Dear amazing readers, have I told you lately how much I appreciate you? Seriously. No matter how crazy or how busy my days get, one of my favorite daily rituals is updating my blog. Take today, for example. It’s after 11 p.m., I taught three classes and two privates and didn’t get home until 10:30 but I just have to update before I head to bed.
There are some things on my mind that I want to share about the “state of the blog.” When I decided to leave my career in advertising to focus on fitness, it was my hope that I would have more time to focus on not only Peanut Butter Runner but also Bakin’ and Eggs. You see, Bakin’ and Eggs was my first blog and I’ve had it for three years. It’s been sad how much I’ve neglected it over the past year as PBR grew and my life got so busy. I’m committing to getting back in the kitchen and back to blogging recipes 3-4 times a week. Ambitious? Yes, but I’ve done it before and it’s going to happen again.
Now, let’s talk PBR. Here are some highlights of what I have in the works…
- Complete site redesign/overhaul…it’s happening! Hallelujah!
- A yoga series where I am going to break down poses for you with videos and pictures.
- Weekly fitness posts. It’s my goal to have some sort of educational weekly fitness post. This could be anything from my favorite variations on planks to injury topics to arm workouts. Get excited!
- More insight on food…what I’m eating, how I cook and how I shop. Several of you have asked for pantry/fridge staple kind of posts and information on how I make things like my homemade dressings.
Let me know what other topics you would like covered on PBR! I’m open to any and all of your ideas!
One more quick thing before I get to the daily recap. I will be posting another review/giveaway post tomorrow. When I volunteered for these reviews, it was not expected for them to be published so close to each other but due to circumstances beyond my control, they both were approved the same week. I just want to reiterate that the opinions expressed are my own and I am excited to be giving away $50 gift cards to drugstore.com to you! (That do not have to be spent to buy the products that I’m reviewing!!!) Hang with me. No more planned after tomorrow’s post!
Today was busy, busy! I taught three yoga classes and two yoga privates. Breakfast was a cinnamon raisin English muffin with peanut butter, honey, banana and cinnamon before teaching the 8:10 hot and 9:15 hot vinyasa at Y2.
I was starving when I made it home for a lunch break. I made a tofu grilled cheese with apricot preserves, spinach and cheddar on whole wheat. Carrots, honey wheat pretzels and half of a pink lady apple with cinnamon on the side.
After lunch I headed back Uptown for my yoga privates. I got back home around 4:30 and made a snack of greek yogurt mixed with pumpkin puree. I topped it with diced banana, granola, cinnamon, honey, dried cranberries and peanut butter. Yum!
I have to admit that I tried to beg my way out of my 7:15 yoga class by asking my teacher if he would cover for me (he always takes the class) but he said he really wanted to practice. I told him I would toughen up and teach but he would pay…enter lots of chaturanga pushups, planks and hard abs. 😉
A group of us always go out for wine after my Wednesday evening class and it came up in conversation that tonight’s class was one of the best and most natural that I’ve taught. Apparently, when I’m tired “real Jen” comes out and not “I’m teaching and performing Jen.” Interesting, huh?
you seem so happy with your decisions/new directions – its showing so quickly that you did the right thing 🙂 congrats!
Jen,
I just had time to read one blog before I head off to coach (go GOTR!) and I’m so glad I got a state of the blog on yours. I love where you’re headed and the daily fitness/life motivation. Someday I’d love to see a post on what teachers love (and hate!). Sometimes I wonder if my teacher notices/cares about my stinky feet when he or she does an adjustment, or how they feel about leaving early, that type of thing. Both the good and the bad. Maybe even what to say to a yoga/fitness teacher when you really liked the class.
Thanks for writing,
Rachel
hi rachel – thanks so much for your comment and for the encouragement on the fitness piece. i love the idea of “tips from a teacher’s perspective” and i will definitely add that to the list of topics to blog about. quick hint though, you worry about those things more than we do! 😉
I’m a new reader and absolutely love reading your blog. I’m excited that you are going to do a yoga series. I’m a runner and am really trying to add yoga into my life – I went back and read your post on yoga poses for runners and loved it. Can’t wait to see all the new ideas for the blog!
ashlee – welcome and thank you SO much for your comment. i love hearing from readers!
i’m happy to hear that you’re excited about the yoga posts. i’m really excited to get them going. 🙂
Can’t wait to see the makeover! I have no complaints so keep posting what you post.
One suggestion would be maybe to talk about your routine how you keep on top of everything/priorities when handling so much. I feel like I’m always struggling with time management – although I will say becoming an early riser is getting easier for me. 🙂
thanks for the feedback holly! i have had requests on time management before so i know that’s definitely something that i need to cover. i’m really excited to hear that early morning workouts are getting easier for you!
Jen- I’m so excited about these posts to come! Especially the fitness focused posts. I just moved to a new area and the gyms are so expensive I’m trying to forego a membership and work out at home/ run. So your posts will be very helpful! Also, I’m curious about your site redesign… I see you use wordpress. I know you do self hosting, so I assume you just switched over to wordpress.org and still use their blogging software but chose your own theme? How did you go about choosing that theme? Sorry if that’s an annoying question, I’m just considering doing the same thing for my blog soon. Thanks!
clara – i’m actually posting a circuit workout that can be done in a park with no equipment tomorrow. get excited! 🙂
when i switched to self-hosting i kept the same theme that i was using with wordpress.com. it was an easy switch.
i am going to be using the thesis theme for the new redesign. it’s a super flexible, easy-to-use custom theme. (you do have to pay for it)
hope that helps!
Super helpful! Thanks! I’m considering switching to thesis, so I’m excited to see yours.
I second the suggestion for posts on your time management tips! I’m always amazed at how much you fit into your day, and still make such delicious and healthy meals (some days it’s all I can do to whip up a peanut butter sandwich and grab an apple for lunch!) I’d also be interested in a post on modifying yoga poses, due to injuries, physical limitations, pregnancy, etc.
Keep up the great work Jen!
christina – i will definitely add the time management posts to the list. sometimes i can’t believe how much i manage to cram into a day. i think i need someone to teach me how to slow down a little! 😉
love the suggestion for yoga modifications. thanks!
who is doing the redesign for your blog (or are you doing it yourself)? i thinking of doing the same thing but i could never do it on my own for fear that my blog would crash 🙂 if you are using someone, would you mind sending me their contact info ([email protected])? thanks!
all blog work has been done with the help of friends. thank goodness that i used to work with creative and tech-minded people. i will send you an email with some thoughts about making the switch!
I am so happy to hear that you are going to do yoga series! You are one of the many reasons I am trying to incorporate yoga into my training. Right now I am only doing P90X yoga or whatever is On Demand at least once a week. May not be the best yoga options but at least I am making the effort, right?! 🙂
stephanie…that’s awesome! i’m happy to hear that you’re doing some yoga. and yes, the effort and intention to do it is what counts! 🙂
Sounds like your professional life is going in an awesome direction- so happy for you! And happy for me because I’m excited about the recipes to come on Bakin’ and Eggs 🙂
thanks brittany! i am SO READY to get back into the kitchen and back to blogging recipes!
Thanks for all that you do!! Keep doing what you’re doing. I am always amazed and you inspire me DAILY! I can’t wait to see the makeover and all the posts to come on PBR and Bakin and Eggs, I’m excited!
thanks for the comment and the encouragement sherry! 😀
I’m looking forward to the yoga series!!
Wahoo! Excited for more recipes and the new direction of PBR. Keep up the good work. You’re one of the 3 blogs that I always read as soon as you post!
Would love a post on running with Sullie. I’m slowly training my pup to run with me, but am interested to hear how you gauge your distance and speed, keep her from running in front of you, etc.
I am glad you take the time to update as much as you do because I love every single post! Have you ever done a ‘yoga 101’ post? A new yoga studio has just opened in my town (the first one ever!) and I am dying to check it out, but I have never done yoga before. I have no idea what to expect, what to bring, or even what class I need to start with. Any tips for starting would be great! Or if you could just answer this one question: What footwear do I wear? Do you wear tennis shoes or go barefoot when doing yoga? I just have no clue!
hi emily – thanks so much for the positive feedback. i can definitely do a yoga 101 post. that is a great idea!
barefoot! 🙂
You have great dedication! I’m excited to see all the new things happening on the blog 🙂 I didn’t even know you had another!
haha…it has been VERY neglected over the past year. sad.
I love everything you mentioned that you’ll post about. I’m actually really curious into more of your eating as well, especially in regards to how you fuel yourself and keep your energy levels with all your teaching. Especially since you keep so vibrant and healthy looking and with how busy you are, that’s hard to do for many people and a lot of that stems from a person’s diet. It shows you know how to eat right in the sense of knowing what foods work for your body and when to eat them…so if you have any tips on how you go about properly fueling yourself I would love to know!
shayla – thanks for the suggestion. i will definitely keep that in mind as i begin to talk more about how i eat and fuel!
I am very interested in getting some specific yoga instructions. I’m a former gym rat… and now a total outdoor runner (until my move to the Midwest!)… and have always been curious about yoga. I admit I went to one “happy hour” class a few years back but didn’t really ‘get it’. Simply put, I felt out of place! Wish I was in Charlotte and able to go to one of your classes!
aw, i wish you were here too. i would love to have you in class. my style of yoga is a little different than most. more fun and fitness focused but still very challenging and beneficial from a mind/body standpoint.
Hey Jen,
So excited to see what is up and coming on PBR! Your blog is always so informative. I enjoy it so much!
Have a great weekend,
Diane
That is so helpful, thank you! I’m considering the thesis theme too so I’m excited to see yours. What perfect timing on the circuit work out! Now I have no excuse not to work out this weekend.
I would love some posts about a weight lifting routine to build more muscle.Thanks!
Yeah! I love your blog (I’m just getting serious about fitness/being healthy instead of “dieting”) but I would LOVE to see more yoga poses/examples and workout techniques AND food related things! What do you eat before you workout? Protein/no sugar/carbs/no carbs? Very excited about this!