Fresh Air Retreat: A Weekend of Growth, Connection, and Inspiration
Okay, so you know when you go on a trip that’s so good, you come back feeling totally refreshed and ready to take on the world? That was Fresh Air Retreat for me. Imagine spending a few days in a stunning private home in South Carolina, surrounded by some of the most inspiring food bloggers, learning all the things to help grow our businesses, and eating some seriously amazing food. It was part mastermind, part foodie adventure, and completely unforgettable!
Learning, Growing, and Leveling Up
One of the best parts of the retreat was getting to learn from each other. We had deep-dive sessions on SEO, making our content more discoverable, and optimizing our blogs for success. I also got to chat with my ad network, Mediavine, and picked up some great tips on increasing revenue (because who doesn’t want that?). Plus, we learned about all sorts of new tools, like Grocers List, that can help food bloggers streamline their workflow and create even better content as well as increase their income!
The Best Kind of Brainstorming
You know what’s even better than learning from experts? Learning from each other. One of my favorite parts was the lightning round sessions where we each got to share a challenge we were facing, and the whole group chimed in with advice, strategies, and real-world experience. It was like having a team of business coaches all in one room. I walked away with so many actionable ideas that I cannot wait to put into practice!
The People Who Made It All Amazing
I have to say, the women at this retreat were beyond incredible. Everyone was so open, generous, and full of knowledge. It’s not every day you get to sit around a table with people who completely get what you do. Here’s the amazing crew I got to spend time with:
- Annie Holmes from Sweet Peas and Saffron
- Eden Passante from Sugar and Charm
- Elizabeth Van Lierde from Everyday Elizabeth
- Kylie Mazon-Chambers from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
- Liz Thomson from I Heart Vegetables
- Monique Volz from Ambitious Kitchen
And none of this would have been possible without our incredible hosts, Liz Della Croce from The Lemon Bowl and Lauren Grier from The Curious Plate. These two planned and executed everything so seamlessly, making sure we had a super productive yet totally relaxing week. I can’t thank them enough for all the effort and love they put into this experience! And a big shout out to Amanda for taking the most amazing photos of us and documenting such a beautiful weekend!
Food, Food, and More Food
Obviously, a retreat full of food bloggers meant we ate very well. One of the highlights? Happy Egg hosted an epic breakfast cooked by the insanely talented Chef Trimmel, and let me tell you—I had the BEST cornbread and egg scramble of my life. Like, I’m still thinking about it.
And then there were our nights out! Explore Charleston totally spoiled us, taking us out to some of the best restaurants in town so we could soak up everything the city has to offer. Between the charming streets, the historic vibes, and the amazing food, Charleston completely stole my heart.
Heading Home Feeling Inspired
By the time I packed up to head home, I felt so re-energized. I’ve got a notebook full of new ideas, a to-do list that I’m actually excited about, and a heart full of gratitude for the incredible people I met.
If you’re a food blogger looking for an experience that’s equal parts business growth, networking, and inspiration, Fresh Air Retreat is where it’s at. I’m already counting down the days until the next one!
All photos were taken by Amanda Kamppinen photography
