I really enjoy traveling. Going to different blog conferences this year has given me the opportunity to visit great places and meet wonderful new people.
And I’ve got to do one of my most favorite things: make new friends, even clowns!
I just got back from the Evo Conference in Park City, Utah. Evo was the first conference I went to last year, and it makes for me the beginning of when I started to feel like a “real blogger”.
What I especially love about Evo is the smaller size (around 400 people?), the amazing location in the Canyons Resort in Park City, and the great food options.
In January, my family started our “Weekday Vegan” project. Weekday Vegan is shorthand for “eating a whole-food diet at home Monday through Friday consisting of few processed foods and almost no animal products”. I’m not going to get all weird about honey.
On the weekends I buy local meat, eggs and milk, and really good cheese. Also, if we are going to eat in a restaurant or have food delivered, this is when I prefer to do it.
I’ll write more about this some other time, but I will say it’s gone pretty well. I eat a very healthful diet five days a week, so I don’t worry if I have a hamburger every so often, or if we are away from home. I just had my blood work redone, and the change is remarkable. My blood sugar and blood pressure were much improved since January.
At Evo, the food was so good! The catered meals were delicious (thanks for the vegetarian option!) and the suite sponsored by McDonald’s had different menu items every day the showcased summer berries. It was a great place to hang out for a snack, or for a manicure from a local Aveda salon.
The sparkly blue made me feel like less of a middle-aged haus frau. I’m young and fun, darn it!
My special favorite treats in the McDonald’s suite were the Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie (pictured on the right) and the Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal. I’m a texture person, so I was glad the oatmeal had a subtle banana flavor without having chunks of bananas in it.
Also, the Chocolate Chip Frappé (“a chip in every sip!”) and the Rolo McFlurry weren’t too shabby. I’m a bit of a *cough cough* McFlurry connoisseur, and I like how they’ve changed the Rolo McFlurry from having the chopped candy in it, to having chocolate chunks and caramel syrup on top. So much better.
The McDonald’s suite featured fun crafts for kids, information on how to treat yourself off the McDonald’s menu and still eat right, and lots of info about the Ronald McDonald House Charities,
Seriously, RMHC has helped the families of so many sick kids, check out what they do and how you can help. My daughters are planning their Silver Projects for Girl Scouts, and they are trying to think of a way to create a project to benefit our local Ronald McDonald House.
Something new I learned about is the Family Arches program. It’s an on-line community where parents can meet to discuss family, food, and wellness, and learn about McDonald’s charitable projects and upcoming products. (New flavor of fruit smoothie sound good?)
One of the reasons I joined Family Arches was to hear about McDonald’s more healthy menu items. It’s been interesting to learn how I can still eat at McDonald’s and make good choices, for me and for my children.
In summation, I hugged a clown, went down an insanely steep zip line, was pampered, and stuffed with good food, all while learning about how to be a better blogger in the dry mountains of Utah. So, not my regular day of avoiding laundry and reminding kids what a toothbrush is for.
I’d like to do another summary of the Evo Conference and talk about who I met and what I learned. Despite being so far away from Virginia, and so very high about sea level, I love it and hope to return for years to come.
I’d like to thank McDonald’s for sponsoring me at Evo. I loved working with them and learning more about their corporate charity work and commitment to providing better food choices. All thoughts and opinions in this post are my own and only slightly influenced by my love of taking my kids for a McFlurry after a hot summer day at the pool.
It was great ziplining with you… You know what’s great about being stuck at the bottom? You got to enjoy the ride for just a moment longer. See you at BlogHer!
Thanks for being my Single Rider.
Enjoy the ride longer? That’s such a good way to look at it!
Somewhere, off in McDonald’s land, a clown is blogging that he was lucky enough to hug you.
Loved meeting you at evo and dancing the night away! And sorry about the getting-stuck part.
That clown was very huggable. The kids seemed to like him too. One adorable little guy I saw had to take a break under the table until he warmed up to Ronald.
The zip line wasn’t so bad, I guess. At least it was quickly followed up by dance party of awesomeness.
Hey Sherri, you totally remind me of my good friend Robin (see below). You two could be sisters. More in personality and mannerisms, than anything.
I’m glad the picture of you and Ronald turned out good. I must say I preferred the berry whatever smoothie – that’s just the kind of girl I am! But I’m with you on the Rolo McFlurry. I can’t wait to room with yoy next year.
The Cherry Berry? Yes, those are very good.
Same time, next year! It’ll be a three-peat!
That sounds like an awesome trip! It’s very cool that McDonald’s not only had the good sense to sponsor you, but also provides delicious food choices that support someone who is making healthier food choices. Go, Mickey Dee’s!
Susan, I think if you go to one conference next year, besides Blissdom, it should be Evo. Bring Lindsey too. Great photography and food classes. Seriously first class.
Can I come to? I’ve never been to UT and it sounds like it is at a beautiful location. And while I am inviting myself, I would love to take the food and photography classes as well.
YAY McD’s!
I would have paid real money for zip-line photos. 😉
Um, they exist…
You’re a doll! LOVE the blue polish – I got purple, then came home and bought the color because I loved it so much!
I could write 20 EVO posts – it was amazing!
Thanks, Rachel.
Usually I have neutral color on my fingers and a wild color on my toes, but Evo makes me wanna shake it up. I came home and bought OPI Big Apple Red for BlogHer next week.
You definitely have to write a post about ranking (or at least categorizing) the different blog conferences. Perhaps by size, cost, blogger experience etc. I really do want to attend more next year, and perhaps that will FORCE me to finish the Blogger to WP transfer (which involves learning WP and writing new content for it.) I’ve stalled and it must be a deeply psychological issue with me. Sigh.