Alright. Let’s talk about one of the most awesome afternoons EVER right now.
On Friday, after arriving at the airport and meeting up with this gal, the two of us found a few other of our Blend Retreat friends and were quickly greeted with a snazzy pick up service, in the form of the Love Bus!
A few of us Love Bloggers had been in contact with the wonderful Maddy for a few weeks leading up to the event, and she most graciously offered to not only be our “chauffeur” for the afternoon, but also to bring us to visit the “Love Pad.”
This girl has more energy than I will ever have in my entire life. She is seriously just amazing, and the passion she has for her product only makes me “love the Love” that much more.
So our crew boarded the bus and began our trek from Denver to Boulder…but, of course, with a couple fun pit stops on the way.
First up: The Love Pad!
Maddy brought us to the place where all the “love” happens, and it was honestly just so cool to be able to see all the “behind the scenes” things that we don’t typically get to see as consumers.
One of my favorite parts? The fact that the main focal point in their office was this awesome ping-pong table, which they actually made themselves using empty granola bags. Umm, I want a ping pong table in my home office…
Maddy also showed us the evolution of the Love Grown Foods bags; at first, they started out buying bags in bulk and would manually place the stickers on each and every bag. Now, they have their bags specially designed. So cool.
We also got to see their production room, which I’m sure you’re wondering why the heck it looks so empty? Well, the company has been doing SO well, that they are actually in the process of moving to a larger facility that will be producing their granola in much larger quantities. I’ll talk more about that in a few…
The Love Bloggers! Alex, Sarah, Me, Alyssa, Bobbi, Lindsay, Brittany, and Maddy.
Before leaving from the Love Pad, Maddy was so kind to give us all an amazing goody box filled with things from some of their favorite Colorado-based companies. Again, these folks are just incredible.
They made Alyssa and I quite happy.
We boarded the bus again, goody boxes and all (plus a creeper shot of me in the mirror there) and headed to our next destination.
Our next stop before heading to the Retreat brought us to the new facility where Love Grown Foods will be processed, Fresca Foods.
While we weren’t able to bring cameras into the facility, we had the opportunity to get a tour of the whole facility which was just awesome. Have you ever watched “Unwrapped” on the Food Network? Yeah, it was just like that…
We got to see where and how the products are tested, which was so neat, but we also got to see the production of a few different companies, including Larabar and Justin’s Nut Butter. We had the opportunity to try a Larabar fresh off the line (it was so soft and gooey, just like eating a ball of nut butter, honestly) AND we even got to meet Justin himself!
He happened to be at the facility that day, checking out a new piece of equipment they were bringing in to speed up the production of his nut butters. He was such a cool, down to earth guy, and it honestly took all of me to not be screaming “oh my god, I love your nut butter.”
Would that have been weird? Maybe…ahh well.
So after our tour of Fresca Foods, we were off to our final destination for the weekend…
Chautauqua Park!
More info to come!
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health says
Hahah I wish you would have screamed that you loved his nut butter! I am SO jealous of your entire weekend. But wow, touring Love Grown sounds like it was amazing! I’m out of my stock of their granola, I need to make an order asap. Hope you have a great Monday pretty lady <3
Michelle@Peachy Palate says
Looks like you had a great trip! Can’t wait to hear more and see more picks. It’s amazing the blogging community in America, wish it was like that in Ireland!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
The tour of Love Grown sounds like such an amazing experience! :) I love their granola. That is awesome that you met Justin too! What an exciting day!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
Wow, sounds like everything was off to a great start! Can’t wait to hear how the rest of the weekend went!
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
how FUN! what a great experience for you gals! :) can’t wait to hear more about blend!
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
gahhh that is so cool I’m beyond jealous!!
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud! says
How awesome!!! Looks liek so much fun! :)
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance says
Ah that sounds so fun! Must be nice to be spoiled like that :)
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
What a great company! In love that ping pong table! Can you believe I have still never tried Love Grown foods though? This needs to change!
Meredith @ DareYouTo says
Ahhh amazing! So cool of Love Grown to share with you all. Thanks for filling us in on the tour; looks like such a fun day!!! Love the LOVE Bus :) Can’t wait to hear about BLEND!!!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
What an experience! So unique. :) I’m glad you ladies had fun.
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy says
Ahh..that looks like such a fun weekend!
Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life says
Those tours sound so cool! I’m a total nerd for how it’s made so that would’ve been right up my alley. Can’t wait to hear more about Blend!
Caitlin says
OMG what a day! I am so jealous! I actually gave one of my good friends a bag of the Simply Naked Love Grown Foods granola last night, he can’t WAIT to dig in. Maddy seems sweet and I’m jealous you got to hang with all those awesome bloggers. I wish I could be at Blend Retreat, have fun! And OH YEAH meeting Justin must have rocked!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie says
Wow, what a great day! I need to try the Love soon!
Alysia @ Slim Sanity says
looks like a really fun trip! lots of goodies too :)
Yellow Haired Girl says
Wow! Sounds like a super cool experience. I can’t wait to hear more!
Valerie says
Well that looks LOVE-ly!! Now I want granola.
Cassie says
I don’t have a blog of my own but I love yours and I am a bit of a blog stalker! I just saw this – http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/blog-awards/fitness_blog – and wanted to make sure you had seen it too!!! Congrats!!
Ruthie Hart says
This looks so fun Courtney!!!!!!
clare @ fittingitallin says
Wish I could a been there with y’all! Looks awesome!
Britta says
SO jealous of your weekend!! Looked like an amazing/fun time! :)
Renee says
This looks so Amazing! I wish I would have went! And yes telling a man you love his nut butter would be hilarious but really weird :)
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie says
Omg how cool!! I love touring places and that seemed like so much fun!! I hope you had a blast at Blend!
Hayley C @ Running Down the Runway says
That sounds like such an amazing visit! I need to try Love Grown ASAP! Whats the best/easiest way to order it??
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says
I want to be a Love Grown blogger. :( One day!!!
Maddy says
COURT!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! So freakin’ COOL!!! I can’t get over HOW AWESOME YOU ALL ARE!…I mean…I knew you were all AWESOME but you truly ROCK MY SOCKS OFF!!! Loved our LOVE Fest! Come back again soon!!
xo
Maddy
Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction says
Looks like you are having a fab time!!! I LOVE the “love” buses and cars!! It looks like such a fun place to work!!
Brandi says
HOW exciting! :)
The LOVE bus is super cool! :)
Tina @ Best Body Fitness says
After seeing all the pics I’m even more bummed my flight didn’t get in until later. That looks SO fun!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
That’s awesome you were able to meet Justin and taste fresh Larabar. I love the Love bus. So cute.
Courtney it was great meeting all of you and hanging out at Avery’s. I can’t wait for 2013 Blend already!
Trisha says
Wow, what a great day! I’m loving all these Blend Retreat updates! Sadly I’m not able to get Love Grown here but I love Alex & Maddy’s story & think touring with them would be so much fun. Can’t wait to hear more about the retreat!
Beyond diet says
It’s looks awesome I want to try it. Great startup and The tour of Love Grown such an amazing experience to anyone.