One thing that continually inspires me as a blogger is the great sense of community I feel when I am able to get together with other like-minded bloggers. My friend Reichel and I started a local group (SF Bay Area) called The Blog Exchange shortly after the Spring Tea party we hosted. We created it to help bring together other local bloggers for anything from coffee dates to special events. Having a supportive community of other bloggers is a invaluable resource to have, especially when most of your work is done alone. This Midsummer Beach Picnic is our second event together, and I think it’s my favorite so far.
Be sure to read to the end of this post for a chance to win one of three goodie bags from the event!
We knew we wanted to have it near the water and chose Alameda Beach as the location. We were inspired by the deep blue hues of our own San Francisco Bay and let that set the tone for the rest of the planning. For the decor we partnered with World Market, and used this striped and diamond shaped shibori fabric from Minted to make the pillowcases and table runner. Suja was wonderful enough to provide some of their green delight juice (big hit!) we all enjoyed, and Reichel and I put together the food which included a cucumer-tomato salad, turkey & provolone sandwiches, and bruschetta sandwiches.
I’m so excited to have teamed up with some great sponsors for the goodie bags for this event. As with our own blogs, when it comes to these, we always aim to partner with sponsors that not only are doing something cool or innovating but who also reflect some of our personal values as well. Check them out below:
80 Acres
The bountiful land and a true intention to inspire thoughtful living are the foundation of 80 Acres body care—the products are handcrafted locally in small-batch production and organic ingredients are used whenever possible. Rich and luxurious, moisturizing and healing, our products are infused with vitamin-rich plant extracts and botanicals inspired by the wealth of natural elements present on and around the ranch. Our entire body care line is free of sulfates, parabens and phthalates and is never tested on animals—our packaging is recyclable and BPA-free.
Ariel Gordon Jewelry
Handmade with love in Los Angeles, Ariel Gordon Jewelry is made “to be subtle and chic, lived in and layered”. Ariel’s vision is “to create jewelry that can transition well and be a wardrobe staple” and she does absolutely just that. The collection focuses on both quality and accessibility, and is designed to make wearers feel effortlessly stylish.
Boudin
A San Francisco local favorite. In 1849, the Boudin family struck culinary gold. Wild yeasts in the San Francisco air had imparted a unique tang to their traditional French bread, giving rise to “San Francisco sourdough French bread.” Today, the Boudin family’s initial recipe lives on in the hands and hearts of our expert bakers, with a portion of the original mother dough still starting each and every sourdough loaf we make.
Drybar
Drybar is a “blow dry bar” concept created around a very simple idea: No cuts. No color. Just blowouts! Our philosophy is simple: Focus on one thing and be the best at it. For us that’s blowouts. We’ve created these products and tools with that same goal in mind. To achieve and maintain the perfect blowout.
Fleeps
We provide people worldwide with uniquely designed sandals that will change the course of poverty through education. FLEEPS is helping females flourish everywhere. We make uniquely designed sandals that are classic, versatile, fun and allow women to step into their best selves. Every time a pair is purchased, a contribution is made to the FLEEPS Foundation. From here, funds are evenly distributed to our partner organizations who work to provide education and opportunities for young girls– our next generation of women.
Luckies of London
I’ve had the Luckies Scratch Globe for a few years now, and it’s always one of my favorite decor pieces. It reminds me of fond memories of my travels and I wanted to share that with the girls of The Blog Exchange as well.
Moonfluf
All natural cotton candy, spun in Kansas. We use the finest all-natural cane and coconut sugars when preparing small batches of Moonfluf. Our toppings include all-natural and organic edible glitter, marshmallows, cocoa dust, sea salt, and sugar flakes.
Surf Sweets
Bert Cohen, successful entrepreneur and natural foods devotee discovered Surf Sweets, a brand based in California that embodied the active lifestyle and clean food choices that he valued. His calling from that time on became clear – to create a Candy Contradiction with Surf Sweets. We donate a minimum of 1% of the sales from our products to a number of organizations that support environmental causes through 1% for the Planet, including the Rozalia Project, Sustainable Surf, Climate Cycle, and Healthy Child Healthy World.
Front: Reichel of CopyCatChic, Sally of Little Hiccups, Hannah of Hannah Suh, Christina of Closet Luxe, Brett of Decorotation, Celine of 24 East, Kate of JetKat Photo. Back: Cristen of The Bucket List Mom, Ashley of A Lady Goes West, Jennifer of Our Urban Playground, Shari of Savvy Everyday, Melissa of Savvy in SF, Carla of Alyssa & Carla, and myself.
Now it’s time for the giveaway! Would you like to enter to win all of the goodies above? You can do so via the widget below. Best of luck!
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