The Great Harvest mission statement ^^ !!
Tonight was a blast – and full of more amazing food, drinks and dancing!
Sadly we lost the sunshine, putting our beach time to an end
But we showered up and did our best to beam anyways
Tonight they had liquor! Manhattans for us!
During cocktail hour we had an extensive silent auction (followed by a life auction!) to raise money for the GH Team In Training Crew raising money for Lymphoma and other cancers, which have affected a number of owners, including us this year. Owners could bit on many items donated from the vendors today as well as bakery items we all need – like jam and peanut butter! Matt and I bit on a logoed pop-up tent, Naturally Nutty and jam, but we did not win any 
Karen says hi!
Dinner tonight began at 7PM with a fancy buffet
Cheese, crackers, fruit and a nice salad
ROLLZ!
Pasta salad and flank steak
Pineapple rice
And grilled fish!
Plus an entire made-to-order paella station! Very impressive.
I filled up on the goods
But the paella was really the gold winner of the evening!
Red wine with dinner. I stopped at 2 drinks per usual, but man can I feel it on my breath tonight after that Manhattan!
For dessert we had lots of little bites again – key limes and kiwi tarts and a big vat of ice cream!! I topped a scoop of ice cream with two tarts and some ginger sauce – mmm!
Unfortunately that put me over the edge fullness wise!
But we remedied that with some dancing – Matt and I were the first on the dance floor!
We had a GLORIOUS time at convention this year!! Met the coolest owners.
And next year – it’s going to be held on Coronado Island in San Diego!! Hopefully by that time we’ll have a humming bakery in our hands but can still find the time to slip away for a few days.
Tomorrow we rise at 4:45AM to drive back to Fort Meyers and make our 7:45 flight. We should be home by mid-afternoon. See you then!
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
I absolutely love that dress, Kath! It’s awesome!
And that event looked amazing. I’d be right there with you on the Manhattans to start!
Looks like a great time! It’s so amazing that you guys are starting out on such a big adventure to pursue something you’re passionate about. Can’t wait until your bakery opens and we get to hear all about it
What a blast! Great photos
BEAUTIFUL Kath! I’m sorry you lost the sunshine but tonight looks amazing
Fly safe tomorrow!!
Love the dress! I wish you had turned that camera to video to catch Matt bustin a move!!!
Looks like you two are having fun! The food and drinks look amazing
Love your dress. Where did you get it?
Ohmygoodness. You are so close to Sanibel Island… which is where my parents are during the winter!!! So totally jealous! BTW, that pic of Matt at the end? CLASSIC! So glad you all had such a great time
What fun! Safe travels tomorrow!
i love all your vacation outfits. i think the tropics suit you ;p
LOL! Love Mats’s dance move there! Awesome!
Sorry…Matt’s.
Wow, looks like an fabulously fun evening!
Looks like you had an awesome time! That food looked so good.
I agree that tropical prints look quite stunning on you!
you are stunning in prints. Loved all your dresses.
must must must go to coronado if you are able. you will LOVE it out here!!! it’s the.best.place in the world (after c’ville, that is
yay, san diego! my stomping grounds. you will have a blast and half! so gorgey.
I am so jealous! I secretly wish to someday own a bakery/cafe!
Can’t wait to hear about the bakery! And it’s so great you have been having such lovely food all weekend
What an awesomely fun time!
I am originally from San Diego and I used to work on Coronado. It is beautiful and I’m sure you will have a great time there!
thats where i was married – coronado island! you will love it. looks like a pretty dang fun time this year though.
What a great dress! And the food
The dancing looks like the best part to me, though-glad you had fun. Me and my husband are always on the dance floor first….well I am dragging him there, but he is a great sport!
Looks like a blast!!! Dancing and letting loose is a necessity to life!!!
What a bummer about the weather, but you got some good sunshine for a couple days so youre lucky
GH sure knows how to serve some food!
I am way too shy to dance in public unless I’ve been drinking, so props for getting out there
Looks like fun!
Wow, the whole conference sounds totally awesome. You were so well taken care of! Next year will be amazing too. Coronado is beautiful!
Sucks that you had sucky weather your last day there. At least the food looks great!
Safe travels tomorrow.
My family lives on Coronado!! You’ll love it there, it’s gorgeous and walkable!
All of the food looks incredible!!
Have a safe trip home. Karen is looking wonderful, by the way!
You enjoyed such delicious food on your trip. Yum!
dancing queen!!!
i don’t think i’ve ever had paella – real paella. looks amazing.
Dangit…at first I thought that said Colorado!!! hahaa
what a fun conference! safe travels home!
Do you know if they are going to have a Great Harvest in San Diego ever? I am from there and it would be nice when I come back to school to try and visit one :]
A paella bar is such a neat idea! I love paella, but rarely get to enjoy it due to the commonly-included seafood. I’m suggesting this to the next friend who gets married! Perfect for a destination wedding reception.
Paella is one of my favorite dishes of all time!
Love the dress, Kath – where did you get it?
coolest food on vacation EVER!
As I scrolled through the pictures, I’d think, “Oh I want that…not wait a minute! I want to try that too! OoOo that looks so yummy!” hahaha great dishes
Hope you guys get some more fun/rest time and traveling mercies tomorrow! <3
Dress is from Loehmann’s!
All that food looks amazing!
Those are some really impressive convention meals! Have a good trip back.
100% I will take you out for a drink or dessert or whatever you want!
“And next year – it’s going to be held on Coronado Island in San Diego!”–
I live in San Diego and would love to show you around! And there are really only two major “player” hotels on Coronado where they’d do a conference like this….and both of them are breathtaking. You will LOVE IT!!
OMG kath I am from CORONADO! It’s my hometown and where I grew up! I was married back home last summer and my family still lives there. I wish that I would be home to show you around, but I actually live abroad. I read your blog all the way over here in Vienna, Austria. You will love Coronado. Can’t wait till you share your adventures there.
I have to say it again, this is the BEST business trip ever!!
Hi Karen!!!!!!! I hope Karen had a wonderful time too ; ) Im sure she did! She is so sweet!
U look beautiful as always Kath and thanks for sharing your time you had in Florida, looks awesome, and I hope you guys have a safe flight back! <3 xo
oh paella is my favorite thing ever -looks great!
That looks like you had a blast! I love paella (sans seafood – is that a crime?) and that looks delicious!
What a wonderful buffet! And you have such lovely dresses
Hahaha wait I love that mission statement! Slash that pineapple rice sounds so good, I will have to recreate that!
I think I love every single article of clothing that you own!
The picture of Matt dancing cracks me up!
YIKES!
White people “cutting the rug” on the dance floor!
It’s all good. especially anything key lime.
Glad you had a good time! Matt looks like he went to the same dance school as my husband
Love the dress and the make-up! Safe travels.
Wow, that looks like an incredible meal! Hello made-to-order paella! YUM!
Your excitement for the new bakery really comes through in your photos from the last few days. Congrats again to you, Matt, & Karen!
That looks like such a fun night. And your dress is really cute too.
Another cute dress by you. I love to see other’s fashions!
Safe travels home
Looks like you hada good time with great harvest!
It has nothing to do with your post, but I was wondering whta your thoughts as a RD were on ayurvedic eating? I toatlly agree with their “eat lots of veggies, fruit, whole grain” idea, but I was windering if eating according to your type made sense from a dietary point of view? Any chance you’d have time to do a post on that or on different “eating philosophies”
My only eating philosophy is eat real food!! I really don’t buy into food combining or anything like that.
How fun! How is Karen feeling? She looks great.
I agree with Elizabeth above me – Karen looks great! My mom shaved her head after her first chemo treatment and stuck with scarves, turbans and wigs until she was done, and she said it was a good choice for her because she didnt’ have to deal with her hair slowly falling out. Karen still has great color in her face and looks healthy. I hope she’s feeling good. Let me know if I can do anything for her or you guys.
I want a Manhattan.
LOVE the pictures of the dancing – you guys look like you had a great night! The pineapple rice and grilled fish sound like something I need to be making soon!
It sounds like such a great time, Kath. I love Great Harvest – and I love that they are such a great group of people. Glad you had fun!
What a fun night! That food once again, looks incredible! I love that they have made to order paella! So cool! Have a safe flight home!
How fun! And they chose a great location for next year too
Have a safe trip home!
Beautiful outfit-
just love the brown /turquoise on you and jewellry !
Love the dress!
Plus, it’s totally fun! One of my favorite ways to “exercise” or dancersize? 
Have a safe trip back, I’m glad you had a great time!
And dancing is an awesome way to speed up digestion
I want to go to this conference! Also, I like some of those food combinations for a beach wedding…
San Diego is my hometown and Coronado is probably one my FAVORITE places. Absolutely gorgeous! you’ll love it!
That food looks amazing. I also am loving Matt’s dance moves. Cracks me up.
What a pretty dress! I love that Karen came with you guys! PS There should be a name for Matt’s dance move!
Karen looks beautiful, it’s wonderful to see. Hope she feels as good as she looks!
Beautiful dress! and your hubby has some moves LOL it was great to see Karen she looks beautiful
Wow! Talk about good eats!! And I LOVE the pics of you and Matt dancing…too cute!
Wait until you go to Coronado Island – it is heaven on earth. My son was married on Coronado Island and we spent 2 glorious weeks there. If I was younger, I would have never come back.
How fun. Have a safe trip back!
You are killing me with this food. It all looks so delicious!!!
The prettiest photo on your post is of you and Karen. Good thoughts and wishes!
Looks like you had a great time! Complete with Manhattans and a dance party, how fun!
Haha I love the picture of Matt dancing – what a guy!
Karen looks beautiful! I’ve been thinking about her a lot and hoping that her treatment goes smoothly. She seems like such a wonderful person on the inside and out.
My aunt and uncle used to live in Coronado! I went there when I was 5. Don’t remember much but through pictures, it looks beautiful!
I love the paella station. I made paella at a professors apartment in Madrid. So good!