Carolina Bloggers Meet-Up: Part 1

 CONGRATULATIONS to Becky on winning my $100 Dream Classroom Giveaway!!

I've sent you an email about your prize!! :)

 

Oh. My. Word!  Carolina Girls Bloggers are definitely the BEST!  Y'all - we had so much fun at the meet-up this weekend.

I would upload all my pictures and show you to prove it, but I was having too much fun to TAKE pictures it seems! :)  Or, I might just be the WORST photographer ever.  I'm not sure why I continue to buy cameras...I'm pretty sure I don't need another one unless they invent one that takes pictures FOR you! :)  When my blogging buddy, Ginger, is back from vacay and uploads her pics, I'll "borrow" some to post....she was a fabulous photographer for us!

For now, I'll do the best that I can by "borrowing" instagram photos from my other blog buddies to try to show you how much fun was had by all!

The meet-up was in my hometown of Greenville, or G-Vegas, as it is often called. That's right - that Vegas meet-up has nothing on us!

We started the weekend by checking into the hotel.  Most of us were staying at The Westin, right on Main St. in downtown Greenville.

{Photo from Natalie of Teachery Tidbits}

From there, we took a short walk (yes, it was SHORT, Rachel!) to The Lazy Goat for an amazing little dinner.

A pic of the girls at my dinner table!

{Picture from Brandee at Creating Lifelong Learners}

 My G-Vegas Partner in Crime, Ginger from Gingersnaps!

After dinner, most of us headed down Main St. to the new dueling piano bar in town, Jack n Diane's!  SO MUCH FUN!!

We may have "busted a move" or two.....and some of our bloggy friends have more moves than others!  Just sayin'......Elisabeth and Amber! :)  These two girls are a ball of FUN!

 

 {Picture from Amber (right) at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher}

You know my competitiveness always comes out on "the board" at these places.  When the writing was changed to support the "other school" in our state, I had to take over.....

....several times...

 but rest assured, the other school was NOT on that board when we left! :) #GoCocks!

Those of us who stayed until the end may have a special little bond (due to some videos of some of those moves I was talking about!)  But don't worry.....what happens in G-Vegas, stays in G-Vegas!  Too much fun, girls!

 {Picture from Ashley of Primary Teacherhood}

After a little R&R back at the hotel, some people rose early to hit the Farmers' Market that sets up on Saturday mornings along Main Street.

{Photo from Natalie of Teachery Tidbits}

Then, we met back up for lunch on Saturday at Chicora Alley.

We had a couple of bloggers join us for just Saturday - so glad they could make it!  Everyone got a little "keepsake" bag to remember their visit to "GreenVegas".

Here's a peek inside...

{gold "bullion" wrapped in a playing card from The Palms in Vegas}

{a lucky G-Vegas poker chip}

{the lucky chips were bagged with a little tag and some green chocolates}

{green bead necklaces and vegas mints}

{a CD of 10 of the top Piano Bar Songs}

 

{Vegas-Themed Nametags}

 
After lunch, we headed across the street to Falls Park for a quick little group pic (which of course, I don't have).

While some had to hit the road for a drive back home, several of us stayed for a little scavenger hunt fun and boutique hopping along Main Street.

Browsing in a little artsy boutique for some unique finds!

Amber rubbing the nose of this statue for good luck!

If you want to read/see more about our Carolina Bloggers Meet-Up, you should scroll down and visit the blogs of all of the fabulous girls {and follow them on Instagram} for a better glimpse.

Can't wait to top it next year, girls!  It was wonderful to have a little LONGER meet-up so we could talk to so many more people than last year.  Maybe next year we can do a LONG weekend! 

So, here's a look at all of the bloggers and a little that I learned about each one of them this weekend.

Brooke from Whooo's in Second?

Brooke is a SWEETHEART who is always eager to help out and lend a hand!  Thanks for setting up our digital scrapbook!  I can't wait until it's filled with pictures. :)

Sarah at Education Electrification

Sarah is a new mom who more than deserved a night out with the girls!  I wish I had the chance to chat with you more!

Diane at Fun in Second Grade

Diane has been teaching about the same amount of years as me and we both LOVE second grade!

Heather at Room 4 Imagination

Heather just got back from vacay in San Francisco and she has a new cute convertible, too....I can't top THAT summer! :)

Elisabeth at Twins, Teaching, and Tacos

Elisabeth has moves...I still think you should have MC Hammered it up to that stage, girl! :)

Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Amber is a bundle of FUN - for real!  She and Elisabeth (see above) just might be a big ol' dose of double trouble...in the best way! :)



Natalie at Teachery Tidbits

Natalie is the sweetest thing EVER and she can give Martha Stewart a run for her money with the cupcakes.  Yum! Yum!


Kim at Thanks to a Teacher

Kim is an amazing teacher who has experience in almost every grade....except for 2nd...she would never leave if she ever landed in 2nd, I'm telling ya!


Kris at The Poole Pages

Kris just moved to the Carolinas (NC) not too long ago from Wisconsin.  While I'm sure she misses WI, we're so glad to have her as a Carolina girl now! :)


Brandee at Creating Lifelong Learners

Brandee....oh, I was so glad to have Brandee, another Carolina (as in Gamecock) girl there to have my back this weekend!

Courtney at Second Grade Snapshots

Courtney is such a trooper! Even though her leg is in a boot, she didn't complain once about us making her walk all over the place!  She's even in the midst of a move to a new school right now...and is doing it all with a smile on her face! {She might be Wonder Woman....I'm just sayin'!}

Ginger at GingerSnaps

Oh, Ginger - what can I say?!  She was my "go-to-girl" for this meet-up and did a FAB job creating the Scavenger Hunt for us (and taking pics!)  But, she is also a big ol' meanie who loves to rub those TIGERS in my face any chance she gets. ;)  Love ya, anyway, girl!


Rachel at The Tattooed Teacher

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel....I honestly didn't think I'd ever find anyone who hated the outdoors as much as I do.  Not anymore!  This girl definitely doesn't like to sweat! This is why we get along, well, that and our dislike of germ-y people. :)


Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B

Elizabeth is a sweetie - who doesn't love this girl? But, she's also a ton of F-U-N! <3 

Ashley from Primary Teacherhood

Ashley reminds myself of me.  Very quiet.  I take a long time to open up to people (like maybe after I teach with you for a couple of years!), so I think we could hang together!

Tammy at Life, Love, Literacy

Tammy is a ball of energy!  She just might give Amber and Elisabeth a run for their money in the dance competition.  Loved it, girl!

Emily AND Kerry at Third and Goal

The Charleston girls - so jealous of your location and loved talking with you at lunch.  I say we have next year's meet-up in your zip code! :)

Lauren at The Sweetest Thing

What a sweetie!  Lauren is definitely a proud new aunt (as she should be!) and is preparing to move to a new school in the "other" Carolina (NC) - they'll be lucky to have you!

Jeannie at The Second Grade Surprise

Jeannie, I don't know how we keep meeting up this summer and not getting to chat much, but I'm so glad you were able to make it to lunch!  We'll have to plan that chat soon!

Lana at 4 The Love of Teaching

Lana is what I call a "beach bum" and I'm super jealous of all of her "toes in the sand" time this summer.  So glad you were able to come for lunch and hate that I missed chatting with you!

Amanda at Teaching Maddeness What would they say about me?  Probably that I'm competitive, clumsy, and, apparently, shorter than I appear on my blog. ;)  We also had a couple of SC teachers who aren't bloggers...YET to join us.  I hope to see them blogging soon!  And, I hope that you'll find some new blogs to follow from this fabulous list!  You'll be happy that you did...believe me!  Carolina Girls Bloggers are the BEST!