The blog world has been abuzz with 2010 recaps and 2011 resolution/goal posts. I love doing “Most Popular Recipes” posts on my food blog but I have been a little unsure how to approach the topic on this blog.
What I keep coming back to is how happy I am that I decided to start this blog. I was nervous to take the plunge into the healthy living blog world but I have to admit that writing my first post on April 16, 2010 ended up being one of the biggest accomplishments of the year. (Along with buying a house, starting a new job – that I LOVE, running a marathon and deciding to embark on yoga teacher training.)
It’s no secret that this blog is time consuming and (at least as of now) I’m not receiving any income from it. Sometimes I question the commitment but then I am reminded of the number one reason why I started this blog – to motivate others to lead healthy, happy, fun and fit lifestyles. Thank you all, seriously from the bottom of my heart, for the encouraging words that you have sent me. I know that starting this blog was the right decision and I’m so happy and honored to share my life with y’all.
So I think that Peanut Butter Runner is off to a pretty good start and I’m so looking forward to 2011 and all the new and exciting adventures it promises!
Let’s talk about the present! 😀
As much as I wanted to practice ashtanga this morning, I forced myself to skip it (even though I was wide awake for my 5:20 wake up call) to rest my hamstring. I reset my alarm and slept until 7:30 for another eight-hour night. I seriously cannot even remember the last time I went a week straight of getting eight hours of sleep every night! Breakfast was overnight oats at my desk and I came home for lunch.
It looks a lot like yesterday’s lunch! Whole wheat pita with cheddar cheese, mashed avocado, spinach, sprouts and a little bit of light ranch dressing. I’m really not a ranch gal but I must admit that the small amount I smeared on this pita totally made it!
When I arrived back at work I spotted some interesting tea in the kitchen.
Pumpkin Spice! Of course, I had to give it a try. (I drink hot tea every afternoon after lunch.) It was pretty good!
I taught BodyPump after work…we had a whopping crowd of six. This is probably the smallest class that I’ve had in the year that I’ve been teaching at this Y but I am not worried. I know that next week is going to be madness. I LOVE teaching all of the newbies and can’t wait to see all the New Year’s resolutioners. Charlotte friends – I will give you a free two-week pass to the Y. COME TO MY CLASS!!!
Before class I ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill. This was my first treadmill run in months and months. It looked a little something like this:
.5 mile warm up at 9:00
.5 miles at 8:30
1 mile at 8:15
.5 miles at 8:00
.5 miles at 7:30
.5 mile cool down at 9:00
Brandon and I agreed to babysit for his brother tonight so that they could go out to dinner with his wife’s sister and boyfriend who are in town visiting. We were greeted with a cheese plate.
And a cute pup.
The girls were already in bed so our babysitting duties have consisted of listening to monitors and watching TV. I’ll take it. I’m just glad that we can help them out so they can enjoy a night out. With two under the age of three, that does not happen very often!
I brought over some chili from the freezer for dinner.
Emily’s vegan Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili. We made it un-vegan by topping it with shredded cheddar and sour cream but it was still delicious the second time around!
It’s getting late but I’m still hoping to make an early yoga class tomorrow before we hit the road for New Year’s Eve. We’re seeing the Avett Brother in Asheville. I can’t wait to ring in the new year with the Avett’s – we saw them last new year’s too and it was so much fun.
Wishing you all a safe and fun New Year! I will probably not be posting tomorrow but will be back at you Saturday!
I feel the same way about blogging. It is by far my proudest accomplishment of 2010 because of all of the good it has brought into my life. Well that, and ya know, finishing college. 🙂
I kind of hate when the gym gets crowded after new years, but I can see how great that must be from a teachers perspective. There is so much hope and optimism in the air.
I love writing my blog. I may not have as many followers as you yet, but I’m hoping in 2011, I can change that!
I love reading your blog 🙂
Alaina – I know you will be able to achieve any goals you set for yourself with your blog in 2011! Let me know what I can do to help! You are awesome!!! 🙂
Aw, thanks Jen!! I will certainly take you up on that offer. It will most likely be yoga related. 😉
I question my commitment to my blog all the time, but I just keep it going. It takes up so much of my time, but it is so rewarding in the end to hear feedback from other people!
I am not looking forward to how crowded the gym will be starting tomorrow…
I love your blog! I found it a couple months ago, and I look forward to the posts. I really enjoy the frequencies of your posts. and it has definitely inspired me to eat way more veggies, mostly from frozen at this point, as I like to go seasonal. I started growing my own sprouts too. Thank you! Have a happy new year
Trish – please share more about growing your own sprouts. My husband and I love them and he saw this comment and insisted I ask you about it! Thank you so much for the comment and for reading!!! 🙂
First off, it is REALLY EASY. I use quart canning jars, and cover them with window screening held on by the ring part of the lid – you could use rubber bands too. I keep them tilted in cereal bowls, so the water drains off. I like broccoli for sandwiches and a mix called ancient eastern blend for stir fry or just adding to whatever veg I am eating. I noticed you eat lots of sprouts – this will in the long run save you money and also the packaging that the sprouts come in. Look up Mumm’s website or just google seed for sprouting. Mumms even has a video on how to. Just dive in.
I’m so glad you blog! I love reading about your delicious eats- and you inspire me to try yoga more, too 🙂
It’s great that you love to blog, despite getting no money for it! Makes it more genuine I think 🙂 I love your blog, and it’s inspired me too to do more yoga and to start BodyPump (never going back!!), so keep up the great work! 😀
Emma – thank you for the awesome comment! I love that you are enjoying yoga and BodyPump. Happy, happy New Year! 🙂
Have a wonderful NYE!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I am so glad that I was able to find your blog this year! I look forward to reading more in 2011
Thank you so much Katy – happy New Year to you too!
It is sometimes so easy to feel drained and doubt whether you want to continue blogging, but I’m so glad you remembered why it’s important to you! 🙂
Have a safe and happy New Year!
I love hot tea in the afternoon! I never get mine to brew that dark though; I’m very impressed
I can really only get that with black teas. I find that I have to remove the tea bag after a few minutes because it will get too strong. I also like to use big mugs!
The pita just looks so tasty and amazing, great photo!
Welp, looks like you have inspired another. I just joined a yoga studio near me for a month! Can’t wait to get started! Thanks for the blogs and inspiration!
Emily – that’s so awesome! Please report back and let me know what you think about your month long yoga commitment!!!