After 1+ year of blogging, I finally figured out how to use gmail to its fullest potential.  Kath taught me!  She is the organizational queen.

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Fun technological tips I learned:

 

  • Check out Google Labs under Settings.  Send + Archive and Multiple Inboxes will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
  • You can color code your tags!
  • Keyboard shortcuts – C is compose, F is forward, R is reply…. and you can create your own shortcuts too!  That’s under Google Labs too!

 

Other blogging tips I discovered this weekend:

 

  • On Windows Live Writer, insert an image and resize it how you want it to appear in your blog.  Click on the image and then select "Save Settings to Default" on the right hand side.
  • If you want to create automatic hyperlinks in Windows Live Writer, type a name and insert a hyperlink, but click the "Add to Link Glossary" button.  That way, it will always suggest that hyperlink in the future.

 

Amazing!

 

I’m sad to leave the planning committee!  After 6 months of planning, I cannot believe the Summit is over.

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This was such a fun vacation.  I’m going to miss Boston so much.   

 

But today was a fun day!  Between our fun run and our group brunch, I ate a sample pack of apricots from swag bag.

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And then about 20 attendees met up for a group brunch in the park!

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We all grabbed bagels from a nearby shop.  I bulked mine up with Barney Butter from the Summit swag bags.

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(I used a pack and a half of Barney Butter).  Plus, I had fruit — I was seriously CRAVING fresh fruit.

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And an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts — I felt like I HAD to get DD since I was in Boston and with Tina!

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It was fun to get more one-on-one time with a few of the girls!

 

Ali has a wiener doggie too.  Apparently her pup is in love with my Maggie.  Here we are demonstrating the length of our wiener dogs:

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Amanda and Kelly:

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Chandra and Tina:

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The group split up and a few of us decided to do some shopping (or in my case…. browsing!).  It was a long walk but at least it was pretty.

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First up was JP Licks.  After hearing so much about this ice cream place from the Boston bloggers, I was expecting something out of this world amazing.

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There were tons of flavors to choose from — like cucumber, coffee, oreo cookie, peanut butter, and more.

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I opted for a children’s size of Mint Chocolate.  I just wanted a taste, and this was perfect!

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We also made a pit stop to Trader Joe’s…. AKA the motherland of food bloggers.  Somehow, I resisted the temptation to buy lots of goodies! 

 

And then we wandered around Newbury Street and did some browsing.  I tried on a few things, but didn’t buy anything.  And I finally posted an Operation Beautiful note in Boston!

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For lunch, we picked a cute little cafe

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Megan and I split this beautiful plate of fruit:

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And I got the Pear and Gorgonzola Salad:

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And a spicy buttered roll:

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As our Boston Experience Sponsor, Nasoya sponsored this lunch.  Thank you so much, Nasoya!  It was delicious and nutritious.

 

Then it was time to say goodbye to Tina, Jenna, and Heather.  I really feel close to the ladies after this weekend… it’s so sad we live in different cities.  🙁

 

Kath, Meghann, Kelly, and Megan are just hanging out in the hotel for a few more hours, and then the Florida girls are catching a late flight back home.   

 

I can’t wait to see the Husband + puppies!

 

Do you guys have any technological tips for bloggers?  I know Zesty Cook shared some excellent ones during his presentation at the Summit!

{ 34 comments }

 

  • Angela (Run Study Eat) August 16, 2009, 2:53 pm

    Aww brunch in the park??? So cute! Please do another next year! Haha no technical tips as I am a little new to the blogworld…but congrats on learning Gmail A-Z!

  • Jessica August 16, 2009, 2:55 pm

    I love the brunch in the park and all your great eats! I hope you guys do the HLS again next year (and maybe I can come!).

    My blogging tip is to schedule posts ahead of time – I love doing that with reviews and lengthy articles that aren't about my daily eats/exercise!

  • Jenny August 16, 2009, 2:56 pm

    i'm glad i'm not the only one who things g-mail is the most conufsing thing on earth!

    looks like you ladies celebrated your last day in beantown in style.. brunch in the park?! y'all are the cutest!

  • She-Fit August 16, 2009, 3:03 pm

    WOW! Sounds like all your hard work paid off. Glad to hear and see that you had a great time at the conference.

  • MarathonVal August 16, 2009, 3:13 pm

    Thanks for the techy tips!

    Also I forgot if I already mentioned this…. but i know you are a big runner… I'm giving away a SpiBelt (running belt with pouch) on my new blog (moved from blogspot to http://www.ChicagoMarathonVal.com) if you are interested.. I LOVE running with mine, it's fabulous for long training runs!!

  • Lizzy August 16, 2009, 3:38 pm

    Such a wonderful weekend! i'm so excited that you girls had fun! have a safe flight home! 🙂

  • StonyfieldSarah August 16, 2009, 4:00 pm

    It was nice to meet you in person after all the planning. You guys did an awesme job with the event, and I'm happy I was able to be a part of it. Have a safe trip home!

  • Andrea August 16, 2009, 4:22 pm

    Caitlin, LOVE your shorts in these pics! Where did you get them?

  • Allie Katie August 16, 2009, 4:29 pm

    I am glad you guys had such a good time!!! Safe travels home!

  • eatingmachine August 16, 2009, 4:59 pm

    The biggest tip I know on technology in general is find people who know it, and let them know you like hearing about it! My brothers keep me up on all the things gmail can do, and i love them for it.

  • lookingforserenity August 16, 2009, 5:24 pm

    looks like you had a lovely time 🙂

  • angieinatlanta August 16, 2009, 5:39 pm

    Congrats on a successful summit!

  • Anna August 16, 2009, 5:49 pm

    I loved Zesty's talk! There is SO much technical stuff that I just know nothing about, and hearing it from him was really helpful.

  • Angharad August 16, 2009, 6:24 pm

    Looks like you had such an amazing weekend! Brunch in the park looked really fun! I'm still pretty new to blogging so thanks for the Windows Live Writer tips – I'll be checking that out!

  • lilveggiepatch August 16, 2009, 6:24 pm

    What a great day! Glad you got some JP Licks… I wish I'd had the time!

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) August 16, 2009, 6:26 pm

    I just found your blog by way of all the other blogs I follow and you were linked in all the Summit pics. Wow, sure looks like a great time. I dig your bloggie, gonna go read some of your stuff. The tech tips BTW are awesome, I am all about anything to help speed up the blogging process for sure!

  • Julie August 16, 2009, 7:04 pm

    I can't wait for HLS '10 (that doesn't even look like a real year)! Hopefully I cna make it!

    I'm glad you enjoyed Boston!

  • Whitney@whitsgettingfit August 16, 2009, 7:14 pm

    It was so nice meeting you in person! I can't wait for your Charlotte visit! 🙂

  • Niki August 16, 2009, 7:17 pm

    What a fun day! Hope you have a safe flight home:) Glad everything turned out so wonderful! I hope ya'll put one together for 2010!!

  • Deva August 16, 2009, 7:19 pm

    Looks like an amazing time!

    My biggest blogworld tip is to keep researching and trying new things. You can always undo something – just do the work on a duplicate of your template!

  • Rosey Rebecca August 16, 2009, 7:51 pm

    I loved Newbury Street! Just curious- What is the significance of DD in Boston?
    I definitely want to go to the next summit! I hope it's in NYC!

  • Dana (www.eatsleepgetfit.com) August 16, 2009, 8:53 pm

    I just discovered Windows Live Writer after hearing you guys talk about it on the Live feed. HOLY CRAP, I am so glad I found it. I will have to try that link thing. I def. want to come to the next summit!

  • Jolene - EverydayFoodie August 16, 2009, 10:10 pm

    Thanks for the technical tips! I am SO new to this, so those will be helpful for me. I am glad the summit was a success, and I really hope that there is another one next year! I would LOVE to go, and husband already gave me the okay on spending a bunch of money to go next year (I live in Canada) 🙂

    BTW, those swag bags are AWESOME! Almost worth going just to get one!!

  • Kathy (Moving Beyond Perfection) August 16, 2009, 10:46 pm

    I've never used Windows Live Writer, but I probably should download that! Does it make blogging a lot quicker?

    HLS looked like a blast, congrats on such a successful event! <3

  • Penny August 16, 2009, 11:54 pm

    I loved Zesty's presentation!! (I watched the live video.) Because of you, Kath, and Zesty I just downloaded Live Writer. It's amazing!

  • jibbalibba August 17, 2009, 12:29 am

    awwww you make me want to have a picnic with my friends it looks so fun

  • Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 17, 2009, 3:51 am

    andrea – jc penny (but a few months ago!) thanks!!

    rosey – i dont know what the deal with DD and boston is. i should ask tina.

  • Oh She Glows August 17, 2009, 8:06 am

    Add to link glossary- WHO KNEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!????? awesome!!!

  • Pam (Highway to Health) August 17, 2009, 8:40 am

    Congrats on the successful summit! Glad you enjoyed Boston. I'm sorry we didn't have the chance to meet!

  • Emily August 17, 2009, 11:25 am

    Made me smile ~ it was through Kath's blog that I discovered Todoist 🙂 I am with you on the get organised week (and I'm also a paper girl for the most part – I keep trying with electronic calendars, but I always revert back).
    Congratulations again on such a successful (& fun looking) weekend!

  • seesaraheat August 18, 2009, 5:52 am

    Kath is the organizational queen, you are right about that!

    I also didn't know any of that about Google Labs! But I do love me some Windows Live Writer…it makes my (blogging) life so much easier 🙂

  • One Food Guy August 18, 2009, 9:59 pm

    Hi Caitlin, I want to congratulate you on a job well done with the Healthy Living Summit. I've been reading a lot of recaps from the weekend and it sounds like it was an amazing event. It obviously would not have been possible without all the hard work the six of you put in. Well done!

  • Amelia (AC/DC: Highways to Health) August 21, 2009, 3:23 pm

    Caitlin-
    It was so nice to finally get to meet you! Congrats on the wonderful Summit! 🙂

  • Heather February 22, 2010, 3:56 pm

    so. after working my bum off on some accounting issues in the office i needed a break. so i came to HTP. and i looked at each of the summit recaps. and now i am even more excited for Fitbloggin and HLS2010.

    can. not. wait. to. finally. meet. you.

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