(If you couldn’t tell, the post title is supposed to be sung to the tune of Will Smith’s Summertime.  Oh, I amuse myself!)

This all started at the beginning of 2009.  I was on my laptop and had the Food Network on tv and I believe it was a commercial featuring Ellie Krieger that peaked my interest.  She was talking about making the foods you crave in a healthier manner without having to sacrifice the taste.  It was that simple.  So I kept watching and looked for when her show would be on next.  I then googled her name and not only did I find her books, website and culinary masterpieces online, but I also found blogs that featured her easy, yet healthy recipes.

They were blogs run by everyday people, mostly women, who were trying to live a healthy lifestyle through cooking, exercise and balance.  I’d find one blog and read it.  Then, I would see the blogroll on that blog and read that.   Then, I would click on all the blogs that were linked in that blog’s blogroll and then I would repeat those steps again and again on the following blogs.  It was as if a tiny snowball had started rolling down a hill with a sharp 90 degree angle in the middle of a nor’easter.  This snowball was growing at the speed of lightning and there was no stopping it.

Image Credits – blog.readysetconnect.com

I spent hours just reading all the posts from these bloggers.  I read about their journeys, their adventures in the kitchen, their achievements on foot, on the bike and on the mat, their indulgences, their cravings and how wonderful they feel through it all.  These bloggers totally moved me (another lame pun).  Each blog had its own voice and I felt as if it were my calling to listen.

Fast forward to July of 2009 and after reading and being a loyal follower of too many healthy lifestyle blogs to name, I finally decided to bite the Magic Bullet (that’s homage to the beloved green monster smoothie).  I thoroughly respected each and every one of the bloggers I had encountered and really admired their strength, support for one another and their zest for life.  I decided I was going to start my very own blog.

While I haven’t been blogging for very long, I feel as though I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the healthy lifestyle and food blogoshere and about myself.  I can honestly say that the people I have come across have been nothing short of delightful, supportive and downright genuine.  I feel honored to say that I am a part of this community.

When I began reading all the buzz about the Healthy Living Summit and saw that it was going to be right in my backyard, I knew I had to go.  Unfortunately, I didn’t move quick enough and the tickets had been sold out.  To say the least, I was bummed.  But I had envisioned myself being at the Summit and knew there had to be some way for me to get there.  That said, I saw that Caitlin was holding a silent auction on her blog for one golden ticket to the Summit.  All proceeds were going to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Caitlin’s Team in Training efforts to run the Disney marathon.  I knew that ticket was going to be mine and on July 8, that vision became a reality.  Thank you, Caitlin!

Finally, the Summit is here!  Today is the first day of events.  We are meeting in Boston (literally blocks from me) for an ice cream social where we can meet each other, gab some and eat (a little or a lot of) ice cream (or frozen yogurt, if that’s what you prefer).  Friday night we are having a cocktail party out in Boston at a swanky bar.  Then all Saturday it’s conference time where we get to formally meet and listen to our gracious sponsors, organizers and keynote speakers.  But as we bloggers know, it’s all about balance.  So after a full day at the conference, we are meeting in the North End for the Fisherman’s Feast Italian Food Festival.  And to balance it all out, on Sunday morning, there is an unofficial 5K run followed by brunch.

I am excited beyond words!  I cannot wait to meet all the bloggers whom I’ve only known through the internet and to listen and learn from them.  It will be such an extraordinary experience and I am grateful that I can take part in it.

I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard and given so many countless hours of time and energy to make this Summit a reality.  To Caitlin, Kath, Jenna, Tina, Meghann and Heather – thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to finally seeing you all face-to-face!  And a big shout out to the Summit’s sponsors as well, ZestyCook, FoodBuzz and Stonyfield Farm – thank you!

Here’s to a weekend of fun, food, good times and making new friends!

Image Credits – beaconinn.com

What have you’ve been excited about?  If you have a blog, do you remember what made you decide to start one?  If you don’t, do you think you’ll ever start one?

Namasté,
Nicole