*sigh*
Not sure if that is a sigh of relief or disappointment that I’m home. The Quaker weekend in Chicago was more then fun. It was fantastic! Every aspect of it. I don’t think I can even put it in words so I’m going to use a lot of pictures to tell the story of my Sunday in Chicago.
Ready?
First the morning started with a quick weight training workout with my ultimate workout inspiration, MizFit. Carla is not only one of the most amazing women I’ve every met she truly is the fit-est! Her name is totally appropriate! :~) I have to admit, while being spotted doing chest press and flys by MizFit herself, I felt a little star struck. Here we are trying out the crazy (and apparently blue) flash on my new camera phone.
Then it was off to run with my nutrition inspiration, Kath!
Although her and her friend made me totally feel OLD! Sometimes I have a hard time getting over the fact I’m not in my 20s anymore! Anyway, we got an awesome run along the lake and even though I was almost crippled with a cramp I was able to run almost 4 miles with them. Note the dip at the end when I stopped to take a picture! Other then that we kept a nice pace.
After the run I had to hurry up, get back to the hotel and get ready for all the meet-ups we had planned.
Here’s my Reservoir Dog Shot of "the girls" heading down to Panera to meet some readers. Little did we know we were going in the WRONG direction. It took us a mile before realizing, so we had to hop in a cab!
When we got Panera there was a small group waiting, and let me tell you it was a BLAST to meet and hangout with all these great women (I’ll just say that now for the whole weekend – seriously, everyone was just SO amazing).
We chatted for about 2 hours before I headed off to the Water Tower for lunch.
Lunch was amazing! I got to hang out with more amazing women that have such great perspectives and insights. Really, again, just amazing women!
Speaking of amazing women, we also bumped into a women who informed us, after asking for help with her jacket that "we’d have problems like that when we’re 101 too!" This just topped my amazing women weekend! Talk about inspiration!
After our extended lunch I got to take a nice leisurely walk back to the hotel before catching a cab with our gracious hosts back the airport. I have to admit after the day of talking I welcomed the chance to just enjoy the sites. I just wish I had more time to shop!
At the airport I did breath a sigh of relief that I was on my way home. Don’t get me wrong I had a blast! but I knew the hole I was digging myself in work was getting deeper and deeper. Plus I REALLY wanted to see the toddler, who got to stay up late waiting for me.
The last picture I snapped was of the walkway at the airport. I’m going to leave you with one thought as I wrap this long post up. When you travel do you walk? Or take the George Jetson automatic walkways? Notice what side I’m on. ;~)
Thanks EVERYONE for an awesome weekend. I can’t wait to catch up again.
Note: I didn’t want to link to everyone’s blogs next to pictures as I know some blog anonymously. So here’s are links to everyone I met in no particular order. If I missed you PLEASE let me know and I’ll add you! My brain is failing me now. I know I missed some of you!
- Slim Shoppin
- Biggest Diabetic Loser
- AJ Loves to Lose
- Follow My Weigh
- Losing it and Loving It
- Live Well 360
Plus, of course all me fellow Oat-tendees… ;~P
- Carla of MizFit Online
- Jennette of PastaQueen
- Tanya of I Ate Pie
- Lisa of Workout Mommy
- Monique of Big Fat Deal
- Leslie of Weighting Game (Leslie is TBD but hopefully yes :-)
- Jason of Twit2Fit
- Anne Marie of This Mama Cooks
- Amy of Super Healthy Kids
- Jenna of Eat Live Run
- Kath of Kath Eats Real Food
- Lyn of Escape from Obesity
- Alanna of A Veggie Venture
- Anne of Elastic Waist
- Steph of Back In Skinny Jeans
22 Responses to A Sunday In Chicago In Pictures
Leave a Reply
BlogToLose
What's Cooking in my kitchen?
-
Finally my first Farro idea! I have to say, I love this stuff! It's chewy and yummy and, well, fun! I tossed it with what I could find in my pantry and it made a wonderfully satisfying lunch. Filling but not heavy, tasty and quite nutrient dense. According to NutritionData.com this [...] -
I've seen it mentioned in a few of my clean eating and healthy cook books but honestly, I never even thought of Farro as an option for me. I refuse to shop at specialty stores and I try to use only common products that I can keep in stock and purchase from a typical grocery [...] -
I've never had a tuna melt. Is that weird? I guess that's what happens when you grow up not liking mayonnaise. I never ate tuna salad or egg salad or chicken salad. Honestly, they always kind of grossed me out. Then I realized.. hey.. why does tuna salad have [...] -
I have no idea where this idea came from. I was hungry. It was lunch. I had Brussels Sprouts. That was all the catalyst I needed.:) I decided to use a slice of real bacon to add flavor and little fat that would help sauté the sprouts. I'm trying [...] -
WOW was this good. I mean seriously good. It's not vegetarian so don't start throwing stones. I'm calling it a Garden Vegetable Burger because I use the new Laughing Cow Smooth Sensations Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread. It was this recipe on Allrecipes.com that inspired [...] -
I drink water 99.9% of the time but every so often it just doesn't cut it. I want something else. Something more. Something slightly sweet. Today was one of those days. I decided to make a refreshing drink based on the famous Arnold Palmer, half lemonade and half iced [...] -
The other day I made a whole chicken on the grill in pieces. It was delicious! Just a little BBQ sauce and an open flame is all I need to make The Husband happy in the dinner department. I also picked up a few ears of corn from the grocery store. They aren't in season [...] -
Let me explain so you don't think I'm making a chili recipe and just put it on pizza. I'm calling this vegetarian Chili Pizza because chili is what inspired flavors. I think I told you. Little Bean is really into, well, BEANS! We go through a can about every 2 days. Yesterday [...] -
I've confessed my inability to follow recipes here on GreenLiteBites many, many times. I don't know why it's so hard for me. I can barely follow some of my own and I wrote the darn things! I think most of my problem stems from not having all the ingredients listed and, [...] -
Leftover brown rice and leftover sauce meet in this quick lunch idea inspired by my favorite food of all time: Pizza. I swear I can turn anything into a pizza concoction. Have you seen all my pizza ideas? I've used everything from pumpkin to zucchini, polenta to wontons. Nothing is off [...] -
This isn't a recipe just an idea I had to share. I can't believe how good it was! I've never had grilled pineapple. Can you believe it? I just never really had the desire to grill it before. When you love something raw sometimes it doesn't occur to you to cook it. [...] -
I whipped this up for lunch on a whim today because, well, I have a baby who's obsessed with three things… Cheese, Beans, and Avocado. No, really. Look... It's my go to meal for him so I find myself with beans and avocado readily available. [...] -
You know that tradition 7 Layer Mexican Dip? The one with the cream cheese, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, cheese, green onion and olives? Yea. That's the one. Well I had a craving for it the other day. Well, not exactly for it as I can never make anything the way it's suppose [...] -
If you go through the archives of GreenLiteBites I have about 5 total beef recipes. Five. Compare that to the 80+ I have tagged with chicken/turkey there's a clear winner in the meat department on my blog and in my home. I don't have a beef with beef (omg The Husband [...] -
I'm a kitchen sink smoothie maker. Whatever I have on hand goes in the blender and viola! A quick breakfast or a healthy snack. Last year I posted an "Elastic Approach" to how I make smoothies but I still like to share specific combinations that worked really well. This was one [...] -
The other night it was just the kids and I home for dinner and I decided to make what I wanted to make no holds barred. Without The Husband home it's much easier for some reason. Hmmm wonder why? Ok, not here to husband bash.. really.. I'm not! I'm here [...] -
*sigh* I was really hoping to share an awesome turkey burger idea. I had grand plans for my leftover ground turkey. The results was alright but they could have been so much better. I added diced pineapple, red pepper, green pepper, oats and soy sauce to the meat and formed 2 patties. In hindsight I [...] -
I made this on a total whim yesterday having no idea if it would work. To my surprise it did AND the husband actually said he liked it... UNSOLICITED! Here's the story. I had only 4 tilapia fillets defrosted for dinner. I knew it wasn't going to be enough for us [...] -
This is a slight reboot of a recipe I posted last year simply called Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili. Staying true to my use-what-I-have-on-hand roots I, well, used what I had on hand and made a similar dish with a spicy twist. Topping the result with avocado added a cool creaminess that [...] -
Did you hear? The Laughing Cow recently launched Smooth Sensations a line of 5 cream cheese spreads. There's Classic Cream, Classic Cream Light, Strawberries & Cream, Garden Vegetable and my favorite… Cinnamon. It's a sweet wedge of creamy goodness! Today I decided to use my new favorite flavor [...] -
Confession time, I recorded a 30 minute video making this with both kids (partally) 2 nights ago. I miss videos. I really do but they seem so much more difficult with 2 children. I'm also having technical difficulties with my video recording and audio syncing making it VERY time consuming to edit. [...] -
A couple of years ago I shared a modified version of Sloppy Joe's I made for a party. Everyone loved it but I've been wanting to try to make something similar for the family on a smaller scale and without the pre-made canned Manwich sauce. I don't particularly have any issues [...] -
Yesterday I was dreaming about a salad. Not just any salad, but a chickpea filled, cucumber, and red onion salad with a fun, tangy dressing. Unfortunately, I had no cucumber or red onion. Well, that's a lie. I had a half of cucumber but it was a mushy mess and [...] -
Dinner meals are getting harder and harder for me to share lately. I've gone back to just whipping things up without really measuring anything (this meal was going to be one of those until I realized I still had enough light to take some photos.) I've also instituted a few brainless meal nights [...] -
Three years ago I posted a video called "Makin' Hard Boiled Eggs" where I shared my system for, well... making hard boiled eggs. Genius name, I know. I'm smart like that. Anyway, since then I've gotten tons of feedback and comments thanking me but all the information is locked in a long winded 10 minute [...]
About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
So cool!!! Looks like you had an amazing time in the Windy City! :)
Sounds like a blast….I wish I could have been there!
You “totally feel OLD”? Man, I’d give body parts to be 32 again!
Check out Charlie Hillss last blog post..So Not the Plan
Thanks so much Roni for the great time yesterday! Glad the pic of the old woman turned out – it was so weird how soft her hands were!
Glad you made it home safe!
Beth aka Biz
Check out Bizs last blog post..I’ve been tagged . . .
I wish I could have met up with you and the other awesome bloggers, especially for that run! It looks like it was sooo much fun!
Check out Runeatrepeats last blog post..Run 11/10/2008
you are so kind…and RIGHT BACK ATCHA.
last year I missed blogher and it was on MY birthday.
cant wait to get this year and celebrate YOURS!
xo xo,
Miz.
I sure wish I lived closer to Chicago. That would have been so fun to meet you guys. How about Southern CA next time?
Check out Jens last blog post..Liz Rosenbaum Fitness Blog
It was so great to meet you! It’s great you had fun this weekend, and I’m sure you’re glad to be home. Thanks for all you do.
Looks like an awesome time! I just had to post, b/c I almost always take the Jetson’s walkway! But, not b/c I don’t want/need the extra exercise, but b/c I’m either (or usually both) always in a hurry or carrying a ridiculous carry-on over my shoulder. The carry-on always makes for a sore neck & shoulders, & I don’t want to be lugging the dang thing around for longer than necessary :)
I’m traveling this weekend though, so maybe I’ll take the walkway this time!
I’m so jealous, Roni! What a great/powerful/inspiring/educational/FABULOUS experience! You (et al) totally earned it. :)
That’s a great group shot at Panera. I’m going to snag that for my personal photos. Next time I’ll have to run by the lake too.
There’s me!! I can’t believe I’m on your blog! It was so nice to meet you in person Roni :)
zOMG! That street picture of us was awesome. Despite going the wrong direction, it was a great walk and time together :-) So glad to spend some time to get to meet ya Roni! Lunch at the water tower looked fun!
What a great time! I was so thankful to have met you and look forward to talking again really soon.
As for the moving walkway, nope I don’t use it anymore.
I had so much fun and love that I got to be one of your “dogs’! LOL! I always cringe at the healthy looking people who get on the Jetson walkway. Glad that you are on the other side. Keep having fun with your trainer and I hope we get together again soon.
Check out workout mommys last blog post..Weekend wrap-up
nice shots with your phone! snagging a couple ;D
it was so great finally meeting you in person!!
Check out Madisons last blog post..back to the grind
Wow. It looks like you guys had so much fun. So did Quaker want you girls to be spokes women? Or will be find you on a couple of their products??
Christy – LOL nope, we were just more of a focus group for them. I’m actuallt glad it went in that direction. :~)
You’re so punny.
So glad to meet you over the weekend.
For Roni’s many fans: she’s 100% worthy!
Your just so AMAZING!! You really are..Thanks for all the link…I have to go get something done now!!! Ha!
Your trip sounds totally awesome, Roni. (And I would’ve been star-struck if MizFit was spotting my weight lifting, too. For sure.) :)
Check out Zandrias last blog post..Veterans Day Recap
Hello. And Bye. :)