World’s Greatest Blogger Slumber Party

I’m BAAAAACK from my eating tour of Baja California along the Mexican Riviera! Only 4,684,920.9 emails and unread posts to sort through. While I’m busy exacerbating my carpal tunnel syndrome, check out Chocolate Covered Katie’s Vita-Mix Giveaway!

Or, continue on to read about the amazing meet up between Smoothie Girl and Protein Girl.

But first, there are a few golden rules about blogger meet ups that you may not know about.

1. Thou shall not post photos in which I look older or heavier than I actually am.
2. Thou shall not post photos in which I look as old and as heavy as I am.
3. Thou shall only post flattering photos.
4. Thou shall show thy feet in photos (I learned that on the trip). Good tip!

Now that the ground rules have been set, here comes the Tale of Two Blenders or My First Blogging Meet Up.

In the beginning, an amateur blender/blogger who wrote about her infatuation with protein shakes stumbled across a similar blog titled Smoothie Girl Eats Too. She began to link, the other began to comment and then their parallel worlds collided last week when they actually met in person… Deb, AKA Smoothie Girl, is one of the nicest people I have ever met. And she also happens to be married to one of the other nicest people I’ve ever met! (They remind me of the lovely Jane and generous Mr. Bingley from Pride & Prejudice.)

I know you really want to know if there was a hissing catfight between us! But sorry, it was all rainbows, hugs and sunshine. There was eating, smoothie sipping, intense passionate discussions of sugar-free syrups and Japanese market items, gratuitous flexing (guess who did that? That’s right, it was this guy! No? Okay, it was me.), pantry gawking, hugs, a bit o’ blending, a ton o’ gabbing and voluminous fun.

The fabulous and talented Mrs. Smoothie Girl picked up my sister and me from the airport with…PB&J smoothies in tow! They tasted like Happiness in a Cup. I had a straw malfunction but didn’t realize that my straw had a hole in it for about 4 hours of sipping hard enough to strain my epiglottis. Yup, I’m the sharpest tack in the drawer.

We hit up the Japanese Market where I openly wept at the sight of all the asian goodies. After putting myself back together (thank heaves for waterproof mascara), I was deemed suitably worthy to enter the Cave of Wonders (also known as Smoothie Girls’ Fortress of Solitude). It was quite simply, freakin’ awesome.

 

This ball of fluff was pretty cute and didn’t try to bite me, a big plus.

I was treated to the perfect cup of coffee (alas, no sprinkles for me) with a side of perfect smoothie topped with some mature rated nut butter action.

Smoothie Girl, my beautiful and super smart sister and suitably caffeinated me, pre-step aerobics at Gold’s Gym Venice Beach.

I am proud to report that I did not injure anyone near me with my flailing and stumbling. Why do I seem to be the only sweaty one bordering on a shade of cardiac arrest purple? Heidi, of Gold’s Gym, is a truly great instructor – full of positive feedback, clear direction, motivation and of course, eye candy.

Awwwwww. She’s so cute and sassy. I covet her organized pantry. I’m inspired to get organized. But first that would require being able to even find my label maker…

My first dragonfruit. Have you EVER seen a more naturally beautiful food? I didn’t even know that these existed.

I love this photo of Smoothie Girl. She glows, probably from all those antioxidants from dragonfruit.

Notice the “Smoothies by the Yard” sign as our backdrop. Could it be any more perfect? And watch out - dangerous curves on the girl in green!

I may be done with the mullet, but the mullet isn’t done with me. It comes back to haunt me.

Deb shows me how it’s really done. I’m just an amateur…

It was a blast and I only wish it could have lasted longer… My sister and I adored the Double D’s (Deb & her luvie Derek). Can’t wait until next time!