Cupcake '10!!!

Wow, what a weekend! Thursday, I found out about this little retreat that Heather, Stephanie and Allison were planning. Unfortunately, it was sold out:(

A Blogging retreat in the Midwest...I'm all over that! I commented on Heather's blog that if anyone canceled, that I was only three hours away...and I'd LOVE to go. Well, sure enough...she had some cancellations. Since Mr. Wicked Weather did not descend upon Chicago, I drove up to the cold Wisconsin tundra...

Can I just tell you right now, that I should not be let out alone. It's like my brain can't function if it's not constantly monitoring two toddlers.

I kid you not...we are talking almost locking my keys in my car at the gas station, not being able to find my wallet to pay for soda for the gathering (said wallet was under my arm), and of course getting lost once I left the expressway:(

Luckily for me, (as I'm pulled off to the side of a remote Wisconsin road pouring over three pages of Mapquest nonsense and wishing the lovely Garmin woman would just beam into my car and tell me which way to go) a wonderful farmer actually stopped, got out of his car, and said..."You look like you might need some help?"

"Why yes...I really shouldn't be allowed to leave the city. I need to get here, and I don't have a Garmin, and Mapquest was obviously playing a cruel joke on me when they gave me these directions...please tell me you know where this street is."

"I'll do you one better...follow me, and I'll drive you in."

Not only did wonderful white truck driving farmer man drive me in...he actually chased me down when I turned the wrong way on the right street. I wanted badly to take his picture...but I think he already thought I was nuts. Explaining how I needed his picture for the blog did NOT seem like the appropriate way to thank him:/

What a wonderful time I had! Really, the lodge was AMAZING (well done Heather for finding such a lovely place). Everyone brought unbelievable food. We talked, we ate, we drank. Lee and I bopped down the road to a local bar and picked up more booze. (the bar where "an arm and a leg" was $10) There were bloggers I knew and got to spend time with, and bloggers I didn't know that I got to spend time with. They were all great bloggers with stories to tell about why they blog, and what they do. I was so honored to have the opportunity to hang with all of them. I'm telling you, I could go on and on about how great this idea was. (seriously, in my mind I'm already planning Cupcake Chicago)

We all sat up and talked until I caved at about midnight...the hard core girls stayed up WAY into the morning. Then morning came...after more talk and food...I was reminded again, why I should not be let out on my own:P

Yep...I left my headlights in the car on:( Holy frozen with a dead, dead, deadsky battery, Batman:O I gotta give my props to Heather. Sister Soldier put her boots on, marched out, hooked up the jumper cables and made a valiant effort to start my car. Alas...it was not to be:( Seriously...who leaves the dad-gum lights on? I felt like such an IDIOT:P

VERY long story short...Esther's Husband is a saint, and moved Heaven and earth to get my stubborn car to start. YAY!!!

I drove my frozen car out of the tundra and back to the happy wind breaking skyscrapers of Chicago...vowing never to leave the city alone again...until I go to Blissdom Feb 4.

On the upside, there's no hope of me leaving the headlights on in the airplane...right;)

28 comments

  1. Aw, I'm so jealous that you got to go. But SO VERY glad for you too!!! Sorry 'bout the little mishaps but sounds like you still had a fabulous time! Stay warm!!

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  2. AWWW YAY Cyn! I'm SO glad you had such a good time!!! I know how much you were looking forward to it.
    Sorry about all the mishaps but look at what great blog fodder it gave you ;-) :-)

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  3. Hey lady - I'm so glad to have met you and happy that we actually had some time to really chat. Looking forward to future gatherings - virtual and in person. :)

    -elizabeth

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  4. Sounds like a lovely weekend! (apart from the dead battery) So great to get away every once in a while.

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  5. i would be one of the ones that cancelled out at the last minute ... so bummed that i wasn't able to go ... but needed to prepare for upcoming baby ...
    i am so so so glad that someone else WAS able to go and enjoyed it so much. i'll live life vicariously through you at this point!

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  6. Someday I will make one of these blogger gatherings..

    Sounds like a great time. Sorry about the mishaps but they just make the story better...lol

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  7. It was wonderful to meet you. So glad you finally got your car started and that you made it home safely!

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  8. Hey There....Miss Arm and a Leg (Mr. Boston)...I had fun meeting you at Cupcake! If you do Chicago cupcake, remember us cheese heads and let's pick a warm time of year.

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  9. As usual I'm a day late and dollar (well more than that) short. I just read about the Cupcake 10 gathering today :( Next time give me a shout, I have a Garmin and a husband who can give back up direction even if I'm lost in a paper bag. Definitely let me know about Cupcake Chicago, in the sticks I wasn't even aware that cupcake bakeries existed in Chicago. Yeah I'm so cool and with it, no?

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  10. Sounds like an awesome time! I would be all about Cupcake Chicago! Let me know if you need any help making it happen!

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  11. So jealous!!!! Wish I lived close enough to qualify. Glad you had a good time!

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  12. Gosh it was great to meet you, too! I loved what you shared about why you blog... and pretty much everything else you said all weekend. You crack me up.

    Hope this happens again sooner rather than later!
    -Allison

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  13. I wish I had heard about it, I would have loved to have gone to one in the Midwest! If you do one in Chicago, I may be able to go.

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  14. I know I shouldn't, but can't stop chuckling at you! LOL Sounds like you had a fab time and obviously made it home in one piece!!

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  15. Glad you got home safe! It was such a treat to meet you.

    :-)

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  16. So fun to hang with you, Cynthianapwarden ;)

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  17. Our leaving didn't turn out as planned either...we spent over an hour stuck in the driveway. Hats off to another Wisconsin guy who was kind enough to leave the comfort of his home and come help us push the van uphill and out of the ditch instead of watching me from his living room window.

    It was great to meet you - I love that as I read this I can hear your voice in my head...you know...not in a creepy way or anything :)

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  18. Blogging retreats are so awesome! I know how much I enjoyed the one I went to a couple of months ago. So great to spend so much real life time with my "virtual" people. Glad you had fun!!

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  19. Man, you are *totally* not allowed out of the house anymore! I didn't hear anything about all your going-ons until this post, poor thing.

    But so happy that I got to meet you. You were/are full of life, full of information and a great blogger to meet IRL.

    Until Cupcake Chicago~

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  20. I'm so glad I'm not the only that does those things! Thanks for the laugh, and I'm glad it all turned out okay.

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  21. oh you lucky girl! I sOOOO wanted to go to this too - but never thought to put my name on a waiting list! Next time pack your hubbie!! hee hee And I am so in for Cupcake chicago!

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  22. I love it when you meet people that restore your faith in humanity! What a wonderful experience :-)
    Soooo, at least BlogHer2010 is in NYC...have to try real hard to get lost there :P

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  23. It was wonderful to meet you! You were so full of helpful information and laughter:)

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  24. I'm just so glad you were there. Really. I think the world of you and your smart and witty self. You aren't an idiot. You were just an over-tired girl lost in Wisconsin, not sure how to think without it pertaining to potty or snacks :)

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  25. You left your lights on AGAIN! Didn't you leave the dome light on when you and Lee went to get your Arm and a Leg booze?

    LOVED LOVED meeting you! I'm going to be going to Chicago soon to see my sis... let's hook up.

    Love you Nappy!

    oh and as for a Cupcake Chicago, count me in! I'll even help plan!

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  26. I can't tell you how many times I've left my headlights on or gotten lost... or spilled coffee all over myself, thus showing up a blogging get together with stained yoga pants.;)
    Cupcake Chicago sounds wonderful. And delicious.

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  27. So glad you had such a great time! We should definitely have a Chicago gathering. I'm all over that. I'll help you plan it!

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