Dinner with the KERFs

I was so excited when Kath told me they’d be making a visit to Tucson.

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One of my favorite things about blogging is that I’ve made so many real-life friends through the blog world. Kath and I have been friends for a while -she was one of the first blogs I ever read!- and I’ve only been able to hang out with her once, long before we had babies. I couldn’t wait to see her again and finally meet Matt, Mazen

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and Karen, who is just as kind and lovely as you would imagine.

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Bella snuggled with her all night 😉

I was able to see Kath for a little while at work that morning because she did a spa day. We shook our bootays in World Beat:

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(with one of my dance partners in crime + our amaaaaazing drummers)

and we had a glorious lunch together in the dining room. For dinner, we decided to do a low-key night at our house.

When you have a little one, it can be much easier to eat dinner at someone’s house than go out to eat, especially with a time change while you’re traveling. I invited the KERF family over for dinner when I got off work Saturday night, and it ended up being perfect. Mazen crashed out early and could sleep comfortably upstairs, Liv stayed up to hang out with all of us (but had the freedom to run around and play with toys), and we enjoyed a great meal together.

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(The cheeks KILL me.)

Hummus and crackers:

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Cheese plate:

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Salad with mint, rosemary marcona almonds, strawberries, goat cheese and homemade balsamic dressing:

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mashed sweet potatoes:

 

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and my standard salmon (marinated in orange juice, zest, ginger, Tamari, a little brown sugar, salt, pepper and garlic).

Since the weather was so gorgeous, we dined on the patio:

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(Note Bella underneath.. impatiently waiting for any salmon casualties)

Of course, there was also plenty of wine, beer,

and pizookie.

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This cookie recipe (word to the wise, brown rice flour makes it a little crumbly) with Trader Joe’s coconut milk ice cream.

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It was a great night with wonderful friends 🙂

What’s your favorite part about blogging or reading blogs? Have you met anyone through the blog or internet world?

Hope you have a great morning! Be sure to check out this week’s workout plan if you’re looking for fitness ideas this week. I’ll be posting some new ones, too.

xoxo

Gina

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56 Comments

  1. Christine @ BookishlyB on April 8, 2013 at 10:27 am

    My favorite part about the blogging world is the opportunity it gives me to write for fun. I have a few friends that write blogs and once had coffee with Monica from RER. I think it’s definitely a fun way to interact with people, but I do hate the negativity and competition that sometimes pops up.

  2. Sana on April 8, 2013 at 10:31 am

    Aww love it when blog babies have a play date!

  3. Lucie on April 8, 2013 at 10:35 am

    What a great meet up!! Aren’t low key nights at home the best? I love to invite friends and cook, it’s so relaxed! The little ones are too cute, really.
    Since I started blogging, my recovery speeded up so much. all the support I get from my readers and read other blogs who maybe have a similar issue is SO healing. I ‘met’ so many wonderful and inspiring ladies (including you) – I am thankful every day and happy that I started this only a few months ago!!

    • Fitnessista on April 8, 2013 at 10:39 am

      that is so amazing. i’ve heard a lot of success stories from girls in recovery who started reading blogs. keep up the great work and taking great care of yourself <3
      love to you, friend.

  4. Taylor on April 8, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Where is your black and white striped dress from? I love it! You look amazing. Yay for blogger friends!

    • Fitnessista on April 8, 2013 at 10:38 am

      thank you!! it’s from stitch fix, but i think mystere is the brand

  5. Brittany @ Kitchen::Candid on April 8, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Pizookie! Holy cow that looks amazing! Once I’m done with my paleo challenge I’m making one of those!!

    • Fitnessista on April 8, 2013 at 10:39 am

      doooooo it 🙂

  6. Liz @ Tip Top Shape on April 8, 2013 at 10:44 am

    What a delightful little get-together!! I think it’s so wonderful that you all have been able to share non-blog parts of your lives with each other.

  7. Lisa on April 8, 2013 at 10:59 am

    Looks like so much fun!
    What a fun meetup between the both of you!
    I think it’s amazing the connections we can make online. I have to agree with Lucie above, it’s played a hugeee part in my recovery, even with suffering from panic disorder as well.

  8. Tara on April 8, 2013 at 11:06 am

    Looks so fun! I just want to pinch Mazen’s rosy cheeks. I haven’t met any bloggers yet, I just started my blog 3 months ago. If anyone wants to meet up in San Francisco, I promise I will show you a good time! 🙂

  9. Angie on April 8, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Hey Gina! 🙂 Haven’t been online in a while, just had our baby girl in Feb so my time has been limited (OMG how did you manage to blog with a newborn!?!!!) but I saw your post on fb and clicked over… how cool you met up with Kath!! Such a sweet post, and I agree.. so much better when you’re at home when you have the little ones!! <3 Your meal looks fantastic. I might make that for us tonight <3 🙂

  10. Ali @ Peaches and Football on April 8, 2013 at 11:17 am

    I have yet to meet any blog friends in real life, but since there are several blogs I read each day, and people who read mine daily, you feel as if they really are your friends because you know all these facets of their lives. It’s really a neat way to meet and interact with people!

  11. Kim on April 8, 2013 at 11:20 am

    I just started blogging and I love sharing my story and hopefully inspiring others. Your blog is a huge inspiration of mine. Hopefully I’ll make lots of fun blogging friends as well 🙂

  12. Erin @ The Grass Skirt on April 8, 2013 at 11:25 am

    The best part of blogging to me is definitely all of the friends I’ve made. For some reason, a ton of bloggers live here in Charlotte! It looks like you had a great time with the KERFs. 🙂

  13. Heidi on April 8, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Looks like an amazing dinner!!

  14. Hillary | Nutrition Nut on the Run on April 8, 2013 at 11:29 am

    That dinner looks fabulous, especially the salad. What a fun, spring get together 🙂

  15. Kat @ Kat's Health Corner on April 8, 2013 at 11:41 am

    I always think it’s so funny when blogs I follow meet up with each other. It’s kind of like when you were in grade school and you saw your teachers outside I school!

  16. Ashley @ Life and Fitness on April 8, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Your friends baby is adorable. I love when babies have those big cheeks! I haven’t met up with any bloggers yet but I hope to in the summer!

  17. Kath on April 8, 2013 at 11:57 am

    Thanks again for the lovely night!!!

  18. joelle @ on a pink typweriter on April 8, 2013 at 11:59 am

    Pizookie sounds fabuuuuuuuuulous!

    One of my really good friends was met via blogging – it’s funny how this world brings people together!

  19. joelle @ on a pink typewriter on April 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Pizookie sounds fabuuuuuuuuulous!

    One of my really good friends was met via blogging – it’s funny how this world brings people together!

  20. Brittany on April 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    So fun! I love seeing Liz and Mazen together in one post. 🙂

    • Brittany on April 8, 2013 at 1:06 pm

      Definitely meant Liv not Liz. 🙂

  21. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy on April 8, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Ah, I love meeting blog friends in real life. Although, sometimes you converse so much virtually it’s like “uh, wait, we haven’t actually even talked in person!” Crazy little tech world we live in. 🙂 Dinner sounds amazing.

  22. Amanda on April 8, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    His chubby cheeks and hands!!!! Chubby hands! So cute : D

  23. Kim on April 8, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    Very cool to meet up with blog friends. Hopefully I will eventually get to meet (in person) some of the amazing people I’ve met through the blogging community!

  24. Miranda @ Miranda Runs on April 8, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    I love seeing bloggers get together! It’s like the blog world comes in contact with the real world 🙂

  25. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on April 8, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Aww what a fun blogger date! I’ve been lucky to meet some awesome bloggers. I met my friend Alec through a fitfluential event and we’ve hung out a lot since. I’m so excited she’s going to be at my wedding this summer!

  26. Maria @ lift love life on April 8, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    Oh man that dinner makes me want to visit!

  27. Sam @ Better With Sprinkles on April 8, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    I think that meeting bloggers is one of the best parts of blogging! I’ve only met two in person so far, but I have a list of others that I absolutely have to meet ASAP.

  28. Jay on April 8, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    TOO cute. Great pics, thanks for sharing. That salad looks amazing. . . .

  29. Sarah @ Yogi in Action on April 8, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    That looks like a great hang out! I can’t get over how the age difference between your two children are pretty close in age, but your daughter is so obviously a little girl, and not a baby at all.

    I started blogging in the fall, and I think the thing I like the most is discovering new blogs and when people make comments. I had no idea how many blogs truly existed (and probably still don’t) until I started blogging and had other blogs liking a post, or making a comment. And I had no idea how amazing it is when someone comments- it makes a post feel so much better when it generates a discussion!

  30. Katie @ Talk Less, Say More on April 8, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    So fun!! I honestly have loved all the people i’ve met through blogging. I seriously have made some of the greatest friendships and I love how I have people to visit (and visit me!) all over the country!

  31. Pam on April 8, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    My two FAV bloggers together, how wonderful!! That’s great you were able to get together. Salmon and pizookie, totally appropriate for the visit, love it! <3

  32. Molly on April 8, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Karen is the best!

  33. Katie @ running4cupcakes on April 8, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    I just organized and attended my 1st blogger get-together this weekend and it was awesome! So neat to meet people in person who I know so much about through their blogs.

  34. Mara @ What's For Dinner? on April 8, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    I know I may not comment a lot anymore, but having you in my life is one of my favorite things about blogging. Your friendship means the world to me!! Much love <3

    • Fitnessista on April 8, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      love you!

  35. Ashley Lynn on April 8, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    Liv is sooooo cute I can’t even handle it!! She seriously gets cuter every single week

    • Fitnessista on April 8, 2013 at 10:07 pm

      thank you! she is such a sweet little thing

  36. Meghan @ After the Ivy League on April 8, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Looks like such a fun night! Liv is seriously way too adorable, and that pizookie looks delicious!

  37. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health on April 8, 2013 at 4:26 pm

    One of the main reasons I started blogging was because I saw how you are able to make new friends with similar interests from all over. As someone who is following her man all over the country, this idea really appealed to me. You all look great and so does that meal! I love those marcona almonds from Trader Joe’s too!

  38. Emily on April 8, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    Bloggy babies! The only bloggers I know personally are bloggers I knew before they were bloggers.

  39. LYO-Town on April 8, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Blog worlds colliding! It’s so funny to see two of the (few) bloggers I follow together in person!

  40. Whitney on April 8, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    My favorite part of this crazy blogging world is meeting wonderful awesome and terrific friends like you my sweets!

    oxoxoox

  41. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on April 8, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    Aw wow, what a fun little blog family get-together! Meeting other bloggers is definitely one of my favourite things about the blogging community – I LOVE it! I’ve had the opportunity to meet several of my Canadian blog friends, but would love to be able to make it down to a blogger get-together in the US too!

  42. Carol on April 8, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    WOW Two of my favorite bloggers together, how awesome! Looks like you guys had a blast!

  43. Maggie on April 8, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    It’s a life goal to meet a fellow blogger in real life? Anyone in LA?! 🙂

  44. Bek @ Crave on April 9, 2013 at 2:32 am

    I love this! It’s great to see the blogging world getting together 🙂

  45. char eats greens on April 9, 2013 at 8:02 am

    That’s so much fun!!! I think I need to make this pazookie!!!!

  46. Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian on April 9, 2013 at 8:47 am

    It’s sounds like it was a great night with great friends. The food doesn’t look too bad either!

  47. Nicole on April 9, 2013 at 11:11 am

    Looks like such a fun time! I love reading about blogger meet-ups!

  48. Monique @ burpeestobubbly.com on April 9, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    that is so fun!!! great that you can get to know your online friends “in real life” more with visits!

  49. Jenn on April 11, 2013 at 10:00 am

    The rosemary almonds!!! Where did they come from!?

  50. Sara @ fitcupcaker on April 11, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    I cant wait to go to BLEND so I can meet the bloggers I follow every day! I would love to have meet up’s like this. so fun!

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