Country Living Blue Ribbon Blogger Awards: My Trip to The Big Apple~

What an exciting week I had last week!!

Back in September I announced that The Shabby Nest had been chosen as a finalist in Country Living's 1st Annual Blue Ribbon Blogger Awards. 

Well, you can imagine my elation when I found out that my blog had been chosen as the Judge's Choice for best Decorating Blog!! I was giddy (and humbled because the other finalists are such talented bloggers themselves)!!   I spent the next few weeks eagerly anticipating my trip to New York City for the awards luncheon.


I took off for the big city bright and early Wednesday morning.  

After checking into the fabulous Dream hotel,

Amazing fish tank inside the Dream Hotel

Photo courtesy of Always a Project

 and being greeted with some scrumptious cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery - courtesy of Country Living -

Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

I met up with the Hubby's parents who came up from Massachusetts to spend some time with me since he couldn't make it. (I love my in-laws so much...it was so fun to see them!)  We took in Times Square, Broadway and Central Park, and enjoyed eating some great New York cuisine. 



My cute father-in-law checking out the crowd waiting for Broadway tickets


Friday morning, after my in-laws had headed home, I made my way over to Rockerfeller Center to see the morning taping of The Today Show.  Turns out they were interviewing Justin Bieber. Wow.  Tween girl central.  But, thanks to a nice (tall) couple standing near me,  I did get a great photo of him for The Princess. And then took some photos of the Today Show cast for myself once all those girls cleared out after the interview. LOL!

Now to the really fun stuff...



 Thursday was the day of the Awards Banquet on the 44th Floor of the Hearst Tower!

photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

It was amazing!! The views were spectacular!!

And the other winners were such a wonderful, talented group of women.  I was so honored to be a part of this amazing group. 

We got to know one another, and took a ton of photos. 




All of the Winners (from Left, Rachel Garza, me, Sydney Kramer, Linda Ly, Beth Styles, Aimee Carpenter and Melissa Caughey) Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com



All of the Winners (from Left, me, Beth Styles, Linda Ly, Sydney Kramer, Melissa Caughey, Aimee Carpenter and Rachel Garza) Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

Honorees with the Judges  Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

Then we enjoyed a fabulous meal and were each presented with our beautiful awards. 

We had a chance to meet three of the amazing judges Cooper Boone (and his guest, the lovely Emme), Jodi Kahn and Sarah McColl , as well as the gracious staff of Country Living Magazine including Sarah Gray Miller!

Me with Sarah Gray Miller (not the greatest photo of me...but that's Sarah Gray Miller!!!!!) 
Photo courtesy of Tillysnest.com

Make sure you check out the blogs of the other amazing honorees...you're in for a treat...

• Aimee Carpenter, Crafty Farm Girl
•  Melissa Caughey,  Tilly's Nest
• Rachel  Garza,  Always a Project
• Sydney Kramer, Crepes of Wrath
•  Linda Ly, Garden Betty
• Beth Styles, Parsimonia: Second Hand with Style

I just want to take a minute to thank the wonderful folks at Country Living yet again for this fabulous award and the wonderful opportunity to attend the awards ceremony in New York.  I am so honored.  It was such an amazing experience!

And I want to thank you, my lovely readers, for coming here and visiting.  I love writing The Shabby Nest.  I love sharing my ideas with you.  It is one of my great joys!

Unless otherwise noted all photos are mine.

Have a great day~