Weekend-ing, Weekly Workouts & Meal Planning

Good morning! Here’s hoping y’all had a great weekend and that it was filled with a good mix of fun and lounging. Isn’t that what weekends are for, anyways?

I can honestly say that my weekend was the perfect blend of staying busy and enjoying downtime with Netflix. Scott and I finally finished Stranger Things (<- whoa!), and I’m sure we will be browsing around for something new to get sucked into soon.

I’m up bright and early this morning because today is my first day at work! In case you missed the announcement, I got a job! I know, I can’t believe it either. I’m looking forward to seeing how this week unfolds, and I am planning to check in on the blog as much as I can.

My goal with balancing my time outside of work and blogging is to keep things realistic. I will be working full-time (and then some), but I love this online space (and you guys!), so right now I am planning on doing my best to produce new posts three times a week.

You can expect to see a mash-up of a weekend recaps, weekly workouts, and simple meal plans at the beginning of the week. Wednesday will be my opportunity to share something like a new workout, recipe, What I Ate Wednesday post (<- do you guys want to see these again?), event coverage, and more. Fridays will be reserved for Friday Favorites, of course. I always love sharing my faves and reading yours through the link up!

Before I dive into a completely new routine, I want to thank you all for sticking around and encouraging me to keep this blog moving during the not-so fun seasons of my life. Documenting our adventures and sharing everyday healthy living tips is something that I truly love to do, and hearing from you guys and really feeling your support means a lot. I am so thankful for this platform, and I can only hope that it continues to grow with our journey!

Now onto some weekend-ing …

 

Friday

Scott had to work on Friday night, so I spent my night in the area with Roadie and took him to the park for a 4ish mile run.

We caught the sunset on our way out, and then I cooked a Roasted Pork and Summer Succotash dinner for four (or one with lots ‘o leftovers).

(Recipe courtesy of Blue Apron)

 

Saturday 

The first half of our Saturday was the definition of lazy. Scott and I thoroughly enjoyed an entire morning and early afternoon planted on the couch with the pets. It was glorious. Around 3:30 p.m., we got the invite to join our friends Shawn and Hillary at Pig Beach.

We made the quick trip to Union Street with hopes of cooling off with a round of frosés. We were bummed to find out that they were out, but we opted for a round (or two) of piña coladas instead. They were delish!

Pig Beach is a welcoming outdoor atmosphere that feels like you stepped directly onto a resort patio. There were areas to play games like corn hole or jenga, plenty of places to sit, and a menu filled with great barbecue dishes. Knowing we had dinner plans later on, Scott and I split an order of the deviled eggs. Our friends ordered a couple of pulled pork sandwiches and wings. The wing I also split with Scott was really tasty!

Before long, it was time to head out and train over to SoHo. We met a pretty large group to celebrate our friend Rachel’s birthday at Lil’ Frankie’s.

It’s a no-frills, cash-only restaurant that specializes in wood-fired pizza and Italian dishes.

The restaurant isn’t very big, but they did a notable job accommodating our group of seventeen! We were seated right away, once our entire party arrived, and the service was quick. Scott and I split a large house salad and funghi pizza with mushrooms, vine ripe tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley, and black olives.

You better believe we ate every last bite, too. So good!

After dinner, our group bounced around the area and ended up spending most of the night at Hotel Chantelle. They have three different levels of bars that all have very different environments. The main lobby is dimly lit and low-key, the rooftop is beautiful (and is also a popular spot for brunch), and the basement is basically a dance floor. We had a blast dancing the night away!

While we were celebrating Rachel’s birthday, we were also soaking in our time with our friend, Michelle. She is leaving her residency in NYC and moving on to a new adventure in Las Vegas.

(Me, Rachel, Michelle, Erin)

We will miss her so much and hope to get out West for a girls’ weekend sooner than later!

 

Sunday

Most of my Sunday was spent cleaning the house and getting ready for a busy week ahead. Highlights include a trip to the Farmer’s Market on 5th Avenue,

taking Roadie to a new (to us) dog park,

cooking this delicious Blue Apron meal,

and getting a 90-minute massage!

We turned the VMAs on while I started typing up this post, I prepped overnight oats for breakfast, and I packed a lunch and snacks to take to work with me.

Speaking of prepping meals, some of you might recall that I’m not the best at meal planning. In an effort to make my weeknights somewhat easier, I am trying something new and actually planning out our dinners a week in advance. (Who am I?)

Here’s what’s on the menu …

 

Meals On Deck This Week

• Monday – Leftover Chicken & Cherry Tomato Bolognese (Blue Apron)
• Tuesday – Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos (this looks drool-worthy)
• Wednesday – Chicken Creole over rice (<- throwback LIL recipe, love this one!)
• Thursday – Throw together monster salad or leftovers from the week
• Friday/Saturday – Pizza night/order in/date night out
• Sunday – Turkey Meatloaf with steamed broccoli, sweet potatoes, and side salads

While Friday and Saturday nights are usually a free-for-all, getting back into working full-time makes me want to unwind at home and plan a dinner for Sunday night. I always like to make a few extra servings in order to have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day, too.

I’ll have to let you know how I like the new recipes!

 

Weekly Workouts

(August 22 – 28, 2016)

Now onto a brief summary of what the latest week of workouts looked like for me. (I like to share these when I try a new workout some of you reading might like, too!)

Also, you can always find more in-depth workout ideas and plans on the Weekly Workouts page.

• Monday – REST
• Tuesday – 45-Minute Epic Cardio Boxing Workout via Popsugar
• Wednesday – LIL Dumbbell At-Home Circuit Workout
• Thursday – 70 min. Basics yoga class at Area Yoga
• Friday – 4.5 mile run/walk with Roadie and 10 Minute Ab Workout via Fitness Blender
• Saturday – REST
• Sunday – REST

 

Thoughts …

I definitely could have upped my strength workouts this week! I know I will have plenty of those coming my way, however, since part of my job description includes taking 1-2 Orangetheory workouts a week. I plan to keep up my running and adding in yoga and barre classes whenever I can. As always, I’ll be back to let you know how that goes!

 

Well friends, I guess that’s it for today! Here’s hoping you are kicking your week of with something to look forward to (even if it’s a giant cup of coffee). Have a great Monday!

 

» Linking these Weekend Snapshots up with Erin and Katie

 

Questions of the Day

• What was one highlight from your weekend?

• Do you meal prep or meal plan on the weekends?