Friends, yoga in the sun, dining al fresco in the Creek and my weekly workouts
Welcome to a new month, my friends! With day one of a new month, it’s a great time to get re-energized and take on a goal. Not many goals, but just one. Think about that! What’s something you’ve been meaning to work on?
Outside of goals, let’s look at some of the fun stuff that took place for me over the weekend all around San Francisco and Walnut Creek. A few things to note:
- I hung out with friends and blogging buddies, as well as spent time with Dave and Rudy.
- I had a hearty dessert all three nights and only one involved cream cheese frosting.
- While this was an awesome weekend, not everything went as planned. I headed into the City and ended up getting stuck on the way home via BART because of a station closure, so Dave had to come pick me up halfway. While that wasn’t super fun and took forever, I did get to listen to a full podcast in transit. (Thanks Shawn Stevenson for the entertainment.)
Here are the big highlights …
Three highlights from the weekend
1. Friends dinner party
Our group of friends has a rotating dinner party, held at someone else’s house every other month or so. While we’ve been on a hiatus due to summer travel, we got back together on Friday night for a Greek-themed dinner. The hosts of the party cooked up some delicious lamb and chicken skewers and orzo salad. We also had wine, apple pie and ice cream, and it was delicious.
Most of our friends have some association to the Warriors, so we had been getting together a ton during the long NBA playoffs, then once that ended, our parties stopped for a bit. It was good to be back around the table hanging out with these folks. And seriously, the outdoor area of my friends’ house is on point. Good times were had by all. Sadly, Dave and I had to be the first to head out, because we had to wake up early the next day for me to teach BODYPUMP, but we still had a good time all the way until 10:30 p.m.
2. CorePower Yoga event in San Francisco
Do you know how pleasant it is to do yoga in front of a pool in the sunshine with a nice breeze? Well, I got to find out on Saturday. Sweet Jill invited Caity and me to go to the free CorePower Yoga event at the Phoenix Hotel, which is a hipster-type boutique in the Tenderloin neighborhood. After a quick post-BODYPUMP shower on Saturday morning, I hopped on the BART to head into the City and made it just in time for class. There were three mats reserved for us right near the pool at the hotel, so we had a prime spot for the one-hour flow yoga class.
As you know, I’m a huge fan of CorePower Yoga and have gone to the San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Danville locations regularly, but it’s been a while. Because my yoga practice has been lacking a bit, I was even more excited for this event knowing that the CPY folks always put on a good class.
The particular class was led by instructor Emily, who was beyond adorable and a skilled yogi. My favorite part, of course, was the fact that Emily and her co-teacher, Dana, came around and gave fabulous adjustments to us during class — (adjustments mean that the instructors put their hands on you and help you get deeper into postures or fix your alignment — and it’s super helpful). Jill and Caity and I tried to keep in the moment, but ended up chatting and giggling a bit during the class, which made it even more fun. By the way, if you live near a CorePower, keep your eyes out for future free events like this, because they plan to host more. Oh, and I launched into full crow, here’s the approach …
3. Dinner at the new California Pizza Kitchen
It has been forever since I stepped foot into a California Pizza Kitchen, but that all changed on Saturday when Dave and I went to the brand new CPK in downtown Walnut Creek. And let me tell you, it’s a totally cool scene. The new CPK has a big bar, outdoor seating, fun vibe and great food and drinks. We sat outside and ordered some appetizers and entrees — and believe it or not — we didn’t get any pizza. I was pretty impressed with the recently debuted menu, which features healthier items, seasonal fare and many things for every palette, in addition to the customary CPK pizzas. (And tasty flights of sangria, shown below … )
We started with some fresh bread and tortilla spring rolls (my favorite flavor was the Thai chicken with peanut sauce), and for entrees, Dave had the mahi tacos and I had the salmon (of course). And we took the red velvet cake and ice cream to go. We enjoyed the meal thoroughly — so much food!
A lot of restaurants in the Bay Area are expensive and serve really small portions, so it’s nice to have an option like California Pizza Kitchen, where you can get what you want at a reasonable price. The manager told us that the style of the CPK we were dining in is the new look for the restaurant, so you’ll see more of these redone restaurants opening across the states. It’s a good change, and I can see CPK pulling in a lot more people who may have originally thought it was only pizza.
When I told my Mom that we were going there, she was super excited to know there is a new CPK in Walnut Creek and has already requested a meal there during her upcoming visit — so we’ll be back soon.
*Thanks to CPK for the hospitality. The CPK team invited us to come check out the new menu and location and also provided a complimentary meal for us. We appreciate it!
My weekly workout recap
From food to fitness, now here’s a look at all of the workouts I fit in last week …
Weekly Workouts
- Monday: Rest day
- Tuesday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class
- Wednesday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class
- Thursday: Took a one-hour POP Pilates class
- Friday: Did 30 minutes of weights
- Saturday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, took a one-hour yoga flow class
- Sunday: Rest day
How did this past week of workouts go?
Yoga, pilates, cardio and weights. This past week was full of variety, and I loved it. I tried out POP Pilates for the first time, and it was a good addition to my week, focused mostly on core training. While I don’t like to do weights two days in a row, that’s how my schedule worked out this past week, but at least I got three resistance sessions complete.
Have a great start to your week and month!
San Francisco #yoga, #friends, great food and #weeklyworkouts ... Click To TweetP.S. Thanks to Meghan for today’s “Week in Review” link-up.
Questions of the day
How was your weekend?
What are your plans for August?
So your weekend ROCKED! I love dinner parties, I love Core Power, and I love CPK (oh, childhood). And being able to have all of that outside? Swoon.
I hope your week is just as awesome, Ashley!
Hi Susie! Yes, it was a good weekend for sure! I needed a little sunshine. I bet you’ve got CPY and CPK near you — HIT THEM UP! 🙂 Hope your weekend was great, lady!
Looks like such a fun weekend!
Though, I’ll be honest… I would have a reeeeeally hard time going to CPK and not getting their BBQ Chicken Pizza. SO good. It’s just so good, ha. I’ll have to stop by to check out the new menu, though!
Thanks for sharing!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
Hahah! Yes, we used to get that flavor in the frozen ALL THE TIME! But once you see the new menu … 🙂 Hope your weekend was great, Jessica!
That yoga class by the pool looks so fun! And those eats all look delish. I feel you on the public transportation … it can be awesome, yet annoying. Have a great week, Ashley!
You have now discovered the love/hate of public transit in your new hood, Heather. Oh yes. 🙂 Hope your weekend was great, friend!
I have actually always been a huge fan of CPK. I grew up getting takeout from there with my family like once a week haha! I haven’t tried the new location yet but will definitely soon 🙂
The new location is really nice, because you can sit outside — and I mean, sangria flights and bread — so you know! Hope you had a nice weekend, Hayley! 🙂
That yoga class by the pool looks amazing. I know we have a Corepower yoga in the city, so I’ll have to keep an eye out for events like that. And yes new month, new week, new goals! I am sad to see July go though, why does summer go by so fast? Have a great week!
Summer DOES go by fast — but I guess we could technically feel like we’re holding onto to it until Labor Day? Maybe? hahha! And yes, I bet you’ll see a CPY event near you soon. Happy Monday, Patricia!
So I need a sangria flight in my life. That sounds like perfection or at least enough booze to trick me into thinking it’s perfection.
Hooray for outdoor yoga. I did outdoor yardwork and I had to contort into some pretty weird shapes to get all the weeds. Does that count?
Hahha! Yard work is no joke, totally counting that as a workout. Perhaps not as pleasant as yoga though. 🙂
I love KPC and their salads! And they’re huge, so most of the time half is totally enough!
Hi Kersten! I know! I want to go back to try more of the salads for sure. Hope your weekend was great!
That yoga session looks amazing, and soo stunning too! lol…and those drinks..yesss please!!! We had a busy weekend, it’s a holiday here and my husband’s family was in town so lot’s of bbq’ing, drinking and hanging out happened! Plus the weather has been amazing so it’s been great to be outside and taking Sully to the little park pool (aka mom is working on her tan ; 0 )
Hahah! Aren’t you a good mom to take Sully out to the pool to play? Yes! What holiday was it?? Yay for that!
It’s our civic holiday ( don’t ask me the origin ) but usually only government and banks get it then any nice employers lol
hahah! How nice! 🙂
The food at CPK looks AMAZING. I need to check and see if there’s one near me. I was at a conference in New York this weekend and got the most delicious California egg rolls from Guy Fieri’s restaurant. That was a huge highlight! I’d be excited to try a POP Pilates class but I’m not sure if I live anywhere near where that would be offered. You have some major fitness perks of living in a big city!
Danielle @ afloat on a full sea
Hi Danielle! Guy Fieri restaurant! Cool! We may check out his spot when we’re in Vegas soon. And yes, we do have a lot of good opportunities to try out all the good classes around the Bay Area. Glad you had some good food in NY!
What a solid weekend! I love outdoor yoga–cant say I’ve done yoga by a pool though that sounds relaxing!
Ive never been to CPK but have heard great things!
Well you’ve got to find a CPK near you, Heather! 🙂 Hope your weekend was great!
Ooh wow I didn’t know CPK did other meals rather than pizza. They look like gourmet, delicious meals.
And that yoga class with friends looks fun. 🙂 It’s lovely to see all those beautiful ladies together in one place.
Hi Emily! It was a good scene for yoga, that’s for sure. 🙂 Hope your weekend was great, lady!
Your friend’s backyard looks unreal!
Also, sounds like you had a solid weekend of workouts + great food with great people! The sangria has my mouth watering 🙂 Happy Tuesday!
Hi Victoria! Yes, they’ve got a nice outdoor area. And YES for sangria flights. I hope your weekend was a good one! 🙂
You have the best sounding wknds:) all the time—ha!
Oh so nice to hear how much you liked the new CPK, we don’t have any in MN since the only one I knew about closed a few years ago. So when we were in Naples earlier this year, we went there twice, once for lunch and another time for dinner. It was great both times! We split a delish salad and g/f crust pizza for lunch—then when we went back for dinner, it was such a cool night time vibe. I had that sangria flight too:) YUM! The entrees were so good—fresh, great quality and service.
Hi Amy! Yay for Naples– that’s about an hour from where I grew up. And that’s awesome you had flight as well!
Sounds like an amazing yoga weekend. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading. 🙂