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Dessert Party & Ladies Luncheon

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert PartyFrom left to right: Lynda at Southern Kissed, Kim at Modified Behavior, Me, Katie at Dixieland Sweets, Paula at AKA Jane Random, and Stephanie at Grinning Like an Idiot

A few months ago I got an email from a fellow local blogger inviting me to go to lunch with a couple other local bloggers she knew. I thought it was a great idea, and I also had just recently been introduced to a couple other local bloggers that I hadn’t met in person yet, but wanted to get to know.

I invited all the local bloggers I knew, and she invited all the bloggers she knew, and the next thing we knew we were taking a 2-hour lunch getting to know each other, chatting about blogging, and gabbing like old girlfriends.

By the end of lunch, none of us wanted to leave, so right then and there we set up a recurring time and date and put it on our calendars so we could get together once a month to learn from, inspire, and encourage one another.

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert PartyPhoto via Southern Kissed

We had been choosing a different local restaurant each month to meet up, but at the last restaurant (who is only open for breakfast and lunch) we ended up closing the place down after being deeply engrossed in conversation for 2 hours, and then still standing out in the parking lot for another 30 minutes after that, lol! A few of the girls asked about my DSLR session at BlogHer, so I offered to host the next lunch at my house, and we could have a little dessert party and photography class.

Last Monday everyone came over and each blogger had a delicious, decadent dessert in hand. I was in heaven! I prepared us a small light lunch just so we’d had something in our bellies before completely stuffing ourselves silly with the gorgeous treats everyone brought.

I started our lunch with this Lemon Pesto Pasta from Liz at The Lemon Bowl blog and it was a huge hit!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert PartyPhoto via Southern Kissed

I also whipped up The Pioneer Woman’s Caprese Salad, which is always a winner. Perfect chick food. :) I think I’d have a mutiny on my hands if I tried to explain to Kevin this was a perfectly acceptable meal, lol! I somehow ended up without a single photo of lunch, so thanks so much to Lynda for sharing these photos with me! She also brought yummy, buttery yeast rolls and saved lunch, because I burned the french bread I was baking. Typical!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Lunch was great, but let’s be honest, we were here for the desserts! ;) So afterwards we had a fun mini food styling and photography session. We styled and photographed each dessert the bloggers’ brought. Everyone had great ideas on different angles, arrangements, and props, and we all helped and learned from each others’ strengths.

Below is my take on the photos.

Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars. The most amazing dessert you can bring to a potluck ever. 4 Layers of Shortbread, Salted Caramel Sauce, Cookie Dough, and homemade Chocolate Ganache.

I brought my Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars I posted last week.

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Paula at AKA Jane Random brought these fun Berry Brownie Bites. So cute and yum!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Stephanie at Grinning Like an Idiot brought Praline Key Lime Icebox Pie. Mama mia. This is not your average key lime pie, you guys.

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Katie at Dixieland Sweets brought these gorgeous decorated cookies!! How fun are these? Katie’s blog is all about cookie and cake decorating tutorials, so be sure to check her out if you’ve always wanted to learn!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

And how fun are her social media icon cookies??! :) I grabbed the Instagram icon before anyone else could eat it. ;)

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Kim at Modified Behavior brought Pioneer Woman’s Key Lime Pie made into fun cupcakes! Kim’s blog is about dog training. In fact, she was Miley and Howie’s trainer when they were puppies. She’s the reason they can sit still for so many pictures, lol! :) If you’re wanting to learn more about dog training, be sure to check out her site.

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

Photo via Southern Kissed

Lynda at Southern Kissed brought these AMAZING Hot Fudge Dulce de Leche Brownies. Ya’ll. Seriously. The next time I make brownies I am TOTALLY making these!!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert PartyPhoto via Grinning Like An Idiot

Annnnd she also brought these delicious cinnamon biscuits. So yum!

Huntsville Bloggers Group Meetup Lunch and Dessert Party

For the other bloggers’ recipes and photos from the dessert party, be sure to check out their blogs below!

AKA Jane Random – Berry Brownie Bites
Dixieland Sweets – Decorated Cookies
Grinning Like an Idiot – Praline Key Lime Pie
Kevin and Amanda – Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough Bars
Southern Kissed – Hot Fudge Dulce de Leche Brownies and Cinnamon Biscuits

Have a sweet Monday! :) xoxo

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23 Responses
  1. Steph

    I think I just gained weight reading this! YUMMMMMM! Now, I’m going to have to take a trip to whole foods for some snacks. haha!

    Love the social media cookies. That’s a GREAT idea. I’m definitely going to have to try that at our next work event!

    Steph

  2. Lori

    This is so nice!

    BUT It did remind me that you never showed us more of your new house since the pantry re-do, or where you moved the laundry room to!!

  3. Nikki @Seeded at the Table

    How fun!! Sure wish there were more bloggers in my area here in Mississippi. I’m tellin’ ya, I’m just going to drive on over to your Huntsville area get-together someday and have a sleep over (so I can witness first hand that beautiful pool-side sunset). :) Beautiful spread of dishes! Looks like you have a great group of bloggers!

  4. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

    I am so honored that you served my pasta for such a fun event!!! I also am so jealous of these ladies who got a lesson from you first hand – looks like such a fun group. I’m also digging these blogs names, especially “Smiling Like an Idiot” – too cute!! Thanks Amanda!

  5. Kelley Moyer

    Y’all are from the Huntsville area? I’m originally from Decatur & live in Tuscaloosa now…didn’t know there were popular bloggers from near me! Seems like most of the popular bloggers I see are from up north or out west.

  6. Cody Doll

    Oh I am so jealous. That looks like it was alot of fun and super yummy. I really want to go to a blogger met up but I haven’t found very many bloggers in my area. Oh well.

  7. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    Amanda, a dessert party is such a great idea! It looks like you all had a great time and enjoyed some tasty treats.

  8. Ali @ inspiralized

    LOVE this! What a sweet way to get together and eat yummy food. I wish I lived closer to you! Thanks for the great pictures… I’m glad I found your site, I need more photography lessons.

  9. LyndaS

    Amanda – can I just shout out THANK YOU!? That lunch was AWESOME!!! Thanks for your photography tips and the incredible lunch. You rock!

  10. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh

    Oh how I wish I lived closer to you! Uh wait, then again my thighs might object. Those brownies! Those bars you made! Ahhh….big time yum!

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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