This week I had the pleasure of attending the #MarylandBlogs gathering at Turf Valley‘s Alexandra’s Restaurant. Most of those in attendance have been chatting via Instagram for several months so it was a great chance to finally meet the group in person!
We were greeted with an assortment of delicious and attractively presented appetizers set up in the Maria room at Alexandra’s – you know a gaggle of bloggers will notice the presentation and have to take photos before the food could be touched! Chef Christopher Vocci prepared Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial Stuffed Sliders, Buffalo Cauliflower, and my personal favorite – the Pallete of Mediterranean Flavors, which featured flatbread chips and roasted garlic hummus, olive tapenade, red pepper muhamarra, summer tomato bruschetta, and roasted eggplant caponata. I love hummus, olives, and eggplant so this vegetarian appetizer option was wonderful for me and I tried all of the different types of dips. The entire Turf Valley complex was scenic and includes ballrooms, a hotel, and a spa. I can see why lots of brides we met at the wedding expo we were at over the weekend mentioned booking this location as their venue!
Once we got settled in, we made introductions around the table and it was interesting to see a the variety of content and experiences that everyone brought to the group. I learned so many new things about improving my Instagram feed, writing recipes, and got to hear about a new podcast and the learning process that comes with starting one. The thought of a podcast sounds fun but I don’t know if I am chatty enough to make it work! I found it really inspiring to talk with bloggers who are further along in their journeys than I am, to see their successes and get to ask questions. Sometimes blogging can feel like a very solitary endeavor, even though there are so many of us out there! Being able to talk in person with people who “get it” was really cool – I highly recommend seeking out your local bloggers or if you’re in Maryland, join in our next gathering!
Howard County Tourism also treated us to goodie bags featuring treats and information about the area. I’ve come to Howard County so much over the years, from concerts at Merriweather going back to high school (eons ago, I know!) to Ellicott City’s Main Street full of the antiques, art, and food we love. It especially brings back memories of when my husband and I first started dating and we would search through antique stores together for old cameras and photos. 🙂 Events at the fairgrounds for my personal favorites – the annual Sheep and Wool Festival in May and the Alpaca and Fleece Festival in November. My son and I love both of these festivals for the animals and fiber art supplies, and may have tried more than once to convince my husband to let us bring home a new furry family member. 😉
Visit my fellow #MarylandBlogs that participated in the meet up!
Theresa’s Reviews
Tanvii.com
NoPurpleWalls
Moms with Tots
Hip As I Wanna Be
Housewives of Frederick County
OnlyOneHeidi.com
Cork and Fork Aficionado
Off the Potomac
(a)Musing Foodie
Stained With Style
All Things Fadra
1 COMMENT
Pam Stultz
6 years agoGreat post! We had a great time and it was so nice meeting you Jess.