A blog refresh, my weekend and my weekly workouts

ByAshley Hours
Comments 66 Comments

So many good things to talk about today, my friends! First and foremost, you may notice a little bit of a different look-and-feel around A Lady Goes West. Over the weekend, my friend and one amazing social-media guru and blog expert, Katy Widrick, transformed this blog. While the logo and colors stayed the same, you’ll see some new features (check out those drop-down menus above), as well as added functionality on the homepage when you visit aladygoeswest.com, which now shows more previous and popular posts. I’m super pleased with the end-result and would highly recommend Katy. She’s a wealth of knowledge and gets the job done. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, redoing your site or just need some social media guidance, reach out to her ASAP. 

Other than time and attention spent blogging over the past couple-of-days, I also had some fun. Just a short weekend recap, which looks like this …

An easy and uneventful weekend 

Friday night, I got home a little before 7 p.m., after finally getting my hands on a new iPhone, and Dave was on the couch exhausted after being away on a business trip. With zero motivation to go back out, we decided to pop an oven pizza in and catch up on some Modern Family.

On Saturday morning, I went to a power yoga class at a nearby studio, which I’m totally not a fan of and will likely never discuss. In the afternoon, Dave and I ran some errands, and in the evening we went out to dinner to Walnut Creek Yacht Club. Most of our friends with kids were doing kid things, so we just treated it as a regular night.

Dinner at Walnut Creek Yacht Club via A Lady Goes WestTake a look at this spread, including a delicious ceviche, ahi tuna salad over noodles, fish tacos and a gingerbread cheesecake.

This was, however, our first time living in a place that could possibly get trick-or-treaters, so we were prepared with a bowl of goodies. Only a few tiny costumed-kiddos came at the very end of the night, and they were lucky, because I gave them all of our candy.

On Sunday, Dave and I did some work on our computers in the morning, then took the BART into the City. We got some beverages at the Ferry Building, walked through our old neighborhood and ended up in the Marina area for lunch. I had a delicious vegan sandwich at Seed + Salt on Chestnut Street, then we walked back to Union Square, had an unsuccessful trip into DSW and headed home.

Ashley in SF with Seed and Salt sandwichIt was a casual day riding public transit, and my collard-wrapped beet burger was totally worth photographing.

In the evening, we had a nice steak dinner and laid low. That was the weekend! Now, let’s get to fitness …

My weekly fitness and workouts recap

Every Monday, I like to take a look at my most recent week of workouts to stay accountable. And this week, I’m doing so as part of a “Week in Review” link-up with Meghan, so let’s get to it …

Weekly workouts via A Lady Goes West(Photo credit to Leah Bentley Photography, 2015.)

Weekly Workouts 

  • Monday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
  • Tuesday: Took a one-hour Vinyasa flow yoga class
  • Wednesday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
  • Thursday: Taught a 45-minute BODYPUMP and a 30-minute core class, foam rolling
  • Friday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
  • Saturday: Took a one-hour power yoga class
  • Sunday: Rest day

What was good about my week of workouts?

One full rest day, two full hours of yoga and three resistance training sessions? Those are all good things that happened in the fitness world for me this past week — and ones that I’d like to make a regular habit.

What could have been better about my week of workouts?

No complaints here. Perhaps I could have done another session of cardio, but I do feel that the high-rep nature of BODYPUMP gives me a good cardiovascular benefit.

I hope you have a fabulous start to your week!

Blogging, food and fitness all in one post. Check out this fun one ... #WeeklyWorkouts #Fitness Click To Tweet

Questions of the day

What did you do this weekend?

READERS — Do you find the blog refresh user-friendly and readable? What do you think of the colors?

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66 Comments

    1. Yes, definitely! I had a running list of things I wanted that my last theme wouldn’t do, so she helped me to switch to a totally new one! Happy Monday, Megan! 🙂

      Reply

  2. I really like your blog colors so I’m glad you didn’t change them 🙂 I clicked through via Bloglovin’ and didn’t notice a difference at first but when I went to your homepage, I loved it! Easy to navigate and read. What a fun change!

    Reply

  6. What a fun looking weekend! We had a pretty low key weekend, took Sully around to the grandparents house to show him off in his Turtle costume and then we ran home hoping to hand out candy to millions of kids..nope we got 5 ..which means I have 3 boxes of candy leftover..thank god my husband took them to work because I could have easily polished off at least one box..I think we came close! With the time change Sunday, we laid low and finally caught up on Suits and got the yard prepped for dare I say winter…..that that’s about it! How times have changed from going out for Halloween to actually looking forward to staying in!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Fiona! I know, I know! I was definitely planning to send the extra candy with Dave to work — but we didn’t even have extra heheh. I hear Suits is a good show by the way, but have never watched it. Hope you have a good day!

      Reply

  7. Loving the blog makeover – easy on the eyes, good navigation and still kept your great color scheme!!

    Reply

  11. Love the refresh! I’ve been needing some updates so might have to give Katie a call 🙂 I’ve always used the same designer but love supporting fellow bloggers and LOVE Katie! We were just talking about planning a train trip into the city or driving to Walnut Creek then taking Bart into the City. My son would love to ride on the train and it would be fun to take him to San Fran when it’s all decked out for Christmas 🙂

    Reply

  13. Love the new look! I just went through a total rebrand and it’s been a nightmare. I’m glad to hear yours went smoothly. 🙂

    And your food always looks so delish. I hope all is well in your world, it’s been awhile!

    Reply

  15. Hi Ashley! Katy is awesome, isn’t she? I’m sure there will come a time I will actually hire her to help me with blog tasks. I’ve certainly bugged her enough over the years with questions, and she’s always been my blogging knight in shining armor! Love her. The new functionalities are great!

    Not a fan of power yoga, huh? I go back and forth with it. I used to take at Orlando Power Yoga in Florida and LOVED it. I haven’t found a studio similar up here yet.

    Reply

    1. Hi Heather! That’s the thing, I am a fan of power yoga, but this particular studio I was NOT a fan of hehehe:) And yes, Katy sure is a blogging knight of shining armor hahah!

      Reply

  21. LOVE the new look! Being a new follower, I can’t wait to check out some of your past posts since they’re easier to find. (Moving out of the city?! You must be speaking directly to me…)

    I find yoga studios to be all over the place, but I either completely LOVE them, or they’re terrible (in my opinion.) Glad you at least tested it out, though!

    Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Jessica! I’m so glad you like the new site, and YES, please do check out the previous posts which were hidden in my last theme eheh. And so true about yoga studios– they are either good or bad. There’s rarely an in between! hahah!

      Reply

  22. I’m curious to know what it was about the power yoga class you didn’t like…. but understand if you want to bypass the subject.

    That beet wrap is pretty amazing. I love the color beets give to everything; so bold and vibrant.

    Happy Monday and thanks for linking up with the Week in Review!

    Reply

    1. Hi Meghan!! The instructor was very much “in-your-face” about correcting participants, and I watched her put down someone near me in front of the whole class. I will NOT be becoming a regular member there hehhe! Oh well!

      Reply

  23. Love all of the new enhancements to the site! I need to undergo some transformation myself, so THANK YOU for linking to Katy! I’m gonna check her out and really appreciate your recommendation, Ashley. 🙂

    Also, you look fantastic in that green shirt in your weekly workouts photo! Love that color on you!

    Reply

  24. I don’t know what Power Yoga is, but I don’t think I’d like it… I’m just not cut out for any type of yoga.. Those were some lucky kids that were trick or treating.. 🙂 I was out during the evening so I missed the kids round here, and ended up eating most of it myself…

    Reply

    1. Yoga can be hard to get into, James. It’s taken me years to like it. And I don’t always like it. But I do like candy. Hope you had a great weekend!! 🙂

      Reply

  25. I love the new look, Ashley! Katy did such a good job.

    And I’ve been wanting to try Seed + Salt! It sounds like they have some really good stuff.

    Sorry your yoga class didn’t go as planned but I think’s it very classy of you not to embellish on your experience. It can be tough to balance being honest while also not bashing places/products and I think you walk that line very gracefully. 🙂

    Happy Monday, lady!

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Sarah! And yes, you would LOVE the Seed + Salt menu. I wanted everything. Not cheap though … 🙂 hahah! Dave got a burger from elsewhere of course.

      Reply

  27. Your blog looks GREAT!!! 🙂 And I totally LOL’d when you mentioned the power yoga class you took! Seeing your photos and hearing about your day in the City makes me miss it…hopefully next year we can get out there 🙂 Glad you had a nice weekend!!

    Reply

  28. From someone who just entered the wold of self hosting – and has been taking extra care to study and notice things about other blogs – I really really like everything you’ve done. I find it simple, easy to navigate, inviting, and easy on the eyes. Sometimes I get a little scared away from blogs when there seems to be too much going on. So, awesome job – I hope you like it! And that food.. and that sandwich… gahhh.

    Reply

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