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.

I badly wish the title of this post related to being at Disney World and experiencing the magic encapsulated in those 30,500 acres.

However, it relates to still a pretty magical part of my morning yesterday. As always, Thursdays are the playgroup dates for the Mom’s Group I am in. This particular morning we hit up Chick-Fil-A for a breakfast/snack and some playtime on the indoor center for the kids. After devouring a fresh fruit cup and watching Makenzie tackle the tunnels and tower of terror to the slide it was time to pack up and head out. But before any of that I was confronted by someone.

her -- “Hey, are you Tina?”

me -- “Umm, yes.” while in my head saying “How do I know this person?? I’m usually so good with names and faces!!! Why can’t I remember?”

her -- “Oh! I read your blog! How are you?”

me -- “Really? That is so neat. It’s great to meet you. I’m doing wonderful. How are you?”

I got to meet a reader just by chance! It was really awesome. We were able to chat for a few minutes and realized we go to the same gym. We even chatted through email later that day. Even from the brief encounter I can tell she is such a cool, sweet person and has two adorable little girls to boot. I really hope I get the chance to see her again. Hi Stacey!!!! 🙂

We have been having a serious heat wave here. Did you know that feeling like the Wicked Witch of the West is the new in thing?

I’m melting…I’m melting!!!

At least that’s what I tell myself to make myself feel a little better. Or I spend the afternoons at the grocery store or in the pool to cool off. The pool is much more satisfying.

Not only does it help keep us cool for the time being, but it also helps me entertain little Ms. ‘Tude as I have so fondly named her in the past month. I love her dearly, but from about 1 to 5 pm she is not my favorite person in the world. I need to get a picture of the faces she gives me. It looks something like this…

…but cuter because in my eyes she is still the cutest child on the planet. I am also looking forward to entertaining her with the free trial membership I received to review Sesame Street E-Books.

For all you moms and future moms out there – keep an eye on the review post coming after my trial period. M’s obsession with Elmo should entertain her and therefore help keep my temper and patience cool, even if the rest of me isn’t quite there. I never thought there would come a day that summer was not my favorite season. It’s here. Fall needs to hurry it up already!

• Have you ever had a “small world” moment? What was it?
• What is your favorite season? Before M,  summer always was because it was when I got a break from school and work. Now, fall all the way! I love the many activities you can do in the comfortable weather.
• How do you keep cool in insane heat? Ideas are very much appreciated!