Since 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.

So, how ecstatic are you that it's Friday? I’m thrilled! Why? Because I feel great and get to go meet up with some awesome bloggers in a couple hours. We’re having an Atlanta Blogger Meet-up tonight at a restaurant I have wanted to try forever. I know a particular someone very fond of Seasons 52, where I will be going tonight. Hooray for blogger fun!

If you can’t tell already, my mood today soars through the roof. I attribute this to a great yoga class this morning. I didn’t get the chance to do yoga for a long time while out of town and for the past few weeks my schedule didn’t allow making it to class. I accommodated with some quick, prenatal classes from YogaDownload. The prenatal ones bored me to tears, however, and I knew I must give my beloved regular class another go. I went today and it. was. phenomenal.

Yoga feels so incredibly good for your body. And your mind. I was able to do most everything except for a core track, which I chilled in child’s pose for. I listened to my body and didn’t go as deep in particular moves, but still could notice the benefits and energy working through my body. Rock out some yoga if you haven’t before. I used to think it wasn’t necessary. Oh how wrong I was. Love it now!

Another thing that puts me in a good mood comes in the form of a children’s book. That’s right. Last night, as I read some of the books I bought yesterday to Makenzie, one jumped out at me as the best book I have ever read. It had such a powerful message that could speak to anybody. I’ve typed out most of the “poem” of the book for you below. It’s called Hooray for You by Marianne Richmond. Please read the entire thing to get the full message of the "you-ness of you". You will not be sad you did.

For quite a long time, the world saved a place.

Millions were born, yet none filled your space.

Until the second of a minute of one special day,

you took your first breath and the world said Hooray!

Perfectly timed. Not one minute more.

You suddenly were where you were not before.

But planning preceded your earthly debut

as all was completed in the you-ness of you.

“You-ness?” you ask. Quite hard to describe,

it’s your style of being, your rhythm or vibe.

It’s the grand sum of you that sets you apart.

Your body and brains plus your spirit and heart.

“Okay…” you might think, “but I’m not sure I see,

why the big fuss and hooray about me?”

Then get set to enjoy the big celebration

of the you-ness of you, a remarkable creation!

Isn’t it something that your wonderful face

is not like another in the whole human race?

The body you live in can jump, dance, and play

with custom built parts to move your own way.

And your certain good looks are just one teensy part

of the you-ness galore of your mind and your heart.

This is the essence of what you’re about,

the true who of you within and throughout.

You’re perfect as you, but my friend, you will see days when delighted is not what you’ll be.

You might even think, “I’d sure like to be like him, her, or them. Any person but me!”

Then stop that at once. Put gloom on the shelf.

Say, “Good-bye doubt” and “HOORAY SELF!”

If people compare you with another,

like a mother or sister or uncle or brother,

to them you can say for certain indeed,

“I’m completely for sure ME guaranteed!”

Yes, from head to toe tip, you’re truly original,

a creation-in-progress, a distinct individual.

Look the world over, and you’ll never find

a duplicate of you-ness that’s your one-of-a-kind!

On the day you were born, the world grew by one.

Life with big purpose and much to be done.

Look in the mirror. Love who you see.

Stand tall. Smile big. Shout…”HOORAY FOR ME!”

Umm…how STELLAR is that?! I think this needs to be shared with everyone we love. We are all unique, amazing, beautiful individuals and should be proud of who we are. As much as it delights me to see such a message in a children’s book, it also saddens me that this message dies somewhere along the way on our paths to adulthood. Instead of celebrating the “you-ness” of each person, we critique, judge, and put down ourselves and others. It needs to stop! Let us celebrate who we are!! I celebrate each of you for the friendship you give to me. Even without meeting, I know you all have kind hearts. Even without seeing face to face, I know you all are gorgeous. Even without talking on the phone, I know you all are smart and fun. HOORAY FOR YOU! And HOORAY FOR ME!

No “questions of the day” for today’s post. I think what you just read should be provoking enough. I know it stirred me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New article - Click HERE to see some important nutrition info AND tips for getting more produce in your diet. And I will go ahead and give ample warning. I have to write at least 3 articles a week and I do not expect you to read all of them, but if you can at least click and take a real quick peek it helps. Comment if you please!