Happy Labor Day to those of you celebrating! Today goes on like any other day for me. I still woke up by 5:30 am to get some things done and still had plenty to occupy myself throughout the day. I call it a labor of love – for little M, my husband, baby B, the blog, and writing. Luckily, these things don’t feel so much like work and I don’t dread what goes into cultivating those important areas of my life. So, even though I won’t celebrate Labor Day in the traditional way, my labor of love still satisfies. It also helps I already had a fabulous weekend too, though!

Friday night, Peter and I chilled with a movie night. We had rented The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez, even after hearing some not so great reviews. Overall it was pretty cheesy, but some parts that we could relate to with pregnancy made us laugh.

Saturday, I started the day off on the right foot by taking a 3.5 mile walk on a local walking trail. It freed my mind and I enjoyed the chance to get in a good workout as well as quality time with M. We discussed colors, sang our ABCs, talked about running/walking/biking, and more. It all added up to quality mother-daughter time.

We continued that fun with lunch at home while watching the first UGA football game of the season. Yay for a win! M seems to like football…or mostly she likes the mascot Uga and saying “Gooooo Dawgs! Sic em!” so she can bark. 😉

Things relating to my friend’s wedding filled the rest of the weekend. Saturday night her aunt threw a BBQ night for family and close friends. We spent the night relaxing and laughing with friends outdoors.

I can’t forget the delicious food as well. Oh my! I had a pulled pork sandwich, a crazy sounding but delicious egg/potato/artichoke heart combo, pickle spear, deviled egg, tiny slice of pound cake, strawberry, and mini apple tart.

After church on Sunday, I attended the Bridesmaid’s Luncheon in the afternoon. My friend gifted us all with the jewelry for the wedding, a little makeup case, and some flip-flops to wear at the reception. My feet thank her for that idea!

We also dined on the most delicious Southern girl food. Her mom can somehow make the most traditional and heavy Southern items into light, healthy, and tasty creations. Chicken salad croissant, potato salad, broccoli salad, and a peanut slaw. With fresh fruit and a spinach salad. Well, minus the croissant, mini brownie and petit-four. Nothing light about those!

Even after all of that, we still had more festivities to attend. That night I picked up Peter and Makenzie to head back up to my friend’s parents’ house for her mom’s surprise birthday party. Yet again I ate well (a plate of veggies and one of the wings + a slice of bday cake) and spent time with people I don’t get to see nearly enough.

All that fun did leave me pretty drained today though. I anxiously await Peter to come home from helping work on his sister’s car. This momma needs a break. And a backrub. Braedon has been putting my body through a lot of extra discomfort!

• What was the highlight of your weekend? I don’t think I can pick one thing this weekend. I already know next weekend’s though! I have a prenatal massage scheduled for Saturday.
• Did you watch any college football? Or any good movies (even old ones!) if football isn’t your thing?

Gooood morning! Time for another 30 DSLR post. 😀 I cannot believe it hasn't even been a full week yet! Let's see what more the 30 DSLR will bring us. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on today's topic, just like every day. Yesterday was especially touching to read your comments after sharing so deeply. Your comments all pull at my heartstrings.

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How much do we really value our bodies? We may say we don’t, but when taking a closer look at our actions we may find differently. We may even claim we “hate” our bodies, yet we still obsess over them. We spend countless hours of our lives thinking about how our butt looks, checking our hair in the mirror, running our hands over our stomach, or trying to find the best tool out there to help us look good.

Taking care of ourselves and wanting to present ourselves in a suitable manner does not act as the root of the problem. Placing more emphasis on our looks over our character opens up many avenues for self-doubt and lack of caring for our inner selves. In life, we should not have idols. I use the word “idol” to describe something we focus on more than necessary and that inhibits us from experiencing the things in life meant to fulfill us.

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Our bodies become idols when we can’t enjoy a night out with friends because we feel too concerned with the fit of our jeans. Our bodies serve as idols when we spend time in the gym to look better instead of feel healthier. Our bodies act as idols when we can’t comfortably allow a loved one to touch us without negative thoughts playing in our minds. Our bodies turn into idols when we have difficulty focusing on our work, surroundings, conversations, etc because we wonder if we’ll ever lose that last 5 pounds or look as good as (insert celebrity persona here). Our bodies are idols whenever we allow them to become the defining factor of our lives, instead of our relationships, passions, hobbies, and values.

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We lose the chance to enjoy life when we refuse to look past our bodies. I loved this quote that sparked discussion on my favorite radio show awhile ago - “Don’t look for yourself in the mirror. Look at yourself”. Your body does not determine you. It’s simply what you look like. What matters is what’s on the inside. So when you look in the mirror, or think about your physical appearance, don’t dwell on it. Simply look at it and move on (without forgetting the gifts of the body though ;)). When looking for yourself and your worth…look to the more defining qualities you possess. Your intrinsic beauty, what others see in you, what you give to the world, and more. Don’t let your body play the leading part.. It’s simply the costume for the star of the show. The real YOU!

What ways have you put too much emphasis on your body? How can you change that?

Quote to Reflect On
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. ~C.S. Lewis

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*For more 30 Days Inspiration visit these bloggers who shared their personal 30 DSLR messages and let me know if you share anything relating to the 30 DSLR on your blog!

• The Process of Healing
• Miranda’s Jeans
• Making a Change
• Gina Eats Beans
• Two Feet Ten Toes
• To Be Determined
• Simply Maren
• Ulterior Harmony
• Adventure Is Out There