these rooms were AMAZING - next time I'm in GF I know where I'm staying!!
Sushi was on the menu for supper and I can't tell you how excited I was because I live 70 miles from a sushi restaurant and jump at the chance when I can enjoy it with other people {Steve doesn't like sushi}. Fuji was the restaurant we went to and it was delicious, also super fun with all the blogging ladies!! {Sorry, Sake shot photos not included}
The next morning it was an early wakeup call and a visit to Choice Health & Fitness for our private spin class. Okay 1. I don't work out {ever} 2. I have never done a spin class 3. I was going to exercise in front of strangers who share their lives online {I hope the girl behind me wasn't snap-chatting} -- yep this should be good!!
It was actually awesome, reminded me how good it feels to workout and I have a feeling that wasn't my last spin class!!
If you haven't figured out by now this was a jam packed weekend, Grand Forks CVB had things planned for us {almost} around the clock and it was such a blast. We were able to participate in one of their monthly wine walks and visit so many amazing restaurants and shops. To say the weekend exceeded my expectations would be an understatement.
Being able to talk blog 24-7 and not get weird looks, staying up til 2am finding new things in common with what seemed like life-long friends, trying new food:beer:wine and have it 'normal' to take 20+ photos of everything ... These ladies made our little getaway so amazing and I'm grateful for getting noticed in blogland, amazed that my tiny little part of the internet has helped me gain a new outlook and some amazing new friends!!
(photo dump below)
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| Sam & I |
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| from Brick & Barley |
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| from Dakota Harvest |
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| L-R || Shelley || Jess || Amanda || Sam || Alicia || Sammi || Sandy || Me || Julie |
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| bloggers and crew from Ground Up Adventures |
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Thanks again to Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau
This looks like SO MUCH FUN! I'm glad you had a blast and were able to connect with some other bloggers. Something like this is definitely on my to-do list!
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun! We all need to get together soon!
ReplyDeleteYes it was so wonderful, glad I was provided the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteYES!! Are we on for January … it is already coming fast!
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun, these ladies were amazing!!
ReplyDelete