back it up
Posted: July 25, 2010 at 4:15 pmSince it is Sunday and I don’t blog on Saturdays it is time to get caught up with the weekend. How was your weekend? Do anything exciting?
I had a few highlights. First off, I finally decided what to purchase with the $60 certificate CSN stores offered to give me as a thank you for a prior giveaway. I decided after sweeping our first floor and all the dog hair I needed a bare floor vacuum good for pet hair. Not a bedroom vanity. Not a fancy kitchen gadget. A vacuum. I’m not crazy. My back just let me know where to spend the money.
The biggest highlight came Friday night with the Atlanta blogger meet-up! A group of eight of us met up for dinner at Seasons 52.
From left to right – Emily (all the way from Boston!), Laura (previously of Laura Dishes), Lee, Tyler, Sarena, Anna (a cool reader), Em (+ baby), and myself (+ baby).
We had a fabulous time chatting and getting to know each other better. It always amazes me how comfortable I am with other bloggers. I’m not shy by any means but I just feel so in sync with ladies such as these. We ended up spending three hours dining and discussing all sorts of things – from blogging to personal things we’ve experienced. Totally awesome. I just love connecting with bloggers!!!
The food awed me as well. Seasons 52 prides itself on serving seasonal food choices to include the freshest ingredients, with all items on the menu below 475 calories. Niiiice. Especially when you consider you can order things like a huge flatbread with steak, blue cheese, mushrooms, and spinach…
…and then top it all off with the perfect amount of carrot cake decadence in a shot glass.
New friends + great food = made my weekend. I feel as though Saturday doesn’t even deserve an appearance after that. It was pretty standard. I went to the gym for a light 1.5 miles on the elliptical before Power. I am starting to get annoyed with my favorite instructor though. She asks me numerous times during class how I’m doing and always says things like “I’m keeping my eye on you”. All because I’m pregnant. I appreciate her care and understand she is doing her job, but she doesn’t need to persistently point it out during class. I have told her my experience working out while pregnant, how I already adjusted the workout to suit my body & lift lighter weights, and that I know to listen to my body & will not hesitate to stop if needed. Let me do my thing!!
The remainder of Saturday I shopped and organized a baby gift basket to donate from our Sunday school class to a Relay for Life auction. It went much better than I anticipated and I’m sad I forgot to snap a photo of it! Saturday night we watched Alice in Wonderland. I hated it. I normally love anything Johnny Depp is in. This was a total fail.
Today was great. I love every Sunday. What’s not to love? The chance to worship such an amazing, loving, and powerful God makes each Sunday a positive experience. I can never get over the fact that He died for me and how understanding that provides endless joy in my life. Things aren’t always easy, but my life never lacks joy or a sense of abundance. Praising Him never gets old. And now I simply plan to relax with the family before heading back into another week.
- Do you like to make connections with other bloggers? How? I love meeting bloggers and the support of such an endlessly loving and giving community. I like fining new blogs to peek at through Twitter. I also will randomly comment on blogs I don’t typically read by clicking through the comments on blogs I love. I can never get enough of this great blogosphere. The chance to meet in person certainly tops the list though.
- What is something other people do that annoys you, even though you know they mean well?
Examiner Articles: Even if you can’t read through completely, please give a click!! Comments are always welcome. 🙂
Tips on nutrition and getting more produce in your diet HERE.
The benefits of exercise during pregnancy HERE.
Tags: blog friends, dining out, dinner, faith
That is so great that you were able to meet up with so many great bloggers! I look forward to doing something like that soon in my area. 🙂
Dessert is a shot glass is….fantastic! 🙂
That looks like such a fun blogger meetup!
1. I think it’s fabulous that you bought a vacuum. I admire the practicality! 🙂
2. I completely agree that the opportunity to worship with other believers is a true gift. I too find such joy in doing that on Sunday mornings!
And wouldn’t you know it. I go to pick it out….out of stock! Dagnabit. Now I have to start from scratch. Why is it so hard to decide how to use free money? LOL
Hi Tina! I’m so glad that the basket creation went smoother than you anticipated. I’m sure it looked great!
It was so nice to meet you. Enjoy the rest of your evening!
It was so nice to meet you! I had lots of fun on Friday.
Sounds like you had a great evening. I finally get to meet 2 blogger buddies (and fellow Catheletes) at the Road Trip this weekends. So excited. I love finding new bloggers and also try to find new blogs by clicking on commentor’s links. Hope you’re having a great Sunday.
Oh fun! Blogger meet ups are awesome, but I feel like they are a little hard to explain to the “nonblog” world. “Umm…well I’m going to hang out with some people I’ve never met before, but we read each other’s blogs so we feel like we know each other…” haha.
That’s a bummer about your instructor. I imagine you get that a lot while pregnant, from people who mean well but are just annoying. I think I can relate it to my half marathon training (it’s on my mind cuz this just happened). Mitch thinks I’m wussing out if I stop to walk at all and he’s trying to motivate me to do my best, but it’s hard when I feel like I’m putting forth a pretty good effort (hello, 11 miles!) and it’s important to me that he’s proud of me but he just says “you weren’t dying, you didn’t need to stop.” I know he means well, but it kinda hurts all the same. Ok…comment-venting over now.
I can definitely understand that. Sometimes people don’t understand the fine line between helping and hurting. Know that I think you are doing GREAT!
We sure did have a great time!!!!! I didn’t even realize how much time had gone by. There is definitely a unique bond we all share as health bloggers. We are all genuinely interested in learning more about one another and encouraging each other. It is really a beautiful thing if you really think about it!! 🙂 Sorry for the cheese, but it’s true! 😉
I knew you’d do well with the baby basket!! You are so creative and I was confident that it would go well for you!! 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!! 🙂
i’ve been lucky to meet up with a bunch of bloggers in colorado, but i think it would be so fun to meet up with a bunch of the lovely bloggers i’ve met elsewhere! (yeah, i’m talking to you miss tina ;)) maybe one day!
I had a great time on Friday! I agree- my favorite thing about the blogging community is that we have so much in common, yet still are so much different that we have a lot to learn from one another. Hooray for blogger meet-ups… you’re such a pretty mom-to-be. 🙂
Aw, thanks! I loved meeting you and everyone else. Can’t wait for the next one.
I totally know what you mean about blogger connections! I feel that instantly, too, and it warms my heart that I can connect to these wonderful people all around the world. I’m glad you enjoyed your meet-up, and I hope you have many more to come! 🙂
Ahhhhhhhh Im dying to do a blogger meet up one day! Looks like you girls had a great time!! U all looked beautiful too!!
Loved Alice in Wonderland! Such a great movie, I just love Johnny Depp : )
what a fabulous meetup!!!!!!!!! i want to go on that one! how fun…and so many of you ladies! I have only been on 1 on 1 meetups, and once there were 3 of us. That’s so fun for you!
Vacuum. Yes. When you’re a mom and living on a budget, you buy practical things, like vacuums. I hear ya girl!!!
Yes! Practical is what matters. I had to consider what we really were going to use a LOT.
What a fun meet up!! I would have loved to dine with you girls! I’ve actually yet to meet another blogger – except a friend who I was already friends with, ha 🙂
You look great! Glad you had a good weekend!
It sounds like an awesome meet-up! I’m always a tad shy when I first meet people but I quickly get comfortable. And honestly there’s so much to talk about with other bloggers!
So sad about the Johnny Depp movie. I might see it anyway…just to look at him 😉
What a fun meetup! Shot glass desserts really are the perfect portions for a teeny sweet something to end a meal.
I’m always clicking through links to check out new blogs! I seriously think this is where a good chunk of my free time goes, haha. I’ve been to only one blogger meetup but I definitely want to attend more – there’s just such a great spirit and community going around!
What a great meet up…all of you are just gorgeous! And I have heard so much about that restaurant…I wish we had one here in Los Angeles.
I love meeting up with other bloggers. I have been doing it quite a bit lately and I hope to do it more often!
I’m surprised there isn’t one in LA. You would think that would even be the 1st place it started with what the restaurant boasts of – lower calorie, fresher foods, etc.
The meetup looks so much fun! I am dying to check out a Seasons 52 – whenever I see peoples meals from there, they look amazing.
How fun you got to meet up with all those lovely ladies! I really admire your knowledge on how to have a healthy and fit pregnancy and will definitely be soaking up all that advice when we get around to having a little squirt!
Ugh, that is frustrating about the instructor. I can imagine how too much “special attention” during a pregnancy can get annoying. Heck, even as an instructor myself, I don’t like it when I go to someone else’s group fitness class and get called out as an instructor. Some days I just want to be anonymous and get a good workout in 🙂
I’m also glad I wasn’t the only one disappointed in Alice in Wonderland. I agree that Johnny Depp is a fantastic actor, but the movie was just….eh.
That blogger meet-up looked like fun! I’ve never seen carrot cake in shot glass, but it looks decadent!
Sounds like a great weekend! I love meeting bloggers in person. Its great to meet someone and feel like you are already friends 🙂
So glad you had a fabulous time with the Atl ladies!! Nice dinner selections as well, can’t go wrong with Seasons.
I love Tim Burton so I hung in there with Alice, the Queen and Alice make the movie. But it was a little off the beaten path for sure.
I hate it when people try to help you clean up after a party and things get put away in all sorts of different places. Not the worst thing that could happen I guess:)
Sounds like you had a lot of fun and carrot cake in a glass, that’s really interesting 🙂
The picture turned out well! It was so fun to meet you and everyone else! It was my first time meeting other bloggers in person 🙂
I just went through all of your tabs at the top, and I really enjoyed reading your stories and your philosophy on fitness. I can’t wait to read more of your blog!
good idea for a desert….great size
The Blogger meet-up looks fun!
What a fantastic blogger meet up! Everyone is gorgeous!!!!
I would love to meet up with a group of bloggers. I haven’t had the chance yet! But I can imagine that you just feel a sort of connection with other bloggers — you learn so much just by reading about others!
So sorry to hear that Alice wasn’t good. I have heard such mixed reviews and I am afraid I’ll hate it so I have avoided seeing it. Maybe one day.
Pregnancy really suits you! 🙂 You look beautiful! 🙂
I spent my weekend working! Wooo Hooo! But I thank God for a job!!!
It looks like my weekend was not the only blogger filled weekend. I love hanging out with other health and fitness bloggers. You already know you have a lot in common. Plus you know you’re not boring them with your step by step instructions of how you made this or that or your race recap you just can’t keep to yourself.
That’s too bad you didn’t like Alice in Wonderland. I really loved it. I think Tim Burton should take a stab at The Wizard of Oz next. I think it would be deliciously creepy. 🙂
I normally love Tim Burton too. I don’t know what it was about Alice that just didn’t sit right with me. It seemed almost dragged out or something. And I LOVE the idea of a Tim Burton version of Wizard of Oz.
Cute picture- love the ‘+ baby’ part 😉
And SO good to know about Alice in Wonderland- I actually really am not a fan of Johnny Depp, but I heard it was a lot like Charlie & the Chocolate factory, which I loved…so I was hoping it would be like that.
I would TOTALLY get annoyed with that instructor if she was doing that to me- grrr! I would be like ‘pleeeeasssee just leave me alone!!’
I would love to do a blogger meet up around here- I feel like every one of my ‘blog’ friends is my real life friend..some even closer than my real life friends.
I went to a blog meetup awhile ago and it was so nice to skip the standard introductions/small talk. We were all like “Well I saw on your blog….” and jump into great conversations. Plus the food was outstanding 😉 .
Yes! You can always count on bloggers to either bring good food or know where to go to get good food.
Hey hot blonde! you are the only blonde in that picture! Love it!
and I love the vaccuum choose. I cant wait to buy a nice vaccuum someday.
I haven’t met any other bloggers IRL yet, but I love emailing back and forth! Met some great girls through it!
Oh, and annoyances? My biggest pet peeve has got to be when people make jokes about my dog “walking me”. They’re trying to be friendly, but we have spent a LOT of time making sure that she does NOT pull on a leash, and because of her size (she’s a german shepherd), we try very hard to make sure she has exemplary behavior because so many people are automatically intimidated.
It was such a great night and so nice to meet you! Hopefully we can all do it again soon! Bummer about the movie. I typically like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. I kind of put that one off though because I was afraid it would not be that good.