What a whirlwind of food and friends this past weekend has been! I just got back from an incredibly fun filled weekend in Atlanta, Georgia with some of the sweetest bloggers you’ll ever meet. This weekend was the BlogHer Food conference, and since Atlanta’s just a quick three hour drive over from Alabama, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to go and hang out with some fellow blogging buddies.
The conference was held at the Peachtree Westin in downtown Atlanta, and I was so happy to room with my sweet friend Jenny from Picky Palate. We ended up on the 65th floor. The first photo in this post is the view out our window… It was like sleeping in an airplane!
Here’s our view looking straight down. It had a rail so you could hang on for dear life! Helicopters were flying lower than we were. Much lower. Talk about insanity.
We were in room 6502 and it faced directly west. We had a gorgeous view of the sunset over the city.
After the morning session on Friday Jenny and I ran out for lunch at Star Provisions. This is the cutest little market, it totally reminds me of an Anthropologie for foodies. Not only do they have farm-fresh vegetables, gourmet meats and cheeses, and a coffee bar, but they also sell all kinds of beautiful serving plates, tea towels, fun kitchen utensils and even designer handbags. There’s even a room with gourmet dog treats! Attached is a cute little bakery and I wanted to melt as we walked in. The delicious scents wafting from this bakery were out of this world, it was just like fresh baked bread, and hot, bubbly, melty cheese. We wouldn’t resist picking out a few treats! I loved the macaron, but the star of the show was the homemade S’mores bar with a sugary graham cracker crust topped with chocolate ganache and a homemade toasted marshmallow. The chocolate buttercream frosting on the cupcake was pretty amazing too.
I am kicking myself for not taking nearly enough photos this of trip! Friday night we went to a fabulous event sponsored by the National Pork Board. They took us on a food crawl all over Atlanta in a giant, giant, giant Land Rover limo. We had incredible meals prepared for us at three of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants — Dogwood, Pura Vida, and Rathbun. The chefs were so excited to create menus for us highlighting new and inspiring ways to prepare pork, the food just kept coming! I tried so many new things that night — tender pork cheek, steamed coconut buns filled with smoked pork belly, and even bacon cupcakes with maple buttercream frosting. Still wondering how I managed to eat so much in one short night!
On Saturday we had lunch with this beautiful and sweet girl — Bakerella! It was so fun getting to know Angie, her smile just lights up the room.
Of course on the last day of the conference, I finally break out the camera! So lucky to have gotten to meet these sweet girls through blogging over the past year or so. My favorite part of going to conferences is definitely getting some downtime to chat with these smart and talented ladies.
I met Tara from Deal Seeking Mom at BlogHer Food last year, and was glad to have run into her again this year.
Alice at Savory Sweet Life is a true sweetheart, loved getting to know her and her sweet husband this weekend!
Look who else was at lunch — it’s Betsy! Girl is styling in her scarf, love it!
Here are all the lovely ladies from lunch.
I’ll leave you with one last parting thought…
“Give me FIERCE!”
Hi!
just saw your group photo on Angie’s site Bakerella! What type of lens do you use? such beautiful shots! Is it a f/1.4 prime or a telephoto lens?
thanks!
hey! im a new reader, i found your blog over at bakerellas! im excited to read more, your blog is sooo delicious looking
Aw that looks like so much fun!!! What a great weekend and I’m sure great friends :)
~Star
Star Hughes Living
I love your plaid dress. You should post where you got it!
Sounds like you had lots of fun! I wish more foodie events like this were on the East coast!
Oh Miss Amanda this is such a lovely re-cap. Your happiness is catching, love you and always enjoy our time together. Just wish there was more of it :) xo
The best time. So wonderful getting to know you more and thank you for driving us around. You’re a champ and I can’t wait to hang next week, girl! XOXOX
Sounds like a fun weekend. Heading back down from NYC to visit the family next week.
Paul
It looks as though you had a fantastic time! Thanks for sharing your photos.
Great pictures! I love the view from the hotel! We live north of Atlanta and have never stayed there. I think this is now on my list. :) Looks like you have a fabulous time! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
http://lifeofasoutherncouple.blogspot.com/
Glad you had so much fun! Missed you girls!
Wonderful trip!! Thanks for sharing. Isn’t Betsy Ree’s sister??
Looks like a blast! I’m so inspired! My friend and I are just getting started in this world, but we hope to make it to one of those conferences and meet all you like-minded foodies one day. Also, hello to another southern lady! We’re in the mountains of northeast GA, just up the road from Atl. and my hubby and I spent our wedding night at the Peachtree Plaza. Such a view!
I think I stayed in that same room several years ago and was TOTALLY shocked to look out the window and see a helicopter flying lower than me! But, I loved my time at the Westin, it was quite an adventure! Keep up the wonderful work on your blog, I thoroughly enjoy reading it, and don’t live far from you (Muscle Shoals).
Love your recap, Amanda! It was great to finally meet you. I saw that S’mores Bar in the case at Star Provisions when we went on Saturday night and just drooled over it. Angie said y’all loved it!
Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
absolutely LOVE IT!! especially ‘fierce’ – just too funny! so glad to have met you Amanda, even though it was rather brief – have heard people sing your praises for a long time now and you know what? they were right!!
Haha… I’m glad you posted the “fierce” picture. Clearly I always have that look on the ready.
Love the recap!
Woohoo, loved our time in Atlanta! It’s always so much fun when we travel together!! Looking forward to San Diego….positive thinking :) Talk soon girl!! xoxo
So happy to finally know you in real life! The time went by much too fast though. We should totally plan a get together just to hang out and visit.
Great photos! It was fun meeting you at last.
My goal is to get to BlogHer Food next year. I WILL be there!
So much fun – and great pictures!!
Loved the homemade S’mores bar ……. O I want one! lol
Glad you had a great time! It looks like it was a great trip!
What an amazing trip! Not b/c of the conference itself but b/c all you wonderful, talented, and gorgeous, ladies were all under one room at one time. YAY for that.
The photography is beautiful, too. Everyone looks so radiant.
Thanks for sharing these, Amanda. If I wasnt in Aruba, I would have gone! Next year :)
It was and is always lovely to see you, Amanda. I wish I could have hit up Sublime on Sunday with everyone…but then I probably would have been delayed more than I already was and wouldn’t have made it home, so… xoxo
Looks like so much fun Amanda!!! I am totally going to try and make it to BlogHer Food next year!!
Fun recap! I’m missing everyone already. It was so great to meet you!
Love it…what a great time! great photos Amanda
The Pork Crawl sounds so fun! What a great way to see the city :)
oh my heavens!!! it looks like you all had so much fun! :) And the 65th floor?? they view looks amazing! but that is high!!
Looks like SO much fun! You all looks so happy and cute!
Great recap! Somehow I completely missed that you were there – would have loved to meet you! Looks like you were pretty busy though :)
Love it. You always capture such wonderful photos of our time together. Enjoyed spending another weekend with you, and thank you for sharing your donuts :)
Looks like a fun time :) Love that desert plate :)
Looks like the best time ever! Love the pics!
Yum – I’d give my left leg for that homemade s’mores bar! It looks delicious. Can’t wait to read more about your adventures in Atlanta.
Looks like you had a great time and glad you got at least one sweets pic in! A limo full of blogging women…look out Atlanta!
You always look so cute – please please do a fashion post! I’d also love to see regular outfit-of-the-day posts :)
Thanks Jen! The top is from Maurices, love that place. It’s quickly becoming one of my new favorite places to shop. I think I only took photos on that one day, can you believe it?!