#FABlogCon Break-Out Session Details
The following Breakout Sessions are meant to be fun, ice-breakers, where attendees can meet in small groups and make like-minded friends. All of the following session descriptions will be taking place on Saturday, between 9am-10:15 AM. These have LIMITED OPENINGS ~ (10 people per session). There are some 60 minute sessions you could choose, or you may choose (2) 30-minute sessions. You MUST have purchased your ticket (or be a speaker/sponsor), and claim your free SCHED.org Account, and your (Attendee Info 2014 form) filled out. For EVERYONE attending- (Including ALL our wonderful Speakers & Sponsors-) Please fill out this form ASAP! This will be used to create your name badge and conference registrations! One form for each attendee coming! After which, you may pre-register for any of the Sessions listed here (click on Break-out Sessions for more information). REGISTRATION for these sessions will be available beginning on June 29th, at 4:00 PM EST.
60 Minute Break-Out Sessions 9:15 – 10:15 AM:
Make the Most of Your Conferences & Expos
Do you feel unprepared or intimidated by being a blogger or member of the press at expos or conferences? Do you look at other bloggers and wonder how they “do it all” in such a short amount of time on the expo floor? Erica Dermer, founder and head celiac in charge of Celiac and the Beast, shares how to prepare ahead of time for large expos and conferences, including BlogHer, Natural Products Expo West, or other trade shows and conferences. Learn how to best schedule your time, work with brand PR and marketing teams ahead of time, utilize social media to make it work for you, and follow-up to get the most out of your time.
A Safe Place to Land
When it comes to our feelings about how food allergies affect ourselves, and those we care about, it’s nice to simply be in the company of others in “our world”. Join Lori Sandler, Founder of Divvies, as she brings one of her warm, inclusive gatherings to FABlogcon. The tremendous respect shown for each other’s personal style in handling all that comes along with food allergies in Lori’s special forums is inspiring. “I am always in awe of the positive spirit, ideas, feelings, and information shared during our conversations. They and YOU have inspired me to host these wonderful, in-person gatherings.”
Flavor and Flair
How to add flavor and flair to your recipes when you feel like you’re allergic to everything. Join Amie Valpone, Editor-in-Chief of TheHealthyApple.com for a session on how to create delicious and healthy recipes without the allergies, but with a whole lot of flavor. Amie is a Manhattan-based Personal Chef, Culinary Nutritionist, Professional Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Writer and Motivational Speaker specializing in simple gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free ‘Clean’ recipes.
Food Can Be Fun for Kids with Food Allergies! Hands-On Bento Class
Did you know that only 2% of children eat their daily recommended amounts of fruits & vegetables? Or that it may take ten or more times introducing a food to a child before they’re willing to try it? In this 60 minute hands-on session, Keeley McGuire will give tips and tricks on making food fun for kids, packing healthy lunches, and practicing a waste-free bento lifestyle, all while still keeping your sanity! Just because our children have allergies or dietary restrictions doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy lunch. Food should be fun for kids with food allergies! It’s time to think outside the brown bag and have fun with your food!
Fun with Cupcake Decorating
Baking for people with food allergies or intolerances can be challenging enough! Take the stress out of decorating with tips and tricks by gluten-free bakery owners Charissa Luke and Cynthia Fleischer of Zest Bakery. They’ll show you fun ways to trick out your cupcakes with some fall-themed decor! Charissa Luke is co-owner of Zest Bakery, a gluten-free bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Feeding the Soul
A family of four invites you to listen and share experiences of the perils and promises of living joyfully free with a life threatening food allergy. How do we transform a tough road into a path with heart? How do we begin again and trust? How do we awaken to generosity, healthy codependence and fearless compassion? Jane, Doug, Lily and Gray Pinto,
How to Make a Good Living Doing What You Love
Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and Senior Editor for Allergic Living magazine, will share her insight on the different avenues for monetizing your passion and how to pursue them. Alisa has several years of experience in working with brands, publishing books, freelance writing, recipe creation, advertising sales, and many other niche jobs that more than pay the bills. Be prepared to take notes and ask questions!
Kitchen Tours with Chef Keith Norman
Join Chef Keith for a tour behind the scenes to see how they manage food allergy preparation and food safety. As a Veteran Marine and with 20 years in the culinary arts field, Keith Norman brings a sense of discipline and order to everything he does, both in business and in the culinary world. Chef Norman has a passion for food safety and sanitation that is apparent in his role as Assistant Executive Chef and Food Safety Manager for the South Point Hotel & Casino and as a culinary arts instructor at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. In both roles, Chef Norman is responsible for training and educating students and culinary professionals in one of the most important facets of the foodservice industry. Read More Here.
30 Minute Breakout Sessions 9:15 – 9:45 AM & 9:45 – 10:15 AM
Make Your Site More “Pinteresting”
Let’s face it, nothing is more fun than Pinterest. Most of your readers will agree with that statement. So as a Pinterest addict and someone who has found great success in using this social media platform, let me help you find ways to use Pinterest to gain followers, site visitors and take your pins from interesting to viral! Chandice Probst is the Founder of www.glutenfreefrenzy.com She is Co-Founder and CEO of Gluten Free Calendar, which hosts Celebrate Celiac™ events and Celiac Awareness Nights with professional athletic teams nationwide to promote celiac awareness, raise proceeds for non-profit research facilities and achieve the company’s slogan of Unity in the Gluten Free Community™. Chandice Founded the Celiac Disease Foundation Arizona East Valley Chapter four years ago. Recently she joined the Delight Gluten Free Magazine team as a regular contributing writer. Chandice has been featured on ABC 15 Sonoran Living, Channel 12 Arizona Midday and in print publications, Women’s World, The Arcadian Journal and Total Kid Magazine. She is now a regular contributor on Channel 3 Your Life A to Z in Arizona where she resides.
Advocate First, Blogger Second: Making Strides the Old Fashion Way
Life can be hard enough avoiding foods that cause our bodies harm, but living in a community that knows very little or most likely nothing about celiac disease or food allergies can make social gatherings even more difficult. Being an advocate in your community, can make living with food allergies or celiac disease a little easier for you and your family. A website about celiac disease or allergy-free living means actively raising awareness online, but are you really doing everything you can to raise awareness in your community? We need to go beyond the computer screen… Kelly Kurzhal, a momma of three, created Raising Jack with Celiac soon after her middle child, Jack was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009. Kelly’s blog, has been featured on SheKnows.com’s “The Best Celiac Blogs for Moms”, as well as Udi’s “Fan-favorite Gluten Free Blogs”. Kelly is also a Contributor for Living Without’s “My Life with Food Allergies”. Join Kelly, as she shares ideas on advocating beyond your computer screen to make strides raising awareness the old-fashioned way.
Put Your Best Food Photo Forward
If you’re tired of shooting in “auto” mode and letting your camera make decisions for you, this hands-on session is designed to help. If you’re not sure what ISO, f-stop, or white balance is, or you want to understand depth of field and aperture settings, camera experts Colette Martin and Selena Bluntzer will help you figure it out. Bring your questions and your camera. If possible, bring your camera manual.
The Key to Youth Can Be Found in Your Baking Tins.
Look no further than your cupboards to find the ingredients you can add to your homemade baked goods that will lead to a more youthful appearance, give you more energy and help you live a healthier life. Some of these ingredients include herbs, spices, whole foods, superfoods and oils such as turmeric, hemp seed, berries, coconut oil, mesquite powder, acai, and buckwheat, just to name a few. Join Debbie Adler from Sweet Debbie’s Organic Bakery as she explains the health benefits of each and how to incorporate them into your cupcakes, brownies, cookies and muffins.
We can’t wait to see you!
