Finding Comfort, Support & Connections at the Food Allergy Blogger’s Conference

FABlogCon was, well, Fab! The first annual Food Allergy Blogger’s Conference blew me, and absolutely everyone else that I spoke, with away. The only negative is that we have to wait a whole year until we get to reunite in person again. It was beyond humbling to be in a roomful of others who just “get it.” No need to explain the daily stress of parenting a child with multiple food allergies, eczema, and asthma. The 120+ in attendance have the same daily struggles and while I would never wish this kind of stress upon anyone, I was thankful for the unconditional support and simple understanding from everyone at the conference. I’ve been in touch with many of these bloggers for several years now, finally getting to sit down with them and just be together, was phenomenal. Our online community became a tight-knit family during the conference and no momentum was lost as the conference came to a close. Interestingly enough, each day this family just grows stronger as we continue to lift each other up and raise awareness.

There are numerous reviews of the event online, so I’ll just point out a few here.

From the master planners:

Jenny of Multiple Food Allergy Help (the woman with the genius idea and the strength to pull it all off!)

Homa of Oh Mah Deehness

Homa & Jenny!

And take a look at this one from my roommate at the event, who volunteered tirelessly before, during, and after the event. Selena of Amazing & Atopic.

Friends and roommates, Jennifer and Selena Bluntzer (Amazing & Atopic).

And here you have a master list of all the blog reviews and comments from attendees and sponsors. Take a look at what Enjoy Life Foods and FARE had to say!

Thank you to my Sponsors!

Now I really want to thank my sponsors for sending me to this event. I am beyond grateful. Please take a look at these guys and show them they love they deserve!

• Allergic Solution – Take a look at Allergic Solution’s very informative Facebook page. They’re also on Twitter and Pinterest.
• Achoo Allergy – Join Achoo Allergy on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• The Eczema Company – Please follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Spotlighting my wonderful sponsors on my custom tee: Allergic Solution, Achoo Allergy & The Eczema Company.

My credentials for the weekend. With my custom tee and the biz cards, it was hard to miss me or my blog. Ha!

And now for a photo recap….

New food allergy friends at FABlogCon 2013 (from left to right: Tiffany (Food Allergy Fun), Libby (The Allergic Kid), Elizabeth (EBL Food Allergies), and Jacqueline (Gluten Intolerance Group of Tri-Valley).

With the lovely ladies of AD Rescuewear, Beth and Anne. Find their very effective clothing for wet wrapping here.

Selena Bluntzer (Amazing & Atopic) with Colette Martin (Learning to Eat Allergy Free).

Here I am with Henry Ehrlich, author of the amazing Asthma Allergies Children: A Parent’s Guide and corresponding web guide.

An example of the top 8 allergen free menus at South Point Casino.

With authors Heather Mehra (No Biggie Bunch) & Donna DeCosta MD (Food Allergy Mom Doc).

1/13/14 Correction: I was initially mistaken about the identity of this animal. This is Lola, who is a Medic Alert Detection Dog trained to detect peanuts.  She was trained for Kendall Hollinger, who has life threatening allergies to peanuts. You can read about Kendall and Lola here.

The last night I hit The Strip with some of my new family: (from left to right: Sarah Hoskinson (Don’t Feed My Monkeys), Lacy Wade (Making it Milk Free), Selena Bluntzer (Amazing & Atopic), Elizabeth Goldenberg (Onespot Allergy/EpiCenter Medical) and me).

The two Canadians, Elizabeth (Onespot Allergy/EpiCenter Medical) and I, appropriately under a flutter of falling maple leaves at the Bellagio.