A Lady Goes West

A healthy lifestyle blog by Ashley Pitt

  • Home
    • Popular Posts
  • About
  • Fitness
    • Les Mills Group Fitness
    • Workouts
    • Fitness Tips
    • Class Reviews
  • Food
    • What I Ate Wednesday
    • Recipes
  • Clean Beauty
  • Mom Life
    • Fit & Fertile Book
    • Baby
    • Pregnancy
    • Postpartum
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Painting, hiking, eating and my weekly workouts

April 20, 2015 By Ashley 54 Comments

Another good weekend in the books! I sure hope you guys had a great one too.

Friday: Getting artistic with paint and wine

On Friday evening, Dave and I joined a couple of friends at Canvas and Cabernet in downtown Walnut Creek. I’ve wanted to do one of these “wine and painting” nights for a long time, and we bought tickets about a month in advance. 

Canvas and Cabernet fun via A Lady Goes WestWhat am I holding in my hands? Oh you know, just some boxed red wine.

For $45 a person, we enjoyed a three-hour step-by-step painting class, which included all the supplies we needed to create a masterpiece, as well as plenty of time to socialize with our friends, and of course, drink wine. At Canvas and Cabernet, while wine and beer were available for purchase above the ticket price, you’re also allowed to bring your own beverages for a reasonable corkage fee of $20. So Dave and I brought a small box of wine to enjoy.

Canvas and Cabernet has its craft down to a science. The lead artist/teacher stood in front of the class on a little stage and explained a small bit of work we needed to do on our canvas in very easy-to-understand instructions. Then, she would step off the stage, turn up the music, and let us work on our own. After a few minutes, she’d get back up and repeat the process. Therefore, there was built-in time to chat with your neighbors, sip on your wine and paint. About halfway through the class we took a “drying break” for 30 minutes, in which most people left their spots and walked around the boutique or refilled their beverages. While we were skeptical of how our paintings would turn out, in the end I think we all did a pretty good job.

Painting progression at Canvas and CabernetIt’s amazing to see how it all progressed on the canvas, as we kept adding layers and colors, using different types of strokes.

I’d guess there were about 40 people in the class and only three were men. So Dave and the other guy in our party were certainly good sports. Believe it or not, Dave actually enjoyed it much more than expected and told me he’d be willing to go again to do a different painting. Score!

Fun at Canvas and Cabernet in Walnut CreekWe failed to take a “normal” photo during the entire night, outside of this one I shared on Instagram. So this is what you get. The finished product was called “Lover’s Lane,” and is supposed to be a couple walking down a romantic path. Can’t you tell?

After we finished up our creations, we walked across the street to a Pyramid Alehouse and Brewery for a quick and late dinner before saying goodbye to our friends. During dinner, we displayed and admired all four canvases, and it’s funny how they each looked a little different based on our artistic interpretations. 

If you’re looking for a different night out with friends or your significant other, I’d highly recommend something like this. I hadn’t painted anything in years, and it felt good to do so. And hey, you get to walk away with an awesome souvenir. In fact, we already hung our paintings side-by-side in our guest bathroom for all to see.

Saturday: A lot of work and a little play

On Saturday, Dave had to work at the first Warriors playoff game of the season (they won!), so he headed off shortly after breakfast. I used the free weekend time to complete some household chores and a short and sweat-free low-intensity workout at home. I also took a quick trip to Nordstrom Rack and Marshall’s for what my Mom would call a little “retail therapy.” I know I was busy and moving around all morning, because I had hit 70 percent of my daily steps (thats 7,000 steps) by mid-day. Not too shabby!

On Saturday evening, we took a nice stroll to downtown Walnut Creek to enjoy some Mexican food at Maria Maria restaurant. 

Dinner at Maria MariaWe started with chips, salsa and guacamole. Then had a spinach and mango salad, followed by steak soft tacos with rice and beans. 

The restaurant was huge, and we had a nice table outside. While our dining experiences outside of San Francisco have been less than stellar, this one was pretty good. The food was fairly tasty, the service excellent, and the price not too bad. I’d go again just for a margarita and guacamole. Suffice to say, we walked out of there pleasantly stuffed.

Sunday: Sunshine and rest

On Sunday, while Dave went out for a run in the morning, I took advantage of my rest day and stayed in my pajamas on the couch watching a cheerleading competition. I know, how strange. I was never a cheerleader, but for some reason I find these types of events captivating. 

In the afternoon we headed out for a picnic and hike in the sunshine at Briones East Bay Regional Park. It’s days like these that make me love living in our new neighborhood in the East Bay even more, because just a few miles away in San Francisco city proper, the temperatures were about 20 degrees cooler! It was pretty hot, but we were able to stay in the shade for much of the stroll up the hill. We even saw cows.

Ashley and Dave at Briones ParkIt wouldn’t be a hike, if we didn’t take a selfie. And look at that pretty view from our picnic spot. Such a nice day!

In the evening, we made dinner at home, watched TV and prepared for a big week ahead. And that was that!

My weekly workout recap

Now, as we do every single Monday to stay on track. Here’s a look at all of the ways I got moving over the past seven days …

Weekly Workouts from A Lady Goes West

Weekly Workouts

  • Monday –Did a 30-minute CXWORX core workout at home with weights and a resistance tube, taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
  • Tuesday – Did a 20-minute online yoga class at home, taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
  • Wednesday – Taught TWO one-hour BODYATTACK classes, foam rolling
  • Thursday –Did a 10-minute online yoga class at home, taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
  • Friday – Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class
  • Saturday – Did a 30-minute CXWORX core workout at home with weights and a resistance tube, did a 10-minute online yoga class at home, foam rolling
  • Sunday – Rest day

What was good about my week of workouts?

While this past week looks like it was super full of workouts, there was plenty of variety of intensity and movement, and quite frankly, I felt absolutely great. I taught four BODYATTACK classes, which is a ton of cardio for me and one more class than usual. I also taught two BODYPUMP classes, which gave me the chance to enjoy two long strength-training sessions. I also did two core workouts at home using weights and three short sessions of yoga. I’ve decided that splitting yoga up into small segments throughout the week gives me more benefits than doing one longer session, so I may keep this up. Overall, I had plenty of stretching and rolling and a full rest day to make this a great week of fitness.

What could have been better about my week of workouts?

This past week was probably a bit cardio heavy, as they seem to be lately due to my teaching schedules. I would have gone to the gym on Saturday for a heavier weight-lifting session, but of course, I couldn’t get sweaty because of the keratin treatment I had done on my hair on Friday. Thus, a short core workout and yoga session were all I could do, with the window open and a cool breeze blowing directly on me. I really would like to see myself get some more weight-lifting done during the week, but it just hasn’t been working out that way. Not a huge deal, because things are always changing.

Alright guys, I’ve said enough. I hope your Monday is just lovely! See you soon, my friends.

P.S. Congratulations to the winner of the CanvasPop photo-print, Jennie W. Thank you to everyone who entered. I loved all of your comments and will be bringing you another giveaway very soon.

Questions of the day

What did you do this weekend?

Do you usually take time to stretch before or after your workouts?

What’s something fun you’re looking forward to in the next month?

Ashley signature

 

 

Follow along with me on Bloglovin‘, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Filed Under: BODYATTACK, BODYPUMP, Friends, Hikes, Restaurants, Walnut Creek, Weekends Tagged With: Canvas and Cabernet, East Bay, fitness, Maria Maria, Walnut Creek, Weekends, weekly workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. And you'll get new posts by email.

About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
Stay in touch ...
Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook.

Comments

  1. Jenna says

    April 20, 2015 at 3:29 am

    Haha I love watching the cheer competitions too! They just suck you in! Sounds like you two had a great weekend. I’ve never tried the wine and painting place near us but feel like it might be time! As for teaching two full BODYATTACK classes in one day, you are a rockstart! What a big day of cardio! This weekend we headed out for a great hike and spent some quality time with friends. It was great! We are looking forward to two trips home in May! What are you looking forward to?

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:55 am

      Hi Jenna, I felt totally fine during each of those BODYATTACKs on that day. I was so surprised that I wasn’t tired during the second one. I guess that class conditions us even more than we know. And I’m looking forward to a trip to Florida in May! But that’s about it! Glad you got out for a hike as well this weekend. Spending time outdoors is a great way to relax. Have a great week!!

      Reply
  2. carissajade says

    April 20, 2015 at 4:18 am

    Sounds like you had an awesome weekend! I wanted to go on a hike so bad but it was too muddy and never completely stopped raining. The painting thing looks fun and I really want to make my boyfriend do that one of these days. Happy Monday!
    carissajade recently posted…House Keeping and Weekend Snapshots 4-20-2015My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:55 am

      Hi Carissa! It was so fun, and like I said, my husband enjoyed it way more than he thought he would. Too bad about the rain in your neck of the woods. Hope you have a good week though! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Heather @Fit n Cookies says

    April 20, 2015 at 4:19 am

    I definitely don’t take enough time to stretch after running. I need to get better at that for sure. It’s interesting to me you had to pay a corkage fee! There are so many painting places around here and they encourage you to bring your own and never charge you. Your painting turned out so well, though! I loved it! This weekend I spent a lot of time outside, did some yard work, had some fun with friends. It was perfect.
    Heather @Fit n Cookies recently posted…A Spring WeekendMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:53 am

      Hi Heather! Well this is the Bay Area and everything is more expensive here, hehee so I was fine with a $20 corkage fee. Glad you had a nice weekend outdoors and hanging with friends!! Happy Monday. Have a great week, my friend! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    April 20, 2015 at 4:27 am

    Your weekends always look so fun! I need to start branching out more now that I’m back from Europe. Also need to look into those short online yoga classes. Those would be good for me to keep my cranky leg happy.
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Grain Free “Oatmeal” Raisin Cookies & Words To Eat ByMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:52 am

      For sure, Megan! And yes, we try to do a lot over the weekends, since Monday through Friday are WORK, WORK, WORK! Before I blogged as regularly we used to do even more on the weekends, believe it or not! hahah! I hope you are happy at home and back in the right time zone. Welcome back!

      Reply
  5. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    April 20, 2015 at 4:42 am

    I was so happy to have a weekend of gorgeous weather perfect for walking and being outside. Vitamin D in pill form only gets you so far! Over the next month, I actually don’t have anything huge, just lots of little stuff throughout, but then Alex and I are going to the Outer Banks for a week with his brother (and fam) and a bunch of their friends. It will be interesting, but at least even if it gets overwhelming, I can retreat to the beach!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Caitlin’s Wedding and 40 Hours in South Side PittsburghMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:51 am

      Hi Susie! I’ve always wanted to vacation in the Outer Banks area! Sounds like a fun time with friends! And yay for nice weather for the both of us this weekend. Here’s to a happy Monday and great week! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says

    April 20, 2015 at 5:46 am

    I have been dying to try one of those wine and painting classes. However, I do not have one single ounce of artistic-ness in me, so I’m a bit scared to see what my painting would look like – especially after a glass or two of wine! ; )
    Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie recently posted…Solid Life ChoicesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:49 am

      They make it SO easy for you, Stacie. Anyone can do it! And yes, the wine helps heheh! Hope you had a nice weekend! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine says

    April 20, 2015 at 5:54 am

    Your canvas and cabernet night sounds like so much fun! And I love that you were able to take home your paintings and hang them in your house!
    Great week of workouts!
    Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine recently posted…Running Strong And Boston ThoughtsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:48 am

      Hi Lisa, The friends that went with us were planning to hang theirs in their garage. But we’ve proudly displayed ours inside ahhah! I think you’d love a wine and painting night, perfect way to start decorating your new house! 🙂 Happy Monday!

      Reply
  8. Katie @ Live Half Full says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:11 am

    I’m the worst at stretching! But I go to yoga at least once per week so that counts right?
    Katie @ Live Half Full recently posted…Me WeekendMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:47 am

      Yes, Katie! That’s awesome you go to yoga once a week. Keep it up! Happy Monday!

      Reply
  9. Amanda says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:24 am

    Sounds like a great, balanced week of exercise! Where do you get your online yoga videos from? I have been trying to incorporate yoga but an hour class is just too much!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:47 am

      Hi Amanda! I hope you had a great weekend. I just started using this site called The Yoga Collective, which has an annual membership. I’m thinking of doing a review and giveaway of it, so stay tuned. However, I know POPSUGAR has free short yoga videos, which I used to use in a pinch. Have a great week!

      Reply
  10. Gretchen | Gretchruns says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:52 am

    You always have the best weekends! This looks like a ton of fun. I’ve done 2 painting and bottles classes so far, and they’re so fun to do! I have to sign up again soon 🙂 Hope you have a terrific week lady!
    Gretchen | Gretchruns recently posted…April 20 – Weekly GoalsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 7:01 am

      Thanks, Gretchen! You must be a pro painter by now! 🙂 hehehe Have a wonderful Monday!
      Ashley recently posted…Painting, hiking, eating and my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply
  11. Jessie R says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:56 am

    Looks like a great weekend!! You all did a great job on your art 🙂 This weekend the dog and I went and visited my parents, went on an extra long walk, and prepped ALL the food last night. My bf is out of the country on business for a few weeks, so I predict many Netflix and book reading nights ahead.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 7:29 am

      Hi Jessie! Thanks for the love about my piece of art hehehe. And nice work getting your food prepped, going for a walk and visiting the ‘rents. You did a lot! I hope you enjoy your alone and downtime with the BF is away. Any good books? I’m reading Amy Poehler’s book right now, and I like it so far. Have a good week!!!
      Ashley recently posted…Painting, hiking, eating and my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply
  12. Hayley @ Full of Life says

    April 20, 2015 at 7:08 am

    The margs at Maria Maria are so good – glad you went there! If you need other dining out tips around here (since you said you have had less than stellar experiences so far) let me know! I know some gems 🙂 Also, I love that blue top on you!!
    Hayley @ Full of Life recently posted…Red CarpetMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 7:31 am

      Yes, Hayley! The dining scene in Walnut Creek is NOT what we were used to in SF. Please share some good ones … 🙂 hehehe Hope you had a great weekend!!
      Ashley recently posted…Painting, hiking, eating and my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply
      • Stella says

        April 21, 2015 at 4:04 pm

        We actually love Maria Maria! For other good WC places I’d recommend Corners, Sunol Ridge, Sasa, Vanessa’s and Eleve.

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          April 21, 2015 at 6:29 pm

          Hi Stella! Thanks. I like the looks of Eleve and have bee wanting to go there. I appreciate the suggestions!! Hope you have a great week! 🙂

          Reply
  13. Hilary says

    April 20, 2015 at 7:39 am

    I will admit I never used to take the time to stretch before or after my workouts in the past, but training for this marathon has taught me just how important it is. I usually stretch a little bit to get warmed up for my workouts and now I have made a habit of foam rolling after them, I even foam roll again before I go to bed most nights. I think that little bit of stretching makes all the difference.
    Hilary recently posted…Marathon Training Week #14My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 8:31 am

      Hi Hilary! Yes, dynamic and mobile stretches are great for before the run. And static stretching is great for after. As far as foam rolling – it’s good ANY time you do it! Nice job! Hope your training is going well! Have a great week!

      Reply
  14. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says

    April 20, 2015 at 7:42 am

    So fun! Your painting turned out great!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Thanks, Erin! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Courtney! says

    April 20, 2015 at 7:47 am

    I love Pyramid! Their Apricot Ale might be my favorite beer on this planet.
    I’m horrible about stretching on my own, I love when group classes take the time to schedule it in at the end… even when 80% of the people start leaving during that time.
    Courtney! recently posted…MARATHON MONDAY!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Hi Courtney! I know! I usually tell my members to stretch more after class is done. We usually have to rush to let the next class in, but stretching is important! Hope you had a good weekend, lady! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Lindsay Ingalls says

    April 20, 2015 at 8:41 am

    I recently did one of those painting + wine events it was so fun!
    Lindsay Ingalls recently posted…My Quick Night Skincare Routine + Pacifica GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 5:53 pm

      Hi Lindsay! I know, wine and art makes a good combination for a night out. Hope you have a lovely week! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Sara @ Lake Shore Runner says

    April 20, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Your painting turned out great! I always get so anxious at those painting classes because I want mine to turn out well. yours definitely did!
    Sara @ Lake Shore Runner recently posted…Weekend Recap: Lilly Pulitzer for Target GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 5:54 pm

      Hi Sara! I was pretty nervous at first when I did the first few swipes on the canvas. Didn’t want to mess up heheh, and really, you could cover a lot of messes with all those colors. Hope you had a great weekend!

      Reply
  18. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    April 20, 2015 at 9:27 am

    The painting looks like so much fun! Great pictures. We have a wedding in Duck for Scott’s sister coming up soon. So that will be a quick little getaway at the beach. Happy Monday, Ashley!
    Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment recently posted…Keeping a Food DiaryMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 5:58 pm

      Hi Lauren! Where’s Duck? Yay for weddings! I am in a wedding in May and can’t wait! I LOVE weddings. And a very happy Monday to you! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says

    April 20, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Ah see! Some of the restaurants might not be as good in the burbs but you can’t beat the easy access to great hiking. There are so many beautiful trails in the East Bay. Your picnic looked so nice!

    And Canvas and Cabernet looked like a blast too. I can see why it’s called Lover’s Lane, although it is a little hard to make out the couple. 😉
    Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…Superfood Almond Joy SmoothieMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Hi Sarah! Yes, definitely some lovely hiking spots around here! I really want to do the big Mt. Diablo course at one point. Hope you had a great weekend! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl says

    April 20, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Looks like a fun time! I’m going to Paint Nite in NYC soon which is pretty similar I think – I have absolutely no visual artistic talent so hopefully they can work with the most hopeless of us!
    Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Reflections on running + weekly workout recap 4/13-4/19My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:00 pm

      Hi Alyssa, If your activity is anything like mine, they do a great job of making it SUPER easy. Like one little portion at a time hhehe. Hope you have fun! And happy Monday to you! Yay for the new site! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Pragati // Simple Medicine says

    April 20, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    I had a wonderful weekend! More yard work and a Disney date with girlfriends 🙂 I’m a sucker for tableside guac. Rocco’s Tacos has my favorite!
    Pragati // Simple Medicine recently posted…Kale, Cucumber and Watermelon SaladMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 6:01 pm

      Hi Pragati! Yes, I’ve had the guac at Rocco’s Tacos in Fort Lauderdale before. Very good stuff! And yay for Disney! I haven’t been in far too long. Hope your week starts off great, doc! 🙂

      Reply
  22. Brittany says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    I love, LOVE, love that Dave went with you AND had fun!! Your paintings turned out great. I’ve wanted to do one of these painting classes too, except I don’t drink wine, and I’m terrible at art. I’m sure I’ll go sometime anyway! 😉
    Brittany recently posted…Moderating IndulgencesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 20, 2015 at 9:05 pm

      Hi Brittany! I know, it was awesome he enjoyed himself. And they make it very easy for you, so anyone can paint! You should go to one! Bring fancy coffee instead of wine! 🙂 Have a great week!
      Ashley recently posted…Painting, hiking, eating and my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply
  23. Laura @FitMamaLove says

    April 20, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    Your teaching schedule is cardio heavy and mine is very lacking! That’s the hardest for me to squeeze in these days. That and lifting actual weights as opposed to using my body weight in Pilates. It’s hard to find balance as an instructor! Looks like a lovely weekend! Followed you on Instagram from a fellow Bay Area resident. 🙂
    Laura @FitMamaLove recently posted…This Week in Workouts: Sick Week #238My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:54 am

      Hi Laura! I know! I used to skew heavier toward weight-lifting depending on how many BODYPUMP classes I was teaching or other classes I was taking, so things are always changing. It is tough to fit it all in! Greetings fellow Bay Area resident!! I hope you have a great week!! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    April 21, 2015 at 4:58 am

    I do my best to stretch after my workouts. I’m definitely getting better about making sure that I do it, it’s taken a long time for that to happen though! I love the painting class. I did my first one a few weeks ago. I was hesitant because I’m so NOT artistic, but it was a blast!!
    Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Improve your Running Game with Champion’s #ALLGAINNOPAIN clothing line!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:51 am

      Hi Sue! I bet you did awesome in the painting class. They seem to make it very easy for participants (or at least they did in mine!) And nice work with the stretching! Hope all is well with you, lady! 🙂

      Reply
  25. Meg Schneider says

    April 21, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    I always wondered about those wine and painting classes! Thanks for the breakdown…I think i may have to try it myself soon!
    Meg of An Affair of Character
    Meg Schneider recently posted…25 Before 25My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 21, 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Hi Meg! You should! Super fun time and much different than just going out to dinner. I hope you have a great week! 🙂

      Reply
  26. Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things says

    April 22, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    We did lot’s of walking in the weekend, and lots of park plays. Every time I read your posts I feel motivated to go and work out…haha what’s with that!
    Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things recently posted…5 ways to get your diet back on track – Plus a free food logMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      April 22, 2015 at 9:28 pm

      Hi Krissy! Glad to be a motivator for you! And park plays sounds like fun! I hope all is well with you, lady! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Food pictures from a light and healthy dayMy Profile

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ashley bio pic

Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search This Blog

Follow

Get my ebook

Fit & Fertile ebook: How I found my body's fitness from the inside out by overcoming hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Recent Posts

  • Ask-me-anything A Lady Goes West Advice Corner: first edition
  • Current faves: Our new house, new sneakers and workouts
  • Current faves: Moving day, easy breakfasts, TV and workouts
  • Five new things I’ve added to my life in the last year that I love
  • Current faves: The latest on life, a new phone, snow and workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. Your email address will automatically be added and stored to receive new posts by email and more. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

The latest on Instagram

I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer t I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer than an Instagrammer and many times I feel like what I want to share doesn't fit well into a grid. But I'm able to bring much more long-form content to my blog each week. Speaking of that, this week, I debuted a new series called "A Lady Goes West Advice Corner" which has been something I've wanted to put together for a while. In this series, I'm taking totally anonymous questions from YOU and giving you some neutral third-party advice on it all. Here are the questions I addressed in the first advice corner edition:
.
-“I became a first-time mom last spring and am currently dealing with all things motherhood. How do I deal with my expectations vs. reality of being a mom?" (such a good one, and I've been there)
-“How do you deal with days when you don't love your body? I think we can all relate to looking in the mirror and being disappointed with what we see?" (this happens to us all)
-“How do you deal with comparing yourself to others on social media and not feeling like everyone is doing things better than you?" (spoiler alert: everyone has their issues that you don't see)
.
The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
.
Here's the direct link: https://aladygoeswest.com/ask-me-anything-a-lady-goes-west-advice-corner-first-edition/
.
Have a great night, friends! And when in doubt, talk it out.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen g G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen giveaway? As a little thank-you for following, I wanted to do a giveaway of one of my favorite products. I've been using Vital Proteins collagen in my morning tea latte for years, and not only does the collagen creamer add a great taste, but it also supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints too. Today, I'm giving away not only one canister of collagen creamer, but also a canister of collagen peptides to one lucky winner.
.
Here's how to enter:
(1) Like this post.
(2) Follow @aladygoeswest and @vitalproteins.
(3) Leave a comment on this post tagging a friend who wants healthy skin and joints.
.
You can leave as many comments as you want, and each one serves as an entry. You can earn an additional entry by sharing this post to your stories and tagging me. This giveaway closes on Saturday, February 27. The winner must live in the U.S. And this giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck, and thanks for being here! 🙂 xoxo
HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Char HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Charlotte over the weekend, and we're so excited to get settled in our new neighborhood, city and state after many weeks of transition. In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at the places Dave and I have lived together over the last 12 years. Here's what it has looked like -- and each place has been special for different reasons:
.
-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
-2014-2017 in a two-bedroom townhouse in Walnut Creek, where we brought home both Rudy and Brady and had many sleepless nights.
-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
.
And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
.
-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
-Choosing to be outside as much as possible (can't believe I stayed indoors so much before, never exploring the beautiful Bay Area and now Charlotte until the last year)
-Teaching and taking virtual fitness classes (I was a gym rat for years, and now I actually love to work out at home with my virtual fitness friends)
-Wearing my Apple watch for notifications so I don't always need to be on my phone and tracking some beneficial metrics (I've only had my watch for about 9 months, and I love to check my heart-rate and close my rings)
-Appreciating the ability to work for myself and giving myself friendlier deadlines (I've been my own boss for several years and used to be so strict with my deadlines, until I realized it was stressing me more than it needed to, so now I say no to a lot of things and only do what works well in my life, without adding too much unnecessary stress)
-Shorter workouts (full-hour workouts are a thing of the past for me)
-Wearing more colors (no more black uniforms every day)
-And more!
.
I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gy Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gym for the first time in more than 11 months. How did I feel about it? Mixed ... When we left California, gyms were still closed, and once we got to North Carolina, I was so used to not going to the gym, I didn't even think about going. After being here a month, I finally decided to get a guest pass at a gym near me, and I went twice. Here are my thoughts on the experience: 
.
At first, I felt so excited to drive up and go in and work out in a big space with a lot of equipment and not be at home. But then reality sank in: Even though masks were required and there were signs everywhere reminding people, about half the folks in the gym had their masks off or had them down around their chin. Ummm, not cool. I get it, working out with a mask on sucks, but rules are rules, folks. I also didn't like that it was busier than I expected, and quite a bit of the equipment I wanted to use was occupied. That never happens at home.
.
Overall, I'm glad that those who need to get to the gym are getting the opportunity, but right now, I think I'll go back to sweating safely at home for a little while longer. But at least I got my first locker-room selfie in almost a year. I'd love to know. Have you been back to the gym yet?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As seen on

A Lady Goes West is a personal blog meant for entertainment purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for professional advice from your own doctor, trainer or nutritionist. While I'm a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, the workouts, food and plans I post are what works for me and may not work for you. Please enjoy these stories and tips from my life, but proceed with caution. Also, know that affiliate links and sponsored posts appear from time-to-time, and I appreciate your support. For more information about how your data is stored, visit my Privacy Policy. Thanks for reading!

Copyright © 2021 Ashley Pitt (A Lady Goes West) · Design by MakeMe{dia}Over