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You are here: Home / blogging / Kenmore Blogger Summit, Day 2: Exploding Fruitcakes! #HolidayHosting

Kenmore Blogger Summit, Day 2: Exploding Fruitcakes! #HolidayHosting

October 29, 2013 by Beeb 12 Comments

Chicago

Thanks to Kenmore for providing all travel and related consideration for this event.

On day 2 of the Kenmore Blogger Summit, I got up early and joined Malini and Marina in the Hotel Felix lobby to sneak in a little sightseeing before the day’s activities began at 7:45. We were right in the heart of downtown Chicago, so we were able to walk down by the water and see some landmarks like the Chicago Tribune. I hadn’t expected to have time to see any of the city, so I was excited to have the chance to look around a little bit and had so much fun hanging out with the ladies.

After our lightning-fast walk around Chicago, we headed back to the Hotel Felix for breakfast. I forgot to get pictures, because apparently I was hungry. 😉 Once we had eaten and gotten a little coffee, we walked over to the Kenmore Craftsman Brand Live Experience studio for day two of activities.

Kenmore Bloggers

From left to right: Marina, Melinda, Yoly, and Malini

This day was jam-packed and full of so many fun and unique experiences. To start us off, Chef Kari Karch warned us that it might get messy, and gave us all ponchos and goggles to wear. They then brought out a fruitcake which they blew up! Exploding fruitcakes are a great way to start off any blogging event.

Kari dons a poncho & goggles

Fruitcake

Fruitcake explosion!!!!

The exploding fruitcake was our introduction to “Terrible hostess presents”, which was the theme of the 30 minute cooking challenge where my team was responsible for the fruitcake stuffing that ended up winning. After working up an appetite cooking all that food, we took a break for lunch, and then got a presentation from the Kenmore team on their appliances and what goes into them.

I got a chance to talk to some of the team members that innovate improvements and new features on everything from fridges to vacuums, and it was interesting to hear how much Kenmore pushes to have the newest and best of everything. They spend a lot of time researching what their customers most want in terms of performance so that they can develop “Kenmore Exclusives” – features that you will only find in their products. I got “Up close and personal” with Kenmore’s kitchen appliances during the cooking challenge, and it was the first time I’d ever used an induction oven. I can add that to my wishlist now that we’ve finished the kitchen remodel!

Appliance talk

Kenmore fridge

Kenmore vacuum

New Kenmore vacuum coming in 2014

Now that we had learned all that goes into making these appliances, we were extra excited for the “Yankee Gift Exchange” where each blogger got to pick a bag from under the tree. Each bag contained a mystery gift from Kenmore. I’ve never done a “Yankee” gift exchange before, but it involves a lot of present-stealing! Each person picks a number and takes turns picking out an item. They can either choose from under the tree – or swipe someone elses’ gift! At the end, everyone was given a 15 second window to do one last frantic present steal. Keep in mind, everything was wrapped, containing a sealed envelope with a photo of the gift which would then be mailed out – so all the “Stealing” was based on wrapping and intuition alone! I’m not the tussling type, so I just picked out the bag under the tree that I thought was prettiest. I was gifted a Kenmore Ultrasonic Humidifier for Large Rooms!

The Blogger Yankee Gift Exchange was inspired by a Facebook contest/charitable drive which Kenmore will be unveiling soon, so watch this space for info on how to win when that launches!

Kenmore Ultrasonic Humidifier

After gifts, we had one final send-off cocktail before catching our shuttle back to O’Hare. To commemorate the event, we were each given a cookbook with the recipes submitted by bloggers in attendance – it was so fun to see my Mince Pies in print! We were also gifted a copy of the Kenmore 100 Year Anniversary Cookbook from our very own Kari Karch.

Beeb & Kari

It was a weekend jam-packed with activities, fun, information, and even a little sight-seeing! I had so much fun hanging out with the awesome Kenmore team and wonderful bloggers. I had the opportunity to meet some friends I’ve known online for ages, and meet new fast friends whose blogs I will now be bookmarking!

Kenmore
Cookmore

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Filed Under: blogging, travel Tagged With: #KenmoreSummit, Kenmore, Kenmore Summit

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About Beeb

Beeb is a British journalist living on the north Oregon coast. Blogging since 2008, she covers everything from coupons to contests in addition to running a network connecting UK bloggers with brands. In her free time, she loves to drink coffee, watch reality TV, and spend time with her fiancé, Jai. Join her on Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+BeebAshcroft/

Comments

  1. Stefani says

    October 29, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    Sounds like you had a really great time. What a fun experience.

    Reply
  2. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says

    October 29, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    They sure made it fun to see their innovation in use. Bravo Sears for a great blogger event.

    Reply
  3. Danielle @ We Have It All says

    October 29, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    Awesome, looks like you all had a great time!

    Reply
  4. Shell Feis says

    October 29, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    That sounds like such a fun trip! That exploding fruitcake is hilarious!

    Reply
  5. Janel says

    October 29, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    That sounds like such a fun event! Love the blown up fruitcake! hahaha!!

    Reply
  6. Stacie Connerty says

    October 30, 2013 at 4:58 am

    Looks like it was a great event. I definitely would have loved to see the fruit cake get blown up, I hate that stuff. 🙂

    Reply
  7. brett says

    October 30, 2013 at 5:01 am

    looks fun! i had seen pics on social media of the ponchos and no follow up- hilarious they blew up a fruit cake!!

    i also can’t believe you never heard of yankee swaps. everyone does them here!! it’s REALLY fun when it’s unwanted junk. friends of ours do a thing on new years with the WORST gifts exchange. hilarious

    Reply
  8. Kristyn says

    October 30, 2013 at 5:49 am

    Kenmore is such a great brand and it looks like your having so much fun!

    Reply
  9. Daisy says

    October 30, 2013 at 6:12 am

    This sounds like a fun event! I really need a new vacuum and need to check out what they have. Mine is 10+ years old and it technically works, but technology has improved so much in the past decade that I want a new one!

    Reply
  10. Ashley says

    October 30, 2013 at 6:39 am

    That ounces like a fun event! Kenmore is a great brand!

    Reply
  11. Debi@TheSpringMount6Pack says

    October 30, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    I love Kenmore. It looks like a blast to learn about the appliances that way.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Media Kit | Beeb Ashcroft – Journalist says:
    December 8, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    […] trips include the Buffalo Bill Center of The West in Cody, Wyoming (June 2013) and the Kenmore Blogger Summit in Chicago, Illinois (October 2013) for […]

    Reply

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