Minnesota Bloggers Dinner

On Saturday I attended my first ever blogger dinner for Minnesota bloggers. It was a fun gathering organized by Cathy at Antsy Pants and Lisa at Mommy’s Nest.

We all met at Napa Valley Grille at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Napa Valley Grille serves a Northern California cuisine and they also have locations in Westwood, California and Paramus, New Jersey (just a side note!)

I was a little nervous at first and I was the first to arrive (which was a shock because usually I am late and on Lesli time). But as soon as I saw Lisa I relaxed and felt comfortable because she was so warm and welcoming and we chatted for a few minutes in the lobby before Cathy showed up. I later found out that Lisa used to be a DJ for KS95 which explains her bubbly personality.


LISA

I originally “met” Cathy when she won a Kate Spade makeup bag from one of my favorite bloggers Elledee at Glammed. I decided to see who this lucky Cathy was who had won a Kate Spade bag and so I checked out her blog. I was so excited to see that we have the same birthday (October 13) and that she is an interior designer, which is what I went to school for. I loved her right away and have followed her blog ever since.

So we were seated at our table and ordered drinks (and we got carded by our waiter). I ordered white wine and Cathy and Lisa had cucumber martinis (I think, right?).

Shortly thereafter Whiskey Marie showed up to join the fun. She ordered a Manhattan and I think it is the first time I have ever been with someone who ordered that. Now I know what it looks like (it has a cherry). And bourbon, I think. She has the longest lashes I have ever seen in my life and I found myself wondering if she uses Latisse?


WHISKEY MARIE

And to complete our group was Minnesota Mom from Happy to be From Iowa and her cute teen daughter (who was the designated photographer). She is originally from Iowa (oh, can you tell from the name of her blog?) and she actually grew up in the next town over from where my mom now lives. So I bonded with her over the whole Iowa thing but I also just adored her because she was so kind and had such a wonderful outlook on life despite some recent difficulties. She was just an angel!


MINNESOTA MOM & CATHY

She also came to my rescue after dinner when I realized Nordstrom was closed and that was where I had parked my car. She insisted on giving me a ride to my car. She and her daughter were just two peaches in my eyes! Loved them. Maybe I also love her even more after she wrote on her blog that I reminded her of a combination of Bernadette Peters & Debra Messing!

As far as the meal went, I can’t even tell you what everyone else ordered but I had a shrimp cocktail and the best ever bleu cheese mashed potatoes, 2 glasses of Riesling and a coffee for dessert.

Our meal lasted almost 4 hours. The time flew by. Everyone was so wonderful and I loved them all. They all had stories to tell and other blogs to share. The wonders of social media, I tell you!! I hope we can do something like this in the future and I plan to stay in touch with everyone.

Love you all!