The Food Blogger Circuit

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I must say, 2012 has turned out to be quite the amazing year so far. Yes, I realize that we are just three-ish months in. But if these first three months are any indication, I am convinced that the rest of this year is going to be even better.

I’ve been excelling in my studies. Who knew I was a freaking mathlete? A mathematical polymath. Yeah that’s right. I do maths well. And like it! I am such a nerd.

Our winter has been a breeze by normal standards. Though this does make me worry about the non-winter leading into a non-summer.

We had a fun trip to Las Vegas in February where I ate some of the best, artfully prepared, and beautiful-looking vegan food at the happiest place on Earth (The Wynn). And I explored a Whole Foods Market for the very first time. Where I may or may not have – in a fit of unbridled excitement – pressed my body up against the raw kale chip display in an attempt to express just how deep my love for this place really is.

And that’s just been in the first two months of this year so far. But, lucky for me I already know that it’s just going to keep getting better. I know this because I’ve booked myself in for two great food blogger conferences this summer.

Yes, that’s right. It’s time for this girl to go international. Or at the very least, continental. (I will be honest here and tell you all I had to Google whether or not I was accurate in saying “continental”. And Google wasn’t really all that clear on the definition of continental in this context. So if I’m just making up words or misassigning meanings just ignore me and move on.)

So where am I headed?

First stop: Seattle for BlogHer Food 2012 on June 8 & 9. This wasn’t the first conference I booked but I am especially excited for this one for a lot of reasons. The program agenda includes topics that are of real interest to me and I think they will not only benefit me but in turn will benefit this humble little blog and all you readers.

Another reason I’m so stoked is because it’s being held in Seattle, and the food scene there seems like it was made for me. There are some really awesome looking vegan and gluten free restaurants and food trucks in Seattle that I hope I get to try even one or two while I’m there.

I haven’t been to Seattle since I was 16. I loved it then and I’m sure I’ll love it again. I promise I’ll have better hair this time around too. I was going through quite the phase when I was 16.

Next up: Portland, Oregon, for IFBC 2012. Last year, I wanted to attend IFBC in New Orleans but because of timing and a broken/sprained foot I didn’t get my stuff together in time to give attending proper consideration. This time though I jumped on it as soon as I could. And what’s making this one even more fun is that I’m going with fellow food blogger and good friend Jacquelyn from The Gourmet Housewife. We are going to have so much fun together learning, eating, shmoozing, and eating. Oh and drinking. We always have a lot of fun with wine.

The Portland food scene – like Seattle’s – seems like my utopia. My dream come true.

I’ve never been to Portland before so I’m also excited about adding another push-pin to the imaginary map I keep in my head of places I’ve been.

Also, have you seen Portlandia at all? So hilarious. I hope Portland is even a fraction of the parodies they have. Like this one:

Anyway, back to the topic at hand: food blogger conferences. So I suppose two food blogger conferences doesn’t quite qualify me as joining the ‘Food Blogger Circuit’ just yet. But, considering I’ve been a relative food blogger hermit this is quite the jump outside my comfort zone.

I have to say I’m quite excited to meet some of the people whose blogs I follow regularly. I don’t much care about real-life celebrities, but the thought of meeting some of the food blog celebs out there makes me pretty giddy. I hope I don’t embarrass myself too much.

I plan on sharing all my experiences from BlogHer Food ’12 and IFBC Portland 2012 during and after both conferences. I’ll probably even post a preparatory post before each conference too so you know where and how and why to follow me online so that you can live vicariously through me. (Yes, I am that exciting!)

Before then I have one major item to take care of or I’m not going anywhere. Renew the passport! You have no idea how happy I am and have waited 5 years for this day to come. My current passport photo is so heinous that I’ve been eagerly anticipating the day I can get a new one done. So, I’m off to Costco to get some photos taken. Here’s hoping for a much improved photo to carry me through the next 5 years.

Cheers!