Iowa Food & Lifestyle Blogger Meet-Up

So I dreamt up this idea back in the early summer to have as many Iowa foodies I could find get together and meet.  Well, this past Saturday all that hard work came together and we met as a group for the first time. It was a LONG day, but so worth it.

When I first started this process I never knew that I would walk away with 20 new friends. All of these ladies {and men!} are talented, funny, smart and enthusiastic about what they do.  Each of them have a blog with a different niche, yet we all have the same thing in common - we love food, we love DIY projects and we love sharing our views and thoughts with our readers.

We were beyond blessed to have a gracious host in the morning, The New Pioneer Food Co-op, in Iowa City.  If you are ever in the area and get the chance, STOP BY!  This store believes in doing everything right - organic if possible, no GMOs, selling local, sustainable food and loving their customers.  

They were so excited to have us that they actually moved half of their bakery aside to give us a private room.  Along with a tour, samples, lunch and their endless knowledge they truly were the best hosts.

After lunch we all traveled downtown and relaxed a bit.  Our first stop was Molly's Cupcakes who again, graciously gave all of us a nice discount off their delicious cupcakes.  This quirky little cupcake shop {once on Cupcake Wars!} had an endless list of flavors.  I finally settled on Salted Caramel Butterscotch....and promptly died and went to heaven.  So good!

While at Molly's we got the chance to talk blogs - the good, the bad and the ugly or blogs. {Yes, there is an "ugly" side to blogging}.  It is so neat to get other's views and perspectives and know that you are not alone.

Did I fail the mention the killer turkey reuben {or Rachel}I had for lunch? And then later the delicious vegetarian lasagna at The Brown Bottle?

I ate more quality food yesterday than I have in the past week.  No joke.

I am so grateful for the friends I made yesterday.  Many of them, I've been chatting with for years via the web, yet yesterday met for the first time.  Diana, Steph, Alicia and many more. One pair, Nick and Bethany, I came to find out actually live in my childhood friend's home growing up.  I've actually slept at their house! {Before it was their house - small, small world}.  

We have plans to make this a yearly event, changing the venue, the hosts, the food, the everything - which will be great!

  

So, to all that came, to the many who couldn't make it but sent their love, thank you for making it such a unique and enjoyable day!

Now someone else can plan next year.

Ha - just kidding - it wasn't that bad....