Tampa Blogger Meet Up

on March 1, 2009

I had a great lunch at Datz Deli with six lovely lady bloggers!

From left to right: Courtney, Meghann, me, Jenna, Maddy, Ashley, Ryan, and Jenna’s friend (a non-blogger but a really sweet girl).

Datz was a really cute place with some amazing food!

While we were waiting for our table, I broke down and had a beer! I kinda feel weird when I get a drink and no one else does, but seriously…. I’m an adult, I just ran 25.5 miles, and I want a freaking ice cold brewhaha! 🙂

I had a Magner’s Hard Apple Cider — it’s *almost* apple juice.

Datz’s had a great Sunday brunch menu…

The manager was nice enough to bring us some surprise treats! Like… free monkey bread! It was sugary, doughy, cinnamony, and DELISH! I had what’s shown times… 3!

And free champagne. Even with my very picky wine palette, this was pretty good!

Cheers!

I ordered the Billy’s Benedict, which was Eggs Benedict (my fav!) with Hollandaise sauce, ham, and cheese.

The eggs were *so perfect*. It’s hard to do a great Eggs Benedict, so I was impressed.

The hash browns were just OK — I had about three and stopped eating them. It was strange because I couldn’t finish the Eggs Benedict, either — my tummy felt off.

It was a great lunch all-in-all. Of course, all of the girls had a lot in common with one another, so it was very fun meal. I’m excited because Ashley comes to Orlando every other weekend to visit her boyfriend, so we’ll hang out next weekend!

After lunch, Meghann and I drove back to Orlando…

But we made A SPECIAL PIT STOP about 30 miles in our journey!!!!

DAIRY QUEEN!! As you all know, I’ve been planning this special post-race treat for weeks. I’m obsessed with Blizzards — I’m even a member of the Blizzard of the Month club!

I ordered my FAVORITE Blizzard…. a small Resee’s PB Cup!

So… so… SO good!!

:) I am tired but happy! I can’t wait to lay low tonight…. see you for dinner!

{ 50 comments }

Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) March 1, 2009, 4:21 pm
Thank GOD you found your Dairy Queen. I was craving fro yo like no other when I got home. It was really great to meet you! Let me know if you will be in Tampa again.
Beadie @ What I Ate Yesterday March 1, 2009, 4:22 pm
The meetup looks so fun!!!

Glad you got your dairyqueen!
Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) March 1, 2009, 4:22 pm
Mmmmm, you totally deserved that blizzard! It looks tasty!!!
Erin March 1, 2009, 4:23 pm
I’m glad you got your treat! You totally deserve it!!
VeggieGirl March 1, 2009, 4:24 pm
SO FUN!!!
Bec March 1, 2009, 4:24 pm
Glad you got your blizzard treat 🙂
Matt March 1, 2009, 4:27 pm
I think you deserve a large after that running filled weekend!
Whitney March 1, 2009, 4:28 pm
Congrats on your races this weekend!
RunToFinish March 1, 2009, 4:31 pm
way to go on an amazing run..runs!!! Yum on the DQ! haven’t had that in a long time, but i love frozen yogurt so I may need to look for TCBY this week!
Kailey (SnackFace) March 1, 2009, 4:42 pm
The meetup looks awesome- as does that monkey bread! Mmm reeces blizzards are the BEST!!! Glad you got to enjoy one 🙂
sarah March 1, 2009, 4:43 pm
i would totally have had a beer with you, caitlin! congrats!!
HangryPants March 1, 2009, 4:48 pm
Seriously, you deserve many apple juice beers!
balanceisbest March 1, 2009, 4:48 pm
Drink up, girl! I wish I could’ve joined you for the celebratory brewsky…yummm! I’m running a 1/2 in April that ends at the New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, CO! I’m a little worried about the post-race celebration 🙂

Congrats again on the races – so incredible!!!

Kaneil, balanceisbest
Sarah March 1, 2009, 4:48 pm
Hope you enjoyed the DQ. You two are truly inspirational!
Elizabeth March 1, 2009, 4:53 pm
I just got caught up on your weekend and I have to say, you girls are so amazing! What an accomplishment you have achieved..and you did it so well! I am very inspired! You deserve all the treats and fun you can get today! Hope you have a great night relaxing!
sloank March 1, 2009, 4:57 pm
You rock, Caitlin! I would be right there with ya ordering that drink! You and Meghann are inspirations!! I’m so happy for you both!! GREAT job!
Brandi March 1, 2009, 4:59 pm
yay for blogger meet ups and blizzards!!!
Erica March 1, 2009, 5:09 pm
Another GREAT meet up! I am super jealous!!!! You def deserved the blizzard! I haven’t had one in forever ever!
kara March 1, 2009, 5:13 pm
thanks for visiting my blog! I think I’m going to become Peanut Butter and Co’s stalker and start buying every flavor 🙂
Mica March 1, 2009, 5:27 pm
Fun meet-up! I’m jealous of all the sunny Florida bloggers! That monkey bread looks awesome, but not as good as your well-deserved blizzard!

Yay, cider! It is like apple juice…and great for “carbo-loading”!
just me March 1, 2009, 5:30 pm
so sad i wasnt’ there for the meet up. boo! but i did find out that i have the 14 and 15th off so i was hoping to come up and VISIT!!!!!!
Trish March 1, 2009, 5:40 pm
Looks a fun (and yummy!) day! 🙂
Emily March 1, 2009, 6:04 pm
Aww, yeah blogger meet up! It looks like you ladies had a great time!
Glad you finally got your DQ fix!
Jewels March 1, 2009, 6:04 pm
congrats again caitlin, you deserve that beer & DQ!!!

Did you find this half marathon less challenging than your first one? I'm running my first this May and nervous about mental road blocks.
talesofexpansion March 1, 2009, 6:16 pm
fun lunch! i haven’t had monkey bread in years and completely forgot about it … until seeing it in all your blogs today, haha. and now i really need some instantly!

you make me proud with that blizzard 😀
runjen March 1, 2009, 6:18 pm
LOVE Magner’s! I can’t find it anywhere. So jealous!
Amy March 1, 2009, 6:19 pm
Sooo funny that you had Dairy Queen as your post race reward!

I ALWAYS have DQ after my races… except I’m more partial to the peanut buster parfait!

I always feel guitly eating DQ, but nothing tastes better after giving it your all for 21k!
healthy ashley March 1, 2009, 6:31 pm
Nice job on fixing up David’s photo 🙂

And about the beer, you were definitely sitting on the right end of the table- everyone on our end (sans me) had a beer 🙂
Jamie March 1, 2009, 7:19 pm
I just have to say CONGRATS and you totally rock! You are such an inspiration to me… a runner JUST STARTING OUT. Maybe someday I will find it in myself to run a 1/2 marathon! Probably not back to back to two other races but who knows! Congrats again and you totally deserve the beer and ice cream =)
kristi March 1, 2009, 7:22 pm
Congrats again! Glad you had fun at the blogger meetup!
Meg March 1, 2009, 7:31 pm
What a great meet-up! You had such an awesome weekend! Get some rest!
ms March 1, 2009, 7:42 pm
what?!?! you didn’t wear your metals to lunch?!?! you’d have to peel those things off me if i did those races!!

congratulations on your races this weekend, caitlin. you did a great job ~ and most of all…you had a blast doing it. i love your positive attitude about the whole thing ~ particularly the rain. you proved by your ‘holla’ that optimism is infectious when the runners whooped with you!!

okay, so you’ve definitely inspired me to do that challenge next year at gasparilla. i need something ‘crazy’ like that challenge to keep me motivated. what a great accomplishment.

oh, and dairy queen totally rocks…in a scary i don’t want to know too much about what i’m eating kind of way!!

great job.
Leanne March 1, 2009, 7:42 pm
What a wonderful accomplishment Caitlin! Watching you set this goal for yourself and then have success is incredibly motivating for me. Great job!
Sharon March 1, 2009, 7:47 pm
Oh wow, that looks like so much fun!!!! DQ~~~
Dori March 1, 2009, 8:45 pm
Your brunch looks delicious — that bread! And yay for your Blizzard, you really deserved it! I’m the same way about ordering a drink if no one else is, it’s great you did it!
eatingbender March 1, 2009, 9:16 pm
Reese’s PB Cup Blizzard = my FAVORITE DQ treat of all time. I haven’t had it in forever. In fact, I haven’t seen an open DQ in forever. Next time I pass one by, I am definitely stopping.

I am loving that monkey bread and the blogger meet up. Sounds like a lot of fun! Congratulations again!
BOBBI McCORMICK March 1, 2009, 10:56 pm
love everything! DQ hasnt been in my life for YEARS…maybe after my next half I will just have to find them!
ChickPea March 1, 2009, 11:13 pm
Aww, who doesn’t love a DQ blizzard?

Looks like you had a great time today!
Sarah (lovINmytummy) March 1, 2009, 11:31 pm
Do you ever ask for extra Blizzard mix-ins? Or make your own? When my hubs is super nice, I’ll make him a Reese’s PB cup Blizzard at home.

What a lush! 😉
peanutbutterandjuli March 1, 2009, 11:42 pm
CONGRATS!

I feel so connected to you- DQ Blizzards are my special treat too! So glad you got one!!! 🙂
Leah March 2, 2009, 12:14 am
So glad you got to enjoy your blizzard!

I have to say, I just love how you approach eating. You seem to really listen to your body and eat what you WANT (within reason i’m sure!).

The Magners definitely was something familiar to me! A lot of people drink cider over here!

Does your hubby drink it??
bb March 2, 2009, 6:06 am
Congrats on your races! You earned that blizzard!
Anne P March 2, 2009, 6:26 am
CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing weekend of running!!!! I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the get together yesterday – next time 🙂 And glad to see you got your DQ! 😉
Sammie March 2, 2009, 6:28 am
Congrats on the races!! I am glad you didn’t have any knee issues. The monkey bread looks yummy. My Grandmother used to make the best monkey bread when I was a little kid – it was always so fun to pull it apart to eat.
tina March 2, 2009, 7:25 am
haha what happened to that large you said you were gonna get?! did guilt for all the “horrible nutritional facts” change your mind?

im not trying to be rude, im sorry it just bothers me sometimes because i dont see anything wrong with getting blizzard treats even if it is once a month and you workout weekly and eat healthy otherwise.
Tina March 2, 2009, 7:27 am
What a great weekend! Congrats on your races! 🙂
fitforfree March 2, 2009, 8:04 am
Just had to say CONGRATULATIONS for an amazing job in the races !!!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point March 2, 2009, 8:11 am
jewels – hmmm i think i found my fist 1/2 more challenging because it was a new experience. the best way to handle mental road blocks is to PREPARE. i think running the full half distance (13.1 miles) two weeks before my actual half helped my confidence because i knew i could do it.

ms- we’ll have to go to gasparilla together next year!

leah – the hus doesnt really do cider, but he does like guiness!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point March 2, 2009, 8:12 am
tina – i didnt feel like getting a large.
Maddy March 2, 2009, 10:39 pm
Hey girl! For some reason I couldnt see any of your posts when I went to comment last night.

Anyway! It was so great to meet you Sunday! Maybe next time we can sit closer and actually talk? haha

Loving the DQ- thats exactly what I would of gotten =)

Previous post: Gasparilla Recap Part 2

Next post: Day Off