BLOGGER TRIP: EA Sports Active Retreat Weekend — Santa Barbara

Today I was talking to my mom about the EA Sports Active Retreat weekend I along with 11 other challengers enjoyed in Santa Barbara last week. I gave my mom a play-by-play version of everything I experienced and she encouraged me to write it down to remember it. I’ve talked about it so much on Twitter that I didn’t want to rehash it, but here, on my blog, it is a great way for me to share as well as save it for posterity. If you like pictures, you’ll enjoy this.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

I arrived at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara before everyone else at around 1 PM PST. I was excited to be on the west coast for the first time in my life and had to go to the Pacific to see it for myself. Sure, there’s nothing that special about the Pacific ocean. I was just thrilled to be there.

That evening when everyone finally got into Santa Barbara we went to dinner at the resort where they had a fantastic buffet. It was my first time eating sushi and now I cannot get enough of it. It tasted amazing.

At dinner that evening I took photos of two mom blogger superstars and Wal-Mart Elevenmoms, Renee from Cutie Booty Cakes and Monica from Mommy Brains Reports. I also took photos of Gary and Nancy Offut, who I didn’t know beforehand, but who I am so honored to have met. They are such sweet people!

Friday, April 3, 2009

This was the first day of production (giving interviews for web vignettes) as well as the first day we got a chance to use EA Sports Active, which is literally a trainer in a box. EA Sports Active has taken virtual fitness to a whole new level.

Throughout the entire weekend we all had to get makeup applied and retouched all day long. Here’s one of the makeup artists. Isn’t she cute! She was fun and always matched my lipstick to my earrings.

Here’s what it looked like in the room where we worked out. It was a ballroom turned pseudo gym.

After trying EA Sports Active there is no way on earth I won’t be able to get fit. It’s such a great product and the exercises are so phenomenal that if I don’t see results it’s because I just didn’t put in the effort.

That night we went to dinner at a wonderful resort restaurant; the Four Seasons had several. Here’s the super-smart Jessica Smith from JessicaKnows.com

And Donny and Kari Claxton, one of the husband and wife teams that will be participating in the 30-day challenge. Both Donny and Kari are so sweet and with seven children between them I don’t know how they remain sane, but they do. They are a truly amazing couple.

On the trip I also met Lauren Bernat, the Wii Fit Girl. She is down to earth even though she is a YouTube sensation. Her video on YouTube has over 8 million hits, but her fame hasn’t gone to her head at all. Meeting her you wouldn’t even know she’s an Internet star.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Each morning started with an amazing breakfast buffet. All of the food was extraordinary. Plus, we got to eat overlooking the ocean. Here’s a picture of Monica, Julie from Wii Mommies and my North Carolina buddy, and Renee after breakfast.

On Saturday we got to meet the celebrities who are a part of the EA Sports Active 30-day challenge. Bob Greene, Oprah’s trainer, helped collaborate on EA Sports Active and The Biggest Loser’s Alison Sweeney will also take part in the 30-day challenge with all of us. Bob Greene held one-on-one interviews with us and talked to us all about nutrition. There are six things everyone needs to give up if you want to jumpstart your health according to Greene: alcohol, white bread/flour, sugar, whole milk, fried foods, and foods with transfats.

On Saturday night we headed out to dinner in a stretch Cadillac Escalade. Here’s Jen, the PR manager at EA Sports and the person who invited me on the retreat. Thanks, Jen!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

On Sunday it was time for a quick breakfast and then we all had to head to the Santa Barbara airport and go our separate ways. Before I left I had to take another quick trip to the beach. I’ve never been to a place where there are mountains at the ocean. Breathtaking.

Here’s what it looked like heading to my plane at the airport. The experience and everyone I met were phenomenal. I had such a wonderful time and I loved being treated like Internet royalty. It was AMAZING! Thank you EA Sports!