Scenes from the weekend and my workouts
Happy Monday! Didn’t you just know that I would start the post in that way? I hope you’re coming off of a good weekend, because I certainly am. It was nice to be in town all weekend, after a couple of trips away in a row. Today, I’m giving you a brief snapshot of my activities, then talking about my most recent workouts.
Friday night sushi picnic at the pool
Knowing we needed a night in, on Friday evening, Dave and I decided to stay in our comfortables and hang out around our place rather than dining out. I picked up sushi from Whole Foods, and we took that, along with some wine, beer and music, to our pool for a little picnic. Rudy loved it.
Some good times on Friday including a stroll with Rudy, Rudy laying in a pile of clean laundry before it was folded and our picnic spread from the evening.
A smoky hike in Lafayette on Saturday
On Saturday morning, I joined a couple of ladies to do some leisure hiking. While we attempted to hike Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, we couldn’t find the right trail entrance, and it was really smoky over there from a forest fire. Therefore, we ended up heading to Lafayette Reservoir (a place I’ve visited with Dave before), and we hiked the loop for just under and hour. It was toasty and a bit hazy, but was just what we were looking for.
From there we went to lunch in downtown Lafayette at Cooperage, a place that came highly recommended. While our waiter was good and it was nice to sit outside, my salad was just okay, and there was a bone in the chicken that I discovered mid-bite. Totally disgusting experience, if I do say. I sent the salad back and the manager asked to “see the bone in my napkin,” which I thought was pretty gross as well. Nonetheless, we weren’t going to wait around for them to prepare and bring out another salad, so I ended up making a second lunch when I got home rather than getting another dish at the restaurant. But the company sure was good! It was nice to have some girl-time and be active and in the sun.
Sporting my Sweat Pink trucker hat on the dry hills of the reservoir with some lady friends, as well as scenes from a good-looking salad, which fell quite short of satisfying for several reasons.
In the afternoon, I went out for a little shopping (still looking for a new swimsuit and hat in preparation for Hawaii) before coming home to shower and help Dave give Rudy a bath. Good times!
Saturday night out in Walnut Creek
Saturday night usually means a restaurant visit for us, which is why on Saturday night Dave and I went to Havana in downtown Walnut Creek and sat at the bar. There was great Latin music, excellent mojitos (I ordered mine made with Splenda) and good food. We shared a few plates and really enjoyed ourselves. They gave us some coupons to come back again one day and get $10 off of our meal, so I think we just may have to do that.
Ladies and gentlemen, our weekly date-night is basically the only time I do my hair. Dishes shown above include tuna tartare with spicy plantain chips, a mango chicken salad and steak with black beans and rice.
When we got home, we played endless amounts of fetch with Rudy, had some dessert and hit the hay nice and early — way before “Saturday Night Live” had even started.
Sunday workout, chores and Rudy time
On Sunday morning, I decided at the last minute to head to the gym to take a BODYPUMP class, and I’m so glad I did. It was nice to be a participant and not the instructor for once — because it reminds of me what I love so much about taking group fitness. I was set up right next to a few members who normally take my classes, which is always fun.
The rest of Sunday was spent doing household chores (not fun, but needed), a trail walk with Rudy (far too hot out), a doggie date for Rudy (so cute when he got to play with other four-legged friends), blogging (as you see here), having a FaceTime date with some of our favorite Florida people (love those and hi Amanda!!) and a delicious grilled dinner at home. Overall, it was a great weekend — full of food, fitness and of course, fun.
Enter the fitness equipment giveaway today
In case you missed it, I’m currently hosting a giveaway of a prize package from Merrithew featuring all sorts of good fitness stuff like a foam roller and a massage stick. This giveaway closes tonight, so enter today for your chance to win big.
My weekly fitness and workouts recap
Every single Monday, I like to go over my most recent week of workouts. So here we go …
(Photo credit to Leah Bentley Photography, 2015.)
Weekly Workouts
- Monday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
- Tuesday: Took a one-hour Orangetheory Fitness class
- Wednesday: Took a one-hour Orangetheory Fitness class
- Thursday: Taught a 45-minute BODYPUMP and a 30-minute core class, foam rolling
- Friday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class, took a one-hour gentle yoga class
- Saturday: Leisure one-hour walking hike
- Sunday: Took a one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
What was good about my week of workouts?
This past week, I completed some great workouts. The highlights? Hitting another personal best while sprinting in an Orangetheory class, as well as taking BODYPUMP as a participant. I’m happy to say that I picked up weights four times this week for some resistance training in both Orangetheory and BODYPUMP, and I also did cardio three times. I had an active recovery day with a leisure hike as well as a full yoga session, so this past week was complete with plenty of tough workouts and light ones.
What could have been better about my week of workouts?
I’m very happy with this past week of workouts, especially because I spent more time working with weights, as I have been slacking on lately, so no complaints here.
That’s it for today! On tap for my Monday? I’m teaching at Orangetheory in the morning and then teaching BODYATTACK later tonight. Here’s to a great week!
Questions of the day
How was your weekend?
What’s something cool you’ve accomplished recently?
Sounds like you ha da great weekend, Ashley! Love when restaurants offer coupons for money off on your next visit…surefire way to make sure customers return ;)! Totally craving some Whole Foods sushi after seeing your picture- they’ve nailed the rice to filling ratio!
Hi Khushboo — Whole Foods definitely has my favorite “take out” sushi. It’s just as expensive as restaurant take-out as well!! Hope you had a nice weekend! 🙂
Oh man you’re post hike restaurant experience drives me nuts ! I used to work in the industry and if someone dislikes someone we paid for their meal… Even if they had eaten the whole meal . You should not ever be questioned about your complaint !
We had a fun weekend with a wedding , baby cuddles ( and cries and fussing lol ) and naps lots of naps ‘
It’s super hot here too so staying as cool as possible and hoping to get out once it cools down for some walks with the dog !
Hi Fiona! It’s hot here too — 104 degrees outside yesterday. And how nice you went to a wedding! I’m ready for cooler weather as well…. YAY for baby snuggles!
I love my blog shoutout! We had such fun catching up with you guys last night! Miss you!!
You too, Amanda! Hope you have a great week, my friend! 🙂
As a former server, if you are unhappy with the meal, the restaurant should do something about it. That grinds my gears sooooooo bad!
I know, Susie. I know. I don’t think I’ll be going back to that place … Hope you had a nice weekend! 🙂
Fun and perfectly balanced weekend lady! My weekend was low key. Did some strength training at the gym and swimming laps, bought a new car, cooked a new soup recipe and stayed indoors the rest of the weekend. It was 113 in Phoenix which is just too hot to be outside. Now I have some weird RSD problem with my site that I need to figure out or find someone who can help.
Oops I meant RSS!
Hi Megan! Wow! It was 104 here, but you’ve got us beat with those temperatures. CRAZY! Congrats on the new car, and I hope you get the RSS issues fixed. That’s not fun!
A sushi picnic sounds divine! I might have to steal that idea 🙂 Hiking is always a great way to spend a day, and your hair looks so great like that! So full of volume and shiny. You look like a rockstar! Hope you have a great week!!
Hi Gretchen! Oh you are too sweet. Thanks for the kind words. Hope you had a nice weekend, lady! 🙂
Sounds like an excellent weekend! How does Rudy do at bath time? That is on my to do list for this week with Lilly and she never enjoys it. She either stands still and looks pitiful or tries to make a break for it. Never a happy puppy at bath time 🙁
Our weekend was quiet while I recovered from a few days in Florida and a little sore throat! Hope you have a great class tonight! I am teaching Pump and Combat 🙂
Hi Jenna! Ahh yes, a nice double-header for you! Good work! Rudy does not enjoy bath time. But he is small, so it’s not too difficult to contain him — he sort of tries to escape. Dave puts a bathing suit on and takes Rudy in the bath-tub with him to make it happen. He also hates being blow-dried. But we have to do it. hehehe. He looks like a little wet rat. It’s quite funny!! 🙂
Looks like a great weekend! Love the pool picnic idea :). I spent most of Saturday afternoon putting together a new Ikea dresser, we went to a friends for a BBQ and everyone spoiled our dog with affection. Sunday was relaxing, workouting, and a puppy bath. Good weekend overall… I dropped the dog off this morning at the vet to get his teeth cleaned, I felt so bad leaving him behind :(, even though I know he is in excellent hands.
Hi Jessie! How nice you brought your dog to a BBQ — sounds like a great time! And I bet it was tough to drop him off, but clean teeth are important heheh. 🙂 I mean, no one likes to get their teeth cleaned though! Happy Monday!
A bone in your salad and he wanted to see it?! Good grief! Well, I just had PRK eye surgery last Tuesday and am just now able to *kind* of see. I knew the recovery would be long, but I’m starting to get impatient now! Glad to be back to reading your blog – I missed it while sitting in a dark room for 4 days!
Hi Melissa! Oh scary stuff, I’m not familiar with that procedure, but wishing you a speedy recovery! 🙁 Hope you at least got some rest in that dark room!
What a fun and relaxing weekend! I have been out of town for a while and will be gone again this upcoming weekend so I am totally looking forward to a weekend of downtime when I return! Nothing better than vegging out on my couch in comfy clothes with some takeout 🙂 Hope you have a fabulous week!
Hi Jamie! Yes, going away is fun, but staying home is needed sometimes! Happy Monday to you! 🙂
You always have the best weekend restaurant eats Ashley! Haha I need to start taking more pics of mine, I just feel like it’s always too dark inside 😛 Sounds like you had the perfect weekend!
Hi Jill! Well restaurants are brighter out here in the ‘burbs hahahah — much better for food pictures, although not as cool of an atmosphere! Happy Monday, lady!
Sunday was a chore day for me as well. I agree- not fun but kind of necessary 🙂 Glad you got to enjoy a class without having to teach it. I have always wondered how instructors feel about this. I love classes so much and I don’t know how I would feel about them if I also had to teach!
Hi Sam! I definitely still enjoy taking classes! In fact, I appreciate it even more, but I rarely get the chance to do so. 🙂 Happy Monday to you!!!
I have been to that reservoir before in Lafayette and it is a wonderful place to walk!
The sushi you had at Whole foods is my favorite kind- I love the quinoa/brown rice mix with salmon avocado, the flavor combination is absolutely perfect!
Hi Niki! That’s cool you’ve been to the reservoir before too! And YAY for Whole Foods sushi! 🙂 Hope you had a nice weekend, lady!
What is your favorite Les Mills class? Also been trying to find that cool blue nail polish, who makes it?
Hi Jennifer! Oh that’s tough. I love BODYPUMP because it was my first Les Mills program, but I love BODYATTACK because of the music and moves. I’d say I love them equally — perhaps a little bit more love for ATTACK!! 🙂 My blue nail polish is gel from a salon, so I don’t know the name or the maker of it. Sorry!! 🙁 Thanks for saying hi! What’s your favorite Les Mills program?
What is up with all these forest fires? There have been a ton out here in Oregon this summer! I went to Crater Lake this past week and everyone was complaining about the view being ruined because of all the smoke.I still thought it was gorgeous though!
Hi Lindsey! Yes, it’s a drought around here, and it’s not good. Glad you got some hiking in as well over the weekend! 🙂
I was wondering why it was so hazy this weekend! I didn’t even realize it was from a forest fire.
And that’s too bad about the chicken bone. The manager sounds pretty awful to request to see it too. Not a good way to keep people coming back!
On the bright side, your hair looked beautiful on your date night, haha!
Happy Monday! 🙂
Hahahah, well thanks for that bright note, Sarah! I appreciate it! 🙂 Hope you had a nice weekend!
It is so frustrating to go to a restaurant and have an experience like that. It looks like the rest of your weekend was really fun!
Hi Heather, It sure was! Hope yours was as well! 🙂
You’re friday night seemed perfect! I don’t have a Whole Foods close by, but have heard their sushi is really good. I will need to try it sometime! And I literally LOL’ed at your comment about doing your hair because I am the same way. I’m a teacher and during the summer I maybeeeee do my hair on Saturday if we have somewhere to go. So lot looking forward to having to put on dress clothes and make my hair look nice in a few weeks when we start back.
Hi Patricia! Yup! SO glad you get it. It’s a dirty ponytail or bun all week until the date-night hahaha. 🙂 And yes, you need to get your hands on Whole Foods sushi one day! It’s great! Happy Monday!
I love the brown rice/quinoa sushi from Whole Foods! One of my favorite quick dinners. Your outdoor picnic looks lovely!
Thanks, Dani! It was nice! And YES on the Whole Foods sushi. Happy Monday to you! 🙂
I had a great weekend centered around getting ready to go back to school and start my sophomore year of college! I’m so excited haha, move in is tomorrow! Your weekend looks fantastic, I would love to try Orange Theory sometime.
Hi Sarah! Wow! Second year of college? Do you feel much older and wiser now? hahah! Hope all goes well with the move!! 🙂
Rudy pictures! Yay. It looks like you guys had a fabulous weekend. I love the low-key sushi picnic. I hope you have an even better week ahead!
Thanks, Heather!! Same to you, my friend! 🙂
Your Friday night meal looks like it was pure heaven! I love Whole Foods sushi. Excellent idea to pair it with wine. 🙂 My weekend was a good one–I got a lot accomplished, which felt really nice. Now I’m pumped to get a lot done this week! Have a great Monday, Ashley!
Nice work on being productive over the weekend, Beth! Good job! You’d be proud of me, I did a morning yoga session at home before heading to teach at the gym. 🙂 Namaste!
I love your dog pictures and your pictures of you and your husband! You are really youthful and beautiful. <3
Thank you so much, Emily. That’s really sweet of you to say. 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Yay for puppies!
Oh your wee dog Rudy is so cute! Every time I read your workout post I always think back to how little exercise I’ve done and set my alarm for next week. Haha, your posts are my motivation!
Hi Krissy! Well it’s easy for me to get moving, because I’m paid to be there! I’m sure you’re doing just great, Krissy. 🙂