Pinch My Salt

Food, Recipes, and Photography

What I Learned in Mexico

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Riviera Maya

I have recently returned from Food Blogger Camp 2011, which took place near Cancún at the amazing Grand Velas Riviera Maya all-inclusive resort.  It was my first time to the area and my first time staying in a resort of any kind.  It was also my first Food Blogger Camp.

It’s hard to believe that it actually happened, but there I was in the middle of paradise surrounded by a fantastic group of food bloggers that I respect and admire.  Good people.  Warm people.  The kind of people you want to surround yourself with all the time.  It was so much more than a vacation (though I really needed that, too).  It was an inspiring week filled with learning, sharing, blossoming friendships, and laughter.

I learned about food photography, food styling, business, finding my voice, and finding myself.

When I first read about Food Blogger Camp 2011 and learned who the seminar leaders would be, I knew I had to go.  I’ve been a food blogger for almost five years, but recent changes in my life have left me floundering, not sure which direction to turn, not confident in my ability to continue this as a career.  I knew that if anything could help me find my path, this “camp” would be it.

The seminar leaders were Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes, Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen, David Lebovitz, Todd Porter and Diane Cu of White on Rice Couple, Matt Armendariz of Matt Bites, and amazing food stylist Adam Pearson.  You see?  I just had to go.

Our Fabulous Seminar Leaders

Left to right: Elise, Todd, Jaden, Matt, Adam, David, and Diane.

The problem is that I have a tendency to talk myself out of things like this.  I am extremely shy in groups of more than a few people, and get so nervous about the thought of blogging conferences that I usually come up with excuses to keep myself from going.  Luckily I told my Aunt Kathy about Food Blog Camp before I had a chance to talk myself out of it, so once I did start making excuses, I had my aunt pushing me to go.  Not only did she make me go, she sent my cousin Corinne along with me.

Corinne and I have both had a rough year.  My marriage ended and I moved back to my hometown to be near my family and get some help picking up the pieces of my life and figuring out a new way to put them back together.  Almost immediately after I arrived, my Uncle Jim (Corinne’s father) passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  Looking back, most of 2010 is a blur.

I needed some direction in my life while Corinne, I knew, needed some time away from the life that doesn’t slow down to help you deal with the loss of a parent.  I knew the kind of people who would be at Food Blogger Camp.  I knew that it would be good for me and good for her, even as a non-blogger.  I was right.

Corinne

The Food Blogger Camp sessions were so inspiring that Corinne attended every single one of them with me.  She loves photography and was blown away by Todd and Diane’s food photography session.  So was I.  In fact, I was blown away by every session.

But it wasn’t just the classroom learning that made this trip so meaningful.  It was once again finding the sense of community that first made me fall in love with food blogging all those years ago when I was a military spouse living in Sicily searching for others around the world who understood why I was so excited about the food.

Being around this wonderful bunch of people, new friends and old, made everything come into sharp focus.  Somewhere between a quick but meaningful pre-session conversation with the lovely Brooke of Food Woolf and an afternoon margarita with David Lebovitz at the swim-up pool bar, something hit me.

I am a food blogger.

I cook.  I bake.  I write.  I develop recipes.  I photograph food.  I share.  This is what I do.

This is my future.

I am so grateful to have spent that week in Mexico.  I am grateful to my family for helping me get there and I am grateful for each and every person who took the time to talk to me and make me feel welcome in this community that I need so much to be a part of.

And thank you, Corinne, for going on this adventure with me and for the daily text messages since, reminding me to stay focused and keep working.

Cousins!

To any food blogger who has considered attending Food Blogger Camp 2012 and is wondering whether the experience is worth the time and expense.  Just go.

And to anyone who is in need of the ultimate, luxurious, relaxing vacation, I can’t say enough about Grand Velas Riviera Maya.  I have never felt so pampered in my life.  One of my new goals in life is to be able to return to the resort for a week-long vacation with my sister, who I wish could have joined us on this trip.

Enjoy the photos!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anne says

    Wonderful, inspiring post! I know Todd and Diane and they have a gift for embracing people and just saying, "Here, let me teach you, let me show you!" and the world would be a better place if we had more people like them! I am so glad you went and even happier that you came to the self-realization that yes, you are a food blogger and it's your future. I love your blog, have always read it and you don't need to tell me twice- you're like, the Uber-Food Blogger! Congratulations on your amazing work on this site, the friends and lessons made on the trip, and to a bright future. Much respect and love! A
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  2. Lucy Lean says

    Thank you for this wonderful round-up of the week - I regret not making more time to chat with other food bloggers in Mexico - including you - I guess there's always next year! If you are ever in LA come to a reunion. Carry on Blogging - even without the swim-up bar LL
    Reply

  4. Daniel says

    What an amazing post. I am eternally grateful that you pulled me into the BBA Challenge, and that I am able to read your posts. I have always thought of you as a food blogger since I began reading your blog. Thank you. Thank you and thank you for all of your writings.
    Reply

  6. Mairi @ Toast says

    What a beautiful, heartfelt posting. Food Blog Camp sounds amazing and most definitely want to try & make it in 2012 it just looks like such an unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing and here's to you having a wonderful 2011.
    Reply

  9. angela says

    This was such a beautifully written piece, I wish I'd written it! (and taken the photos) Your blog is very inspiring. Reading everyone's pieces on Food Blogger Camp I'm realising that more and more people were there to heal the wounds of 2010, as I was, my mother died in 2010, but I didn't realise that that was why I was there, until I read other people's posts and realised that that was why they were there as well. Hope its not too hot in Fresno! The cold Mistral wind is blowing where I am!
    Reply

  10. Sally says

    Nicole, I loved reading this post and meeting you at "camp." If I regret anything it is that I did not get to know you better. I agree with Angela, there was a whole lot of healing going on for a lot of people. I wrote about the event without having reflected very long, but now, looking back, I see that it was instrumental in helping me take another look at what I am doing and why I am doing it. I may not even have a blog at the end of the day! I am definitely in transition in my life and camp helped me identify some of the changes I might make. I am still mulling it all over. I was impressed and inspired by the genuine generosity of the "counselors." I hope these next few months find you able to process all that has happened and I have no doubt that you will come out on the other side a stronger and happier person. Keep in touch! (p.s., I'll be following you!) xxoo, Sally
    Reply

  13. Diana says

    Wow, you really had a rough year. I'm so glad you were able to get away and be inspired, and so sad I didn't get to talk to you more! I'm thrilled you're continuing to blog because you're brilliant at it. Hope to see you again soon and actually get a chance to know each other better.
    Reply

  18. Steph says

    Loved this post so much. I was moved to tears when reading it. I wanted to tell you on our last visit how much i loved it but was distracted with all the kiddos:p Chris recently read it and wanted me to write that he continues to be very proud of you. And he felt like a proud brother reading your post:) So glad you took the leap to go on that trip with Corinne...sounds like it was a meant to be trip for the both of you.
    Reply

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