6-8 PM "What's Your Story?" Attendees will have the opportunity to share (if you'd like) what makes you you.
8-10 PM "Open forum, Q&A" A time to ask anything and everything- blog related or not. We'll even provide a way to ask anonymous questions if you prefer.
10-? Free play!
Sunday January 10, 2010 Breakfast will be provided
1pm Checkout
This itinerary is open to suggestions and subject to change as needed. Please let us know what YOU'D like to happen at Cupcake '10.
[I get a little crazy-eyed when cupcakes are around. Be prepared.]
Cupcake '10 is LESS THAN A WEEKANDAHALF AWAY!
And that means MY BIRTHDAY is LESS THAN A WEEKANDAHALF AWAY!
(cough cough, didn't you know?)
Anyway....
Heather is currently moving to a new house. And we're all nursing holiday hangovers, I know. But Cupcake '10 is almost here!!!
Aren't you getting a leeeetle excited? I am!!
I thought I'd let you all know what I plan on bringing (aside from birthdayself, my pillow, & Ivy)-
For the Saturday night potluck Remember, lunch is on your own for Saturday, as we expect people to arrive after lunchtime. But we thought it would be super fun if we all bring our favorite potlucky dishes to share for dinner on Saturday.(There is a full kitchen at Stony Hill Farm, so things can be re-heated. Bringing crock pots, etc will probably be helpful, too.)
I think I'll bring a veggie pizza thing I love (it's a cold appetizery veggies&dip-type thing) and maybe this really yummy chipotle black bean chili. I'll make a huge pot.
I am thinking about ordering some of my favorite cupcakes (the strawberries & cream cupcake pictured above) from the cupcake shop by us. If I can get them super fresh, I'll bring some of those, too!
Don't forget Your camera (we'll make a flickr group to share all our awesome photos) Your laptop (if you want to blog, there's supposed to be wifi!) Your jammies Your pillow (just in case-we might need to get creative with the sleeping arrangements- if we decide to sleep, that is.)
What else should we bring? Leave a comment letting us know what you are thinking about bringing for the potluck and anything else I might have forgotten to add.
We'll be updating the Cupcake blog more often until the awesome cupcakey weekend. So stay tuned.
Wow! You guys are just as excited about CUPCAKE '10 as we are! Registration for lodging at Stony Hills Farm is full at this time, but keep in mind that we are creating a waiting list in case an initial registrant is unable to come. Also, plans are in the works to help those of you who still want to attend link up with each other and get lodging (perhaps at a nearby hotel) together if you would like. Stay tuned!
So what we're saying is, don't give up! Make your plans and join us! We'd love to have you! Please leave a comment if you'd like to be in the loop about lodging elsewhere. Thank you!
What is CUPCAKE '10? CUPCAKE is a Midwestern event for women bloggers. The vision for this is a simple one involving friends old and new, the eating of good food, a fireplace, talking for hours and the sipping of wine. Although it isn't a blogging conference, we're guessing there will be many discussions on blogging, since it's a common interest of...well, bloggers. The purpose of the event is to give bloggers a chance to meet in person, hang out, and take a break from life.
When is CUPCAKE '10? Saturday, January 9 to Sunday January 10, 2010
Where is CUPCAKE '10? This event is taking place in the Midwest almost completely because the visionaries behind it happen to live in the Midwest and had been kicking around the idea of meeting half-way to spend some time together. The venue is a lovely place called Stony Hill Farm in Oregon, WI, just minutes from Madison.
What is the cost? $100 total. This includes lodging, breakfast on Sunday (Saturday night will be potluck (in true laid back hanging out style), so bring something small to share), beverages, snacks, and a token of appreciation for coming (sometimes known as swag, but this isn't a conference so we're not going to call it that).
This fee will be paid at registration and will not be refunded after December 20, 2009. (see details by clicking the 'Register' button above).
(Yes, there will be cupcakes too, but they aren't included in the cost. They will be donated, thankfully.)
Who is invited? Any 20 people who want to come! You don't have to know anyone at all, you're welcome to come and get to know other bloggers. Registration will be first come, first serve.
Why only 20 people? Our vision for CUPCAKE is an everyone is welcome approach. That being said, because this is the first year we honestly aren't sure how big it is going to get. Lodging is tricky for uncertain numbers of people, and we love the location we found which maxes at 20. If we do fill all of our spots and you would still like to participate, you are more than welcome to arrange lodging near by and spend your waking hours at the CUPCAKE '10 headquarters. Please let us know if this is your plan so we can have a cupcake ready for you, too. (In this case, the registration fee will be $20. So if you and some friends want to split a hotel room and join us, please still register.)
We will also create a waiting list. If someone finds they're unable to attend after registering and cancels, we'll let the next person on the list know that a space is available if they'd like it.
What is the point of following this blog? Good question. We included the followers widget not only for people who are attending to stay up-to-date on details and information, but another reason to follow is if you'd like to observe the journey and then join in on this in the coming years if it's something that interests you. If there is a larger response than we imagined this year, we'll definitely plan for more than 20 people in the coming years. So follow along, whether you're coming or not. We're sure to post some stories and photos as well, during and after the event this year.
How do I register? Click on the 'Register' button above. Follow the directions and voila! Done.
Do I need to buy new clothes? Nope, not unless you like using a girl's weekend as an excuse to do some shopping. This event is taking place in January in Wisconsin, so think jeans or yoga pants and sweatshirts and sweaters. And slippers. Basically, wear whatever you're comfortable in (including your baby if you have one and want them with you).
Why is the event called CUPCAKE? This idea was born out of a friendship and a meeting of the minds. It grew organically, as two bloggy friends (Heather of the EO and Stephanie of Adventures in Babywearing) emailed about how and when they and a few others could get together in person. A discussion developed on Twitter in response to this, and suddenly it became clear that there were a lot of Midwestern bloggers who were interested in a weekend away, and a chance to get to know each other better in person.
The Twitter banter that ensued when this conversation started was inspiring and sometimes hilarious. Tweeters shot off ideas rapid-fire style, and when the topic of a name came up, Beth (I Should Be Folding Laundry) tweeted a simple "CUPCAKE." You see, the love of cupcakes is a common bond for many of the bloggers interested in this event. Many of these lovely ladies get together in person quite frequently to eat said cupcakes. It has become their "thing."
So what better a name than one that holds personal meaning to many, and is completely relatable to many more. Friendship, laughter, story-telling, and baked goods. What could be sweeter?
What else should I know? Since it's not an official conference, there will be more mingling and less sitting and listening. But, since we all have the common ground of blogging, we want there to be time to discuss what may be on your mind. We plan to have some time (in front of crackly fireplace) available to pick each other's minds and bounce ideas off of each other. Consider bringing a topic or idea to discuss, or a specific question(s) you may have. Some of the people planning to attend are seasoned bloggers, who may have some valuable advice and/or words of wisdom in helping you focus in on what really matters in your world of blogging.
More than that, bring your ability to relax and have a good time. We have a few (totally rad) things up our sleeves for organized time as a group, but that will be short and sweet (like a cupcake).
Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.
