The WELL Summit countdown is on.

The WELL Summit countdown is on — less than two weeks to go!  I’ve attended a number of WELL Summit events in Boston (here are my 4 favorite takeaways from the most recent Boston event), but this is my first time attending the event in New York (it’s also the longest I’ve been away from my kids in… ever). 

So I’m sitting down with lunch (Clark is trying to eat, like, most of it) and fighting my Last Minute Larry tendencies and blocking out time this week to get organized + prepared + maybe even pack a little.

Tickets are still available for two full days of wellness, empowerment, learning + luxury (hence, W.E.L.L.) at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint.  You can use the code WSElizabeth to save $75 on tickets.

I’m sharing an airbnb with my friends Amanda + Olivia, and we’re road-tripping from Boston to Brooklyn — so I’m looking at this as a retreat (and a real treat).  In addition to the usual (often excessive) to do list I make before trips or events, I’ve made a bucket list of sorts– things I’d love to do/accomplish/experience while I’m there.

Here’s what I’ve got so far.

WELL Summit Countdown Prep

THE PRACTICAL

• Prep all the kids’ school things (lunches, clothes, backpacks, etc.) set out + ready to go– obviously Nick is fully capable of handling this stuff… but I (somewhat selfishly) am better able to live in the moment (whether it’s a 20 minute Target run, a day trip north, or four days in Brooklyn) if I get as much set ahead of time as possible.  Also, I know what it’s like to solo-parent (and be outnumbered by small folks), and so I’m grateful to Nick + want to make it as easy for him as I can.  
• Pack!  I’m hoping to do this early in the week (mostly to avoid the last minute packing that usually devolves into me throwing everything I know into a bag).  
• Make/buy some travel snacks — I think we have a kitchenette at our airbnb, but I don’t imagine we’ll be cooking any family meals there.  I want to be sure I have some easy/healthy snacks on hand to supplement what I am hoping will turn into an impromptu four day Brooklyn food crawl (recommendations, please!).
• Maybe a road trip playlist? 
• Also (and I just remembered this) — tend to my plants.  Give ’em a good water + rotate + maybe a story.

THE WISH LIST

• Select which WELL Summit sessions I’d like to attend.  The schedule is packed with inspiring panels + sessions and it’s kind of like an embarrassment of wellness riches.  There are three different tracks this year, in addition to some really awesome keynote sessions on the main stage.  A few sessions that I have on my wish list: Sustainability as Mindfulness Practice with Ashlee Piper; Creating Malas + Meditation with Satya with Satya Scainetti; Keynote with Christy Turlington Burns, Founder and CEO of Every Mother Counts.
• Make note of which brands I’d like to connect with at the WELL Summit.  At the most recent Boston event, I had a chance to chat with one of the founders of Branch Basics, one of my favorite non-toxic cleaning products — it’s always so nice to meet the people (women!) behind the brands I love + use and connect in person.  I also have a, um, mental shopping list in the works — we’re fresh out of Watermelon Road fruit jerky, and I’d love to pick up some OY-L products + Tiny Zen bracelets for holiday gifts… and another tube of Muskaan Makeup lipstick in Bougie Brunch (for myself, duh).

THE EXTRACURRICULARS 

• Take my healthy habits on the road — I’m looking forward to lots of walking + maybe a MB-inspired circuit workout in the park (Amanda, you with me?), while still enjoying the rest that comes with time away
• Scope out some new-to-me restaurants, bookstores, coffee/tea shops, + vintage stores
• Enjoy time with girlfriends and sharing creative energy + ideas.  I consider many of these women to be like co-workers (because I don’t have this in the traditional sense since leaving an office-ish job) and savor the face-to-face time we have together.

Will I see you there? Grab a ticket, my friend!  

Also On Tap for Today:

• Hmm, might be helpful: How to prep breakfast + lunch for a family of 4 from The Kitchn
• Run at Castle Island (… but why does it feel like tropical summer again today?)
• Casually reading ALL the Inside the WELL Summit articles on well insiders

What are your Brooklyn (esp Greenpoint) recommendations for us?  Favorite road trip snacks? Packing tips for last minute fools?