Food Blog Forum ~ Orlando [March 2012]

My day just got a little bit brighter. As you probably know, I love Disney World. It’s so much fun to go there and act like a little kid. I haven’t been there since 2009 though. This past weekend I signed up to go to the Food Blog Forum in Orlando, FL.  Walt Disney World is the Hosting Sponsor, so you know  it’s going to be an amazing event!  I can’t wait to learn a lot of useful information there so that I can make my blog better.

Check out the details from the web site…

Food Blog Business | Food Styling & Photography | Food Blog Design | Food Writing

Food Blog Forum Orlando is a full-day seminar on Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Epcot Center, designed specifically for food bloggers.

We’ll be covering the most relevant topics for food bloggers, including food styling and photography, photo editing, recipe writing and development, food blog design and social media.

In addition to the information and skills you’ll be able to immediately implement, we’ll have several networking and social opportunities throughout the weekend.

Schedule

Friday, March 16, 2012
Friday Evening – Welcome Reception at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa sponsored by Walt Disney World

Saturday, March 17, 2012
8:00am-4:30pm
Coffee and continental breakfast provided by Walt Disney World

Food Photography & Styling: Sharing your food story through your creative voice
Diane Cu & Todd Porter
Everyone has a unique food story to share through images. Crafting your visual voice and sharing your authentic story in compelling food images is what makes your unique style stand out. Learn how to define your own food photography style and food storytelling. Elements of lighting, composition, style, basic propping, editing and story will be discussed to help you make your best photographs. Be inspired to craft images that are original, fresh, authentic and uniquely you.

PRspectives
Jaden Hair, Rachel Barbarotta, Arianna Bastianini, Tom Smith
A lesson in PR 101, from various perspectives. This panel brings together bloggers, brands and PR professionals to give you an inside look into the process of working with brands and forming relationships that can benefit both the bloggers and companies they work with.

How to Write Bigger, Better, More Badass Food Posts
David Leite
In this solo panel, learn what it takes to write the kind of posts that move people to leave comments as well as to forward, tweet, stumble, and Facebook the hell out of them. Not to mention getting awards and recognition. Use David’s checklist to evaluate how successful your posts are and how to improve them.

From Hobby to Professional: Taking your Blog to the Next Level
Dawn Viola
Do you want to take your food blog from hobby to professional? Food writer and research chef, Dawn Viola, will show you how to develop your unique food writing niche, find your blogging voice and harness free marketing tools to establish yourself as a professional writer.

LUNCH

A (Healthful) Taste of Disney! Sponsored by Walt Disney World

Experts Round Table

Dive deeper into the topics that interest you most. We’ll have our speakers and other experts available to you during a series of four 30-minute “speed-networking” sessions. Ask questions and get advice from our experts in a more personal setting. Explore topics such as Social Media, Technology and Design, Photography & Styling Live Demonstration, Basic Photo Editing and File Management, Pitching to Editors, Writing Cookbook Proposals, Recipe Development, The Business of Blogging and more.

Closing Party

Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sponsored by Walt Disney World
Private dessert party at Epcot Center with front row viewing of Illuminations

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Brunch At Whole Foods Market Orlando

Does this look amazing or what??!

Are any of my fellow food bloggers going? If so, let me know in the comments! I’d love to meet!

Home Sweet Home

We’re home from our vacation, and I’m back to work – It was so nice to go away, but it was also nice to come home! It was SO HOT down there. That’s the one thing I wasn’t a fan of. The heat. And humidity.

I’ll be posting some highlights from our trip in a bit. I have so much to get caught up on here at work first. It was so nice having yesterday off so that I could sleep in, grocery shop, etc.

Until I return, I’ll leave you with this…

(Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake — vanilla cake with a gooey toffee filling and caramel sauce topped with vanilla ice cream from Liberty Tree Tavern – SOOOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!)

Can I Upgrade You?

ONE DAY!

And I haven’t done a thing yet! Oops. Laundry is not done. Suitcases are not out yet. Nothing is set aside. Nothing is packed.

Thank goodness I’m working from home today.

And as if I didn’t have enough to do, when I went and got my hair done yesterday I left my coat there. So now I have to go back and pick it up around lunch time.

I just checked us in for our flight tomorrow bright & early. I also upgraded us to Business Class…but I’m not telling Carlos. It’ll be a surprise! I’m so ready for this vacation. Please cross your fingers it’s not too hot. The Mister doesn’t like hot weather. LOL! Maybe I’ll get a chance or two to upload some fun pics while we’re there. Stay tuned!

Counting down the days…

FOUR!

I’m trying to wrap things up this week before we head to the Happiest Place on Earth on Saturday! I definitely need a vacation. I’m just so exhausted from life in general – the get up at the ass crack of dawn, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean up, try to stay awake, go to sleep, rinse & repeat!

So this will be a great thing for me.

I’m sure people there will drive me nuts, but I’ll deal with it. It may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but there are many people that leave their manners at home. And for some reason, people have issues with forming a line, and going to the END of it.

I’m sure they’ll be some interesting stories upon my return.

I’m definitely looking forward to the food and the drinks! We’ll be able to check out the Epcot Food & Wine Festival for a few days – so I’m excited about that. I’ll be doing a full trip review (mostly of the food & drinks!) when I get back.

Food Porn for everyone!