Well, this was a delicious way to start off my Friday morning.
I noticed we had one LaTortilla Factory wrap left this morning, so I decided to put together a slightly different variation of my sweet breakfast quesadilla.
Today’s version had plenty of peanut butter, a sliced white nectarine, cinnamon, chia seeds, and a last minute sprinkle of granola that you can see sneaking out below…
Iced coffee was also on the menu…but then again, when is it not?
Deeeelicious.
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Alright, so switching gears a bit this morning…
I know it’s been a while since I last mentioned it, but I’ve been working these past couple months with some fabulous ladies on helping to plan and organize this year’s Healthy Living Summit.
Somehow along the way, this ended up happening…
(I’m just kidding – I knew it was coming after Heather asked me, I was just initially planning on being a silent audience member this year!) But it looks like I’m going to be leading a panel this year! I actually had a lot of fun participating on a panel at last year’s HLS, but leading one? Oy…I’m not feeling as cool and collected about this one.
Here’s the details of the panel (taken directly from the HLS site):
Newbie Q & A Discussion
We’ve all been there in the beginning of our blogging journeys; feeling like a newbie in a sea of veterans. If you’re at the start of your own blog career, you don’t want to miss this Newbie Q & A Discussion session. Join the conversation with blends at all different blog-ages, shapes and sizes. Courtney Horan from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life and a panel of bloggers, will facilitate your questions and bring important topics to the table for the whole group to participate in together. Share your struggles and successes, ask your own must-know questions and get advice from bloggers who have been there.
SO, here’s what I’m thinking. I’d be willing to bet that there are quite a few questions that many of you would have for this session. I’m currently trying to put together a list of some “must-address” topics and figured I would turn to all of YOU for some help. Whether you’re attending HLS or not, feel free to leave a comment or question that you would like to see addressed in the panel.
I’ll compile them all in a list and will try to address as many of them as I can while on the panel. Once its over, I’ll definitely put together a recap so I can give all of you a good overview of the topics that were discussed.
As a side note…who else is attending this year?!?!
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Alright, cool beans (<—overused phrase from middle school, anyone?). Now it’s about time to get crackin’ on the to-do’s, which somehow seem to have exploded overnight. My goodness!
Happy Friday!!
I would love to hear more about switching from wordpress to self-hosted as well as sponsors/ ads.
This is a really great topic!
I really like that topic as well! I want to do it someday, but have no idea how to go about it. Although I’m betting that you could have a whole seminar JUST on this.
I am so sad I can’t attend!! I have a good friends bachelorette party that weekend, but I’m so excited to hear all the recaps, and I’ll definetly be there next year!
So excited to see that you are leading a session. I’ll be attending HSL and I can’t wait to meet you.
I’m relatively new to blogging (only about months) so really anything discussed in this session will be new to me, helpful and welcomed.
I’d love to attend!! If only it was closer to home!
So excited for HLS! As a newer blogger I will most definitely be in your Q&A! I’m sure you will be fabulous! Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
Looking forward to meeting you in person! I’m quite excited to go to the HLS this year and been signing up for so many mingles!
Some topics I would love to see: switching to self-hosting, encouraging people to comment, how to stick to a schedule (I’m super bad at this), and writing content that appeals to people.
I wish I could be at HLS but I’m in a wedding next weekend! I’m excited to hear a recap of that discussion–I’m still a relatively new blogger and I would love to hear your thoughts on balancing blogging and a career. You used to be a teacher (as I am too)–what advice do you have about keeping your blog somewhat private and not at all ‘harmful’ to your career? My blog focuses on health/fitness/food/wellness, and there isn’t anything I’m trying to ‘hide,’ but I don’t necessarily want my coworkers to know about it either you know?
I love that idea about how to keep your blog separate from (and not harmful to) your career. I think a lot of people struggle with that.
Congrats Courtney on being the discussion leader. Why are you nervous? You’ll be fantastic, I just know it. I’m not attending (not quite in my neck of the woods AND my husband & I will be celebrating 8 years of marriage!), but hope you tell us all about it!
I wish I were going! I’m sure your panel will be awesome! I would want to hear any beginner photography tips as well as how to get more involved in the blogging community.
(Also, that little tortilla wrap with the nectarine & granola, is just my sorta thing! Delicious.)
Love it too. It makes me full.
oh, I wish I was going!! I’m a very new newbie – I have a grand total of 3 posts on my new blog :) You actually inspired me to start my own, since I’ve been reading yours for about a year now! I would love to hear your thoughts on deciding on what content to post/what appeals to others, how you found your “voice” on your blog, encouraging people to comment/read your blog, and moving to self-hosting. Looking forward to the recaps – I need any and all advice!! :)
I live in Boston and am SO bummed I can’t go. It is my best friends birthday weekend so we have a bunch of things planned, I wish I could have gone though!
Can’t wait to attend your panel! You are going to do great!
Can’t wait to attend your panel! You are going to do great! I’d love to learn about ads on your blog!
I wish I could be there…… if there’s a stream or something.. I’ll be there!
I wish I was going! I JUST started blogging, so I hope to attend next year!
I would love to go and see you…maybe next year. As a new blogger, I am very much looking forward to your recap! By the way, your breakfast looks delish. I’ll have to give that a try. Nectarines are so yummy and sweet right now.
I’ll be there! It’s my first year, and I don’t know a soul going.
I’m a little nervous but a lot excited. See you next week!
I definitely need to mark the HLS on my calendar for next year! As a new blogger some things I’d be interested in are how you all find time to post 3 times/day?! Do you have some posts written ahead of time or are you writing them all right before posting? Also, how have you all gotten so involved with different products? Are you reaching out to these companies or have they simply contacted you because you blog is so awesome? :)
I’m going!! I can’t wait!
I would love to know a little bit more about partnering with companies for product reviews and giveaways. How do you handle these and how do you begin to reach out to companies without looking like you’re asking for a free hand-out (which we all know bloggers aren’t)?
I’d love to go!! I’ll have to check my schedule :)
Wish I was attending- would love to hear your session :)
As a newbie blogger myself . . .
1. How do you manage time effectively–to be able to blog, work full-time, and still have down time.
2. Any tips on stimulating more conversation on a blog? And also, how to invite more people to come check out the blog without it sounding sale-sy? B/c for me, it is purely about wanting to engage with people about the stuff I’m writing about (since I’m pretty passionate about it).
I’ve been blogging for a little over 6 months, so I’d consider myself a newbie! I won’t be attending HLS, but I would love to learn more about switching to self-hosting, and what sort of design, etc. you can do without switching to self-hosting.
I won’t be attending Healthy Living Summit this year. I’ll be in Atlantic City, NJ that weekend! I’m definitely excited…but I’m NOT gambling (I’m not old enough to enter the casinos). It’ll be my first time there.
I think one of the big questions that I have about blogging is how do you get more comments on there? I’ve been blogging since November and I haven’t got any comments on my posts. I have talked with a local blogger who I’m good friends with and she said that comments take time; it took almost a year for her blog to really launch into popularity.
The other topics of concern are great. The commenters on this thread are smart people!
I still use the phrase “cool beans”. And cringe everytime it comes out of my mouth ;)
i’ll be there! my first time attending! can’t wait for your Q&A session!
Congratulations on being a panel leader! I can’t go this year (bummer!), but if I were, I’d love to hear about how you transitioned from a blogging as a hobby to blogging professionally.
I literally starting blogging a little over a week ago, and I’m pretty sure I have questions about every possible topic, haha. So any information would be very helpful!
I’m sure the panel will be great! :)
Cool! I bet it will be fun. Now, for a question to ask??? How about the goodie I got during my panel last year?
“Soooo….how much money do you make from your blog?” Hahaha! ;)
Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do. I’m in the process of gaining weight and I know it’s what I need to do but I struggle with the whole body image thing too. What i do (and I have awesome support) is remind myself that the uncomfortable part is temporary and what you’re doing is necessary to get healthy. Remind yourself health is beautiful not a specific number on the scale or a “perfect” body. Perfect = healthy. Regardless of what that means body wise.
Just try to stay positive and remember the people who matter love you regardless of what you look like so shouldn’t you love youself regardless as well?
You’re amazing! Remember that!
LOVE THIS!
Ahh you’ve reminded me of my love for nectarines! I haven’t had one in a while what’s wrong with me?!
I’d love to hear more about getting custom headers or switching to self hosting, etc
I wish I could be there, but I will be at my sister’s baby shower! I would love to hear some on how to get sponsors for your blog as well as staying tru to your own specialty and still “fitting in ” to the scene?
My own to do list grew over night as well. Have a great Friday!!!!
Ah, I wish I were attending HLS, but I just couldn’t swing it along with buying a new house!
Oh man, PLEASE share after the panel! I really wanted to attend HLS this year because I had so much fun last year but it’s just not in the cards, especially with the big move I have coming up.
I guess my question would be regarding taking your blog to the “next level” after you’ve started to build a consistent readership but want to continue growing and developing it.
I just started blogging less than a month ago and love it!! I definetely want to attend next year!! With how much anticipation do tickets go on sale? When do they decide where next years summit will take place? I live in Lima, Peru so I kind of have to plan in advance! :)
What a delicious start to the morning! Jealous!
I wish I was able to make it to the Summit….I’m in one of my best friends weddings a couple weeks later, so I couldn’t swing it. I think it’s worth it.. haha! :)
Wish I was going, especially to see this panel discussion! I’ve barely been blogging a month, so I would love to hear a lot of the information that’ll be discussed. Please, PLEASE share afterwards!! :-)
It sounds like it’s going to be a great weekend!
I love wraps–looks delicious!
I wish I was attending the HLS this year because I really think I would benefit from the newbie panel!!! Oh well maybe next year!!–your breakfast looks so great as well!
Courtney, swap the cinnamon for all spice or nutmeg and that’s my favorite breakfast of all time! I love the more intense flavor of nutmeg, you should try it out sometime :)
I am beside myself that you are going this year! Can’t wait to see you again love.
I’ll be there! :)
Can’t wait to hear you speak.
I’m a fairly new blogger, so would love to know some of the do’s and don’t’s of blogging. Like posting multiple times throughout the day or just one longer post once per day. I get confused with all that.
You will do amazing! Just go in with a positive mindset and confidence and you’ll succeed.
Il’l see you there! Looking forward to your panel discussion :)
i want to goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
hahah cool beans always reminded me of jelly beans when I use to say it. Oh that’s cool! I wish we had that over here. blogging isn’t as big in aus (yet) as us and canada etc. And the most common blogs are mum blogs about children and babies- not so much ‘healthy eating’ which is what I enjoy most. Tell them to bring it over here ;) haha.
Your breakfast looks delish! Looks like it would be good warmed in the microwave too….. I love me some gooey drippy peanut butter! :D