Hi, my friends! How are you? Can you believe that 20 weeks of this incredibly strange and trying COVID-19 quarantine are complete? Like, what? We had no idea what we were in store for in 2020. While somehow parts of what we’re living in are starting to seem normal after all these weeks, let us not forget that nothing is quite normal right now. 

This week, I taught a couple of virtual classes, worked, exercised and started planning and pulling together something new I’m excited to share with you in a couple of weeks. Let’s just say, I’ll finally have a way to share follow-along workout videos with you. And I hope you will love them!

Now, it’s time for our weekly favorites. Here we go …

Current faves

Podcast

Health and Fitness for Fertility Podcast Episode

Even though it has been several years since I healed my hormones from hypothalamic amenorrhea and struggled with getting pregnant, I still think the lessons I learned during that tough time are helpful for others.

That’s why, I’m always down to share my story. I really enjoyed being interviewed by Millie Brooks, the creator of the “Me, Myself & Millie Podcast,” earlier this month all about the topic. 

We talked about my story with hypothalamic amenorrhea and some of the specific ways I healed. And we also discussed a few tips for how women who are struggling with infertility can take care of themselves better. Not to mention, we did it in a light-hearted way (that’s Millie’s vibe for sure), which I think is very relatable for anyone who needs to hear it.

Here’s the episode, if you want to give it a listen.

Fun 

Our Napa day trip

Last weekend, Dave and I went to Napa with a couple of our friends, and it was much needed.

We haven’t had very much adult time at all in the last four months. We haven’t used a babysitter, Brady hasn’t gone to a daycare, and this marked only the second time in the last five months that Dave’s sister, Gwena, came over to hang with Brady so we could leave the house. We love our little man so much, but sometimes getting out without him is beneficial too. Ya feel me, mommas?

(Here’s the dress I’m wearing, and it’s on super sale. You can also find it in other colors here. And here are my sandals, which I’ve been loving.)

During this visit, we decided to check out three places we’d never been before in Napa Valley.

Our first stop was a seated tasting at Cakebread Cellars, and it was so good. The wine was amazing, our host was really knowledgable and fun, and the setting was so serene. I would absolutely go back. (Also, the Cakebread chardonnays are the best!)

And because they were so careful about spacing out patrons, for quite some time, we had nearly the entire outdoor patio to ourselves at Cakebread. How about that.

After Cakebread, we went to Oakville Grocery (which is the oldest continually operating grocery store in California) for lunch. This isn’t your average grocery store, but it’s quite upscale. They serve fancy salads, sandwiches, desserts, wine, etc. And they have tables outside. I had a delicious veggie sandwich and totally enjoyed the laid-back scene. I can’t believe we’d never stopped there before because we had passed it so many times on previous trips. 

Finally, we ended our day with a visit to Black Stallion Estate Winery for a seated outdoor tasting, and I probably wouldn’t go back there. I didn’t love the wine, the service wasn’t great, and it wasn’t all that scenic either. But hey, you never know until you try. There’s really no such thing as a bad wine-tasting experience though, so I’m not complaining.

Once again, we may have only been less than an hour from our house, but it seemed like a mini vacation. It was fun to dress up, sip wine and chill.

Yay for wine country keeping outdoor tastings open with plenty of precautions, so we can safely get away for a bit. (Because yes, we wore our masks any time we weren’t at our table at all of our stops.)

Food

Overnight oats in a jar

There are many benefits to eating a lot of nut butter, and one of them is frequently having almost-empty jars of nut butter that are the perfect vessels for overnight oats.

I’ve been having “oats in a jar” for years and years, and it’s one of the breakfasts that I most look forward to. Something about it is so decadent and filling.

If you’ve never done it, here’s how you do it: Find a jar that has a little bit of almond or peanut butter left in it. Then add about half of a cup of oats, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds (or your seeds of choice, of course), a sprinkle of cinnamon and a splash of almond, coconut or oat milk (I use oat). Then, put the jar back in the fridge overnight, and you have a dense and delicious breakfast the next day, once you mix it around.

I usually let mine sit out about 15 minutes before eating it, and I add a sliced-up banana too. So good!

Workouts

Weekly workouts 

Here’s how I got moving last week …

• Monday: 30-minute Les Mills GRIT Strength via Les Mills On Demand, 5 p.m.
• Tuesday: Taught 45-minute barre, 12 p.m., 30-minute cycle, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: 30-minute lower-body weights workout, 5 p.m.
• Thursday: Taught 45-minute barre, 12 p.m., 20-minute cycle, 6 p.m.
• Friday: 45-minute weights circuit, 10:30 a.m.
• Saturday: Rest day
• Sunday: 30 minutes of POP Pilates, 10 a.m.

This past week of workouts was nice and diverse. I always like to pick up weights three times a week, and I fulfilled that, as well as did some Peloton rides, Pilates and a full rest day. I also went on some leisure evening family walks and evening solo podcast walks, and those didn’t get listed on my recap.

Discounts 

A few A Lady Goes West recommended products

You guys know I only share what I love, so here are some of the brands I recommend …

• Carbon38. The coolest activewear around. Get 15 percent off your first two orders of $100 or more using the code ASHLEYPITT. 
• G2G protein bars. I love these tasty and clean protein bars. You can get 20 percent off your order on the G2G Bar site with the code ALADYGOESWEST. 
• Organifi superfood supplements. I’m all about the Organifi Complete Plant-Based protein powder, the RED powder and the GOLD powder. You can get 15 percent off your order on the Organifi site with the code ALADYGOESWEST.
• Daily Harvest frozen foods. I’ve loved every single thing I’ve tried from this healthy frozen food delivery service, including the smoothies, flatbreads, desserts and bowls. You can get $25 off your first order on the Daily Harvest site with the code ALADYGOESWEST.
• Beautycounter. The best safe skincare and makeup. Send me a message, and I’ll share a 10 percent off code for your very first order.
• Les Mills On Demand streaming workouts. My favorite fitness brand. You can do a whole month of workouts during a free 30-day trial by using my special referral link here.
• Four Sigmatic. These superfood coffees and teas are so good — I especially love the Cacao Chill and Lion’s Mane Latte. Get 15 percent off your order on the Four Sigmatic site using the code ALADYGOESWEST.

Best reads

A few things from around the web 

• The cycle. I think this article is super important for all women to read. It’s all about things you should understand about your body and cycle. Read it and share it!
• Healthy spine exercises. Even if you don’t have back pain, it’s a good idea to take care of your spine. Here are four simple moves you can do every day to break up all the sitting you may be doing and prevent future problems with your spine.

And here’s the quote of the week from the Calm app, which I use to do my daily morning meditations …

A Lady Goes West favorite archives 

• Questions and answers. This post was a long-time coming … “You asked: Here are answers to the most common questions I get.”

• Les Mills. Because this is always one of the most popular search terms on the blog … “How to become a Les Mills group fitness instructor (and how to prepare for training).”

Thank you for visiting A Lady Goes West today, my friends. I’ll see you over on Instagram! 

Questions of the day

How was your week?

What’s something that you are looking forward to?

What’s your favorite breakfast?