I'm a Jersey Girl ready for some #JerseyLove

Dusk on LBI

This post has been hard for me to write.  I haven't been able to find the words to express what it means to me to be a "Jersey Girl".  The words to explain why I honestly never want to move.  The words to explain how New Jersey is home.  I hope everyone can find a place they are so connected with at least once in their life... and if they're lucky they're able to live there.

I think I've spent most of my life not really realizing how awesome New Jersey is.  I grew up with 5 major malls within 20 minutes of my house.  I can get on a train and be in New York City in an hour.  I can get in my car and be to our favorite shore town (Beach Haven,  yeah!!!) in about 2 hours.  I have an international airport about 20 minutes from my house.  Depending on which direction I head in NJ... in a short time I can feel like I'm in the middle of a bustling city... or in the middle of nowhere.  There isn't much you can't find in NJ.

And... I don't pump gas... even in driving rain... or a blizzard... or a hurricane.

While I sometimes feel like New Jersey is this safely kept secret... I want everyone to know how awesome it is here.  Tomorrow I will be heading down the shore with a fabulous group of ladies for a really special event.  I don't think it's really sunk in (even now) that I get to be a part of this amazing experience.The #JerseyLove Retreat is the combined effort of the New Jersey Digital Moms and the Social Media Moms.  It is all about Social Media for Social Good.  It is about women who have a voice online using it as a positive force.  It's about making our audience of readers... no matter how big or small... aware of causes we are passionate about.  And in this case (the first retreat of it's kind) it is about making sure the world knows that the Jersey Shore is open and ready for summer!  The love is being focused right at New Jersey.  I couldn't be more proud or more excited about being a part of this.

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40 women from across the country will convene for the first time ever in Atlantic City from June 6-June 9th to raise awareness for and promote the re-opening of the Jersey Shore for the 2013 summer season. The four-day #JerseyLove Retreat, hosted by Caesar’s Entertainment and D6 Sports, is designed to encourage consumers to visit the Jersey Shore post Superstorm Sandy.

The #JerseyLove Retreat kicks off with activities such as a Taste of Caesar’s dining event, wine tasting, Ladies Night Out at Harrah’s Pool After Dark and a shopping trip to support local businesses. On Friday June 7, the group will travel to Belmar, one of the hardest hit towns along the shoreline, for a beach day event where skimboard and surf lessons will be provided courtesy of D6 Sports.

If you want to follow me down the shore this weekend you will be able to find everything I share on Twitter (@AMadisonMom) and Instagram (@AMadisonMom).  And, because of the way I have myself connected... my Instagram should all end up on my Facebook.  You can also follow all of my fellow #JerseyLove attendees on Twitter.  Everything everyone will be sharing will contain the hashtag #JerseyLove.