The Fresh Air Food Blogger Retreat was the most valuable, fun, and inspiring experience I’ve had yet in my food content creator career! Let me tell you all about it and how you can also experience this 🙂
Who, What, When, Where, Why? (Yes, we’re taking it back to elementary school with the 5 W’s)
The Fresh Air Retreat took place this year on September 9, 2025 – September 12, 2025 in beautiful sunny San Diego, CA. The retreat is all about bringing food creators together for an inspiring week of learning, connecting, and recharging. It’s a chance to swap ideas with other bloggers, meet amazing brands, and soak up all the creative energy while actually taking a breather. Think of it as part work, part vacation, and all good vibes.
Hosts:
Liz Della Croce | @thelemonbowl | thelemonbowl.com
Liz was the heart of it all, an inspiring food blogger and the most welcoming host who made everyone feel right at home.
Lauren Grier | @thecurious_plate | thecuriousplate.com
Lauren is the sweetest person with incredible recipes, and she opened up about her journey while effortlessly hosting such a beautiful and inspiring retreat.
Chef Trimell Hawkins | @cheftrimell
Chef blew us all away with his thoughtful cooking and effortless talent; every meal he created felt like an experience on its own.
Food Bloggers Attendees:
- Jenn Lueke | jenneatsgoood.com | @jenneatsgoood
- Robyn Downs | realfoodwholelife.com | @realfoodwholelife
- Krista Pool | stayfitmom.com | @stayfitmom_krista
- Julia Vuong | thespicyjuju.com |@thespicyjuju
- Aleka Shunk | alekasgettogether.com | @alekasgettogether
- Christian Ou | onehappybite.com | @onehappybite
- Kiley O’Donnell | wellmadebykiley.com | @wellmadebykiley
Can I say just how much I love women? I got the pleasure to get to know all these amazing women who are not only food bloggers but moms, business owners, video content creators, cookbook authors, and so much more. We got to openly be vulnerable about our similar struggles and burn out, but also shared our own success stories on how we do things to improve each other’s processes. These women fostered an environment of community, collaboration, & connection over competition and it was truly refreshing and inspiring. There were no “dumb questions” and we learned how similar yet different all our journeys have been where there’s no one right path to what success looks like in this career. I felt a great sense of camaraderie and collectiveness. Check out all their food blogs and socials mentioned above because they each have such different amazing styles.
Eat, Sip, Repeat:
Now let me finally get to the food portion of this retreat. Not only were our minds fed, but of course our tummies. Chef Trimell cooked up endless thoughtful delicious feasts that highlighted each of the food sponsors. My absolute favorite dinner theme was the Thanksgiving feast with Butterball. For anyone who has ever felt intimidated by cooking a big ole turkey for the holidays, Butterball is a total lifesaver. Their products make it possible to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast without the stress or uncertainty of “Am I doing this right?” For someone like me, who loves hosting but doesn’t always have the time (or experience) to prep a giant bird from scratch, Butterball makes it approachable, reliable, and still delicious. I can’t wait to bring that into my own holiday celebrations this year. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is choosing the sides to go with the delicious turkey.
An honorable mention was the Pizza Party with Current Backyard where I got to toss my own pizza dough and throw it in the magical oven that makes neopolitan style pizza in less than 3 minutes.
Trip Highlights:
- Connecting with other talented food bloggers who just get it. We laughed over shared struggles, brainstormed new ideas, and swapped tips that I know will stick with me for years.
- Experiencing all the master food creations by Chef Trimell and appreciating his creativity in each and every dish.
- Getting to sit down and talk to brand sponsors and learn about their product in a way that’s authentic and human.
Main Takeaways:
- Community and Connection are key: There’s something so energizing about being in a room full of people who are walking the same path, and it reminded me that while content creation can feel isolating, it’s also a journey built on collaboration and shared passion.
- Trust in your own path: What works for someone else may not work for me, and that’s perfectly okay. It’s all part of experimenting in life, finding your own rhythm, and trusting that there are many paths to success.
- Nurture your strengths: Focusing on your strengths often has a higher payoff than trying to improve your weaknesses. Instead, outsource your weaknesses or the parts that you don’t enjoy as much.
After the retreat, I’m walking away with a refreshed mindset about how I approach both my content and my business. I want to take things one step at a time, trust in the process, and also make space for more creativity and joy in my work. Whether it’s testing new recipes, collaborating with brands like Butterball, or simply sharing food that makes people happy, I feel more aligned than ever.
Beautiful Photography by Laura Costa
We snuck in a few self portraits 🙂
A huge thank you to Liz and Lauren for hosting such a thoughtful and inspiring retreat and to all the incredible women who showed up and shared their stories. I left feeling both full of gratitude and fired up for what’s next, and I know this experience will stay with me for a long time.
Here’s how you can apply for the next upcoming Fresh Air Retreat (April 2026):
Get in touch with Liz or Lauren on IG @freshairretreat and use this link to apply!
