Food Blog Forum Orlando 2012

Oh the food blog forum. Where do I begin? First let me say that this was my first time attending any food conference of any kind and I wasn't sure what to expect but I was blown away. After hearing the first presentation by White on Rice Couple, Diane Cu & Todd Porter, I could have walked away feeling absolutely content. I immediately had an overwhelming feeling that I tried to write down while sitting in the middle of Epcot, applauding and crying. It felt like home. I've had a tumultuous past few years and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had found home again, sitting with these people. Now I'm sure these emotions were forwarded by Dianes advice on never deleting your work because it's imperfect. She showed us the first video she ever took and edited on her iPhone. It was of their two beautiful dogs. She explained that she was just messing around with iMovie trying to figure out how it worked and made this little movie but that because it was simply imperfect, she nearly deleted it several times but was so glad that she hadn't because shortly there after their sweet dog died and they would have never had the footage of their beloved family member. Yes, my dog is my child so it especially hit home with me. But I have never heard so many sniffles in one room and seen so many people drying their eyes. They gave extremely valuable information that I will work all year long to implement into my attitude, my blog, and my pictures to which I am forever grateful to them. Please check out these people who have impacted me so here or here.

Again let me say that I feel so nourished. When I applied to be apart of FBF, I thought it was odd that it was only a one day session. I used to travel a lot for my old job and I would go to these horribly long conferences and trade shows that sometimes lasted five full days, often 12 hour days. And because I didn't love what I use to do, those days often left me feeling tired, cranky, and numb. Well I quickly learned that at FBF you learn much and they are so concise and to the point that you only need one day of info to blow your mind. And bonus- I loved every minute of it. I truthfully have so much to do to improve my website and myself that I will be applying these lessons and principles all year long and hope that I will again be invited to participate in next years Food Blog Forum. If there was an award for being the most improved, that would be what I am seeking as I know and proudly say that my blog at this time is incredibly amateur but that soon it will grow into something powerful and great.

I think I could go on for pages and pages, hours and hours telling you all about everything but I think I will let my pictures (and all of my links) do most of the speaking for me and then I will say a few more things to wrap it all up at the end. And heads up, they are all from my iPhone, I know. Oh, and there are a lot of them. Anyways enjoy!

Picturesque Setting

Welcome reception at the Grand Floridian, the presentation was incredible. A salad chandelier, an ingenious gourmet mac & cheese bar, savory ice cream cone hors d'oeuvres, and a delectable dessert bar.

The Food Blog Forum inside Epcot

 Unbelievable lunch from the all the top disney chefs

Special St. Patrick's dessert bar and front row seating for the Epcot firework show

Best brunch courtesy of Whole Foods including to die for banana stuffed french toast with carmel buttered rum sauce and... Drumroll please.... The best gift a girl could come home with courtesy of Kitchen Aid:

Taking in the scenery one last time before we leave and enjoying a raspberry colada with the animals:

A big thank you to Julie Deily from The Little Kitchen. Not only is she an amazing food blogger and life blogger but this girl is a serious undercover rockstar. I hope to become her lackey and learn from her by helping out with the next FBF. Scott & Jaden Hair from Steamy Kitchen, I am so glad you guys dreamed up FBF over taquila in Mexico with Diane and Todd (White on Rice Couple). Your vision in action is positively affecting so many, including myself and I am very thankful. Dawn Viola, you are awesome and I appreciate your hard work, words, and sass. I think one day we might be blogger BFFs. My point here is that Food Blog Forum Orlando 2012 was simply amazing and that I am a better person, blogger, food writer and photographer because of it. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

I would also be remiss if I also didn't thank all the sponsors who helped make my experience at FBF Orlando possible. Thank you to Walt Disney World for hosting us, putting us up at the beautiful Polynesian Resort which we are surely to return to soon. For the welcome receptions amazing food and ambiance at the Grand Floridian, and to the chefs of Epcot and all the disney restaurants that constantly wined and dined us. To Pam & Karen for your hard work and dedication on the Disney side, to Rachel at Kitchen Aid & Arianna with OXO, for speaking and hosting a wonderful roundtable session as well as giving away wonderful swag bags and prizes like my lovely new Artisan Stand Mixer, (!!! -Again Kitchen Aid, you rock) I am thrilled to have it in my kitchen! I will make good use of it, I promise. Sarah with Land O'Lakes, you were a delight. Thanks so much for joining us, you were a pleasure to get to know. To Whole Foods Orlando thank you for the delectable brunch, I especially enjoyed the banana and caramel stuffed french toast. To die for! To all my new blogger friends, thank you for embracing me. I was new and knew no one but left feeling extremely supported. Can't wait to see what the future holds for all of us and I hope to see you all at FBF Orlando next year :)

-Amy